The FAA recently implemented a new system to help pilots better understand how snow and ice affect will affect braking on runways and taxiways, allowing both airport operators and pilots to use a standardized method to identify both the contamination type and how it will affect deceleration, braking and directional control.

As much as we like to press the push-to-talk button and calmly proclaim "wilco," sometimes you simply have to say no - even when it's uncomfortable. It's not being lazy or being a bad pilot, it's prioritizing safety over convenience.

As a student pilot, my flight instructor spent a lot of time teaching me how to fly safely. But as I started flying cross-countries as a private pilot, I realized I had never really learned how to fly comfortably. Here are 5 things to look for as you seek out that smooth ride.