Ask a CFI: How should a pilot respond to a traffic advisory from ATC?

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There are only two official responses to a traffic advisory issued by ATC: 1) "Traffic in sight" if the pilot sees the traffic or 2) "Negative contact" if the pilot does not have the traffic in sight. However, Flight Training Central spoke to ATC personnel on the subject who confirm that the phrase "Looking for traffic" is often used informally and is generally understood and accepted.

VFR Challenge from Pilot Workshops—A Fuel’s Errand

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In this PilotWorkshops VFR Mastery scenario, you're making a 650nm VFR cross-country from Red Wing, Minnesota (KRGK) to Sheridan, Wyoming (KSHR) for a ski trip. About half way there, at your only planned fuel stop in Phllip, South Dakota (KPHP), you discover the self-serve pump is inoperative. Now, with no other airports within comfortable fuel range, you'll have to find a way out of this mess.

How to take off and land from grass runways (video tip)

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This week's tip explores how to properly takeoff and landing from a grass runway. This is one of the maneuvers you'll learn during private pilot training and teaches you how to get the maximum performance and utility from an airplane.

How to find the smooth air

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If you climb out on a typical summer day, you’ll bump along for the first 5,000 feet in hazy air. Then, if you’re paying attention, you’ll notice there’s almost a line in the sky, above which is clear blue sky and below is murky. That’s the top of the haze layer, and below it you’ll almost always find a few bumps.

What would you have done?

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I turned my head left to look out the side window hoping to make sense of what I was seeing, but the pitch blackness with only a couple lights was of no help. I immediately looked at my G5 [attitude indicator], and what I saw made my head spin! For a split second I questioned whether my G5 had malfunctioned.

How to identify airport runways and traffic patterns (video tip)

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A standard traffic pattern is normally flown when setting up to approach and land at an airport. In this video, we'll take a look at the standard ways to both enter and depart a traffic pattern, as well as look at how runways are identified based on their location and orientation.