Chart Smart: low altitude IFR enroute chart intersection symbol
What does the flag with the letter R indicate at the BOOPS intersection on the V333 airway?
About Eric Radtke
It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed. Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including FlightTrainingCentral.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.
Entries by Eric Radtke
Strategies for maintaining instrument proficiency
/in IFR flying, Tips and technique/by Eric RadtkeWhile your instrument flying skills, cockpit management techniques, and risk management processes will no doubt be sharp when you earn your instrument rating, like anything in life, if you don’t use it, you lose it.
Sporty’s webinar video: How to pass your Instrument written exam
/in Webinars/by Eric RadtkeThe FAA Knowledge Test is a non-event when you approach it with the proper mindset and use the right study tools.
Airplane attitude instrument flying is the foundation
/in IFR flying, Tips and technique/by Eric RadtkeWhen the airplane is properly trimmed, the control pressures needed for these small pitch changes are very light. The most common error in both pitch and bank control is over controlling. Just as an excessive climb or descent will cause you to overshoot altitude, an excessive rate of turn results in overshooting the target heading.
Sporty’s and flyGIRL launch 2023 scholarship
/in News/by Eric RadtkeApplications are now being accepted for the 2023 scholarship program sponsored by Sporty’s and flyGIRL. The award is intended to give existing student pilots that boost toward first solo or that initial pilot certificate.
Richard Collins writing prize announced for young pilots
/in News/by Eric Radtkethe writer must be a pilot (including student pilot) who is 24 years of age or younger. The article must be original, not previously published, and no longer than 1,500 words.
Aircraft registrations now valid for 7 years
/in News/by Eric RadtkeEffective this Monday, January 23, aircraft registrations are now valid for 7 years thanks to an amendment to the FAA Authorization Act of 2018 championed by Congressional Representative, Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who also serves as co-chair of the House General Aviation Caucus.
Grounding of flights reminds us of the importance of NOTAMs
/in News/by Eric RadtkeNot far removed from the holiday chaos of Southwest Airlines cancelling more than 16,700 flights which reportedly could cost the airline nearly $1B, a different kind of chaos ensued Wednesday morning as the FAA grounded flights after the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system crashed.
FAA updates Aviation Weather Handbook
/in News/by Eric RadtkeThe FAA recently issued a new Aviation Weather Handbook, FAA-H-8083-28. This handbook consolidates the weather information from the following Advisory Circulars (ACs) into one source document. The ACs will remain in effect for now, but they will eventually be canceled at a later date: AC 00-6, Aviation Weather. AC 00-24, Thunderstorms. AC 00-30, Clear Air […]
5 flying resolutions for the New Year
/in Having fun/by Eric RadtkeThe standard resolutions: losing weight, read more books (watch less television), volunteer, etc. are all noble causes. But for pilots, we should include our own aviation resolution category. Here are five resolutions from some of my fellow pilots at Sporty’s Pilot Shop.
