Application window open for 2023 Southwest Airlines Scholarship

Applications are now open for the 2023 Southwest Airlines Scholarship…

An actual instrument approach to minimums

During your instrument training, you routinely fly instrument approach procedures to “minimums” under simulated conditions. The more likely scenario when flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) is the option to complete the flight under visual flight rules (VFR), flying a visual approach procedure, or flying an instrument procedure in which you acquire the runway visually well above the charted “minimums.”

How to choose an alternate airport when planning an IFR flight

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There are a lot of factors that go into choosing an alternate airport when filing an IFR flight plan. Here we'll take a deep dive at the approach and alternate minimums charts and look at the legal and practical considerations to help you make the best decision.

Sporty’s webinar video: Using a home simulator for IFR proficiency

Home flight simulators offer a wealth of training situations to sharpen a pilot's aircraft operating skills. Instrument flying is one of the most valuable scenarios we can practice in a standard home simulator that will translate to the physical aircraft.

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?

Strategies for maintaining instrument proficiency

While 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

The 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

When 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

Applications 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.

Adding an instrument rating provides safety and value

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As only a Private pilot, there are some limitations placed on your travel. The main restriction is something that all pilots are all too familiar with - weather. You are required to remain clear of those white puffy groups of water vapor in the sky, which in many cases, can be an inconvenient limitation.