collision avoidance quiz

How to fly a standard airport traffic pattern

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1 Comment
A left hand pattern is considered standard and should be used unless specified otherwise for an airport. It is important to fly standard traffic pattern procedures to ensure the safe and orderly flow of aircraft to and from an airport.
Aircraft Engine - cruise

FAA proposing rule that will expand aircraft eligible for sport pilot

Under the proposal, aircraft weighing as much as 3,000 pounds will be eligible for Sport Pilot. This more than doubles the weight of aircraft under the current definition of Light Sport of 1,320 pounds, allowing larger and stronger aircraft to qualify as Light Sport.

Video Tip of the Week: Class B airspace

Class B airspace surrounds the busiest airports, which means there are some important restrictions to remember any time you're operating within it - or underneath it. In this week's video tip, we review how Class B airspace works, what you need to do to fly legally in it and how to stay safe. Take a few minutes and get current today.

Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Traffic pattern entry procedures

Standard traffic patterns are established at nontowered airports to provide a smooth flow of traffic from the arrival phase of flight through approach and landing. Here are the steps to follow to safely and efficiently join the pattern and get established on the final approach leg for landing.

Converging aircraft – what would you have done?

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23 Comments
Aircraft Y called a 5-mile final behind us. We continued down to the runway and made a safe landing. We came to a full stop on the runway to clean up the airplane and make a very short debrief because Aircraft Y, landing behind us, was on a 1-mile final as he made a radio call. We made a radio call stating that we were departing Runway 5.

Video tip: engine detonation and pre-ignition

What happens when the spark plugs in your engine aren't working properly? Some pretty bad stuff. In our latest video tip, we explain what detonation and pre-ignition are all about, how they happen, and what you can do to prevent them from happening.

Webinar video: Choosing the right handheld video

A portable aviation radio is a great backup tool and a valuable resource for flight training too. Includes an in-depth look at the technology, what to look for when buying a radio, and tips for using them in the real world.

The 7 deadly sins of radio communications

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4 Comments
Nobody wants to sound bad in front of the "audience" of your fellow pilots. But there are a few things that can instantly make you sound less professional--let's call them the 7 deadly sins of radio communication. These phrases should not be in your aviation vocabulary.

Friday photo: Goodyear blimp over Oshkosh

Flying aboard the Goodyear Blimp over EAA AirVenture was the experience of a lifetime.

Aviation weather video tip: When flying IFR isn’t an option

Sometimes terrain, icing, lack of instrument rating or proper equipment can make flying on an Instrument Flight Plan (IFR) not an option. But that doesn't mean you need to cancel a flight just because there's weather along the route or it's not perfect VFR.