Student Pilot and FAA Medical Certificates

As a student pilot, you will need a Student Pilot Certificate at some point during your flight training program. When you will need the student certificate will vary based upon the type of training that you are doing. You may also need an FAA Medical Certificate. The type of medical certificate you should obtain, if you should obtain one at all, depends on your flight training goals. Learn more in this post by Sporty's Academy Chief Instructor Jurgens.

Taming the crosswind

In recent weeks we experienced an uncommon and unwelcome pattern…
iPad Screenshot

What not to miss when flight planning on the iPad

As your logbook starts to fill up and you gain experience as…

4 things to consider in a good flashlight

As you would expect, technology has vastly improved since the days of incandescent bulbs and massive batteries. But before you go buy a $5 case of flashlights at the local dollar store, there's more to a flashlight than meets the eye. And considering this basic device can be a lifesaver, be sure to consider these 4 things.

Finding a smooth ride – 5 things to look for

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1 Comment
As a student pilot, my flight instructor spent a lot of time teaching me how to fly safely. But as I started flying cross-countries as a private pilot, I realized I had never really learned how to fly comfortably. Here are 5 things to look for as you seek out that smooth ride.

Go / No-go – real time decision making for pilots

Go or no go - while the age-old question for pilots hasn’t…
FlightLink app

Using Lightspeed’s FlightLink app for training

Communications is one of the subjects that causes the most stress among student pilots. There's nothing worse than pressing the push to talk button and not knowing what to say, or hearing a long Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance and replying with "say again." There's no substitute for practice, but some technology can help.

Flying IFR – I follow rivers, roads and rails

In 1998 my Christmas present from my wife Rose Ann was a Magellan…
pilot

I’m a student pilot who forgot what the most important thing was

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5 Comments
I think sometimes the pressure I put on myself works against me. I am the type of person who wants to get it done right the first time, every time. Other competitive people understand you can’t turn that off most times. But I would caution against this type of mentality when it comes to flight training and here’s why.

What’s new in Sporty’s flight training apps

Like the EFB apps from ForeFlight and Garmin, Sporty's flight training apps are continuously updated with new content and features to take advantage of the latest iOS capabilities and devices. Let's take a look at what's new here.