How do you pay for flight training

Whether for a career, recreation or both, you need a plan   For…
fueling 172

Top off the airplane fuel tanks? Maybe…

During flight training most pilots get accustomed to filling the fuel tanks all the way up before each flight. As you begin to fly larger airplanes you'll soon learn that topping off the tanks is more the exception than the norm.

A straight-in approach is safer than a standard pattern

While some remain staunch supporters of patterns and appropriate entries no matter the circumstances, I make a case for straight in approaches for landings in certain situations. Before you revoke my license and feed me to the tigers, hear me out.

Visibility: more than meets the eye

Visibility, unlike so many other aviation weather terms, seems so simple. It's a measure of how far you can see, right? What nuances can there possibly be? Turns out, a lot.

Self Weather Briefings

Given the recent change in technology, more weather information…

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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14 Comments
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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10 Comments
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.