Quantcast

Pilot reflects on changes from past aviation practices

Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
Global Airlines & HiFly Operate 1st Passenger Airbus A380 Flight Between Barcelona And Berlin
American Airlines unveils ritzy new plane suites launching this summer
Airline Stocks To Keep An Eye On - April 28th
Gatwick Airport Faces Potential Strikes
50 New Routes Starting In May 2025
Report: JetBlue, United Mulling Partnership
New First-Class Suites, Futuristic Aircraft and the Top Air Travel News From April 2025
Pilot reflects on changes from past aviation practices
Webp ifq8hysv9kvonscfv21jnyrgkveu
Ivy Ericksen Publisher | AVweb

Last weekend, I fulfilled the role of an “antique squared.” This is when an antique is found to be flying an antique. Slipping the surlies of my home airport, I ventured out with my 1946 Cessna 140 to a local EAA meeting in another town. A lot was going on there, including Young Eagle flights, charcoal-grilled processed meat eating, and builders/pilots pondering the latest group aircraft project.

Having fulfilled my Young Eagle ride provider duty, I settled into my lawn chair in the shade under the fabric wing of my 140. I viewed an unusual sight nowadays—a large group of people at an airport having fun while learning things.

On most ramps and airports on most days, you can hear an eerie silence while perhaps seeing a metaphorical tumbleweed or two traverse what used to be a vibrant area. The day of having random groups of ramp tramps loitering for hours and days at the local airport has passed with the coming of barbed-wire fencing, unfriendly FBOs, and snooty airplane owners.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Just as I was about to close my eyes to rest a while, a middle-aged guy wearing a hat with his airplane’s “N” number on it sidled up and said, “Wow, nothing like the good old days of flying, huh?”

He continued: “Yep, old airplanes like this flown in the old way are the best. I have only been flying a few years and wish I had flown during the good old days of aviation like you have.”

I found his comment funny. How did he know I did not start flying recently? Was it my bald spot, skin cancer surgery scars or prescription bifocal sunglasses?

Had he investigated the cockpit of my ride, he might have noticed ADS-B capability, two electronic multifunction displays, panel-mounted GPS backed up with an iPad using ForeFlight driven by a Sentinel, and rescue handheld GPS in the glovebox. If you discount that it is missing a flight director, autopilot and autothrottles, my airplane is better equipped than most airliners I have flown.

I pulled out my backup lawn chair and asked him to sit with me in the shade for a while.

He was right in assuming that I had been around flying for a while but was surprised to hear me say that I wasn’t missing the good old days all that much.

Sure," back in the day young pilots like me operated under very little supervision. "I began working at the airport as a lineboy right when I turned sixteen and was given an Avgas truck," Jet-A truck," "and motor-driven tugs."

"I soloed during my sixteenth year with about seven hours of flight time." "I was trained but did not have to take a written quiz," talk on radio," "know what transponder was or deal with aircraft systems knowledge."

"There seemed to be less traffic back then." "Of course we lacked ADS-B and TCAS," so there might have been quite a few aircraft near us that we never saw."

"People used to smoke in airplanes." "Imagine sitting in Cessna 150 with instructor who chain-smoked."

"We navigated using pilotage and occasionally VOR." Having DME was distant dream; RNAV out question."

"Until halfway through airline career," list AM radio station frequencies from towns used ADF cross-check position trying find football scores pass along passengers."

"Weather especially dangerous weather unseen surprising before access watch screen humble general aviation spam cans." "Flew twins IFR night without radar; only clue thunderstorm sometimes came ran into it."

"My newfound chair-bound friend looked uncomfortable." "I stood giving him tacit permission stand before ambled off find less verbose acquaintance finished one last comment unvarnished truth matter."

"What miss about good old days being young full hormones energy stupidity getting morning nothing hurting." Flying through sweet air low-time ignorance happy air didn’t know care dumb."

To Young Eagles flew today beginning their good old days. Their future might include fly-ins Mars but bet look back this time quaint safe happy place where flying fun best adventures lay future.

If you’d like more Kevin Garrison’s stories observations check Amazon’s special offer book CEO Cockpit available free Amazon.com July 8th through July 12th here.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AQSOVY

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Lufthansa has announced the introduction of unlimited free chatting on its long-haul flights.

Jun 3, 2025

Air New Zealand is set to expand its fleet with the arrival of two new A321neo aircraft, each covering a distance of 19,342 kilometers from the Airbus facility in Hamburg to Auckland.

Jun 3, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Awards.

Jun 2, 2025

Alaska Airlines is offering its Mileage Plan members the opportunity to explore global culinary destinations with significant discounts on award tickets.

Jun 2, 2025

Emirates is offering a complimentary ice cream experience for travelers at Dubai International Airport during the busy summer travel season.

Jun 2, 2025

Emirates is set to resume flights to Damascus starting on July 16, 2025.

Jun 2, 2025