Sporty’s introduces new book – Learn to Fly: A Comprehensive Guide to Private Pilot Training

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Sporty’s instructors share valuable tips and insight

Known as the industry experts in flight education, Sporty’s recently released a new book, Learn to Fly: A Comprehensive Guide to Private Pilot Training. Filled with honest advice from Sporty’s team of flight instructors, this book is the aspiring pilot’s introduction to the fascinating world of aviation and a step-by-step guide to the flight training process. From finding a flight school to dealing with training setbacks to acing an airline interview, readers will learn detailed tips for success.

Learn to Fly is an essential reference for pilot training, whether learning to fly for fun or to launch a career. Written with clarity and expertise, and loaded with color graphics and helpful checklists, this comprehensive guide also includes dozens of helpful links to expand the reader’s knowledge online.

Read a sample from Sporty’s Learn to Fly book here.

Learn to Fly also explores the personal growth and transformation that accompany the pursuit of flight. Readers will experience the support and camaraderie forged among fellow aviators, the thrill of overcoming self-doubt, and the profound sense of accomplishment that comes with earning a pilot’s license.

Learn to Fly: A Comprehensive Guide to Private Pilot Training is offered in a convenient digital (ebook) format or in paperback for just $4.99. Already a Sporty’s course user? The digital version is a free resource as part of Sporty’s online Learn to Fly Course; the print version is available at Sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

Ask a CFI: Can a pilot fly through a MOA?

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If operating under visual flight rules (VFR), yes, a pilot may fly through a military operations area (MOA) without receiving a clearance or communicating with ATC; however, it’s important to understand the risks and activities present within an active MOA. If operating under instrument flight rules (IFR), you likely will be routed around an active MOA, but not necessarily. In effect, MOAs are always joint use in that VFR aircraft are permitted, and IFR aircraft may be routed through the airspace by agreement between controlling and using agencies.

What is an MOA?

A military operations area (MOA) is airspace established below 18,000′ MSL to separate non-hazardous military flight activities (air combat maneuvers, air intercepts, low altitude tactics, etc.) from IFR aircraft and to identify for VFR aircraft where these activities are being conducted. For IFR traffic, procedures are established to accommodate instrument arrivals and departures at affected airports and the MOA must exclude the airspace 1,500 feet AGL and below within a 3 NM radius of airports available for public use. 

fighter aircraft

An MOA is airspace designed to separate non-hazardous military flight activities from IFR aircraft and to identify for VFR aircraft where these activities are being conducted.

How are MOAs identified?

Permanent MOAs are charted on Sectional, VFR Terminal Area, and En Route Low Altitude charts. Temporary MOAs can be established which are not charted, but the military is responsible for publicizing the exercise within 50 miles of the affected airspace.

military operations area

Information on MOAs can be found on the sectional chart and be contacting the controlling agency or flight service.

How can a pilot get more information on MOAs?

Information on MOAs can be found on the sectional chart and be contacting the controlling agency or flight service.

Video Tip: How to perform a Cessna 172 exterior preflight

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The airplane preflight inspection is performed before each flight to ensure that all the required paperwork is on board, that the airplane systems are working properly and that the correct amount of fuel and oil are in the tanks.  It’s your chance to really look the airplane over inside and out to assure yourself that it’s ready to fly because once you’re airborne you just can’t pull over in case something goes wrong. This week’s video tip demonstrates how complete the external preflight inspection on a Cessna 172.

Learn more from Sporty’s 2024 Learn to Fly Course – Video Training and Test Prep

 

Regional Airline Association (RAA) accepting scholarship applications

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Apply by April 30, 2024

The Regional Airline Association (RAA) will be awarding three, $4,000 scholarships to assist students who are studying for a career in the airline industry.

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for the scholarship:

  1. Applicants must be officially enrolled in an accredited college or university in a program leading to a career in the airline industry at the time of application and award.  Applicants will be considered from other programs/majors, if the applicant’s goal of a career in airline management can be demonstrated through work experience or the personal essay;
  2. Applicants must possess a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the time of the application.  A transcript reflecting grades through the previous academic year at college or university must accompany the application.  Highschool transcripts will not be considered. Because of the application deadline, applicants may submit transcripts through fall or winter term 2023/2024;
  3. A resume outlining the applicants work experience, extracurricular and/or community activities;
  4. A career essay, up to 350 words, describing the applicant’s interests in the airline industry;
  5. A college or university faculty recommendation must accompany the application.
  6. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States.

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.raa.org/scholarship/.

pitot

Quiz: Understanding the airplane Pitot-Static System

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The pitot-static system is the source of valuable flight information for the pilot. But how does it work and what instruments are affected? Take this quiz to find out if you have mastered the finer details of the pitot-static system.

1. Which instrument(s) will become inoperative if the static vents become clogged?
1. Which instrument(s) will become inoperative if the static vents become clogged?
Correct! Wrong!
2. If a flight is made from an area of low pressure into an area of high pressure without the altimeter setting being adjusted, the altimeter will indicate
2. If a flight is made from an area of low pressure into an area of high pressure without the altimeter setting being adjusted, the altimeter will indicate
Correct! Wrong!
3. What does the red line on an airspeed indicator represent?
3. What does the red line on an airspeed indicator represent?
Correct! Wrong!
4. What altitude does the altimeter indicate?
4. What altitude does the altimeter indicate?
Correct! Wrong!
5. Which instrument will become inoperative if the pitot tube becomes clogged?
5. Which instrument will become inoperative if the pitot tube becomes clogged?
Correct! Wrong!
6. The pitot system provides impact pressure for which instrument(s)?
6. The pitot system provides impact pressure for which instrument(s)?
Correct! Wrong!
7. Altimeter setting is the value to which the barometric pressure scale of the altimeter is set so the altimeter indicates
7. Altimeter setting is the value to which the barometric pressure scale of the altimeter is set so the altimeter indicates
Correct! Wrong!
8. Which condition would cause the altimeter to indicate a lower altitude than true altitude?
8. Which condition would cause the altimeter to indicate a lower altitude than true altitude?
Correct! Wrong!
9. If, while in level flight, it becomes necessary to use an alternate source of static pressure vented inside the airplane, which of the following should the pilot expect?
9. If, while in level flight, it becomes necessary to use an alternate source of static pressure vented inside the airplane, which of the following should the pilot expect?
Correct! Wrong!

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Pitot-Static System You got out of 9 right!

Want to brush up on your flight instrument knowledge? Check out Sporty’s 2024 Learn to Fly Course

dust devil

Dust devils present significant aviation risks

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dust devil

Dust devils post significant aviation risks.

Dust devils present significant hadzards to aviation and have been present in more than 170 accidents the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has investigated since 1982 according to an NTSB Aviation Safety Alert (SA-088) on the topic. The spiraling updraft of a dust devil can oncur under clear skies and warm conditions especially in areas with flat terrain such as the Southwest US. Given their strenth (which can be comparable to a tornado) and often invisible presence, dust devils can create suden and unexpected and severe turbulence which can lead to loss of control.

While dust devils containing debris can be obvious, for those with no debris, a shadow can still be created depending on the angle of the sun. And in some environments, dust devils leave tracks or marks on the ground which can offer clues to their presence, size and direction. It’s recommended that pilots always stay vigilant for the potential existence of dust devils and consider maintaining higher altitudes in areas of higher risk.

Learn more in this NTSB video.