Coms

Say it right

Consistency helps us communicate

I just finished reading Ian J. Twombly’s article “Right Seat: Doing Laps” in the June 2018 issue of Flight Training. I am in 100-percent agreement with the author of the Air Facts article “Where Is the Upwind Leg?” [who implores CFIs to teach the correct terminology to their students]. I agree that at least 90 percent of all pilots today subscribe to the modern-day parlance of referring to the departure leg as “upwind.” The problem arises when the remaining 10 percent of pilots correctly refer to “upwind” as the flight path parallel to the landing runway in the direction of landing.

I think the clear message is consistency and a clear understanding between the sender and receiver of those radio calls on common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). It would be nice if everyone would use the proper terminology as promulgated in the Aeronautical Information Manual, but you and I both know that will never happen. I see, understand, and appreciate where Twombly is coming from. I just think that AOPA should really be publishing facts that support the regulations; in other words, take the high road and not refer to the aforementioned as a “non-issue.”

Tom Slavonik
Pueblo West, Colorado

Traveling light

I was just rereading Dave Hirschman’s article about the astounding costs of new airplanes (“Unusual Attitude: Million Dollar Baby,” June 2018 Flight Training), which I completely agree with. However, I couldn’t disagree more with his assessment of the Vashon Ranger.

Perhaps you haven’t heard that the average man is well over the FAA standard weight nowadays. To make the Ranger work on a trip, with full fuel, you and I would have to be two great-looking gals at 120 pounds each and carry only 37 pounds of baggage (including a flight bag). Please introduce me to the lady who only packs 18.5 pounds of stuff for a short trip; this gal I’ve got to meet.

I think the best route is to resurrect the hangar queens; simple airplanes equal simple expenses.

Rich Czarniecki
San Diego, California

ERRATA

Loved the story about “Island Hopping” in the June 2018 issue. I appreciated the inclusion of Vashon Island, and its grass strip (2S1). My instructor took me in there several times as a student pilot, so I would learn confidence in handling a grass runway, and a short-field situation. I also like that you highlighted the new Vashon Ranger aircraft, accompanying the story.

I have to point out, however, that the story mentions the “Hood River Canal.” The correct name of this waterway is just “Hood Canal.” The Hood River is some 100 miles south, in Oregon. The Hood Canal isn’t a true manmade canal—it is a fjord where the Olympic Mountains do indeed “climb nearly straight up from the Puget Sound.”

Thanks for the great content!

Kit Warfield
Seattle, Washington

In “Technique: Canyon Turn” (February 2018 Flight Training), we incorrectly stated that the stall speed increases at the square of the load factor. In a coordinated turn, stall speed increases as the square root of the load factor.

Flight Training regrets the errors.

We welcome your comments. Please email [email protected]. Letters will be edited for style and space.