Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Soft Field Takeoff

The soft-field takeoff technique will be required when departing from runway surfaces made of grass or dirt and will allow you to keep as much weight off the nose wheel as possible during the takeoff roll.

Free Webinar: Choosing the Right Aviation Headset

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Join Sporty’s resident headset expert Doug Ranly for a free webinar designed to help pilots cut through the noise—literally and figuratively. Doug has flown with every headset on the market and will share real-world insights

Video Tip: How to Make Better Takeoffs

The takeoff is one of the exhilarating parts of flying, but requires some basic knowledge of aircraft control and the airport environment. Here we'll look at a series of tips to help ensure each of your takeoffs are executed both smoothly and safely.

The biggest myth in aviation? That great pilots are defined by great flying skills.

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So, the next time you’re training a student, mentoring a pilot, or in an interview and someone asks, “Tell me about a time you showed great leadership,” don’t rush to share the story where you look like a flawless hero. Your most powerful stories come from the moments where you were human, when you made a mistake, owned it, learned from it, and helped others grow because of it.

Boeing Projects Strong Demand for Pilots Through 2044

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If you're thinking about a career in aviation, there's never been a better time to start. Boeing’s newly released 2025 Pilot and Technician Outlook forecasts a global need for 660,000 new pilots over the next 20 years—a clear sign that aviation is calling for a new generation.

Video Tip: Operations at Class C and D Airports

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Class C and D airspace will surround airports that can handle a moderate amount of air traffic. This means there are some important restrictions to remember any time you're operating within - or underneath this airspace. In this week's video tip, we review how Class C and D airspace works, what you need to do to fly legally in it and how to stay safe.

Test your knowledge on airplane engine operations

Aircraft engines can provide thousands of hours of reliable service, provided that they are maintained and operated properly. From the pilot's perspective, this involves learning the best practices for power control, leaning procedures, cooling, and other operational considerations.

AIM Change 1 Update Clarifies Upwind Leg at Towered Airports

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A new revision to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) is now in effect, and it includes an important clarification for pilots operating at towered airports. The FAA has updated paragraph 4-3-3 to realign the definition and depiction of the upwind leg with how it's used by air traffic control (ATC) in practice.

How to preflight a Cessna 172 airplane

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The 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.

Why Every Approach Should Be a Go-Around—Until It’s Not

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Most pilots learn to fly a go-around early in training, usually in calm conditions with a CFI ready to coach them through the steps. Power up, pitch up, clean up, go-around. It’s one of the standard maneuvers on the checkride, and it’s often treated like just that—a maneuver.