Aircraft Engine - carb heat

Reminder of the dangers associated with carb ice

An instructor and student received a powerful reminder of the dangers of carburetor ice. Carburetor ice occurs due to the effect of fuel vaporization and the decrease in air pressure which causes a sharp temperature drop.

Busy instrument arrival demands planning, precision and patience

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The secret is out…it is sunny and warm in south Florida. And…

Round Out Your Pilot Skills with an Instrument Rating

Instrument flying certification and skills can be something that a pilot can use even on good VFR weather flying days. The process, and the skill set that comes with being an instrument pilot, and even a proficient one, can be a set of tools that makes any flight safer and more predictable.
collision avoidance quiz

What’s in an approach category?

Aircraft fall into one of five approach categories (A-E) based on the aircraft's target final approach speed, or reference speed (Vref). If this speed is not published for the aircraft, then a speed of 1.3 times the stall speed.

An actual instrument approach to minimums

During your instrument training, you routinely fly instrument approach procedures to “minimums” under simulated conditions. The more likely scenario when flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) is the option to complete the flight under visual flight rules (VFR), flying a visual approach procedure, or flying an instrument procedure in which you acquire the runway visually well above the charted “minimums.”

Chart Smart: low altitude IFR enroute chart intersection symbol

What does the flag with the letter R indicate at the BOOPS intersection on the V333 airway?

Strategies for maintaining instrument proficiency

While your instrument flying skills, cockpit management techniques, and risk management processes will no doubt be sharp when you earn your instrument rating, like anything in life, if you don’t use it, you lose it.

Airplane attitude instrument flying is the foundation

When the airplane is properly trimmed, the control pressures needed for these small pitch changes are very light. The most common error in both pitch and bank control is over controlling.  Just as an excessive climb or descent will cause you to overshoot altitude, an excessive rate of turn results in overshooting the target heading.

Keeping One Step Ahead of ATC when flying IFR

Gone are the days of making an educated guess on a route, only to have ATC respond with a full route clearance with intersections and airways. It now takes only a moment in ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot or FltPlan.com to enter a departure and destination airport and then see recently issued clearances to other aircraft flying the same route.

Getting started with IFR training – tips for ensuring success

Earning an instrument rating is a rewarding experience that will give you confidence and make your pilot’s license more powerful. Here's how to get off to a fast start on your training.