Aviation is extremely complex from both a regulatory and operational perspective and it is constantly changing. Interpretations of the regulations change as do the regulations themselves. Alan Armstrong follows changes in the aviation regulations and writes about them in Flightwatch, a blog/newsletter. He also provides commentary and analysis in the wake of aviation accidents and incidents.
Cessna Citation Crashes in North Georgia Mountains
Alan Armstrong is interviewed by Michael Seiden of WSB-TV, Channel 2 in Atlanta about the crash of a Cessna Citation jet aircraft in the North Georgia mountains on Saturday, February 8, 2020, while operating in poor weather conditions.
Aerial Demonstrations and Dynamic Maneuvering
The airshow industry is constantly evolving as are the regulations and policies that inform and regulate airshow performers. On October 10, 2019, the FAA promulgated FAA Order N8900.526, Policy Updates for Issuing Certificate of Waiver or Authorization for An Aviation...
Delta Flight 89 dumps fuel on schools
The crew of Delta Flight 89 dumped fuel on schools after an engine failure and not flying above the minimum height for fuel to evaporate.
Alan Armstrong on CBS: Delta fuel dump
Alan Armstrong is interviewed by Ashley Thompson of CBS-46 about Delta Flight 89 that dumped fuel to meet an emergency on Jan. 14, 2020.
If a Pilot Refuses or Fails a DoT Drug Test, is it in His Best Interest to Pretend to have a Drug Problem?
DOT drug testing is an unmitigated disaster. The failures and abuses of DOT drug testing are being imposed on airmen who, if they cannot provide a sufficient quantity of urine, must confess to having a drug problem, even if they do not, if they want to fly. Even...
Alan Armstrong on WGCL TV News, Oct. 30, 2019: Deadly Airplane Crash in Dekalb County
Alan Armstrong is interviewed by Ashley Thompson of WGCL TV News about the crash of a Piper PA-28 that crashed near the Peachtree-DeKalb Airport on Oct. 30, 2019.
Moody Air Force Base – Getting Back in the Saddle
The two-month layoff from flying had been filled with physical therapy appointments and work until I could return to flight status. I was cleared to resume flying 52 days after a total knee replacement. It was a happy day! WHAT HAVE I BEEN MISSING? I promptly went...
Dangerous Impact of Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) on Radar
Scientists are just coming to appreciate the problems large fields of WTGs can cause for Air Traffic Control Radar and Weather Radar facilities. Wind turbine generators (WTGs) are increasingly littering the landscape. However, their adverse impact on primary and...
Wind Farms and Public Use Airports – Why the FAA Fails to Ensure Air Safety
The explosion of wind turbine developments across the United States does not bode well for the continued viability of many public use airports. Overview of the Problem Increasingly, wind farms with wind turbine generators (WTGs) nearly 500 feet above ground level...
An Analysis of the Engineering Decisions Made by Boeing in Designing the B-737 Max Aircraft
On October 29, 2018, a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated as Indonesian Lion Air Flight 610 crashed in the Java Sea. The aircraft exhibited an erratic flight profile concluding with a vertical dive into the sea.