Orphan of the Magenta Line — VFR Mastery Scenario

Orphan of the Magenta Line

#93 | APRIL 2026

Skirting the DC SFRA and Philadelphia Bravo with your iPad seemed simple, until that iPad displayed a low battery warning. You realize your charger has been dead the entire flight. You stop the music on your phone and check its battery … 2%. So much for redundancy. You’re just southeast of the SFRA, threading between restricted areas. You’ve flown this route before, so maybe you can make a plan to navigate with the limited juice you have left along with ATC assistance. Or is it smarter to land and recharge?

Randall Williams

One day, Randall went to the small airport near his house and knocked on the window of a Cessna 172 to ask if either of the pilots was an instructor. One rating led to another, and that same 172 became the first plane in his flight school. He moved on to corporate charter and heavy cargo before returning to GA as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. He keeps his stick time up in jets for charter and a Super Cub on floats. In winter, you’ll find him with his partner on a sailboat in warm water.