The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

The private pilot checkride is the final step between student pilot and certificate holder. This guide covers the oral exam, ACS standards, flight test preparation, and what to expect on the day so you walk in confident and walk out a pilot.

Not all aviation headsets are created equal. We reviewed and compared the top ANR and passive picks for 2026 across every pilot type and budget, from student starter headsets under $150 to professional turbine picks at the top of the market. Find the right headset for how you fly.

A handheld aviation radio belongs in every pilot's flight bag. This guide covers the real-world scenarios where a portable transceiver proves its value, from panel radio failure to training and preflight ATIS checks.

Our 2026 guide compares the best aviation handheld radios for pilots, from simple COM-only backups to advanced NAV/COM and GPS models. See top picks for student pilots, AA battery readiness, rugged waterproof builds, and everyday ramp use.

Shopping for pilot headsets in 2025? Understanding Active Noise Reduction (ANR) versus Passive Noise Reduction (PNR) is key. This guide dives deep into how each technology works, the pros and cons for pilots, whether ANR is worth the investment, and what to look for in a headset. Plus, we reveal our top picks for the best ANR aviation headsets in 2025, including the latest from Bose, Lightspeed, and David Clark, to help you fly safer and more comfortably.

Looking for a jet you can fly with one pilot? This 2026 guide ranks the 10 best single-pilot jets with a comparison chart, key specs, and a buyer’s checklist—plus FAQs to help you choose.

An ultimate pilot guide to True Course, True Heading, Magnetic Course, Magnetic Heading and Compass Heading complete with the full formula chain, drift/WCA explanation, GPS track vs heading, a worked example, quiz, and FAQs.

If you've ever wondered how air traffic stays so organized, STARs and SIDs are where it all begins. These routes might seem invisible from your seat on an airplane, but they're the reason flights smoothly transition between the ground and cruising altitudes, or from cruising to landing.

If you're just curious or gearing up for your next flight, understanding SIDs and STARs gives you a peek behind the curtain of air traffic control's balancing act.

Non-pilots may view flight simulators as nothing more than glorified video games, but serious pilots recognize and appreciate the value of the hands-on training opportunity. With flight time at a premium, the ability to build instrument flight rules (IFR) hands-on skills from home can be a powerful career-boosting asset.

There has been a subtle but important shift in the definition of slow flight since 2018. Prior to 2018, the FAA considered slow flight to be an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack, increase in load factor or a reduction in power would result in an immediate stall.

Before we get into our list of the easiest planes to fly, it is only fair to point out that the concept of ease of flying is inherently subjective. Yes, there are certain characteristics that most pilots will look for and most designers will incorporate on an aircraft that is easy to fly, but there is no universal checklist. We are all different and our perceptions of the relative ease of flying a given aircraft will vary.

A Dutch roll – it sounds delicious, but in aviation a Dutch roll is very different. In this article we'll touch on everything you need to know about a Dutch roll including what it is, how it got its unique name, and how to get out of a Dutch roll should you inadvertently find yourself in one.

Class E airspace may be the most common type of controlled airspace, but is also the least regulated, and perhaps one of the most confusing of the six classes of controlled airspace. With all its variations and complexities, it is no wonder that many pilots could use a little extra explanation on the logic behind Class E airspace. What are the requirements within Class E airspace? What types of Class E airspace are there? How are they designated and displayed on sectionals? At what altitude is Class E airspace found?

Imagine sitting in a cozy cockpit, surrounded by an array of gauges and instruments. It's like being in the captain's chair of your own adventure. But here's the catch: having all those gauges is great, but if you're not entirely at ease with them or don't know how to use them effectively, it's like having a treasure map without a clue. In this article, we'll take you on a journey through the ins and outs of altimeters.