Quiz: VFR Cross-Country Flight Planning
Winds aloft, true course, heading and groundspeed. Can you put all the puzzle pieces together and plan a successful cross-country flight?
About Bret Koebbe
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.
Entries by Bret Koebbe
How to preflight a Cessna 172 airplane
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeThe airplane preflight inspection is performed before each flight to ensure that all the required paperwork is on board, that the airplane systems are working properly and that the correct amount of fuel and oil are in the tanks. It’s your chance to really look the airplane over inside and out to assure yourself that it’s ready to fly, because once you’re airborne, you just can’t pull over in case something goes wrong.
How to make the most of marginal VFR weather conditions
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeSometimes 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.
Video Tip: The Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH)
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeYou’ll find a “how-to” manual on every airplane that describes how to operate that particular model, called the pilot’s operating handbook, or POH. This week’s tip takes a look at the information contained in the POH, along with the differences between the version that must be kept on the airplane and the one sold off the shelf at the local pilot shop.
Departing the Airport Traffic Pattern – HD Flight Maneuver Spotlight
/in Flight Maneuvers/by Bret KoebbeStandard VFR departure procedures are established at pilot-controlled airports to ensure that departing aircraft remain clear of incoming traffic as they climb out of the terminal airport environment.
Taxi With Confidence: Airport Taxiway Signs and Markings for Pilots
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeAll airports with ATC control towers in the U.S. (and some non-towered airports) use a standard set of pavement markings and elevated signs to guide pilots from the parking airport to the active runway. In this video, we’ll explore the location and meaning of each in a simulated 3D airport environment so that you’ll be well prepared on what to expect when taxiing at a large airport.
Video Tip: VFR communications
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeTalking on the radio can be intimidating for new pilots, but with a few tips in mind it doesn’t have to be hard. In our latest video tip, we give you a few basics to remember so you can sound like a pro when you talk to tower or on the CTAF. If you know what to expect, you’ll be a lot more confident.
Video tip: How to determine the wind direction for takeoff and landing
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeWhen departing or approaching an airport, it’s important that you choose a runway that allows you to takeoff or land into the wind. This week’s tip looks at some common wind direction indicators found on the ground at many airports, along with how to use the radio to tune into automated weather reporting systems.
Video tip: the Cessna 172 fuel system
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeIt’s important for pilots to have a good understanding of airplane systems to know how to properly operate their controls and troubleshoot them when things don’t work as expected. This week’s tip takes a look at the Cessna 172 fuel system to show each component and give you a better understanding of how all the parts work together.
Video tip: How to takeoff and land from a short runway
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeAn advanced skill you’ll learn during flight training is how to achieve the maximum performance from the airplane by operating from shorter runways.
