Voyager Aviation

03/28/2026

https://www.facebook.com/reel/4222238307989037/?fs=e&fs=e

The proper way to tie an aircraft down. Very important

03/16/2026

Proper aviation terminology, so very important to prevent mishaps or worse

The Right and Wrong Way to Use the Word “Takeoff” When Communicating with ATC

The pilot of a Beechcraft Bonanza copied the latest ATIS and radioed Montgomery Ground at MYF for taxi:
“Montgomery Ground, Bonanza 9716R, taxi for takeoff with Echo.”

The ground controller replied:
“N16R, don’t use the word takeoff unless it’s in your clearance. Say ‘request taxi for IFR departure.’”

The confused pilot responded:
“I never knew that—good to learn something new.”

The controller then explained that after the Tenerife disaster decades ago, aviation phraseology was standardized to strictly control when the word takeoff is used.

Takeaway: To avoid misunderstandings, FAA Order 7110.65 states:

“Avoid the use of the word takeoff except to actually clear an aircraft for takeoff or to cancel a takeoff clearance.”

It also instructs controllers to avoid phraseology such as:
“After takeoff fly heading 180,”

and instead say:
“After departure fly heading 180.”

Pilots should follow the same practice when communicating with ATC.

Phrases to avoid:

• “Taxi for takeoff”
• “Ready for takeoff”
• “After takeoff fly heading 180”

The FAA cites numerous incidents where improper use of the word takeoff contributed to runway incursions. Replacing takeoff with departure helps reduce the risk of misunderstanding.

Preferred phases:

• “Request taxi for northwest departure”
• “Ready for northwest departure”
• “After departure fly heading 180”

Remember: Words matter when piloting airplanes.

Fly safe, friends. ✈️

01/05/2026

And of course, when you successfully solo, the instructor is rewarded with the student’s shirttail to hang for all to see.

Congratulations Ryan Marie Dickens on a great job!

01/05/2026

And her first solo landing.

Great job Ryan Dickens!

01/05/2026

Kicked another one out of the nest today.

Congrats to Ryan Marie Dickens for her first solo takeoff today.

01/01/2026

12/31/2025

I am an absolute believer in this. Just because it has a pretty color, has a feminine name, or because it’s cute, a snub nose revolver is a very poor choice for your first gun.

Snub-nose revolvers are the absolute worst choice for a new shooter.

Heavy double-action trigger that punishes poor mechanics.

Tiny sights with a brutally short sight radius.
Low capacity.

Slow, failure-prone reloads under stress.

Sharp recoil in lightweight frames that destroys confidence fast.

None of that makes shooting easier. None of it makes learning faster. None of it helps someone who is already overwhelmed by grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control.

Snub-nose revolvers demand excellent fundamentals to perform well. They are unforgiving of mistakes and amplify every error. That’s fine for someone who understands the platform and trains around its limitations.

It is a terrible starting point for someone who doesn’t.

The reason this advice keeps getting recycled isn’t because it works. It’s because it sounds simple to people who haven’t actually shot enough to expose the downsides. Nostalgia gets mistaken for wisdom, and vibes get mistaken for experience.

When “just give them a revolver” is the recommendation, what’s really happening is the difficulty is being shifted onto the new shooter and disguised as prudence. The platform stays the same. The struggle just becomes their problem.

People who shoot well do not recommend revolvers for beginners.

People who cannot shoot well absolutely do.

Let’s stop pretending otherwise.

12/25/2025

A very Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

10/16/2025

🎃✈️ Get ready for a spooktacular time at the Scare-Port! 👻🛫

Join us at the Mecklenburg Brunswick Regional Airport for our annual SCARE-PORT Trunk or Treat!

📅 Saturday, November 1st, 2025
📍 1495 Regional Airport Rd, Broadnax, VA
⏰ 3 p.m. until dark

Bring your family and friends for a fun-filled afternoon featuring:
🌭 Free hotdogs, chips, and drinks
🚗 Trunk-or-Treat fun for all ages
✈️ Airplanes on display

Come in costume, bring a decorated trunk if you’d like, and enjoy an evening of Halloween fun—airport style! 🕸️🎃