More Out with the Old, In with the New

In aviation, change comes slowly from the FAA and sometimes more slowly from its users. The Lifted Index Analysis / K-Index Analysis chart was a useful product in its day. It has essentially become a relic of history but this twice a day product of historical data has been replaced with faster and easier to interpret products. Find out more here.

How to make sure a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) never catches you by surprise

We've been fortunate over the past few years that the number…
Young Eagle in right seat

Don’t say that! 5 phrases to avoid when flying with passengers

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Sometimes it's the little things that matter most. A great example is the words we use in the cockpit. Talking is a great way to dispel some fears for a new flyer, but be careful: casual statements can have a powerful effect. Here are five things you shouldn't say in the cockpit when you're flying with passengers.

iPad & flight training – what you need to know

Many students beginning their training often ask the question…
fueling 172

The unofficial FBO rulebook – what your CFI didn’t teach you

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There are some small things we can do as pilots that have a major impact on both safety and camaraderie. You might call this the unofficial FBO rulebook - tips we all need to know as pilots, and they don't appear in the FAR/AIM book or on the FAA written test.

The two bucket theory

Many “seasoned” pilots reason a new flight student arrives…

Out with the Old, In with the New

Recently, the FAA formally announced that they would be removing a number of test questions from the Private Pilot Knowledge Test. These test questions included a number of weather related questions concerning Radar Summary Charts and TWEBs (Transcribed Weather Broadcast). This notice from the FAA got me thinking about these and some other weather products that have gone away in the last few years and what has come along to serve the same or a similar purpose. I’ll touch on the TWEB and Radar Summary Chart in this post and perhaps touch on some others in a future post.

FAA Enforcement & the Aviation Safety Reporting System

Maybe it was skirting the edge of that Class B airspace or inadvertently…

How to pause, rewind and replay your flight lessons

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It's no secret that the airplane cockpit doesn't provide the best classroom experience in the air. With new technology though you can easily record the audio, video and GPS flight track from each flight to better debrief with your instructor and get more out of each flight lesson.
Keep calm and fly on sign

When all else fails, FTFA!

One of aviation's defining characteristics is its acronyms. FAR, ILS, PTS, WAAS and hundreds more fill our flying conversations, and often confuse new pilots. At the risk of adding to the confusion, I'd like to suggest one more, but it won't be on the Knowledge Test. FTFA, loosely translated to Fly The Freaking Airplane, has come in handy dozens of times over the course of my flying career.