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.
HD flight maneuver spotlight: steep turns

Steep Turns – Sporty’s HD Flight Maneuver Spotlight

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 is part of Sporty's 2023 Learn to Fly Course and includes a narrated video animation, along with step-by-step instructions.

Abnormal maneuvers for a student pilot to practice in a simulator

Home flight simulators offer a wealth of practice when it comes to today’s budding aviators. No longer do we have to settle for green lines on a black background with a few instrument indications. We can turn on live weather, sync with our actual electronic flight bag, and practice communications.
Pilot talking on radio

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Soft-Field Takeoff – Flight Maneuver Spotlight

The soft-field takeoff technique will be required when departing from runway surfaces made of grass or dirt and will allow you to keep as much weight off the nose wheel as possible during the takeoff roll.

Be aware of these 5 night flying deceptions

When it comes to night vision, we aren’t very good because we weren’t built for it. In fact, if it weren’t for rods, we wouldn’t be able to see anything in the dark.