As Sporty’s lead aviation course and video producer, Bret is usually flying an interesting airplane, and often with a camera rolling. He oversees the development, production and distribution of over 30 aviation courses from Sporty's, including the Private Pilot Learn to Fly Course. He is a flight instructor and check airman at the Sporty's Academy flight school and a senior captain on a Cessna Citation.
During your training, you’ll practice a variety of simulated emergencies so that you’re prepared in the event the real thing develops in flight. One of the common training scenarios is a simulated engine failure, which will teach you important memory items and how to use the emergency checklist. This week’s tip demonstrates best-practices for dealing with this rare situation to help you get safely back on the ground.
Airplane engines are more sensitive than your typical car engine and require extra attention. This week’s video tip looks at some tips for basic airplane engine operations to help you get years of trouble-free operation from them.
You’ve probably heard that “you can stall an airplane at any airspeed and any attitude.” It’s true, but it sure doesn’t make much sense. In our latest video tip of the week, we tackle angle of attack, a critically important but often misunderstood topic. You’ll learn what it really means, how to visualize it in flight and what the new generation of AoA gauges shows.
Stalls seem pretty straightforward for most pilots, but stalls during a turn can seem quite different. In our latest quick tip, we look at these accelerated stalls. You’ll learn why it’s called an accelerated stall, how to prevent one, and why load factor is so important.
The day you have been preparing for the past 3 months has finally come couldn’t have gone better; you passed your Private Pilot checkride and can now start taking advantage of the freedoms offered by your new pilot certificate. The learning doesn’t stop there though, and today there are more online resources available than ever […]
Watch our free 4-part video series on learning to fly. First, why you should learn to fly.
In the second video in our series, we explore the steps involved to earn a pilot’s license.
In part three, we give you a preview of what your first flight lesson will be like (hint: you’ll do the flying!).
Paper charts are now a distant memory for many pilots today as digital charts on the iPad have become the preferred method to view aviation data. This week’s tip takes a look at the regulations surrounding the use of the iPad in the cockpit and how it should be used along with the traditional methods of preflight planning and navigation during your flight training.
Aviation safety isn’t just about flying. Getting around on the ground is a critical skill for pilots of any level – in fact, the most deadly aviation accident in history involved a runway incursion. In this week’s tip, we share some helpful tips for understanding airport signs, asking ATC for help and using apps to prevent mistakes.
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