Have a case of the post-holiday, winter flying blues? We have the cure. Sporty’s Pilot’s Discretion has grown to be one of the top five aviation podcasts on Apple’s charts, with devoted subscribers who listen every two weeks as Sporty’s John Zimmerman interviews some of aviation’s most interesting people. No news or fluff, just thought-provoking conversations. Enjoy these 10 most popular episodes to lift your aviation spirits.
10. Safety habits and aviation lobbying, with Jeb Burnside (episode 49). Aviation Safety magazine editor Jeb Burnside has plenty of helpful tips to share, but as this episode shows, he’s much more than just a writer. His long experience as an airplane owner and even a lobbyist makes Jeb one of aviation’s most interesting people. LISTEN >>
9. Safety lessons learned at the NTSB, with Robert Sumwalt (episode 64). From corporate aviation to the airlines to Chairman of the NTSB, Robert Sumwalt has been studying aviation safety his entire career. Here he distills lessons from that long career, including why professionalism is the key for any pilot and why airlines need to “get back to basics.” LISTEN >>
8. What MOSAIC means for pilot training and airplane designs, with Dan Johnson (episode 58). The new MOSAIC rules proposed by the FAA could change how light aircraft are certified and how pilots train. There’s no better guide to this exciting new world than Dan Johnson, former president of the Light Airplane Manufacturers Association and a well-known writer. LISTEN >>
7. IFR flying tips and gear-up landing stats, with Tom Turner (episode 45). To help kick off Sporty’s IFR Month in February, we heard from Tom Turner, one of aviation’s best-known flight instructors. In this episode, he talks about how to stay current, when to use the autopilot, and some surprising statistics on gear-up landings. LISTEN >>
6. Surviving a plane crash on a frozen lake, with Tom Comet (episode 60). When the airplane engine quits over a remote part of Canada, your options are limited. For Tom Comet and his friend, this was just the start of an incredible adventure—one packed with lessons for all pilots. In this riveting episode, he shares the story and what he learned. LISTEN >>
5. Instrument flight training and taildragger lessons, with Elaine Kauh (episode 46). In another IFR-focused episode, experienced instructor and IFR magazine editor Elaine Kauh talks about the finer points of instrument flying, including when to cancel an IFR flight plan, why takeoff briefings are important, and how to manage glass cockpits. LISTEN >>
4. Learning from every flight, with Steve Thorne (episode 48). Steve Thorne (aka Flight Chops) is one of YouTube’s original aviation stars, and he’s learned a lot over the last decade—about flying and about himself. In this episode, he explains why a post-flight debrief matters, how to do a good one, and why he shares his videos with over 350,000 followers. LISTEN >>
3. Why angle of attack is overrated, with Ed Wischmeyer (episode 62). Loss of control accidents are a problem, but longtime pilot and engineer Ed Wischmeyer says there simply isn’t a miracle cure. He explains why angle of attack indicators, stabilized approaches, and energy management are all overrated—and the concept he teaches pilots instead. LISTEN >>
2. Why GA is experiencing a renaissance, with Craig Fuller (episode 42). GA is booming, and new Flying magazine owner Craig Fuller says this isn’t just a passing fad. He explains why he believes the industry is experiencing a renaissance right now, with a new generation of pilots attracted by YouTube and a new generation of aviation businesses funded by venture capital. LISTEN >>
1. Why airplane accidents are not just stories, with Steve Green (episode 55). Pilots think about accidents all wrong, according to author and retired airline captain Steve Green. In this thought-provoking episode, he explains why you can’t predict every accident, why protecting margins is the key to safe flying, and why pilots must have an overarching strategy beyond just following the checklist. LISTEN >>
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155321/Podcast_logo_FINAL_PD-1500.jpg15001500Flight Training Central Staffhttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngFlight Training Central Staff2024-01-05 10:20:322024-01-05 10:20:32Binge out on these top podcast episodes
The rectangular course is one of the most basic maneuvers pilots learn during flight training. While it may sound boring, there’s a lot to learn from this simple pattern. In our latest Video Tip of the Week, we walk through each step of the rectangular course, with in-cockpit video and 3D animations. Even if you’re already an experienced pilot, this maneuver is a great way to keep your stick and rudder skills sharp.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/05182129/Rectangular-course-screenshot-from-course.jpg478900Bret Koebbehttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngBret Koebbe2024-01-03 09:30:352024-01-03 10:41:00Video Tip of the Week: rectangular course
With the New Year holiday in the rear view mirror, it is time to follow through on those resolutions like losing weight, exercising more, spending more time with family, starting the Great American Novel, etc. Personally, I have made two resolutions: 1) I am not going to eat any olives (I hate olives and haven’t eaten one since I was a kid and figured out I hate olives) and 2) not to kill myself (or anyone else) with an airplane.
Following Through
Browsing accident reports, we read about the accident “chain” – a series of events and decisions that had to occur in the correct order for the resulting accident to have taken place. If a different decision is made anywhere along the sequence, the chain is broken and thankfully, the result is just another interesting flight. Sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control. I am content understanding that if a meteor comes crashing through the windscreen (or any other part of the airplane) while I’m flying – well – I am going to have a bad day. But how can we best prepare for emergencies we can deal with that should not result in a catastrophic accident but often does?
Some years ago, before cameras were watching your every move, media outlets in most cities had something called the “Airborne Traffic Watch.” When I was in college at the University of Kentucky, Leslie “Tag” Veal would fly around the city of Lexington twice a day in either his Hughes 269 helicopter or his Cessna 150 and report on the traffic around New Circle Road or tell us when a train was about to cross Waller Avenue or Broadway causing a major rush hour back up. I had several opportunities to talk with “Captain Tag”, as he was known on the radio, and he related how he would practice a different emergency scenario each day just in case he had an equipment malfunction. Captain Tag flew west in 1987 but I still follow his advice all these years later.
Leslie “Tag” Veal would fly around the city of Lexington twice a day in his Cessna 150 and report on the traffic.
The Year Ahead
Captain Tag flew every day and he had a scenario for each day of the week. Few of us fly daily, but it is pretty easy to develop a rotating list and every day we do fly, practice the next maneuver on the list. The following is my list, comment if you have a different one.
The Go-Around
Believe it or not, this seemingly simple maneuver continues to kill people. It requires us to change everything. Power has to be added, pitch is changed from nose down to nose up, elevator trim adjusted, rudder pressures (and trim if available) changed, flaps reconfigured and gear (if appropriate) retracted. All of this reconfiguration without hitting the ground, deer, building, utility wire or whatever is causing the need for the go-around. With regular practice it becomes second nature to add power with your right hand as you increase rudder pressure with your right foot. The left hand adjusts the pitch for the best climb airspeed and the right hand moves from the throttle to select takeoff flaps as that speed is reached. Confirm positive climb rate, retract the gear and finish by adjusting the trim. Practice makes all that a lot smoother, easier and seamless.
With regular practice it becomes second nature to add power with your right hand as you increase rudder pressure with your right foot for a go-around.
No Flaps? No Problem!
Electric motors power the flaps on many of today’s aircraft. If the motor fails, can you still land even if your checklist calls for a measure of flaps? The answer is obviously yes so this is a skill you should practice. Some high performance aircraft POHs admonish you to refrain from actually landing in this configuration, but there is value in experiencing the different deck angle that results from a no flap approach before you actually have to do it – at night – in reduced visibility – for real.
The Sound of Silence
Generally a modern aircraft engine will show signs of illness before it dies. Roughness, temperature changes and fluids on the windscreen are all signals it is time to land. Most of us will fly for years and thousands of hours without an engine failure but knowing you can “dead stick” it in is a tremendous confidence builder. Airplane engines don’t like long power-off glides so don’t pull the power at 10,000 feet and spend the next 10 minutes gliding to 2,000 feet. Understand the skill of a no-power landing comes in the last 1,000 feet of altitude so start the maneuver near (like over top) a rural airport where you are unlikely to have to share the traffic pattern. Pull the throttle to idle and maneuver to downwind where you can adjust the aircraft’s speed and the length of the traffic pattern legs so as to arrive over the numbers in landing configuration and airspeed at about a foot of altitude. Remember pulling the prop adjustment to low RPM (for constant speed propellers) will extend your glide if needed and DO NOT forget to extend the landing gear before landing. And speaking of landing gear…
Three in the Green
When flying a retractable gear airplane we should practice manually extending the gear. Again, failures of these systems are rare but if they were to occur we can benefit from the experience. Just knowing how many hand pumps or crank turns are required brings peace of mind when a manual extension is required – in IMC – with a load of curious passengers.
Failures are rare, but when flying a retractable gear airplane, we should practice manually extending the gear.
Seek the Crosswind
Practice crosswind landings whenever the opportunity exists. At airports with multiple runways choose the one with the most crosswind if traffic permits. If it has been a while, start with a crosswind component equal to ½ of that listed as the maximum demonstrated crosswind in the POH and work up from there when the occasion presents itself. When your destination is a single runway with a stiff windsock at 90 degrees to the centerline, you’ll be glad you did.
Instrument Approach
14 CFR 61.57 requires an instrument pilot to have logged six instrument approaches, holding, and interception and tracking of navigational signals. I am curious as to how you can conduct an approach or hold without intercepting and tracking a navigational signal but I am not going to question the government. They are the guys with the badge so usually the best you can do in an argument with them is second place. Flying “under the hood” requires a safety pilot but even if there are none available, there is nothing preventing you from practicing setting up your avionics and flying the approach VFR. These “fake” approaches will keep you up to speed on your cockpit’s automation next time it is required for the real thing. Just make frequent radio calls to alert other aircraft to your position using direction and distance from the airport. Using waypoints on the approach plates means nothing to the VFR only pilot on downwind, but calling a 5 mile final will alert them as to where to look. And speaking of automation…
There is nothing preventing you from practicing setting up your avionics and flying an approach VFR.
George is on Vacation
I don’t hear it much anymore, but pilots used to call the autopilot George as in “Let’s let George fly awhile.” Forty years ago autopilots in piston singles were rare, now they are common and commonly used on every leg of every flight. During an interview with one of the pilots of Asiana Flight 214, he stated he felt very concerned hand flying the visual approach to runway 28L at San Francisco’s International Airport. His dependence on the aircraft’s flight systems to keep the plane upright and on target led to tragedy when all those systems were not available. We can ward off over-reliance by flying one leg of our next trip without the autopilot. Heck, if it is a VFR day, we could turn off the GPS, open a sectional chart and utilize our pilotage skills. Alternatively, if we are bold enough, use the winds aloft, compass and clock to dead reckon our way to the destination. Good practice for a day when the cockpit’s electrons go on strike.
Don’t Turn Back, but don’t be Stubborn Either
“If the engine quits on climb out establish best glide and land straight ahead.” This is a frequent quote from pre-takeoff briefings. Fact is the best spot to land might not be straight ahead but off to one side or the other…or maybe it is that runway we just left behind. It is possible to turn – or turn around – with sufficient altitude. How much that altitude is depends on you and your airplane. The only way to know how much altitude is adequate is to practice the maneuver at a safe altitude under a variety of conditions. Remember, getting to the runway center line requires at least a 210 degree turn, absent a significant crosswind, followed by a 30 degree turn in the opposite direction to align the airplane properly for landing. Practice for this by climbing to a safe altitude (3000 ft AGL) at Vy and retard the throttle. Count to five (research shows it takes this long for it to “sink in” the engine has indeed quit) and begin a turn in one direction for 210 degrees. Then roll into a turn in the opposite direction 30 degrees and note how much altitude is lost. That is the minimum for you to consider a turn back. But also calculate how long it takes to turn 90 degrees. This provides a new minimum for you to make a landing area anywhere in your field of sight.
The only way to know how much altitude is adequate to attempt an emergency return is to practice the maneuver at a safe altitude.
Flying’s Great Bargain
I think of a bargain as something that costs less than its value and as pilots we often lament the cost of everything associated with our passion. Developing a list of emergency skills, then practicing just one on each day we fly will cost next to nothing (so it’s cheap) and may pay great dividends (eliciting skill instead of panic) when things go wrong. So develop your list, save it as a document on your iPad and get yourself ready to be ready should the need arise.
Flight Training Central published more than 200 content pieces in 2023 and hosted several monthly themes throughout the year including IFR month in February and Learn to Fly month in May. Throughout the year, readers enjoyed articles, video tips, quizzes, industry news, and webinars and took advantage of Flight Training Central’s new Scholarship Directory to apply for hundreds of valuable awards. Quizzes proved to be the most popular category with several appearing in our top 10 list as pilots are always testing their knowledge.
You can stay up-to-date with the latest from Flight Training Central with recent and popular posts and selections from our archive by signing up for the free email newsletter.
Enjoy these top 10 posts from 2023 and safe flying in the New Year!
3. How to choose an alternate airport when plannning an IFR flight – Contingency planning is even more important for IFR pilots on cross-country flights where a slight change can mean the difference between landing at the end of an instrument approach or having to go missed.
2. Non-towered airport operations – The FAA published an update to Advisory Circular (AC) 90-66 for non-towered airport operations. This AC calls attention to regulatory requirements, recommended operations, and communications procedures while operating at a non-towered airport.
1. Quiz: airspace classifications and rules – Each class of airspace is depicted with unique markings on the sectional chart and different VFR weather minimums and equipment requirements. Take this quiz and test your knowledge of the U.S. airspace system.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/05180153/final_tailcam_7.jpg7201280Flight Training Central Staffhttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngFlight Training Central Staff2023-12-29 08:55:512023-12-28 12:15:27Top posts from 2023 at Flight Training Central
A good home study course is one of the best investments you can make during flight training, whether working towards a private license, getting checked out in a new type of airplane, or learning a new avionics system. While your flight lessons will form the core of your training, there’s a lot of work to be done between trips to the airport.
Sporty’s Pilot Training Courses help meet that need for tens of thousands of pilots every year. The platform is known for its fast pace of innovation, bringing new content, new training tools, and technological enhancements every year. And best of all the system includes lifetime access and free updates, so you can rest assured that you’re always getting the most modern and up-to-date home study experience.
2023 was the biggest year yet for Sporty’s Pilot Training Courses, thanks to numerous content and feature additions to the Learn to Fly, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot courses. Here’s a recap of what was added in 2023.
New Training Content
Sporty’s Pilot Training courses incorporate a dynamic mix of professional HD/4K video, FAA knowledge test prep, checkride prep, and FAA training guides. In 2023, Sporty’s introduced a new training component in the form of interactive exercises and scenarios that allow pilots to practice what they learned.
Interactive Exercises
Go beyond videos with new interactive and engaging learning tools. Instrument simulators allow you to twist knobs and watch the needle swing on the panel, chart quizzes help you learn complicated symbols, and detailed systems diagrams simulate failure modes of the pitot tube or static port. These practical, hands-on scenarios put what you learn to work. Here’s an example:
New Video Content
The heart of Sporty’s courses has always been the dynamic video segments. Sporty’s added major updates in 2023 to segments on runway safety, wake turbulence, and how to use both digital and paper charts. Plus, the Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot courses were reorganized to flow more logically and cover each topic in detail.
Test Prep Updates
Sporty’s courses excel at preparing students for the FAA knowledge test, thanks to sophisticated study and test prep modes and a comprehensive database of questions you’re likely to see on the actual test. Best of all, you can study wherever is most convenient, whether it’s online, on your iPhone/iPad, Android, Mac or Windows PC, and your progress always stays in sync.
Sporty’s updates the database of questions in the courses regularly. Here are the new questions added most recently to the Learn to Fly (Private) Course:
Sporty’s powerful FAR feature gives you instant access to the complete Federal Aviation Regulations, packed with essential information for any pilot. It’s fast and searchable to streamline your studying, and it’s always up to date.
Earlier this year, Sporty’s added time-saving tools that highlight which sections are applicable to each certificate level, so you can skip the unnecessary parts and focus on what matters. A new bookmark tool also makes it easy to review important sections.
Aviation Blogs, Podcasts and Webinars
Sporty’s Pilot Training app added a new menu on the bottom of the home screen, providing students and pilots with quick access to Sporty’s comprehensive library of free flight training blogs, aviation podcasts, and webinar recordings. Select the Free Content tab and any one of the options to quickly read, listen to or watch the latest aviation-themed content.
Podcasts load in the app’s audio player and will continue to play while you use other parts of the Pilot Training app or other apps on your iPhone or iPad. All of these resources are completely free and do not require the user to purchase a course first.
New Technology
Sporty’s also excels at using the latest technology to deliver their Pilot Training courses. Each course purchase is available on over nine platforms, including online, iPhone/iPad app, Mac app, CarPlay, Android app, Windows app, AppleTV, RokuTV, AndroidTV and FireTV.
Windows App
The latest addition means you can now use Sporty’s Pilot Training on your Windows device—perfect for studying on a Surface tablet. Progress is automatically synced between devices, so it’s easy to switch back and forth as your study sessions move.
In-Course Notifications
To help students keep up with all of these updates, there’s a new Inbox located at the top right of your course. Check back here often to learn about new training content and updates added to your course, as well as the latest flight training news and tips from the team of flight instructors at Sporty’s.
Smart Notes
There’s a new centralized tool in the online version of Sporty’s courses to help students organize key takeaways, easily accessible no matter where you are in the course. Click or tap the floating “New Note” button at the bottom right of the screen, and the Smart Notes interface will appear. You can add as many notes as you’d like and keep them organized with a simple menu system.
When adding a new note from any of the video lessons or test prep questions, the note will automatically insert the name of the lesson and generate a clickable link that you can use to jump back to that lesson or question when reviewing your notes later.
Flight School and CFI Features
Sporty’s was founded by a flight instructor over 60 years ago and, ever since, has worked hard to support student pilots, CFIs, and flight schools. Hundreds of flight schools around the world use Sporty’s courses as the primary source of ground school, test prep and flight prep to complement their in-airplane training. Here are the latest additions Sporty’s added to support these organizations and their CFIs.
CFI Portal
Sporty’s CFI Portal offers a suite of tools including student course progress monitoring, lesson plans, a flight instructor refresher course, a complete FAA library, special CFI offers, and full access to Sporty’s award-winning pilot training courses for you to learn more about what your students are using. CFIs can register for free here. Learn more here.
Flight School/Chief CFI
New this year is a powerful feature designed for the Chief CFI and flight school management to connect with individual instructors at the school and monitor all student progress in one location. This feature requires a manual setup step from Sporty’s support team.
All-new FIRC
Sporty’s developed a fresh new option for flight instructors looking to renew their CFI certificate in 2023, using a modern online learning system to deliver innovative content. Sporty’s fully FAA-approved eFIRC will get you up to speed with the latest technology and new developments from the FAA, vastly improving your teaching skills. Best of all, Sporty’s new FIRC is completely free.
LIFT Academy partnership
LIFT Academy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Airways, has partnered with Sporty’s to provide online training courses to its students. This collaboration between Sporty’s and LIFT Academy provides students and instructors access to a range of valuable learning resources, including Sporty’s Learn To Fly Course, Instrument Rating Course, Commercial Pilot Course, and Garmin G1000 Checkout Course.
How to get the courses
You can purchase access to any of the 30 aviation training courses right from Sporty’s website, including the 2024 Learn to Fly, Instrument Rating Course and Commercial Pilot Course. You’ll gain instant access to all the course platforms for one price. If you’ve already purchased one of these courses (these three courses include lifetime updates), you just need to download the mobile app and sign in with your username/password or login to Sporty’s Online Course Portal.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/28111323/2024-Learn-to-Fly-Feature_condensed-2.jpg13042278Bret Koebbehttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngBret Koebbe2023-12-28 11:18:352023-12-28 11:34:052023 in Review: Sporty’s Pilot Training Courses
Sporty’s recently released new written test questions in its 2024 Learn to Fly Course test preparation module. While the FAA does not publish actual test questions, representative test questions are available, and new questions released by Sporty’s represent emphasis areas which you will likely enounter on the test.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11121230/Test-prep-laptop-2-scaled.jpg17082560Flight Training Central Staffhttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngFlight Training Central Staff2023-12-22 08:54:242024-06-27 09:29:11Sporty’s releases new written test questions – December 2023
Binge out on these top podcast episodes
/in News/by Flight Training Central StaffHave a case of the post-holiday, winter flying blues? We have the cure. Sporty’s Pilot’s Discretion has grown to be one of the top five aviation podcasts on Apple’s charts, with devoted subscribers who listen every two weeks as Sporty’s John Zimmerman interviews some of aviation’s most interesting people. No news or fluff, just thought-provoking conversations. Enjoy these 10 most popular episodes to lift your aviation spirits.
9. Safety lessons learned at the NTSB, with Robert Sumwalt (episode 64). From corporate aviation to the airlines to Chairman of the NTSB, Robert Sumwalt has been studying aviation safety his entire career. Here he distills lessons from that long career, including why professionalism is the key for any pilot and why airlines need to “get back to basics.” LISTEN >>
8. What MOSAIC means for pilot training and airplane designs, with Dan Johnson (episode 58). The new MOSAIC rules proposed by the FAA could change how light aircraft are certified and how pilots train. There’s no better guide to this exciting new world than Dan Johnson, former president of the Light Airplane Manufacturers Association and a well-known writer. LISTEN >>
7. IFR flying tips and gear-up landing stats, with Tom Turner (episode 45). To help kick off Sporty’s IFR Month in February, we heard from Tom Turner, one of aviation’s best-known flight instructors. In this episode, he talks about how to stay current, when to use the autopilot, and some surprising statistics on gear-up landings. LISTEN >>
6. Surviving a plane crash on a frozen lake, with Tom Comet (episode 60). When the airplane engine quits over a remote part of Canada, your options are limited. For Tom Comet and his friend, this was just the start of an incredible adventure—one packed with lessons for all pilots. In this riveting episode, he shares the story and what he learned. LISTEN >>
5. Instrument flight training and taildragger lessons, with Elaine Kauh (episode 46). In another IFR-focused episode, experienced instructor and IFR magazine editor Elaine Kauh talks about the finer points of instrument flying, including when to cancel an IFR flight plan, why takeoff briefings are important, and how to manage glass cockpits. LISTEN >>
4. Learning from every flight, with Steve Thorne (episode 48). Steve Thorne (aka Flight Chops) is one of YouTube’s original aviation stars, and he’s learned a lot over the last decade—about flying and about himself. In this episode, he explains why a post-flight debrief matters, how to do a good one, and why he shares his videos with over 350,000 followers. LISTEN >>
3. Why angle of attack is overrated, with Ed Wischmeyer (episode 62). Loss of control accidents are a problem, but longtime pilot and engineer Ed Wischmeyer says there simply isn’t a miracle cure. He explains why angle of attack indicators, stabilized approaches, and energy management are all overrated—and the concept he teaches pilots instead. LISTEN >>
2. Why GA is experiencing a renaissance, with Craig Fuller (episode 42). GA is booming, and new Flying magazine owner Craig Fuller says this isn’t just a passing fad. He explains why he believes the industry is experiencing a renaissance right now, with a new generation of pilots attracted by YouTube and a new generation of aviation businesses funded by venture capital. LISTEN >>
1. Why airplane accidents are not just stories, with Steve Green (episode 55). Pilots think about accidents all wrong, according to author and retired airline captain Steve Green. In this thought-provoking episode, he explains why you can’t predict every accident, why protecting margins is the key to safe flying, and why pilots must have an overarching strategy beyond just following the checklist. LISTEN >>
Video Tip of the Week: rectangular course
/in Video Tips/by Bret KoebbeThe rectangular course is one of the most basic maneuvers pilots learn during flight training. While it may sound boring, there’s a lot to learn from this simple pattern. In our latest Video Tip of the Week, we walk through each step of the rectangular course, with in-cockpit video and 3D animations. Even if you’re already an experienced pilot, this maneuver is a great way to keep your stick and rudder skills sharp.
The video clip is from Sporty’s 2024 Learn to Fly Course
New Year’s Resolutions
/in Tips and technique/by Charlie MastersWith the New Year holiday in the rear view mirror, it is time to follow through on those resolutions like losing weight, exercising more, spending more time with family, starting the Great American Novel, etc. Personally, I have made two resolutions: 1) I am not going to eat any olives (I hate olives and haven’t eaten one since I was a kid and figured out I hate olives) and 2) not to kill myself (or anyone else) with an airplane.
Following Through
Browsing accident reports, we read about the accident “chain” – a series of events and decisions that had to occur in the correct order for the resulting accident to have taken place. If a different decision is made anywhere along the sequence, the chain is broken and thankfully, the result is just another interesting flight. Sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control. I am content understanding that if a meteor comes crashing through the windscreen (or any other part of the airplane) while I’m flying – well – I am going to have a bad day. But how can we best prepare for emergencies we can deal with that should not result in a catastrophic accident but often does?
Some years ago, before cameras were watching your every move, media outlets in most cities had something called the “Airborne Traffic Watch.” When I was in college at the University of Kentucky, Leslie “Tag” Veal would fly around the city of Lexington twice a day in either his Hughes 269 helicopter or his Cessna 150 and report on the traffic around New Circle Road or tell us when a train was about to cross Waller Avenue or Broadway causing a major rush hour back up. I had several opportunities to talk with “Captain Tag”, as he was known on the radio, and he related how he would practice a different emergency scenario each day just in case he had an equipment malfunction. Captain Tag flew west in 1987 but I still follow his advice all these years later.
Leslie “Tag” Veal would fly around the city of Lexington twice a day in his Cessna 150 and report on the traffic.
The Year Ahead
Captain Tag flew every day and he had a scenario for each day of the week. Few of us fly daily, but it is pretty easy to develop a rotating list and every day we do fly, practice the next maneuver on the list. The following is my list, comment if you have a different one.
The Go-Around
Believe it or not, this seemingly simple maneuver continues to kill people. It requires us to change everything. Power has to be added, pitch is changed from nose down to nose up, elevator trim adjusted, rudder pressures (and trim if available) changed, flaps reconfigured and gear (if appropriate) retracted. All of this reconfiguration without hitting the ground, deer, building, utility wire or whatever is causing the need for the go-around. With regular practice it becomes second nature to add power with your right hand as you increase rudder pressure with your right foot. The left hand adjusts the pitch for the best climb airspeed and the right hand moves from the throttle to select takeoff flaps as that speed is reached. Confirm positive climb rate, retract the gear and finish by adjusting the trim. Practice makes all that a lot smoother, easier and seamless.
With regular practice it becomes second nature to add power with your right hand as you increase rudder pressure with your right foot for a go-around.
No Flaps? No Problem!
Electric motors power the flaps on many of today’s aircraft. If the motor fails, can you still land even if your checklist calls for a measure of flaps? The answer is obviously yes so this is a skill you should practice. Some high performance aircraft POHs admonish you to refrain from actually landing in this configuration, but there is value in experiencing the different deck angle that results from a no flap approach before you actually have to do it – at night – in reduced visibility – for real.
The Sound of Silence
Generally a modern aircraft engine will show signs of illness before it dies. Roughness, temperature changes and fluids on the windscreen are all signals it is time to land. Most of us will fly for years and thousands of hours without an engine failure but knowing you can “dead stick” it in is a tremendous confidence builder. Airplane engines don’t like long power-off glides so don’t pull the power at 10,000 feet and spend the next 10 minutes gliding to 2,000 feet. Understand the skill of a no-power landing comes in the last 1,000 feet of altitude so start the maneuver near (like over top) a rural airport where you are unlikely to have to share the traffic pattern. Pull the throttle to idle and maneuver to downwind where you can adjust the aircraft’s speed and the length of the traffic pattern legs so as to arrive over the numbers in landing configuration and airspeed at about a foot of altitude. Remember pulling the prop adjustment to low RPM (for constant speed propellers) will extend your glide if needed and DO NOT forget to extend the landing gear before landing. And speaking of landing gear…
Three in the Green
When flying a retractable gear airplane we should practice manually extending the gear. Again, failures of these systems are rare but if they were to occur we can benefit from the experience. Just knowing how many hand pumps or crank turns are required brings peace of mind when a manual extension is required – in IMC – with a load of curious passengers.
Failures are rare, but when flying a retractable gear airplane, we should practice manually extending the gear.
Seek the Crosswind
Practice crosswind landings whenever the opportunity exists. At airports with multiple runways choose the one with the most crosswind if traffic permits. If it has been a while, start with a crosswind component equal to ½ of that listed as the maximum demonstrated crosswind in the POH and work up from there when the occasion presents itself. When your destination is a single runway with a stiff windsock at 90 degrees to the centerline, you’ll be glad you did.
Instrument Approach
14 CFR 61.57 requires an instrument pilot to have logged six instrument approaches, holding, and interception and tracking of navigational signals. I am curious as to how you can conduct an approach or hold without intercepting and tracking a navigational signal but I am not going to question the government. They are the guys with the badge so usually the best you can do in an argument with them is second place. Flying “under the hood” requires a safety pilot but even if there are none available, there is nothing preventing you from practicing setting up your avionics and flying the approach VFR. These “fake” approaches will keep you up to speed on your cockpit’s automation next time it is required for the real thing. Just make frequent radio calls to alert other aircraft to your position using direction and distance from the airport. Using waypoints on the approach plates means nothing to the VFR only pilot on downwind, but calling a 5 mile final will alert them as to where to look. And speaking of automation…
There is nothing preventing you from practicing setting up your avionics and flying an approach VFR.
George is on Vacation
I don’t hear it much anymore, but pilots used to call the autopilot George as in “Let’s let George fly awhile.” Forty years ago autopilots in piston singles were rare, now they are common and commonly used on every leg of every flight. During an interview with one of the pilots of Asiana Flight 214, he stated he felt very concerned hand flying the visual approach to runway 28L at San Francisco’s International Airport. His dependence on the aircraft’s flight systems to keep the plane upright and on target led to tragedy when all those systems were not available. We can ward off over-reliance by flying one leg of our next trip without the autopilot. Heck, if it is a VFR day, we could turn off the GPS, open a sectional chart and utilize our pilotage skills. Alternatively, if we are bold enough, use the winds aloft, compass and clock to dead reckon our way to the destination. Good practice for a day when the cockpit’s electrons go on strike.
Don’t Turn Back, but don’t be Stubborn Either
“If the engine quits on climb out establish best glide and land straight ahead.” This is a frequent quote from pre-takeoff briefings. Fact is the best spot to land might not be straight ahead but off to one side or the other…or maybe it is that runway we just left behind. It is possible to turn – or turn around – with sufficient altitude. How much that altitude is depends on you and your airplane. The only way to know how much altitude is adequate is to practice the maneuver at a safe altitude under a variety of conditions. Remember, getting to the runway center line requires at least a 210 degree turn, absent a significant crosswind, followed by a 30 degree turn in the opposite direction to align the airplane properly for landing. Practice for this by climbing to a safe altitude (3000 ft AGL) at Vy and retard the throttle. Count to five (research shows it takes this long for it to “sink in” the engine has indeed quit) and begin a turn in one direction for 210 degrees. Then roll into a turn in the opposite direction 30 degrees and note how much altitude is lost. That is the minimum for you to consider a turn back. But also calculate how long it takes to turn 90 degrees. This provides a new minimum for you to make a landing area anywhere in your field of sight.
The only way to know how much altitude is adequate to attempt an emergency return is to practice the maneuver at a safe altitude.
Flying’s Great Bargain
I think of a bargain as something that costs less than its value and as pilots we often lament the cost of everything associated with our passion. Developing a list of emergency skills, then practicing just one on each day we fly will cost next to nothing (so it’s cheap) and may pay great dividends (eliciting skill instead of panic) when things go wrong. So develop your list, save it as a document on your iPad and get yourself ready to be ready should the need arise.
Top posts from 2023 at Flight Training Central
/in News/by Flight Training Central StaffSign-up for our free newsletter.
Flight Training Central published more than 200 content pieces in 2023 and hosted several monthly themes throughout the year including IFR month in February and Learn to Fly month in May. Throughout the year, readers enjoyed articles, video tips, quizzes, industry news, and webinars and took advantage of Flight Training Central’s new Scholarship Directory to apply for hundreds of valuable awards. Quizzes proved to be the most popular category with several appearing in our top 10 list as pilots are always testing their knowledge.
You can stay up-to-date with the latest from Flight Training Central with recent and popular posts and selections from our archive by signing up for the free email newsletter.
Enjoy these top 10 posts from 2023 and safe flying in the New Year!
10. What’s up with the Private Pilot Knowledge Test? – The Private Pilot Knowledge Test has undergone significant changes in the past year and how students prepare also needs to evolve.
9. Interactive Exercise: airspace operating requirements for pilots – Learn more about what is required to operate in each class of controlled and uncontrolled airspace in this interactive scenario from Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course.
8. Video tip: how to recover from a spin with Patty Wagstaff – Join Patty Wagstaff in her Super Decathlon aerobatic airplane, as she explains how it’s possible to enter a spin, and then the proper recovery.
7. Quiz: basic aerodynamics – Take this quiz to test your aerodynamics knowledge.
6. Video tip: how to recover from a bad landing – Not every approach and landing will be by the book during your training so learn how to recover from these common mistakes.
5. 10 airport signs, markings, and lights all pilots should know – Here’s a review of ten airport signs and pavement markings you might encounter during ground operations at a busy airport.
4. Quiz: IFR approach chart symbols – How well can you interpret all the codes and symbols on an IFR approach chart?
3. How to choose an alternate airport when plannning an IFR flight – Contingency planning is even more important for IFR pilots on cross-country flights where a slight change can mean the difference between landing at the end of an instrument approach or having to go missed.
2. Non-towered airport operations – The FAA published an update to Advisory Circular (AC) 90-66 for non-towered airport operations. This AC calls attention to regulatory requirements, recommended operations, and communications procedures while operating at a non-towered airport.
1. Quiz: airspace classifications and rules – Each class of airspace is depicted with unique markings on the sectional chart and different VFR weather minimums and equipment requirements. Take this quiz and test your knowledge of the U.S. airspace system.
2023 in Review: Sporty’s Pilot Training Courses
/in News/by Bret KoebbeSporty’s Pilot Training Courses help meet that need for tens of thousands of pilots every year. The platform is known for its fast pace of innovation, bringing new content, new training tools, and technological enhancements every year. And best of all the system includes lifetime access and free updates, so you can rest assured that you’re always getting the most modern and up-to-date home study experience.
2023 was the biggest year yet for Sporty’s Pilot Training Courses, thanks to numerous content and feature additions to the Learn to Fly, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot courses. Here’s a recap of what was added in 2023.
New Training Content
Sporty’s Pilot Training courses incorporate a dynamic mix of professional HD/4K video, FAA knowledge test prep, checkride prep, and FAA training guides. In 2023, Sporty’s introduced a new training component in the form of interactive exercises and scenarios that allow pilots to practice what they learned.
Interactive Exercises
Go beyond videos with new interactive and engaging learning tools. Instrument simulators allow you to twist knobs and watch the needle swing on the panel, chart quizzes help you learn complicated symbols, and detailed systems diagrams simulate failure modes of the pitot tube or static port. These practical, hands-on scenarios put what you learn to work. Here’s an example:
New Video Content
The heart of Sporty’s courses has always been the dynamic video segments. Sporty’s added major updates in 2023 to segments on runway safety, wake turbulence, and how to use both digital and paper charts. Plus, the Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot courses were reorganized to flow more logically and cover each topic in detail.
Test Prep Updates
Sporty’s courses excel at preparing students for the FAA knowledge test, thanks to sophisticated study and test prep modes and a comprehensive database of questions you’re likely to see on the actual test. Best of all, you can study wherever is most convenient, whether it’s online, on your iPhone/iPad, Android, Mac or Windows PC, and your progress always stays in sync.
Sporty’s updates the database of questions in the courses regularly. Here are the new questions added most recently to the Learn to Fly (Private) Course:
October 2023 test question update
December 2023 test question update
Sporty’s powerful FAR feature gives you instant access to the complete Federal Aviation Regulations, packed with essential information for any pilot. It’s fast and searchable to streamline your studying, and it’s always up to date.
Earlier this year, Sporty’s added time-saving tools that highlight which sections are applicable to each certificate level, so you can skip the unnecessary parts and focus on what matters. A new bookmark tool also makes it easy to review important sections.
Aviation Blogs, Podcasts and Webinars
Sporty’s Pilot Training app added a new menu on the bottom of the home screen, providing students and pilots with quick access to Sporty’s comprehensive library of free flight training blogs, aviation podcasts, and webinar recordings. Select the Free Content tab and any one of the options to quickly read, listen to or watch the latest aviation-themed content.
Podcasts load in the app’s audio player and will continue to play while you use other parts of the Pilot Training app or other apps on your iPhone or iPad. All of these resources are completely free and do not require the user to purchase a course first.
New Technology
Sporty’s also excels at using the latest technology to deliver their Pilot Training courses. Each course purchase is available on over nine platforms, including online, iPhone/iPad app, Mac app, CarPlay, Android app, Windows app, AppleTV, RokuTV, AndroidTV and FireTV.
The latest addition means you can now use Sporty’s Pilot Training on your Windows device—perfect for studying on a Surface tablet. Progress is automatically synced between devices, so it’s easy to switch back and forth as your study sessions move.
In-Course Notifications
To help students keep up with all of these updates, there’s a new Inbox located at the top right of your course. Check back here often to learn about new training content and updates added to your course, as well as the latest flight training news and tips from the team of flight instructors at Sporty’s.
Smart Notes
When adding a new note from any of the video lessons or test prep questions, the note will automatically insert the name of the lesson and generate a clickable link that you can use to jump back to that lesson or question when reviewing your notes later.
Flight School and CFI Features
Sporty’s was founded by a flight instructor over 60 years ago and, ever since, has worked hard to support student pilots, CFIs, and flight schools. Hundreds of flight schools around the world use Sporty’s courses as the primary source of ground school, test prep and flight prep to complement their in-airplane training. Here are the latest additions Sporty’s added to support these organizations and their CFIs.
CFI Portal
Flight School/Chief CFI
New this year is a powerful feature designed for the Chief CFI and flight school management to connect with individual instructors at the school and monitor all student progress in one location. This feature requires a manual setup step from Sporty’s support team.
Sporty’s developed a fresh new option for flight instructors looking to renew their CFI certificate in 2023, using a modern online learning system to deliver innovative content. Sporty’s fully FAA-approved eFIRC will get you up to speed with the latest technology and new developments from the FAA, vastly improving your teaching skills. Best of all, Sporty’s new FIRC is completely free.
LIFT Academy partnership
LIFT Academy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Airways, has partnered with Sporty’s to provide online training courses to its students. This collaboration between Sporty’s and LIFT Academy provides students and instructors access to a range of valuable learning resources, including Sporty’s Learn To Fly Course, Instrument Rating Course, Commercial Pilot Course, and Garmin G1000 Checkout Course.
How to get the courses
You can purchase access to any of the 30 aviation training courses right from Sporty’s website, including the 2024 Learn to Fly, Instrument Rating Course and Commercial Pilot Course. You’ll gain instant access to all the course platforms for one price. If you’ve already purchased one of these courses (these three courses include lifetime updates), you just need to download the mobile app and sign in with your username/password or login to Sporty’s Online Course Portal.
iPhone/iPad – download the free app here
Android – download the free app here
Apple Computer – download the free app here
AppleTV – go to the App Store on AppleTV (4th Gen or newer) and search for Pilot Training
Windows 11 – install the Amazon Appstore app from the Microsoft Store and search for Sporty’s Pilot Training
FireTV – search for Sporty’s Pilot Training to download the app (preview the app here)
AndroidTV – search for Sporty’s Pilot Training to download the app (preview the app here)
RokuTV App – search for the Sporty’s Pilot Training Channel on your Roku device
Online – visit Sporty’s Course Catalog and purchase direct access to any course
Sporty’s releases new written test questions – December 2023
/in News, Tips and technique/by Flight Training Central StaffThe FAA continues to add new questions based on guidance from the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards. Read the complete December 2023 test question update from Sporty’s.
The October 2023 test question update is available here.
And test your knowledge now by taking this quiz, sampling the new questions just released.
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