Pilot Shop Blog — Training

Tips for Choosing a Flight School and an Instructor – Best Suggestions for 2021 0

The Best Aviation Headsets for a New "Student" Pilot - High End or Economy? 0

An aviation headset is one of the first pieces of equipment proud new student pilots will purchase. Not only does a headset serve as a communications device, but it also provides noise reduction and noise canceling features. These functions reduce background noise and cabin noise as well as decrease the risk of hearing loss over time.

What is a Pilot in Command (PIC)? 0

When we think of the pilot in command, to us that usually means the person who is actually in the left seat flying the aircraft. This generalization is often true, but the details of who counts as the pilot in command (PIC) and when pilots can log pilot in command time, especially on a multi-pilot crew are not always that straightforward.

What Are Your Standard Takeoff Minimums? (Part 91) 0

Imagine you arrive at the airport planning a quick hop to the rustic mountainside cabin you reserved for a weekend getaway. The only problem? The runway is socked in with fog as thick as pea soup, and it doesn’t look like it will be dissipating any time soon. Now what?

How to Quickly Calculate Your Rate of Descent 0

A safe, precise landing is the goal of every pilot at the end of their flight, and one of the keys to nailing that perfect landing is approaching it at the proper rate of descent.

How to File a Flight Plan: Step-By-Step Guide 0

It’s the worst-case scenario that none of us want to think about. During a winter flight, we had to make an emergency landing in a remote location where there is no cell service. Our radio was damaged in the landing, and the battery in the portable radio is dead.  We were flying VFR and did not file a flight plan, so no one with the FAA will know we are overdue when we fail to arrive at our destination. Now what?

How to Calculate True Airspeed and What It Is (Guide) 0

Ask a racecar driver what their top speed is, and it is an easy answer. No calculations required. The same applies to a sprinter or marathon runner. Airspeed in the world of aviation, however, is a more complex topic. We have not just one type of airspeed, but many, and each has a different purpose.

Airspace Visibility Requirements: Why are they Mandatory? 0

The need to see our surroundings is non-negotiable when flying under visual flight rules (VFR). Without proper visibility, pilots are at increased risk for collisions on takeoffs, landings, and mid-air. Therefore we must fly solely in areas with visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and avoid instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) when flying VFR. To promote safe flight, the FAA has established weather minimums and airspace visibility requirements that VFR pilots must observe.

Aircraft Category and Class: What is the Difference Between Them? 0

Types of AIRMETs: Complete Guide on These 3 Conditions 0

As a responsible human being and pilot, before you commit to a flight, you naturally will want to check the weather. An AIRMET is one of the sources that pilots use to gather the meteorological information needed for flight planning and decision making.

Wake Turbulence Avoidance: All the Details to Keep in Mind 0

You are setting up your approach for a landing in your Cessna 172 when you realize that a large jet is in the pattern just ahead of you. Before you can react, your whole plane is violently shoved to the side and rolls as if pushed by an invisible hand. You quickly right yourself and resume course as your understandably flustered passenger asks, "What just happened?" Your answer? "Wake turbulence."

Class D Airspace: Everything You Need to Know 0

As a pilot flying out of a smaller airport just big enough to have a control tower, you will quickly become familiar with Class D airspace. This type of airspace is one that most general aviation pilots will encounter and need to be well-versed in.