Does this sound familiar? You’re scrolling through your Instagram feed when you see a perfectly composed picture that makes you feel simultaneously inspired and depressed. “That person’s life looks so fun and exciting – and nothing like mine.” It’s such a common occurance that it has its own name in some circles: Instagram disease. A recent report from the UK puts some science behind the obvious, concluding at one point: “Instagram easily makes girls and women feel as if their bodies aren’t good enough as people add filters and edit their pictures in order for them to look ‘perfect’.”
Exciting – and not what new pilots should expect.
Instagram disease isn’t just an issue for middle school girls; you could easily replace “girls and women” above with “student pilots” and replace “bodies” with “flying.” Above a hashtag like #pilotlife or #instaaviation, you’ll often see a picture of an exotic seaplane on a fishing trip in the Bahamas, a tundra tire taildragger landing on a remote river bed in Utah, or an airline pilot posing like a model with an “I worked all morning to look like I just fell out of bed” look.
It’s alluring, but it’s not real life.
This is not meant as a rant against social media or “kids these days” – there are plenty of positives to go along with the downsides, and I do think Instagram (and YouTube and other platforms) have introduced aviation to a whole new generation of aviation enthusiasts. Besides, aviation is exciting and rewarding and challenging – at times. The issue isn’t so much the technology, but our reaction to it.
In their zeal to share the most extreme emotions of flying (or more likely, to add followers), some #pilotsofinstagram are hurting the community they claim to love. By overselling aviation’s adventure and romance, they make it more likely that a new pilot will be disappointed by a regular cross country from Dayton to Ft. Wayne in a 60-year old Cherokee. Like a teenager who feels inadequate compared to a model, the typical pilot can quickly feel like they’re doing something wrong. Even worse, such posts might encourage new pilots to push the envelope by flying low or trying risky flights, with serious safety implications.
To combat this disease, we could quit social media (as some people are doing) or force “influencers” to point out when they modify a picture or market it with themarketingheaven.com. A better solution lies within: measure success by your own goals, not a follower count.
Nailed a crosswind landing in a 172? Celebrate it!
There are dozens of reasons people learn to fly, from a desire to learn a new skill to an airline job in the future. Whatever your reason, make sure that remains the focus of your flying life. If you’re flying for fun, do whatever is fun for you. Maybe that does in fact mean a seaplane flight to the Bahamas, but it also might mean visiting a pancake breakfast at a new airport or just doing some hangar flying with other pilots. You shouldn’t ever feel regret about creating your own aviation life.
Another step is to find joy in the little things, the quietly amazing parts of being a pilot. The fact is, not every day brings a life-changing trip in a rare airplane, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find satisfaction in a routine flight. I’ve been working on this myself lately, and I’ve found that the real reward of being a pilot is often found in these seemingly boring flights. Here are a few things I’ve celebrated:
Making a power-off landing to the runway (hitting my spot without adding power)
Taking my mom on sightseeing flight for the first time in years
Nailing a crosswind landing on a gusty day
Checking out in a new airplane type
Catching an important screw missing on a preflight (seriously – I was really proud)
None of these are Instagram-worthy, but trying to get better every time I go flying has given me great purpose. That lasts much longer than the fleeting affections of an online audience, and it’s at least as fun as anything I see on my smartphone because it’s real.
I’m not suggesting you take up life as a stoic and refuse to have fun. I’m also not suggesting you shouldn’t dream about the perfect airplane or the perfect flight. Just don’t allow those dreams to ruin your day-to-day flying. And don’t ever say, “I’m only a Private Pilot and I only fly a Cessna.” That’s a big deal!
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05172859/Screen-Shot-2019-03-08-at-5.04.43-PM.png441375studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-04-08 10:00:062021-06-08 19:23:10Instagram disease in aviation – don’t catch it
The pilots: Randy Gleason (left) and Joe Gleason (right)
The place: Kissimmee Gateway Airport (KISM), Orlando, FL
The aircraft: T-6 Texan (left) and TF-51 Mustang (right)
The memory: I gave up actively flying as a private pilot in the early eighties. But when my son, Randy, started flying as a student, I took an interest again. Last month we flew down to Kissimmee, FL, and on Friday, January 11th, he took a step up and flew the AT-6 Texan. On that same day I flew Stallion 51’s TF-51 Mustang. What a rush! At 76, I’m now anxious to get current and start flying again.
Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/05172828/joel-gleason.jpg4731277studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-04-05 10:00:172021-06-08 19:23:10Friday photo: Texan and Mustang flights
Aviation weather reports are simply conditions in the atmosphere that are observed at a specific time. These reports create a snapshot for pilots to understand what weather to expect during takeoff, cruise, and landing.
Knowing how to find, read, and interpret the multiple sources of weather information is crucial to the safety and success of every flight. Use this quiz to test your pilot weather report understanding.
1. Which of the reporting stations have below VFR weather?
Correct!Wrong!
2. The base and tops of the overcast layer reported by a pilot are
Correct!Wrong!
3. Absence of the sky condition and visibility on an ATIS broadcast indicates that
Correct!Wrong!
4. What are the wind conditions at Wink, Texas (KINK)?
Correct!Wrong!
6. For aviation purposes, ceiling is defined as the height above the Earth's surface of the
Correct!Wrong!
5. According to this PIREP, if the terrain elevation is 1,295 feet MSL, what is the height above ground level of the base of the ceiling?
Correct!Wrong!
7. In the METAR for KLAX, what does 'BR' stand for?
Correct!Wrong!
8. What is the status of the front that extends from Nebraska through the upper peninsula of Michigan?
ForeFlight, the most popular app for pilots, blends flight planning, charts, aviation weather, airport information, documents, synthetic vision and even a logbook into one complete resource. Follow along as ForeFlight lead product designer, Ryan McBride discusses advanced features to enrich your flying experience.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05172848/iPad-G1000-flight-1024x576-1.jpg5761024studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-30 10:00:452021-06-08 19:23:10Webinar: Get the most from ForeFlight – advanced tips for aviation’s top app
Glider flying is the purest, most peaceful form of flying – just the pilot and the atmosphere, managing energy to get where you want to go. But how do you get altitude in the first place? While the aero-tow is traditional (using a towplane to pull the glider up), the winch launch is an exciting alternative. Ride along in this video to see how you can go from parked to 1900 feet in about three seconds.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05172835/glider-winch-launch.jpg447801studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-29 11:18:072021-06-08 19:23:10Video: glider flying from a winch launch
gear.creep When stuff is left laying around and starts getting in the way of important tasks.
For anyone who has kids, gearcreep is a daily adventure. Books, bags, lunchboxes, one blue sock, and clarinet reeds somehow can’t cross the forcefield that is found approximately 10 feet inside my front door. Eventually, the forcefield can’t hold back the massive piles of junk and the gear starts creeping across the floor, only to be found at 2 am while stumbling down the hall to the bathroom.
While I complain about gearcreep at home, I learned that I was the chief offender of gearcreep in the cockpit. Pens, Bluetooth GPS units, aux input cables, flashlights… the stuff that I found rolling around the passenger seat and on the floor after a recent night cross country had me convinced that a more organized cockpit would be in my future. I started by getting some fresh gear, specifically to keep all my stuff from accidentally finding its way to the floor. Here are 5 items that have helped me to conquer my cockpit gearcreep problem.
Flight Gear iPad Bag
This bag is the perfect compromise between size and utility. The small footprint makes this bag a perfect fit for on the floor between the front two seats of a Cessna 182. It has plenty of pockets to keep all your gear organized. I really like the padded iPad pocket with with the thru hole for charging with a backup battery. I use this feature all the time to keep my iPad battery topped off.
Kneeboard
I swore off kneeboards after I finished training, but now I find myself gravitating back to them. Modern kneeboards have a spot for your iPad, notepads, cleaning cloths, charging accessories, etc. This sure beats picking pens out of the rudder pedals, and I like having the iPad firmly strapped to my leg.
Gear Mods
These little unsung heroes are amazing. It’s a simple, hook and loop backed pouch that holds frequently used items. These are great for keeping charging cables organized or for backup batteries. I’ve even used one to keep a camera and all the small mount pieces organized. They are specially designed to attach to both Sporty’s Flight Gear bags and kneeboards.
Pilot Pocket Plus
The simple suction cup organizer is a great addition to the cockpit. Constructed with clear acrylic, this nifty holder can be pressed against a side window and is a perfect home for your phone, sunglass, and a pen.
Portable Cargo Caddy
These simple, collapsible bags make great catch-alls for the hangar and the luggage compartment. Oil, chocks, cleaning kits, wipes… these inexpensive bags do a good job of keeping the back of the plane neat.
Now only if I could conquer the gearcreep by my front door.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/05172843/flight-gear-ipad-bag.jpg12001200studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-03-25 10:00:352021-06-08 19:23:10Avoid “gearcreep” and stay organized in the cockpit
Instagram disease in aviation – don’t catch it
/in Having fun/by studentpltnewsDoes this sound familiar? You’re scrolling through your Instagram feed when you see a perfectly composed picture that makes you feel simultaneously inspired and depressed. “That person’s life looks so fun and exciting – and nothing like mine.” It’s such a common occurance that it has its own name in some circles: Instagram disease. A recent report from the UK puts some science behind the obvious, concluding at one point: “Instagram easily makes girls and women feel as if their bodies aren’t good enough as people add filters and edit their pictures in order for them to look ‘perfect’.”
Exciting – and not what new pilots should expect.
Instagram disease isn’t just an issue for middle school girls; you could easily replace “girls and women” above with “student pilots” and replace “bodies” with “flying.” Above a hashtag like #pilotlife or #instaaviation, you’ll often see a picture of an exotic seaplane on a fishing trip in the Bahamas, a tundra tire taildragger landing on a remote river bed in Utah, or an airline pilot posing like a model with an “I worked all morning to look like I just fell out of bed” look.
It’s alluring, but it’s not real life.
This is not meant as a rant against social media or “kids these days” – there are plenty of positives to go along with the downsides, and I do think Instagram (and YouTube and other platforms) have introduced aviation to a whole new generation of aviation enthusiasts. Besides, aviation is exciting and rewarding and challenging – at times. The issue isn’t so much the technology, but our reaction to it.
In their zeal to share the most extreme emotions of flying (or more likely, to add followers), some #pilotsofinstagram are hurting the community they claim to love. By overselling aviation’s adventure and romance, they make it more likely that a new pilot will be disappointed by a regular cross country from Dayton to Ft. Wayne in a 60-year old Cherokee. Like a teenager who feels inadequate compared to a model, the typical pilot can quickly feel like they’re doing something wrong. Even worse, such posts might encourage new pilots to push the envelope by flying low or trying risky flights, with serious safety implications.
To combat this disease, we could quit social media (as some people are doing) or force “influencers” to point out when they modify a picture or market it with themarketingheaven.com. A better solution lies within: measure success by your own goals, not a follower count.
Nailed a crosswind landing in a 172? Celebrate it!
There are dozens of reasons people learn to fly, from a desire to learn a new skill to an airline job in the future. Whatever your reason, make sure that remains the focus of your flying life. If you’re flying for fun, do whatever is fun for you. Maybe that does in fact mean a seaplane flight to the Bahamas, but it also might mean visiting a pancake breakfast at a new airport or just doing some hangar flying with other pilots. You shouldn’t ever feel regret about creating your own aviation life.
Another step is to find joy in the little things, the quietly amazing parts of being a pilot. The fact is, not every day brings a life-changing trip in a rare airplane, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find satisfaction in a routine flight. I’ve been working on this myself lately, and I’ve found that the real reward of being a pilot is often found in these seemingly boring flights. Here are a few things I’ve celebrated:
None of these are Instagram-worthy, but trying to get better every time I go flying has given me great purpose. That lasts much longer than the fleeting affections of an online audience, and it’s at least as fun as anything I see on my smartphone because it’s real.
I’m not suggesting you take up life as a stoic and refuse to have fun. I’m also not suggesting you shouldn’t dream about the perfect airplane or the perfect flight. Just don’t allow those dreams to ruin your day-to-day flying. And don’t ever say, “I’m only a Private Pilot and I only fly a Cessna.” That’s a big deal!
Friday photo: Texan and Mustang flights
/in Friday Photo/by studentpltnewsThe moment: T-6 Texan and TF-51 Mustang flight
The pilots: Randy Gleason (left) and Joe Gleason (right)
The place: Kissimmee Gateway Airport (KISM), Orlando, FL
The aircraft: T-6 Texan (left) and TF-51 Mustang (right)
The memory: I gave up actively flying as a private pilot in the early eighties. But when my son, Randy, started flying as a student, I took an interest again. Last month we flew down to Kissimmee, FL, and on Friday, January 11th, he took a step up and flew the AT-6 Texan. On that same day I flew Stallion 51’s TF-51 Mustang. What a rush! At 76, I’m now anxious to get current and start flying again.
Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]
Quiz: Reading Pilot Weather Reports
/in Quiz/by Chris ClarkeAviation weather reports are simply conditions in the atmosphere that are observed at a specific time. These reports create a snapshot for pilots to understand what weather to expect during takeoff, cruise, and landing.
Knowing how to find, read, and interpret the multiple sources of weather information is crucial to the safety and success of every flight. Use this quiz to test your pilot weather report understanding.
Share the quiz to show your results !
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Want to learn more about pilot weather reports? Check out Sporty’s Learn To Fly Course for more in depth training on this subject.
Webinar: Get the most from ForeFlight – advanced tips for aviation’s top app
/in Webinars/by studentpltnewsForeFlight, the most popular app for pilots, blends flight planning, charts, aviation weather, airport information, documents, synthetic vision and even a logbook into one complete resource. Follow along as ForeFlight lead product designer, Ryan McBride discusses advanced features to enrich your flying experience.
Video: glider flying from a winch launch
/in Fun Flying Videos/by studentpltnewsGlider flying is the purest, most peaceful form of flying – just the pilot and the atmosphere, managing energy to get where you want to go. But how do you get altitude in the first place? While the aero-tow is traditional (using a towplane to pull the glider up), the winch launch is an exciting alternative. Ride along in this video to see how you can go from parked to 1900 feet in about three seconds.
Video from FliteTest.
Avoid “gearcreep” and stay organized in the cockpit
/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnewsgear.creep
When stuff is left laying around and starts getting in the way of important tasks.
For anyone who has kids, gearcreep is a daily adventure. Books, bags, lunchboxes, one blue sock, and clarinet reeds somehow can’t cross the forcefield that is found approximately 10 feet inside my front door. Eventually, the forcefield can’t hold back the massive piles of junk and the gear starts creeping across the floor, only to be found at 2 am while stumbling down the hall to the bathroom.
While I complain about gearcreep at home, I learned that I was the chief offender of gearcreep in the cockpit. Pens, Bluetooth GPS units, aux input cables, flashlights… the stuff that I found rolling around the passenger seat and on the floor after a recent night cross country had me convinced that a more organized cockpit would be in my future. I started by getting some fresh gear, specifically to keep all my stuff from accidentally finding its way to the floor. Here are 5 items that have helped me to conquer my cockpit gearcreep problem.
This bag is the perfect compromise between size and utility. The small footprint makes this bag a perfect fit for on the floor between the front two seats of a Cessna 182. It has plenty of pockets to keep all your gear organized. I really like the padded iPad pocket with with the thru hole for charging with a backup battery. I use this feature all the time to keep my iPad battery topped off.
Kneeboard
I swore off kneeboards after I finished training, but now I find myself gravitating back to them. Modern kneeboards have a spot for your iPad, notepads, cleaning cloths, charging accessories, etc. This sure beats picking pens out of the rudder pedals, and I like having the iPad firmly strapped to my leg.
These little unsung heroes are amazing. It’s a simple, hook and loop backed pouch that holds frequently used items. These are great for keeping charging cables organized or for backup batteries. I’ve even used one to keep a camera and all the small mount pieces organized. They are specially designed to attach to both Sporty’s Flight Gear bags and kneeboards.
Pilot Pocket Plus
Portable Cargo Caddy
These simple, collapsible bags make great catch-alls for the hangar and the luggage compartment. Oil, chocks, cleaning kits, wipes… these inexpensive bags do a good job of keeping the back of the plane neat.
Now only if I could conquer the gearcreep by my front door.