Articles

From AircraftOwner Online

You do it at the movie theater, the supermarket, as well as your favorite coffee shop on the way to work: You line up and wait. And, after September 30, 2010, you may also be asked to do it at your local towered airport.

Designed to help simplify and standardize air traffic control (ATC) phraseology, as well as to comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, U.S. controllers will use the term “line up and wait” in place of “position and hold” when instructing a pilot to taxi onto a departure runway and wait for takeoff clearance. Both current and future versions of the phrase are used when takeoff clearance cannot immediately be issued, either because of traffic or other reasons.

Why “line up and wait?” The phrase has actually been in use by a majority of ICAO contracting states for many years. It has proven useful with many non-native English speakers who can sometimes confuse “position and hold” with similar-sounding phrases like “position and roll,” “position at hold,” or “hold position.” Misinterpretation of this instruction can have serious consequences. Using “line up and wait” helps avoid ambiguity and keeps the global aviation community accountable to the same standard.

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From the annual Aviation International News Product Support Survey

Gulfstream once again takes the number one slot for jets (those built in the U.S.); Hawker Beechcraft takes the top spot among newer turboprops and Bell claims the number one rating among helicopters.

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A private aircraft should be considered only if a client would utilize the aircraft approximately 150 hours a year. If 150 hours a year is not going to be achieved, other forms of transportation should be considered.

1. What criteria (size, price, brand, etc.) should be considered when purchasing a plane?

The first thing we help a first time buyer do is to establish a mission profile by looking at their travel requirements. We take into account the distances to be flown, how many passengers will typically be on board, the frequency of the most common trips, if non-stop trips are needed or desired, and, based on the profile and the cities traveled, how often the aircraft will need to stop for fuel. A complete analysis, including cabin preference and budget requirements, is critical when deciding which category of aircraft to buy. Remember, all aircraft provide some compromise to performance. Some aircraft choices will be limited due to number of passengers, some will have range issues, while others will not have stand up cabins or fully enclosed lavatories. As you begin establishing your mission profile, we can assist you.

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