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5 most popular articles from 2018

December 31, 2018/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnews

Please enjoy our five most popular articles from 2018. On behalf of the Student Pilot News team, Happy New Year and best wishes for safe flying in 2019. Ed. 5) What’s in my flight bag I recently decided to treat myself to a brand spankin’ new flight bag because the old one had seen better […]

Friday photo: John Dundas first solo

December 28, 2018/in Friday Photo/by studentpltnews

The moment: First solo (age 85) The pilot: John Dundas The place: Fairchild International Airport (KCLM), Port Angeles, WA The aircraft: C172M The memory: A couple of years ago a pilot “friend” took me for a ride in his Ercoupe. Soon another pilot “friend” insisted that I learn to fly. Thousands of dollars later I had my first solo, […]

5 most popular articles from 2018

December 31, 2018/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnews

Friday photo: John Dundas first solo

December 28, 2018/in Friday Photo/by studentpltnews

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

5 most popular articles from 2018

December 31, 2018/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnews

Please enjoy our five most popular articles from 2018. On behalf of the Student Pilot News team, Happy New Year and best wishes for safe flying in 2019. Ed.

5) What’s in my flight bag

The flight bag should evolve with the pilot.

I recently decided to treat myself to a brand spankin’ new flight bag because the old one had seen better days. It was, after all, about five years old and the time had come to say out with the old and in with the new. So, as I’m transferring the contents of the old bag to the new bag, along with a rash of memorable flights, I couldn’t help but notice that this bag is quite different than the one I carried during my flight training. At some point before the bag got renewed, all my gear got renewed too. It happens little by little (that’s the best way to not raise any red flags with my wife) but eventually, hardly anything had remained the same since my training days.

4) How to survive checkride day

It’s here! It’s finally here. Checkride day. The opportunity to shine. The end of a chapter in your aviation journey filled with triumphs, yet fraught with the challenges unique to flight training including the angst often associated with checkride day.

But on the other side a new adventure and the ticket to freedom await. The much-anticipated dividend from your significant investment of time and money made possible by your hard-work and determination – not to mention the many sacrifices you may have made along the way. Only the satisfaction of putting your knowledge, skill and decision-making ability you’ve accumulated into the checkride remain.

3) How to improve your pilot communication skills

Being a good communicator starts with listening.

Learning how to talk on the radio is important, but many pilots spend far too much time stressing about it. It’s right up there with crosswind landings on the list of most uncomfortable parts of flight training, but it doesn’t have to be. For a start, remember that most communications mistakes are not fatal – you can almost always try again if something isn’t clear – so the fear is really public embarrassment more than a critical safety issue. That means improving your communication skills is mostly about feeling comfortable and confident.

2) How to master steep turns

Steep turns were my nemesis. While I didn’t fail an exam as a result, it was clearly a weak maneuver within my repertoire. Never as clean and crisp as I would like. Never something I enjoyed. As I advanced with certifications, training and experience, my disdain for the perennial exam and proficiency requirement only grew. And then I stopped fighting and started flying.

1) FAA announces complex aircraft changes

Complex aircraft are no longer required for Commercial and CFI.

As you may have heard, earlier this week the FAA announced a policy change that went into effect on Tuesday, 4/26/2018, which eliminates the mandate to use a complex airplane on the single-engine commercial and CFI airplane practical exams. The official notice and the revised Commercial ACS & CFI PTS are linked below.

Friday photo: John Dundas first solo

December 28, 2018/in Friday Photo/by studentpltnews

The moment: First solo (age 85)

The pilot: John Dundas

The place: Fairchild International Airport (KCLM), Port Angeles, WA

The aircraft: C172M

The memory: A couple of years ago a pilot “friend” took me for a ride in his Ercoupe. Soon another pilot “friend” insisted that I learn to fly. Thousands of dollars later I had my first solo, in October 2018. Now my first friend has sold his plane, and the second friend has given up flying! I’ve got a ways to go for the private pilot license, but I’m working on it with enthusiasm!

Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

5 most popular articles from 2018

Friday photo: John Dundas first solo

5 most popular articles from 2018

Friday photo: John Dundas first solo

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

5 most popular articles from 2018

5) What’s in my flight bag

4) How to survive checkride day

3) How to improve your pilot communication skills

2) How to master steep turns

1) FAA announces complex aircraft changes

Friday photo: John Dundas first solo

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