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Aerospace/Aviation/Questions Answered by Expert Christopher McKenna
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Air Traffic Control question... | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: Mr. McKenna, with all the stories lately about Air Traffic Controllers either napping or doing other ... A: David, the union is a big reason schedules are the way they are. In most facilities, management will ... | |
| Air traffic management | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: what are flight rules and what is airspace organisation in air traffic management A: The flight rules and airspace organization in the U.S. are established in the Code of Federal ... | |
| class e airspace with control tower | 8/18/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Mckenna: Hello, sir, my name is Tommy, and today I was informed that there are class E airports ... A: Tommy. As far as I can tell, there can be no such thing. If you have a control tower, you have class ... | |
| DVOR IDENT. | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: My name is M.Faisal Nazir and i am working as a flight dispatcher. i have a question regarding ... A: Faisal. In the US, we don't use DVOR, so I'm not quite sure on the difference in approaches between ... | |
| LCTR runway meaning | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I would like to ask: what is the meaning of the expression "Lctr runway 33L" on an airport chart? ... A: lctr is locator. It is a radio beacon that tells you how far away from the runway you are. There are ... | |
| Drug testing | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: Reference Part 120.105, safety sensitive functions "subcontractor at any tier..." Concerning item ... A: Maybe. Obviously, the removal and replacement require that the A&P mechanic be tested. Now we have a ... | |
| Drug testing | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: Reference Part 120.105, safety sensitive functions "subcontractor at any tier..." Concerning item ... A: I don't believe that Part 102.105 would apply in this case. Part 102.105 applies to "Aircraft ... | |
| Flight Paths/Origins | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in Harbor Springs, Michigan - located about 35 miles south of Mackinaw on Lake Michigan in ... A: Generally speaking, you're right. There are few passenger flights at that time, but there are some. ... | |
| Flight Paths/Origins | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in Harbor Springs, Michigan - located about 35 miles south of Mackinaw on Lake Michigan in ... A: Ami. Aircraft, unlike cars, travel on routes that have nothing to do with population centers. They ... | |
| Air Traffic Control Degree | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I was thinking about majoring in aerospace engineer, but I'm also joining the Air Force. However, ... A: Actually, the particular degree is not so important, depending on a few things. If you have ... | |
| flight pattern | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: What would be the flight pattern from New York to England? Would the plane fly over the North Pole ... A: Generally speaking, not over the polar region. Usually over newfoundland, greenland, Iceland, ... | |
| air traffic control | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: 1. What are the job responsibilities for someone who works in the tower, center, or flight service ... A: > 1. What are the job responsibilities for someone who works in the tower, center, or flight ... | |
| AIR TRAVEL RELATIVE TO THE EARTH'S ROTATION | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: If a plane flies west to east how does it make any progress if the earth is rotating around its axis ... A: For the same reason you land in the same place when you jump straight up. The aircraft, while ... | |
| Interview questions | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I have an assignment for my aerospace class in high school and was wondering if you would be willing ... A: 1. The FAA requires a college education, or a significant amount of experience, for example, being a ... | |
| airline flight paths | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: I live in Holland MI which is SW lower MI about 150 miles north of Chicago along the eastern shore ... A: and let me apologize for the delay in answering you. Airspace is composed of many routes, much like ... | |
| weather | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: How high do ya fly to avoid bad weather? ANSWER: It all depends. Sometimes as low as 8 or 10 ... A: You're welcome. Although the weather in the tropics, and the subtropics to the equator, is generally ... | |
| weather | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: How high do ya fly to avoid bad weather? A: It all depends. Sometimes as low as 8 or 10 thousand feet will get you over the weather. Other ... | |
| Interview assignment | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: -) My college professor wants me to do an Interview assignment in which I have to interview a person ... A: 1. It's a government job, while most others are private sector. 2. There are basically three ... | |
| Air Traffic Controller | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: McKenna: My 17 year-old son has a high interest in becoming an air traffic controller. He ... A: and I hope your son makes it! If I were him, I would apply to the FAA directly, first. Since the FAA ... | |
| Aviation | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: Mr. McKenna, is absolute altitude the same as AGL altitude? If not, how are they related? A: I'm not familiar with the term absolute altitude. However, all altitudes are expressed with a ... | |
| Cluster plane crashes | 9/15/2007 |
| Q: During the search for Steve Fossett... I noticed there were areas where several old plane wrecks ... A: Assuming that we're not talking about the Bermuda triangle :), I can only hazard a guess. I'm not ... | |
| emergency phone 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: There are airphones, installed in the seatbacks of many aircraft. They can be used to make and ... | |
| ATS | 1/23/2007 |
| Q: Respected sir I am faisal, flight dispatcher, from Pakistan, working with PIA. I want to get ... A: All air routes are common in the US. They consist of Jet airways and Victor airways. The jet airways ... | |
Aerospace/Aviation
Answers by Expert:
Christopher McKenna
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about general air traffic control, specific questions about Chicago Center ATC, legal questions regarding FARs(although they may take some time to research).
Experience
I have been an air traffic controller since 1984, at Albany, NY tower, NY Center, and Chicago Center. I have been an attorney since 1992.
Organizations
National Air Traffic Controllers Association(NATCA)
Education/Credentials
BS, Philosophy, SUNY. JD, Northern Illinois Univ. Various FAA training courses pertaining to air traffic control.
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