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Aerospace/Aviation/Questions Answered by Expert Dottie Norkus
| Subject | Date Asked |
| pilots | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: sir, i want to know the series of course/documents i need to obtain to be a standard pilot 2.is it ... A: As my profle states, I can only address such inquires from an American perspective. That said, since ... | |
| Aeronautical career choosing | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I wanna do my MSc programme in Human factors and safety assessment. I want to have some clear idea ... A: Sorry, but I cannot comment on any course or career path in India. As my profile states, I can ... | |
| Radio Navigation book | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: will u suggest me a approved book for radio navigation,which will provide me basic knowledge about ... A: Seems Although you are in India, this link provides several U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ... | |
| Financing the dream... | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a whole host of questions but I'll just hit you with a few. What can you tell me about ... A: Sarah 1) What can you tell me about financing flight instruction? Unfortunately, I can't address ... | |
| Career in Aviation | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I want to have a career in the civil aviation industry, and I was hoping you could provide some more ... A: Peter I think you are smart to be getting a degree in business and not an aviation specific degree. ... | |
| Part 61 vs. Part 141 commercial training | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I am 37 years old and just received my instrument rating. My total flying hours are about 200. I ... A: Andy I am glad to see these question were on your mind! You have been doing your homework I see. ... | |
| Part 61 vs. Part 141 commercial training | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I am 37 years old and just received my instrument rating. My total flying hours are about 200. I ... A: Andy, I don't believe it matters which route you go and personally know very few pilots that went ... | |
| Clouds, wet airplanes | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: how can and airplane go though a cloud and come out dry? due to a cloud holding water. A: There are some types of clouds through which an aircraft flies through and is doesn't come out dry. ... | |
| DWI | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: Dottie I just read your write up on dwi and after reviewing it I had some questions. If I was ... A: Bob Yes, you must report alcohol-related administrative actions, whether a conviction took place or ... | |
| landing flare | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: i have been watching videos of plane landings on the internet. i notice as they approach the runway ... A: The 'flare' is the pitch attitude of the aircraft in touchdown. You may notice during landing an ... | |
| radar altimeter counts | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: i have been watching videos of plane landings on the internet. i notice as they approach the runway ... A: Kathleen They are calling out the height above touchdown. 50 feet to go, 30 feet to go, ect so the ... | |
| south american plane crash | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: 1995. in the accident report transcript, the pilot & atc keep saying things like cleared direct to ... A: Kathleen A VOR is an aid to navigation for aircraft. It is an acronym for a Very high frequency ... | |
| fire handle | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: relocated that fire handle ref. on airdisaster.com korean air lines 2033 cvr transcript the pilot ... A: Kathleen Re: http://www.airdisaster.com/cvr/kal2033.shtml Korean 2033 and the fire handle comment: ... | |
| obscure phrases: pan pan pan | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: have been reading @plane crashes, so maybe inemergencies the pilots use phrases unique to that ... A: Kathleen The reason the phrase is little heard, it because of what it implies: Pan pan pan "is ... | |
| 10 yr old dui and return to work cert | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: Dottie, A unique situation has come up for me. I am returning from a medical leave and have had to ... A: Dee Unfortunately I have heard of crew members running afoul of this situation. I only fly ... | |
| areonautical/aviation law | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: Hey Dottie. i am a student that's interested on aviation and i am about to take a course in ... A: Toni, Sorry, but since I am an airline pilot with no practical experience in Av Law, I cannot ... | |
| 4 yr U for Intl student | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: which university in the us will you recommend for an international student who waants to offer a ... A: There are so many schools to pick from, there isn't just one I'd recommend. Your choice should be a ... | |
| Scholarship for Ghanaian | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: AM 23 years GHANAIAN HAVING A CERTIFICATE IN HND. ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING. TO BE A PILOT ... A: Anna I have a database of flight scholarships for females at http://www.flightscholarship.info ... | |
| Cessna 340 $/hr | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for the price per hour for a Cessna 340 dry or wet?? A: Peggy If you are looking for a RENTAL/CHARTER costs, the hourly rate would depend on the company ... | |
| DUI Question | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: Hey, Thanks for taking my question. I know you have had several questions about pilots and DUIs. ... A: Robby While having a DUI is a setback, it is not a disqualifier entirely. There have been pilots ... | |
| aviation, aerospace scholarship for a Kenyan | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I am a Kenya man aged 18 and just completed my high school.My dream career has always been flying ... A: John There are many, many students that are hoping to find scholarships or grants for their ... | |
| pre-employment and a DUI | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: this is my first time writing online and it might not be the best question you ever read. My concern ... A: Nikhil Not being in HR or recruitment, I can only answer from a pilots persepective. When ... | |
| dui | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: .I just got a ticket for a dui 2 days ago. I am on leave with a major airline, returning to work ... A: Since you don't have certificates at risk like a pilot, I'd say the threat to your job is pretty low ... | |
| dui | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: .I just got a ticket for a dui 2 days ago. I am on leave with a major airline, returning to work ... A: Rita You say you have "been flying for 16 years" but not in what capacity. If you are employed as ... | |
| flight attendant with dui and canada | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: i know that there are flight attendants with dui's (dui's that are definitely less than 5 years old) ... A: Kristy How are they allowed to do that? Simply because it is not prohibited by law or regulation to ... | |
| Aspiring pilot | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I am a sophomore in high school and I want to be an airline pilot. I am considering CAP but one of ... A: Maddie I have no experience with the CAP so I can't comment on their program. You can only know if ... | |
| Career as a Pilot/Edu | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: Although i live in Canada, i think that my question is relevant. Im interested in a career as a ... A: Sebastian Well, if the airlines in Canada are like the airlines in the USA then...... 1) My ... | |
| DUIs and Flight Attendants | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: Is there a policy within the FAA that states that those with DUI convictions are not able to be ... A: Maria No, there is no FAA regulation of any sort prohibiting getting hired with a DUI. In fact, ... | |
| BA degree in aviation | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: I have been taking flying lessons since I was 12. I am a junior in HS. I am planning on earning a ... A: Chase 1) I would like to have your ideas of colleges and the type of degree I should look at for ... | |
| DWAI & Class 2 medical certificate | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I was convicted of a DWAI while in NY in May. I have no flight hours/experiance and am trying to ... A: John, You don't need to show anything to your AME regarding a DUI/DWAI. There is a box on the ... | |
| Application for foreigners? | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: I am a SriLankan(South Asian Country). Also an holder of valid CAA PPL license. Allthough I am ... A: "I am interested in joining NTSB, as a student Volunteer & work there itself." There are limited ... | |
| FAA & DUIs | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: What if you are a pilot and you were drinking on your off day and you get a dui and it is your 1st ... A: Beth, The Federal Aviation Regulations state: § 61.15 Offenses involving alcohol or drugs. (a) A ... | |
| Pilot degrees | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: Is a bachelors degree needed to become sucessful and recieve good pay as an airline pilot? A: Ross, Essentially, yes. To be a competitive candidate for a pilot position, you must have at least ... | |
| Pilot! | 3/17/2007 |
| Q: "How old can you be to start becoming a pilot? What age or classes required do you need to get your ... A: Julia You can start training at a very young age if your parents support it financially (and ... | |
| emergency calls | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: I am an author who has a bit of a dilemma. A private investigator is on an airplane (major airline) ... A: Jeff There are frequencies that could be used in flight for conversation. There are several ... | |
| 747 Barrel Roll | 3/8/2007 |
| Q: is it possible for a commercial airplane such as the Boeing 747 to execute a complete barrel roll? ... A: Yes, it is possible to roll a 747, though such an aerobatic maneuver isn't something one would do in ... | |
| Accomodating the A380 | 2/28/2007 |
| Q: I was listening to the radio this morning and it said that Airbus is finally going to land an A380 ... A: Kevin As of yet, the Airbus A380 has not made an appearance at LAX. However, after much dismay by ... | |
| Main Landing Gears | 2/21/2007 |
| Q: I have a question regarding the main landing gears of commercial aircrafts. Why are they angled ... A: Kevin True, the main gear bogies on commercial aircraft often have an angle on them but it is not ... | |
| Tenerife Disaster | 2/4/2007 |
| Q: This is probably the best airplane accident reaanactment video i've ever seen. Im just confused ... A: Kevin Unfortunately, my computer doesn't like Youtube.com links very much. I can never get them to ... | |
| United Airlines Flight 232 | 1/28/2007 |
| Q: How did flight 232 survive a direct hit on its port wing with an anti-aircraft missile? I heard it ... A: Kevin United 232, which crashed in Iowa on July 19th 1989, was not struck by an anti-aircraft ... | |
| Landing_west_to_east | 1/22/2007 |
| Q: Why is it that airplanes arriving at LAX International land west to east? A: Generally, the winds favor using those runways (24L & 24R, 25R, 25L is closed) as the wind most ... | |
| planes and fog | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: why is it that airports (particularly commercial ones) are often closed due to fog when modern ... A: Not all airplanes or airports are "so capable". Landing "blind" is not really totally blind for most ... | |
| financial concerns | 12/12/2006 |
| Q: I am currently enrolled in an aviation/airway sciences program in WA. I will be starting my flight ... A: Jessica It is very hard to find awards that pay for any substantial amount of your flight training. ... | |
| Aircraft Porpoising | 9/14/2006 |
| Q: If an aircraft starts porpoising hard enough, could it cause airframe damage? Or worse could it ... A: Absolutely! Even a very hard landing where the nosewheel hit perticularly hard can cause the ... | |
| Bomb on an airplane | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: How dangerous would a bomb be to a commercial airliner? A: Well, obviously depending on the type of explosive device, it can be lethal. There have been several ... | |
| Aeronautical Engineering | 7/14/2006 |
| Q: Sir, I am Going to complete my 12 year school under 2 years and intrested to get admission in ... A: Madiha You can find a listing of the all universites in the United States offering aeronautics and ... | |
| NTSB | 6/4/2006 |
| Q: I am currently enrolled in Embry Riddle majoring in Professional Aeronautics with a concentration in ... A: Paola- Applicants for field investigator positions usually have aerospace industry work experience ... | |
| Rules re. aircraft landing lights | 5/21/2005 |
| Q: I believe that in the US, the FAA requires that aircraft flying up to a certain height have to keep ... A: Mark Nav lights must be on at any time from sunset until sunrise regardless of altitude. The ... | |
| Jettison of Engine | 2/15/2005 |
| Q: I am a student studying for a diploma in Singapore. I have heard that a civil airplane can jettison ... A: "I have heard that a civil airplane can jettison it's engine during flight at emergency." No. While ... | |
| BA dispute about luggage and other things | 9/19/2004 |
| Q: I have a problem with BA. Six weeks ago, I came back from London without my luggage, etc. BA doesn't ... A: Jolanda I do hope that at the time of your return when the luggage did not make it to baggage claim ... | |
| CAREER GUIDANCE | 7/19/2004 |
| Q: I AM A 28 YR OLD BASED IN INDIA AT PRESENT. I AM HAVING A LICENCE FROM USFAA CONVERTED TO INDIAN ... A: Madhusmita- I can only address airline flying careers in the United States. No place else. 1,000 ... | |
| FAA Regulation-baggage | 7/6/2004 |
| Q: Where can I find the FAA Regulation that states that baggage cannot remain on a plane if the ... A: "Where can I find the FAA Regulation that states that baggage cannot remain on a plane if the ... | |
| New pilot maybe? | 4/2/2004 |
| Q: I am currently undertaking the Private Pilots Licence in Britain and would hopefully be looking at ... A: Tim Considering you live in the UK , I can't comment on careers/qualifications flying in Europe as ... | |
| pilot skills | 3/24/2004 |
| Q: I was wondering if it is necessary for a commercial airline pilot to have a good sense of direction. ... A: Susan Just got back off a trip, so I hope you have not waited too long for a reply. Personally, I ... | |
| FAA Regulations/Rules | 12/17/2003 |
| Q: ...I believe I have submitted a question within a week ago,but haven't received a reply,...I'm in ... A: NJ Thom I haven't recieved any questions about this topic lately. I had a two day trip and this is ... | |
| flight scholarships | 2/19/2003 |
| Q: i am judy aged 18 from kenya..africa.i have always had and still has a passion and dream of being a ... A: Judy, While I know of many flight scholarships for women, you must live in certain regions to ... | |
| Aviation Accident Investigator | 1/30/2003 |
| Q: Hey Dottie. I am a sophomore at the University of North Dakota. I want to be an accident ... A: Jared It seems to me that any of those degrees would help you if you wanted to be a field ... | |
| cabin air systems | 11/22/2002 |
| Q: Dottie, I am doing research for a book that I am writing. The plot involves a terrorist who ... A: Whit, I am not sure what kind of information you want about cabin environmental, but I think all ... | |
| Flight Scholarships | 9/13/2002 |
| Q: I would love any information on scholarship to do dispatch course. Also scholarship to get ... A: Linda, I just sent a response to your previous scholarship post. As far as womens organizations, I ... | |
| FAA regulations | 4/8/2002 |
| Q: Where can I find the latest FAA regulations regarding checked baggage searches on commercial ... A: Tammie All security regulations are covered under Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14, Federal ... | |
Aerospace/Aviation
Answers by Expert:
Dottie Norkus
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can address questions about airline pilot employment & entry level airline careers in the United States, women pilots, flight training, pilot certification, U.S. flight scholarships (mostly for women), aviation & airline safety topics, aviation accident investigation and airline operations. ***Please note, I cannot address flight training & career queries from outside the United States, or aero engineering degree programs/careers, aviation management topics. ****
Experience
U.S. Regional airline pilot. I have had 15 years previous experience in airline ground operations. I have previously flown as a commercial skydive pilot & ferry pilot.
Organizations
International Organization of Women Pilots, Women In Aviation International, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Organization, Air Line Pilots Association
Education/Credentials
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; Aviation Safety/Accident investigation.
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