@inclined2fly.bsky.social
USAF Veteran, Pilot, Former Designated Pilot Examiner, NTSB Aircraft Accident Investigator and retired FAA Aviation Safety Inspector. Flight Instructor, Airplane Single & Multiengine; Instrument Airplane; Glider. 43 years of flying experience...so far.
Pinned
I was one of "them" for 23 years. I've seen some things...
US aviation safety continues to devolve.
abcnews.go.com/US/plane-cra...
abcnews.go.com/US/plane-cra...
UPS aircraft crashes after departing Louisville airport, shelter-in-place issued: Officials
A large plume of smoke could be seen near the airport, which is closed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
abcnews.go.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:43 PM
US aviation safety continues to devolve.
abcnews.go.com/US/plane-cra...
abcnews.go.com/US/plane-cra...
“The FAA’s decision is particularly difficult to justify in view of the imminent risk of loss of life from a similar accident, the minimal effort required to accomplish the Service Bulletins..."
Minimal? Not when your support staff gets fired and your inspectors quit.
apnews.com/article/lear...
Minimal? Not when your support staff gets fired and your inspectors quit.
apnews.com/article/lear...
NTSB says FAA was wrong not to require inspections of Learjet landing gear after Arizona crash
The National Transportation Safety Board wants the owners of nearly 2,000 Learjets to urgently inspect their landing gear to make sure they won't collapse like they did in a fatal crash earlier this y...
apnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:22 PM
“The FAA’s decision is particularly difficult to justify in view of the imminent risk of loss of life from a similar accident, the minimal effort required to accomplish the Service Bulletins..."
Minimal? Not when your support staff gets fired and your inspectors quit.
apnews.com/article/lear...
Minimal? Not when your support staff gets fired and your inspectors quit.
apnews.com/article/lear...
One of the goals in Project 2025 is to separate ATC from the FAA and either contract it out, or make it a stand alone entity not affected by the budget process. FAA would still provide an oversight role of the new entity. The FSS was contracted out in 2005.
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/a...
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/a...
Air traffic control shortages add to U.S. flight delays, FAA says
The government shutdown is exacerbating concerns about the strain on air traffic controllers, a shortage of whom has vexed airline executives for years.
www.cnbc.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
One of the goals in Project 2025 is to separate ATC from the FAA and either contract it out, or make it a stand alone entity not affected by the budget process. FAA would still provide an oversight role of the new entity. The FSS was contracted out in 2005.
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/a...
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/a...
My first fatal accident at the NTSB, a Cessna 310-F in Carmel Valley California. It was quite a hike to get up into that canyon.
October 4, 2025 at 1:49 AM
My first fatal accident at the NTSB, a Cessna 310-F in Carmel Valley California. It was quite a hike to get up into that canyon.
The collapse of the US economy will "fix" the pilot shortage issue for a while. People won't be flying when they live on the street and can't afford food.
www.dw.com/en/pilot-cri...
www.dw.com/en/pilot-cri...
Pilot crisis looms as airlines scramble to fill cockpits – DW – 10/02/2025
Many airlines worldwide are struggling to fill their cockpits with experienced pilots as demand for air travel grows. Can signing bonuses and fast-track promotions make up for a massive retirement wav...
www.dw.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:52 AM
The collapse of the US economy will "fix" the pilot shortage issue for a while. People won't be flying when they live on the street and can't afford food.
www.dw.com/en/pilot-cri...
www.dw.com/en/pilot-cri...
I was one of "them" for 23 years. I've seen some things...
September 27, 2025 at 4:44 AM
I was one of "them" for 23 years. I've seen some things...
Unscheduled airshow over my house today. A USMC C-130 Black Tail was in the pattern for a few hours.
September 27, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Unscheduled airshow over my house today. A USMC C-130 Black Tail was in the pattern for a few hours.
My favorite King Air was the F-90. It's the sports car of King Airs, basically a short 200. I flew this one quite a few times.
September 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
My favorite King Air was the F-90. It's the sports car of King Airs, basically a short 200. I flew this one quite a few times.
507 nuclear bombs have been detonated in the atmosphere as part of nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 1996. Many involved flying aircraft around, over and through the detonations to test survivability.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMfp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMfp...
Nuclear Effects During SAC Delivery Missions
YouTube video by atomcentral
www.youtube.com
September 16, 2025 at 3:51 AM
507 nuclear bombs have been detonated in the atmosphere as part of nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 1996. Many involved flying aircraft around, over and through the detonations to test survivability.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMfp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMfp...
Now I can call myself a retired Sky Pig. Excellent!
federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-reten...
federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-reten...
Agencies told to remove government jargon from federal job titles
The Office of Personnel Management said revising job titles to align with “private-sector terminology” should help attract broader pools of applicants.
federalnewsnetwork.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Now I can call myself a retired Sky Pig. Excellent!
federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-reten...
federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-reten...
“It really hurts my heart to see really dedicated and professional people who've given their entire life to public service just walk away and walk away in a way that isn't reflective of their long service.”
Yeah, it really hurts aviation safety too. Oh well...
www.govexec.com/management/2...
Yeah, it really hurts aviation safety too. Oh well...
www.govexec.com/management/2...
Union questions feasibility of, and intention for, relocating FAA headquarters employees
The move is part of a new Transportation Department initiative called 1DoT to overhaul agency processes, functions and infrastructure.
www.govexec.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:50 AM
“It really hurts my heart to see really dedicated and professional people who've given their entire life to public service just walk away and walk away in a way that isn't reflective of their long service.”
Yeah, it really hurts aviation safety too. Oh well...
www.govexec.com/management/2...
Yeah, it really hurts aviation safety too. Oh well...
www.govexec.com/management/2...
The FAA isn't all Air Traffic Control. The ATO is a part of the FAA. Aviation Safety (AVS) which has offices such as AFS (Flight Standards) and its FSDOs and CMOs are not part of ATO, and haven't finished the last 2 "restructurings". This won't help.
theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...
theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...
New FAA administrator plans agency leadership restructuring
Bryan Bedford discusses first step of his broader plan for FAA cultural reform
theaircurrent.com
August 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The FAA isn't all Air Traffic Control. The ATO is a part of the FAA. Aviation Safety (AVS) which has offices such as AFS (Flight Standards) and its FSDOs and CMOs are not part of ATO, and haven't finished the last 2 "restructurings". This won't help.
theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...
theaircurrent.com/regulation/f...
I logged a lot of hours in this airplane. Can you spot the problem with the vertical stabilizer? It always reminded me that this was indeed a government organization 😂
July 29, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I logged a lot of hours in this airplane. Can you spot the problem with the vertical stabilizer? It always reminded me that this was indeed a government organization 😂
What a novel idea? Why has no one thought of this before? 🙄
www.jalopnik.com/1921504/faa-...
www.jalopnik.com/1921504/faa-...
FAA Wants To Hire Immigrants As Air Traffic Controllers - Jalopnik
Surprising no one, the security personnel at the FAA are "losing their minds" at the idea of letting non-citizens into the country's air traffic arteries.
www.jalopnik.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:41 AM
What a novel idea? Why has no one thought of this before? 🙄
www.jalopnik.com/1921504/faa-...
www.jalopnik.com/1921504/faa-...
It's partly an airspace problem. They were in Class E. It's the wild, wild west. Anyone can be in there VFR without talking to ATC. The Hawkers are based out of Pt. Mugu NAS. Were they talking to ATC? If so, it's a SNAFU. If not, just another normal day in Class E.
abcnews.go.com/US/southwest...
abcnews.go.com/US/southwest...
Southwest flight descends 475 feet to avoid 'midair collision' with Hawker Hunter
The incident occurred about six minutes after Southwest flight 1496 took off from Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles County.
abcnews.go.com
July 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
It's partly an airspace problem. They were in Class E. It's the wild, wild west. Anyone can be in there VFR without talking to ATC. The Hawkers are based out of Pt. Mugu NAS. Were they talking to ATC? If so, it's a SNAFU. If not, just another normal day in Class E.
abcnews.go.com/US/southwest...
abcnews.go.com/US/southwest...
The struggle will get much worse since most of the FAA's corporate knowledge has left with those who've resigned or retired. They'll never get it back. theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...
The FAA’s decades-long struggle to put a price on aviation safety
The agency’s requirement to conduct a benefit-cost analysis on major new rules favors tangible economic impact over potential improvements to safety
theaircurrent.com
July 24, 2025 at 1:32 AM
The struggle will get much worse since most of the FAA's corporate knowledge has left with those who've resigned or retired. They'll never get it back. theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...
Far more than 1200 are leaving. Many of them are highly experienced inspectors. On top of that, recruitment has fallen off a cliff. No one wants to work for the government anymore.
aviationa2z.com/index.php/20...
aviationa2z.com/index.php/20...
Over 1,200 FAA Employees to Leave the Job this Year
Over 1,200 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are expected to leave the agency this year.
aviationa2z.com
July 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Far more than 1200 are leaving. Many of them are highly experienced inspectors. On top of that, recruitment has fallen off a cliff. No one wants to work for the government anymore.
aviationa2z.com/index.php/20...
aviationa2z.com/index.php/20...
While "flying cars" are a fun idea, I really don't think they're practical. I would have a hard time taking it on public roads knowing any damage, no matter how small, would likely make it unairworthy. I'd rather have an affordable airplane and rent a car.
generalaviationnews.com/2025/07/11/p...
generalaviationnews.com/2025/07/11/p...
Flying car company introduces pilot training program — General Aviation News
Company officials noted that many of the reservation holders for the flying car are not pilots.
generalaviationnews.com
July 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
While "flying cars" are a fun idea, I really don't think they're practical. I would have a hard time taking it on public roads knowing any damage, no matter how small, would likely make it unairworthy. I'd rather have an affordable airplane and rent a car.
generalaviationnews.com/2025/07/11/p...
generalaviationnews.com/2025/07/11/p...
The guy Trump nominates to head the FAA lies about his pilot certificates. What a surprise!
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
Trump’s FAA pick has claimed 'commercial' pilot license he doesn’t have
Bryan Bedford, the nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration, for years erroneously stated in his Republic Airways bio that he is a pilot with a “commercial” rating.
www.politico.com
June 15, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The guy Trump nominates to head the FAA lies about his pilot certificates. What a surprise!
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
