I’m off to Florida (hopefully) in the summer to get my PPL done, does this mean I can’t read the manuals I have to learn on the flight over?

I accept that in your case it would probably be totally innocent and a reasonable thing to do, but I think that would be a very foolish thing to do in the current climate of paranoia, even if you travel on a UK carrier.

Just gotta wait until I have to explain to Immigration why I’m in the country! Uhh…im here to learn to fly, then leave again.

There will be no problem with US immigration as long as you have the prerequisite visa before you go – it is explaining why you want to go to the US embassy in the UK in order to get the visa that is more of a challenge these days. If you go without the appropriate visa, then (a) there are very few flight schools in the US that will break the law and train you now anyway and (b) you won’t be explaining anything to US immigration, you’ll be on the next plane back home and won’t be allowed into the US again.

Andy

G-AYIM and G-ORCP were at CVT yesterday.

Andy

Some of the consolidators use airlines like Kuwait Airways or Air India for LHR-JFK flights on those “we’ll name the airline after you book” deals, so buyer beware! For me, KQ would be a no-no as I like the odd tipple or two as I cross the pond! 🙂

Andy

Do NOT buy a kiddie-cam… you will just end up in the same situation again later. Save up first, and buy a Digital SLR, something like a Canon 350D or a Nikon D50 which will last for years and years. Take it from someone who’s experienced the pain in the past, selling yourself short now will only cost you more in the long run.

Andy

Interestingly enough, they showed a 07:30, 10:30 and 11:30 all of which were direct and looking at the same site this morning shows United going at 07:55, 10:50 and 11:50.

There is a SIGNIFICANT difference between the term “direct” and the term “non-stop”

Very sad news. 5 Emergency Landing attempts is quite odd isnt it? I mean i realise weather was bad but why hang around and not divert to a better alternative airfield.

BBC report says it was making a second approach. Weather, if as quoted above, was poor rather than bad. Whether it was within landing minima rather depends on servicability of equipment on aircraft, crew qualifications and currency for the specific type of approach being carried out, landing aids available at the airport, and the servicability of those aids. No doubt that these issues will form a part of the investigation although “The Russian prosecutor general’s office announced it had launched criminal proceedings for violation of air traffic procedures leading to loss of life” (quote from BBC) is interesting.

5 approaches (if correct – see contradiction from BBC) would indeed be odd – SOPs at the airline I used to work for dictated that (a) an approach would not be commenced if weather was reported below minima and (b) a divert must be initiated after two missed approaches – fuel carried to be sufficient for that scenario, obviously.

Andy

Which unreal propliner would you rather fly?

Convair Model 37,
Bristol Brabazon
or Sud-Est Armagnac?

Nah, those lot were no problem… :rolleyes: What I’m still waiting for is a ride on a DC-5 – anyone know where I can arrange one? 😎

Andy