Category: Aviation

July 24, 2024

Opinion Piece Response: The Real Value of Skilled Maintenance Engineers in Aviation

After reading Ashley Nunes’ opinion piece, “WestJet mechanics make only $109,000 on average. Oh, the humanity,” I feel compelled to point out how short-sighted and unhelpful this opinion is. The author expresses shock at the salary aircraft maintenance engineers earn, framing it as excessive compared to the average Canadian income. However, this perspective ignores the significant expertise, responsibility, and risks...

Categories Aviation

December 14, 2023

Can aviation achieve net zero by 2050?

The year 2050 is only 26 years away! That’s not much time to achieve the ambitious goal of net zero. The industry, represented by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has committed to this significant goal, but the question is: how do we plan to get there? The challenge For perspective, according to the International Energy Association (IEA), between 2000...

Categories Aviation

January 1, 2023

Flight Disruptions of December 2022

Flight disruptions in December were awful. I talk about what happened and give some tips on surviving your next delay.

Categories Aviation/Travel

January 1, 2021

Tough start to Canadian aviation in 2021

I am very nervous about the implications of the COVID testing concept before travelling to Canada, which comes into effect on January 7, 2021. I am also frustrated that since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been no federal testing program to screen visitors entering Canada other than the ones established by private industry and select provinces frustrated with...

Categories Aviation

April 30, 2020

Cash is king during COVID-19

Cash is king during COVID-19. Can airlines weather the cash squeeze? The economic repercussions could be devastating to the economy if airlines are not supported soon.

Categories Aviation/NoAd

January 2, 2020

How to survive hotel germs, bedbugs, noise, & light

Ah, hotel rooms, home away from home where you can make a mess and someone else will clean up after you. But it’s late and you have to get a good night sleep for that big meeting tomorrow. Geez, hope that sea of kid’s heads in the tiny hotel pool aren’t on your floor. As I am lucky/unlucky enough to...

Categories #crewlife/Aviation/NoAd

December 30, 2019

SPECIs explained

Sometimes weather is so special it gets its own SPECI.

Categories Aviation/Flight Training/MET - Meteorology/NoAd

December 30, 2019

CAVOK (KAV-OH-KAY)

It’s a good day to fly when it’s CAVOK!

Categories Aviation/Flight Training/MET - Meteorology/NoAd/RAC - Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services

December 29, 2019

Cloud lines in the sky

I took these pictures about a couple of weeks ago between Toronto and Ottawa. Uniformed lines of clouds running north/south. Does anyone know how these lines are forms? Or why? These images are free to use and available on Unsplash.

Categories AIM - Aeronautical Information Manual/Aviation/Images/MET - Meteorology/NoAd

December 29, 2019

METARs explained

Every pilot needs to read METARs. They are not as hard as you may think.

Categories AIM - Aeronautical Information Manual/Aviation/Flight Training/MET - Meteorology/NoAd

December 26, 2019

What is “zulu” time?

What is zulu time? Pretty important in aviation to know what zulu time is.

Categories AIM - Aeronautical Information Manual/Aviation/Flight Training/GEN - General/NoAd

December 26, 2019

Aeronautical Information Manual Explained

The Aeronautical Information Manual, AIM, is a Transport Canada document published twice a year for Canadian pilots and air traffic controllers. It is a single source document containing information from various regulations, manuals, and guides. It is an excellent resource for new pilots and experienced pilots looking for a refresh. Download the most current version in PDF form here: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/tc-aim.html....

Categories AGA - Aerodromes/AIM - Aeronautical Information Manual/AIR - Airmanship/Aviation/COM - Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Flight Training/GEN - General/LRA - Licensing, Registration and Airworthiness/MAP - Aeronautical Charts and Publications/MET - Meteorology/NAT - North Atlantic Operations/NoAd/RAC - Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services/SAR - Search and Recuse