Blog : Flight Training Central

Question authority – and ATC

May 3, 2013

Many new pilots regard Air Traffic Controllers with a mix of respect and fear. So it's only natural that we trust them and want to follow their instructions no matter what. But as Ben Franklin famously said, "It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."

Time to Review

April 24, 2013

Earlier this week, I was talking to a few students from my Fundamentals…

Non-Towered Airport Ops Briefing

April 15, 2013

The pending closure of 149 contract control towers as a result…

Keep Learning, Keep Current

April 5, 2013

All too often I see excited pilots after they've earned their…

You Can Fix Stupid

March 27, 2013

Comedian Ron White has a famous stand-up routine where he explains…

Choosing a Flight School

March 19, 2013

I spend a great deal of time talking with prospective students…

Top off the airplane fuel tanks? Maybe…

March 8, 2013

During flight training most pilots get accustomed to filling the fuel tanks all the way up before each flight. As you begin to fly larger airplanes you'll soon learn that topping off the tanks is more the exception than the norm.

Safe isn’t enough–focus on smooth flying

February 27, 2013

2 Comments

We all want to be safe pilots--that's emphasized from day one of flight training, and for good reason. But after we've completed our first solo and gained some confidence, it's time to raise the standard beyond just safe flying. What your passengers will judge you on is how smooth you are.