Top 5 mistakes you WILL make during your first 250 hours

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37 Comments
None of us are perfect. I’m probably less perfect than most,…
Pre-flight inspection

The dreaded pre-flight, and how to do it well

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4 Comments
I've never liked the pre-flight inspection. It's like the salad course before a steak dinner--sure, it's good for you, but all it does is prevent you from getting to the good stuff. But if I could give some advice, it would be short and sweet: "Get over it."

The Joy of Soft Fields

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1 Comment
Incorporated into every pilot certificate is the Practical Test…

Flight training and the iPad

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1 Comment
Today, pilots are using tablets to assist with just about every…

Get the most out of the emergency checklist

I recently gave a flight review to an experienced pilot who…
Young Eagle in right seat

After the checkride – making a plan to stay engaged

During flight training, it's natural to focus on the big hurdles: the medical, first solo, knowledge test and checkride. Those are certainly important, and they deserve your attention. But many student pilots get so focused on the training process that they never think about flying after the checkride. That's a mistake.

Managing Emergencies

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1 Comment
As pilots we are taught from early on that managing an emergency…

FBO Speak

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1 Comment
Interacting with the local FBO (Fixed Base Operator) isn't something…

6 tips for preparing to fly to a new airport

One of the more exciting aspects of flight training is learning…

Learn to love the wind

Pilots spend a lot of time worrying about the weather, and for good reason--it's a factor in many general aviation accidents. But while nasty things like thunderstorms and in-flight icing get a lot of attention, more flights are affected by wind than any other weather phenomena. It deserves serious attention.