A METAR map is a custom-made map with LED lights positioned at selected airports or reporting stations. The lights change color to indicate weather conditions based on METAR reports via internet. I’ve wanted to make a METAR map for a few years and finally took the plunge, and I’m thrilled with the results. Creating a map is not difficult and requires only basic tools (scissors, electric drill, hot glue gun). No computer programming knowledge is necessary and configuring the lights is easy. If you’re curious about METARs and the process to make your own map, read on! What is a METAR? METAR is ..read more

Anchorage, Alaska plays a key role in the transport of international goods. Why Anchorage? The summers are nice, but winters are long and dark. Weather, earthquakes, and even volcanoes present logistical challenges. So, why does cargo transported between North America and Asia make a pit stop in Anchorage? A pair of UPS 747s depart Anchorage This feature first appeared at FlightRadar24, July, 2023Anchorage Airport Stats Ted Stevens – Anchorage International is one of our planet’s most important cargo hubs. A few stats from the Alaska Department of Transportation: Anchorage is less than 9 ..read more

Time for Work The flight crew arrives at the Boeing 767 freighter between 30 and 60 minutes prior to departure. If the pilots expect an on-time departure, they’ll be busy until pushback. This is a general overview of what’s involved in preparing the aircraft for flight. A flight crew prepares a Boeing 767 for flight Every airline develops its own preflight procedures. The following is based on my experience on the Boeing 767 freighter with one carrier. Captain, first officer, and international relief officer preflight task assignments are different at every airline. References to a certain cr ..read more

Large aircraft have a lot of probes for gathering data. One of my favorites on the 767 is the little guy that sits beneath the captain’s windscreen. On humid days, the aspirated total air temperature (TAT) probe puts on quite a show; spitting and sputtering a long stream of high pressure condensation. The probe is basically a thermometer. Why all the theatrics? Where to Find the TAT Probe TAT probe locations vary on different aircraft models. Some aircraft have one, others utilize multiple probes. The 757 and 767 each have a single probe. The probe on the 767-300F(ER) is located below the cap ..read more

A few years ago, I got the bug to fly small airplanes again. I trained for a few weeks at a local flight school, then rented a Cessna 172 to fly with my family. Renting has its limitations, so our family decided to get our own aircraft. We fly our new-to-us Piper to Florida often (the airplane could probably find Orlando on its own), and we agreed it was time for something more adventurous. So, my wife and I, and our two youngest (16 and 17) loaded up the airplane in Louisville, Kentucky and headed west for 11 days. I’ll share what I hope are interesting AvGeek details about the planning and ..read more

The Honeywell SI-800 Airspeed/Mach Indicator has been a standard instrument on the Boeing 737, 747, 757, and 767 for decades. Boeing stopped installing the stand-alone indicator in favor of modern, reliable flat panel displays. Airlines are upgrading older cockpits with newer displays, so this old indicator will soon become a relic. The instrument provides pilots with a surprising amount of information. Read on to find out how the classic SI-800 works and how pilots use it! Location of the Honeywell SI-800 airspeed indicator on a 757/767 panelInputs All airspeed indicators need two air inputs ..read more

Air masses are always on the move; changing direction and speed as they swirl around the globe. The movement of air across the earth’s surface is what we usually call wind. Wind and temperature data from all levels of the atmosphere are necessary to create accurate forecast models. Meteorologists use model data to create the Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast. Pilots and dispatchers use the forecast to make accurate flight plans that optimize speed and fuel economy. Scientists have made atmospheric observations for centuries. The first attempts at making upper-atmosphere measurements took ..read more

Airline tires take a beating. When a tire reaches its service limit, maintenance technicians remove the entire wheel and replace it; the same for brakes. So, what happens to the old wheels, tires, and brakes? They certainly aren’t thrown away. Technicians send old wheels and brakes to a Wheel & Brake Shop for overhaul. This is the second of two articles about aircraft wheels. Be sure to read the first article: Aircraft Wheels for more information about airliner wheels and tires! Most airlines have their own wheel and brake shops — large carriers have several shops located around ..read more

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