The iPad makes a great, all-in-one cockpit tool, combining maps, flight planning, in-flight weather, documents and so much more. That doesn’t mean it stands on its own, though. A few carefully chosen accessories can make it so much more powerful and easy-to-use. Here’s our list of the accessories you should consider, and our top recommendations.
1. ADS-B Receiver
Practically an essential for iPad pilots who fly cross country, these all-in-one portable receivers deliver a wealth of data to your iPad: subscription-free weather, traffic, GPS, backup attitude, flight data recording and pressure altitude sensor. Best of all, they’re battery-powered and require just a single button push to operate. Like a good ANR headset, an ADS-B receiver quickly pays back the initial investment.
Why it’s the best: The Stratus line of ADS-B receivers were designed to exclusively work with ForeFlight, aviation’s most widely used iPad app. The top-of-the-line Stratus 2S model contains all the bells and whistles, including ADS-B weather replay, dual-band traffic, remote-mount capability, pressure altitude monitoring, flight data recorder and a built-in AHRS to drive ForeFlight’s synthetic vision.
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of an ADS-B receiver, a standalone GPS is a great value. It will drive the moving maps in your aviation app and give you essential navigation data like groundspeed, track across the ground and time to destination.
Why it’s the best: Bad Elf’s flagship GPS is very well made and has a number of great features: an incredible 35 hour battery life, handy built-in screen, altimeter and connection to multiple devices.
Flight bags have evolved considerably over the past 5 years, featuring a smaller footprint with well-thought out pockets to keep your electronic gadgets organized and secure. They’re also more stylish. A good one can protect and organize your iPad, mount/kneeboard, charging cords, headset and more.
Why it’s the best: This compact, square-shaped bag features a padded center pocket for your iPad, surrounded by additional side pockets for a headset or smaller iPad accessories. The fold-out style is handy in the airplane, especially if you’re flying single pilot and have the flight bag on the right seat – you can open only the pocket you need, and grab your gear with one hand.
Securing your iPad in the cockpit is important for safety and for ease of use. There are two main options for this: a kneeboard or a mounting system. Kneeboards are generally more affordable, and offer additional storage pockets. They’re ideal for renters or flying club members.
Why it’s the best: The latest generation of this popular kneeboard is just the right size, with enough room for your iPad, some cords, and a cleaning cloth, but without being too big or cumbersome. The iPad panel can tilt and rotate so you find just the right position for your airplane. For smaller cockpits, we like how the kneeboard can fold in half so it’s only a single panel.
If a kneeboard doesn’t work in your airplane, a mount is a great alternative. There are lots of options here, from suction cup mounts for side windows to yoke mounts. There are plenty of brands offering mounts, and most of them are quite good, but there are significant differences between them to consider.
Why it’s the best: This deluxe system, used by Southwest Airlines pilots every day, is a protective case and suction cup mount in one. It’s well-made, easy-to-use and doesn’t take up too much space in the cockpit. When you’re done flying, it quickly removes from the suction cup and becomes a good, everyday case.
Most of the (very rare) issues we’ve had with the iPad have been due to running out of battery. So it’s only smart to have a backup for those days when you fly longer than expected or forget to charge your iPad. Fortunately, there are more options than ever. Just be sure to get something with a 2 amp charging port.
Why it’s the best: A standalone battery pack is an essential backup, and it works anywhere – even in airplanes without an electrical system. This model is the best one we’ve seen: it has dual 2 amp USB ports for tablets, dual 1 amp USB ports for phones and a huge, 20,800 mAh battery. We’ve charged an iPad, Stratus and two iPhones at the same time. Even with all that power, it’s surprisingly small and portable, plus it won’t create noise in your aircraft radios.
Not everyone likes screen protectors, since they can distort the screen slightly. But for pilots who use their iPads hard, it makes sense to give that big chunk of glass a little extra protection from scratches, drops and fingerprints. Some will cut down on screen glare too.
Why it’s the best: These screen protectors aren’t flimsy sheets of plastic that are impossible to put on; instead, they’re made from tempered glass. They are much easier to apply, they don’t affect the touchscreen performance and they even reduce screen glare by a bit.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/05175125/Stratus-2S-in-window-1000.jpg10001000studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2017-09-26 10:43:312021-06-08 19:23:29Top 7 iPad accessories for pilots
As you’re already aware, earning a pilot certificate is a fun and rewarding experience that will provide you with a lifetime of thrills and excitement. But it’s also a license to learn and requires a system of continuing education and proficiency.
First, a word of caution – while your flying fundamentals will no doubt be sharp when you earn your ticket, the majority of your training and checkride preparation was likely spent close to home. This isn’t a bad thing, but there is still a wealth of knowledge and skill to be gained during the flying that will come beyond the certificate. Aeronautical decision making and judgment is a constant “work-in-process.” It’s quite likely that not a lot of experience has been gained at this point in flying cross-country, managing weather, planning for alternates, communicating with ATC or dealing with equipment malfunctions. In other words, you’ll need to commit time to determining what your personal limitations will look like as a newly-certificated pilot.
Here is my advice for maintaining proficiency, gaining experience and managing personal minimums.
1) Fly – Yes, it sounds too basic to believe and you may even want to laugh, but you’d be surprised at the number of new pilots that do little or no flying after the certificate. The reasons are numerous, but one that I’ve heard is that there’s no longer a commitment to come to the airport to meet the instructor for a lesson. Seriously? The certificate is a gateway…an open door to freedom and adventure. Share that experience with friends or family and take a leisurely flight. Make the commitment to fly.
Quality time on the ground with your avionics will pay dividends
2) Master the avionics – Regardless of your panel’s complexity, there is technology to be mastered. Achieving the level of proficiency where control inputs become instinctive, while already task saturated, can literally save the day. Like anything, this is knowledge that will degrade over time, so study your manuals and take advantage of simulator programs and training videos. As a start, you’ll want to be thoroughly familiar with your aircraft’s autopilot and GPS.
3) Checklists & flows – Use a checklist AND flight deck flow for all of your procedures. Aviation happens to be at the forefront when it comes to checklist usage. The safest operations I’m familiar with typically use multiple checklist styles and layers for added safety that will evolve with time and experience.
In a to-do system, you would methodically read through each item on the checklist and then perform the necessary task as you come to the item. As you become more familiar with an aircraft, you should consider and develop “flows” – an organized and consistent pattern of moving around the flight deck to accomplish items required of the upcoming checklist.
Undoubtedly you’ve learned or developed a mental checklist or if not, you likely will at some point. There’s the famous “GUMPS” as a before landing (G – gas, U – undercarriage, M – mixture, P – prop, S – seatbelt & switches) and “CIGAR” as a before takeoff. The mental checklist will serve as another valuable layer of redundancy and perhaps even a lifesaver in a critical situation with little or not time to consult a written list.
A good post-flight will allow you to catch items early
A safe flight starts with a thorough preflight to minimize the chance of any surprises. Get in the habit of reviewing weather, routes, performance, terrain, and contingency plans. This review should also include available airports along your route.
Also carefully study airport layouts and taxiway diagrams for your airports of intended use. e particularly aware of any traps or hot spots. And again, plan for alternate airports even in good weather – this exercise will keep you sharp if a diversion is ever necessary for weather, a malfunction or even a bathroom break.
Don’t miss the valuable post-flight opportunity. The time to discover items requiring attention on the aircraft is after a flight so issues can be addressed ahead of your next flight.
5) Meaningful Flight Reviews – A flight review doesn’t just need to be accomplished when the regulations say so. A flight review can happen anytime and you should voluntarily participate in meaningful proficiency training. Venture outside your comfort zone with an instructor in the interest of your personal development.
6) Maintain the personal minimums discipline – Finally, regardless of your adherence to a proficiency program, the discipline is ultimately adhering to those personal minimums. Personal minimums are just that – personal. It’s not something you can read in a book. Stay within your comfort zone, continuously question your guidelines and remember, an occasional feeling of trepidation is healthy.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/05165038/aztec-garmin-1.jpg7681366studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2017-09-25 17:24:382021-06-08 19:23:296 tips for pilot proficiency and development
Welcome to the latest edition of the Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. Here we’ll highlight the various maneuvers you’ll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your private pilot checkride. Each maneuver includes step-by-step instructions, performance standards and common errors. Study them while on the ground or print them for quick reference in the airplane.
These step-by-step instructions are from Sporty’s Complete Learn to Fly Course, which includes 15 hours of HD video that demonstrates how to fly each maneuver.
What’s the hardest part about learning to fly? Right after learning how to land, most pilots would say learning to talk on the radio. In the latest episode of AOPA’s “Behind the Logbook” series, you’ll fly along with two student pilots as they learn how to keep up with rapid fire ATC instructions. Step one: know what to expect!
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/05175134/Behind-the-logbook-1.jpg347650studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2017-09-22 15:01:432021-06-08 19:23:29Video: Getting over Mic Fright
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean seems like an impossible task in a small airplane, but it really isn’t. This week’s fun flying video takes us to Greenland, to join three friends for a flight from remote Nuuk to Iceland. The scenery is incredible, the planning is intense, and the sense of accomplishment is hard to beat. And it’s all done in a Cessna 210.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/05175136/Greenland-210.jpg467900studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2017-09-15 12:00:222021-06-08 19:23:29Video: Flying a Cessna from Greenland to Iceland
Some aviation tips are in the “commandments” category: never land with less than an hour of fuel on board, never take off over gross weight, never fly below minimums on an instrument approach. My personal favorite is, “never run out of airspeed and ideas at the same time.” Violating one of these rules means you are courting danger.
While these tips are all true, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other, smaller tips that can reduce risk. In fact, as pilots there’s a lot we can do to increase the safety margins of every flight just by keeping a few good habits.
Here are seven I try follow in the cockpit:
Set it to field elevation right away to make sure you’re not off by 1000 feet.
1. Set the altimeter to field elevation as soon as you get in the airplane. This may not be exactly correct, and you’ll want to fine tune the setting before takeoff (via ATIS or AWOS), but getting the altimeter in the ballpark is a good hedge against making a 1,000-foot error. This can happen if the barometric pressure has changed dramatically since your last flight. I once set the altimeter for -500 feet, thinking it was actually at 500 feet (the correct altitude). This habit gives you two chances to catch any errors, and takes just a few seconds.
2. Set the heading bug on the runway you are using for takeoff. Many airplanes have a heading bug these days, which is used to control the autopilot. But that bug can be used as a valuable reminder, even if you aren’t using automation. Especially at an airport with multiple runways, I always set the bug on the runway heading that I’ll be using. It’s a quick reminder during taxi, and a valuable last minute check before you take off. In larger airplanes, it could even prevent a fatal mistake, like the CRJ crash in Lexington, Kentucky, some years ago.
3. Don’t reconfigure on the runway. As you gain confidence in the airplane, it’s tempting to multi-task. Sometimes that’s OK, but resist the urge to do it after landing, while you’re still on the runway. Leave the flaps where they are, don’t touch the trim, and don’t worry about the lights. They can all wait, and if your attention is in the cockpit, you might miss a serious traffic conflict or even taxi the airplane into the grass. Keep the cockpit sterile until you’re over the hold-short line. Obviously an exception can be made for touch and goes, but I’d only do this with an instructor in the right seat (never solo).
Don’t grab that flap handle without first making sure it’s the right one.
4. Verify the flap handle in retractable gear airplanes. Somewhat related to the previous habit, in retractable airplanes it’s easy to mix up the flap and gear handles, particularly if you’re in a hurry. Sure, there are systems to prevent the retraction of the gear when you’re on the ground, but those can fail. Take two extra seconds when you grab the flap handle to retract them after landing, and say (out loud), “I have the flap handle.” It may seem silly at first, but it can prevent a very expensive mistake.
5. Use a quick flow check at key moments. Every pilot and every airplane will have a different flow check, but a good one includes essential items like: power setting, trim, flaps/gear, engine instruments, and altitude. This can take just a moment, but I like to do it shortly after takeoff, at the top of climb, before starting descent and just before landing. It’s not a replacement for a printed checklist, but a good backup to make sure the critical checklist steps have been completed.
6. Leave the landing light out until cleared for takeoff. At towered airports, you’ll sometimes be cleared to “line up and wait,” meaning you’ll take the runway but hold your position until you get additional clearance from the tower. To avoid confusion, I always leave the landing light off until I have received clearance to take off. That gives me a quick check if I’m ever uncertain of my status. And yes, you should always turn on the landing light for takeoff, even during the daytime. It’s helpful for collision avoidance.
7. Call out “1000 to go” in climbs and descents. The pros always say this, and most newer autopilots also do it too. When you’re within 1000 feet of your level-off altitude, say “1000 to go” and maybe even hold up one finger. It’s a good way to prevent an altitude bust (a big deal in the world of IFR flying), but it’s also a helpful reminder that you should be focusing on flying the airplane, not talking to passengers or programming the avionics.
All of these are easy and quick, so they shouldn’t burden your typical flight. In fact, after a while, you probably won’t even notice you’re doing them. In my 3000+ hours of flying, all seven have saved me from a mistake. Sure, not all would have been fatal or even serious, but striving for that mistake-free flight is every pilot’s goal. I’ll take all the help I can get.
Any little habits you’d add to my list? Add a comment below.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/05175250/87dff3cc-754f-4178-b5f1-4dfdf5786fdd.jpg7871100studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2017-09-11 10:00:342021-06-08 19:23:297 little safety habits to consider
Top 7 iPad accessories for pilots
/in Pilot Gear/by studentpltnewsThe iPad makes a great, all-in-one cockpit tool, combining maps, flight planning, in-flight weather, documents and so much more. That doesn’t mean it stands on its own, though. A few carefully chosen accessories can make it so much more powerful and easy-to-use. Here’s our list of the accessories you should consider, and our top recommendations.
1. ADS-B Receiver
Top Choice: Stratus 2S ADS-B receiver for ForeFlight
Why it’s the best: The Stratus line of ADS-B receivers were designed to exclusively work with ForeFlight, aviation’s most widely used iPad app. The top-of-the-line Stratus 2S model contains all the bells and whistles, including ADS-B weather replay, dual-band traffic, remote-mount capability, pressure altitude monitoring, flight data recorder and a built-in AHRS to drive ForeFlight’s synthetic vision.
On a budget: Stratus 1S, Garmin GDL 39
Want to learn more? Check out this portable ADS-B receiver buyer’s guide
2. GPS Receiver
Top Choice: Bad Elf Pro+
Why it’s the best: Bad Elf’s flagship GPS is very well made and has a number of great features: an incredible 35 hour battery life, handy built-in screen, altimeter and connection to multiple devices.
On a budget: Dual XGPS150A
Want to learn more? Check out our iPad GPS buyer’s guide
3. Flight Bag
Top Choice: Flight Outfitters Lift
Why it’s the best: This compact, square-shaped bag features a padded center pocket for your iPad, surrounded by additional side pockets for a headset or smaller iPad accessories. The fold-out style is handy in the airplane, especially if you’re flying single pilot and have the flight bag on the right seat – you can open only the pocket you need, and grab your gear with one hand.
On a budget: Flight Gear HP iPad Bag
4. Kneeboard
Top Choice: Flight Gear HP iPad Kneeboard
Why it’s the best: The latest generation of this popular kneeboard is just the right size, with enough room for your iPad, some cords, and a cleaning cloth, but without being too big or cumbersome. The iPad panel can tilt and rotate so you find just the right position for your airplane. For smaller cockpits, we like how the kneeboard can fold in half so it’s only a single panel.
On a budget: iPad Rotating Kneeboard
5. Mount
Top Choice: PIVOT Case and Mount – iPad Mini and iPad Pro 9.7″/Air options
Why it’s the best: This deluxe system, used by Southwest Airlines pilots every day, is a protective case and suction cup mount in one. It’s well-made, easy-to-use and doesn’t take up too much space in the cockpit. When you’re done flying, it quickly removes from the suction cup and becomes a good, everyday case.
On a budget: RAM Mounts (numerous options)
6. Backup Power
Top Choice: Professional Battery Pack
Why it’s the best: A standalone battery pack is an essential backup, and it works anywhere – even in airplanes without an electrical system. This model is the best one we’ve seen: it has dual 2 amp USB ports for tablets, dual 1 amp USB ports for phones and a huge, 20,800 mAh battery. We’ve charged an iPad, Stratus and two iPhones at the same time. Even with all that power, it’s surprisingly small and portable, plus it won’t create noise in your aircraft radios.
On a budget: Flight Gear Dual USB Charger with Screen
7. Screen Protector
Top Choice: MyGoFlight ArmorGlas – iPad Mini and iPad Pro 9.7″/Air options
Why it’s the best: These screen protectors aren’t flimsy sheets of plastic that are impossible to put on; instead, they’re made from tempered glass. They are much easier to apply, they don’t affect the touchscreen performance and they even reduce screen glare by a bit.
6 tips for pilot proficiency and development
/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnewsFlying is like any skill – use it or lose it
As you’re already aware, earning a pilot certificate is a fun and rewarding experience that will provide you with a lifetime of thrills and excitement. But it’s also a license to learn and requires a system of continuing education and proficiency.
First, a word of caution – while your flying fundamentals will no doubt be sharp when you earn your ticket, the majority of your training and checkride preparation was likely spent close to home. This isn’t a bad thing, but there is still a wealth of knowledge and skill to be gained during the flying that will come beyond the certificate. Aeronautical decision making and judgment is a constant “work-in-process.” It’s quite likely that not a lot of experience has been gained at this point in flying cross-country, managing weather, planning for alternates, communicating with ATC or dealing with equipment malfunctions. In other words, you’ll need to commit time to determining what your personal limitations will look like as a newly-certificated pilot.
Here is my advice for maintaining proficiency, gaining experience and managing personal minimums.
1) Fly – Yes, it sounds too basic to believe and you may even want to laugh, but you’d be surprised at the number of new pilots that do little or no flying after the certificate. The reasons are numerous, but one that I’ve heard is that there’s no longer a commitment to come to the airport to meet the instructor for a lesson. Seriously? The certificate is a gateway…an open door to freedom and adventure. Share that experience with friends or family and take a leisurely flight. Make the commitment to fly.
Quality time on the ground with your avionics will pay dividends
2) Master the avionics – Regardless of your panel’s complexity, there is technology to be mastered. Achieving the level of proficiency where control inputs become instinctive, while already task saturated, can literally save the day. Like anything, this is knowledge that will degrade over time, so study your manuals and take advantage of simulator programs and training videos. As a start, you’ll want to be thoroughly familiar with your aircraft’s autopilot and GPS.
3) Checklists & flows – Use a checklist AND flight deck flow for all of your procedures. Aviation happens to be at the forefront when it comes to checklist usage. The safest operations I’m familiar with typically use multiple checklist styles and layers for added safety that will evolve with time and experience.
In a to-do system, you would methodically read through each item on the checklist and then perform the necessary task as you come to the item. As you become more familiar with an aircraft, you should consider and develop “flows” – an organized and consistent pattern of moving around the flight deck to accomplish items required of the upcoming checklist.
Undoubtedly you’ve learned or developed a mental checklist or if not, you likely will at some point. There’s the famous “GUMPS” as a before landing (G – gas, U – undercarriage, M – mixture, P – prop, S – seatbelt & switches) and “CIGAR” as a before takeoff. The mental checklist will serve as another valuable layer of redundancy and perhaps even a lifesaver in a critical situation with little or not time to consult a written list.
A good post-flight will allow you to catch items early
4) Thorough Pre-Flight/Post-Flight Procedures Review
A safe flight starts with a thorough preflight to minimize the chance of any surprises. Get in the habit of reviewing weather, routes, performance, terrain, and contingency plans. This review should also include available airports along your route.
Also carefully study airport layouts and taxiway diagrams for your airports of intended use. e particularly aware of any traps or hot spots. And again, plan for alternate airports even in good weather – this exercise will keep you sharp if a diversion is ever necessary for weather, a malfunction or even a bathroom break.
Don’t miss the valuable post-flight opportunity. The time to discover items requiring attention on the aircraft is after a flight so issues can be addressed ahead of your next flight.
5) Meaningful Flight Reviews – A flight review doesn’t just need to be accomplished when the regulations say so. A flight review can happen anytime and you should voluntarily participate in meaningful proficiency training. Venture outside your comfort zone with an instructor in the interest of your personal development.
6) Maintain the personal minimums discipline – Finally, regardless of your adherence to a proficiency program, the discipline is ultimately adhering to those personal minimums. Personal minimums are just that – personal. It’s not something you can read in a book. Stay within your comfort zone, continuously question your guidelines and remember, an occasional feeling of trepidation is healthy.
Flight Maneuver Spotlight: Soft-field takeoff
/in Flight Maneuvers/by studentpltnewsWelcome to the latest edition of the Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. Here we’ll highlight the various maneuvers you’ll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your private pilot checkride. Each maneuver includes step-by-step instructions, performance standards and common errors. Study them while on the ground or print them for quick reference in the airplane.
These step-by-step instructions are from Sporty’s Complete Learn to Fly Course, which includes 15 hours of HD video that demonstrates how to fly each maneuver.
Video: Getting over Mic Fright
/in Fun Flying Videos/by studentpltnewsWhat’s the hardest part about learning to fly? Right after learning how to land, most pilots would say learning to talk on the radio. In the latest episode of AOPA’s “Behind the Logbook” series, you’ll fly along with two student pilots as they learn how to keep up with rapid fire ATC instructions. Step one: know what to expect!
More Behind The Logbook videos here.
Video: Flying a Cessna from Greenland to Iceland
/in Fun Flying Videos/by studentpltnewsCrossing the Atlantic Ocean seems like an impossible task in a small airplane, but it really isn’t. This week’s fun flying video takes us to Greenland, to join three friends for a flight from remote Nuuk to Iceland. The scenery is incredible, the planning is intense, and the sense of accomplishment is hard to beat. And it’s all done in a Cessna 210.
Video from FunForLouis
7 little safety habits to consider
/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnewsSome aviation tips are in the “commandments” category: never land with less than an hour of fuel on board, never take off over gross weight, never fly below minimums on an instrument approach. My personal favorite is, “never run out of airspeed and ideas at the same time.” Violating one of these rules means you are courting danger.
While these tips are all true, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other, smaller tips that can reduce risk. In fact, as pilots there’s a lot we can do to increase the safety margins of every flight just by keeping a few good habits.
Here are seven I try follow in the cockpit:
Set it to field elevation right away to make sure you’re not off by 1000 feet.
1. Set the altimeter to field elevation as soon as you get in the airplane. This may not be exactly correct, and you’ll want to fine tune the setting before takeoff (via ATIS or AWOS), but getting the altimeter in the ballpark is a good hedge against making a 1,000-foot error. This can happen if the barometric pressure has changed dramatically since your last flight. I once set the altimeter for -500 feet, thinking it was actually at 500 feet (the correct altitude). This habit gives you two chances to catch any errors, and takes just a few seconds.
2. Set the heading bug on the runway you are using for takeoff. Many airplanes have a heading bug these days, which is used to control the autopilot. But that bug can be used as a valuable reminder, even if you aren’t using automation. Especially at an airport with multiple runways, I always set the bug on the runway heading that I’ll be using. It’s a quick reminder during taxi, and a valuable last minute check before you take off. In larger airplanes, it could even prevent a fatal mistake, like the CRJ crash in Lexington, Kentucky, some years ago.
3. Don’t reconfigure on the runway. As you gain confidence in the airplane, it’s tempting to multi-task. Sometimes that’s OK, but resist the urge to do it after landing, while you’re still on the runway. Leave the flaps where they are, don’t touch the trim, and don’t worry about the lights. They can all wait, and if your attention is in the cockpit, you might miss a serious traffic conflict or even taxi the airplane into the grass. Keep the cockpit sterile until you’re over the hold-short line. Obviously an exception can be made for touch and goes, but I’d only do this with an instructor in the right seat (never solo).
Don’t grab that flap handle without first making sure it’s the right one.
4. Verify the flap handle in retractable gear airplanes. Somewhat related to the previous habit, in retractable airplanes it’s easy to mix up the flap and gear handles, particularly if you’re in a hurry. Sure, there are systems to prevent the retraction of the gear when you’re on the ground, but those can fail. Take two extra seconds when you grab the flap handle to retract them after landing, and say (out loud), “I have the flap handle.” It may seem silly at first, but it can prevent a very expensive mistake.
5. Use a quick flow check at key moments. Every pilot and every airplane will have a different flow check, but a good one includes essential items like: power setting, trim, flaps/gear, engine instruments, and altitude. This can take just a moment, but I like to do it shortly after takeoff, at the top of climb, before starting descent and just before landing. It’s not a replacement for a printed checklist, but a good backup to make sure the critical checklist steps have been completed.
6. Leave the landing light out until cleared for takeoff. At towered airports, you’ll sometimes be cleared to “line up and wait,” meaning you’ll take the runway but hold your position until you get additional clearance from the tower. To avoid confusion, I always leave the landing light off until I have received clearance to take off. That gives me a quick check if I’m ever uncertain of my status. And yes, you should always turn on the landing light for takeoff, even during the daytime. It’s helpful for collision avoidance.
7. Call out “1000 to go” in climbs and descents. The pros always say this, and most newer autopilots also do it too. When you’re within 1000 feet of your level-off altitude, say “1000 to go” and maybe even hold up one finger. It’s a good way to prevent an altitude bust (a big deal in the world of IFR flying), but it’s also a helpful reminder that you should be focusing on flying the airplane, not talking to passengers or programming the avionics.
All of these are easy and quick, so they shouldn’t burden your typical flight. In fact, after a while, you probably won’t even notice you’re doing them. In my 3000+ hours of flying, all seven have saved me from a mistake. Sure, not all would have been fatal or even serious, but striving for that mistake-free flight is every pilot’s goal. I’ll take all the help I can get.
Any little habits you’d add to my list? Add a comment below.