The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

As student pilots, CFIs, and flight schools weigh their options for trainer aircraft, they often consider time-honored classics like the Cessna 150, Cessna 152, and Piper Cub. However, there's another prime contender that's making waves in the aviation world – the Diamond DA20 Katana. This Austrian-designed tricycle gear plane not only checks all the boxes for the performance and handling characteristics pilots desire in a two-place trainer but also adds an attractive sporty style to the mix.

Let's learn more about this amazing aircraft!

A safe pilot is one who respects the importance of the aircraft’s weight and balance. In this guide we will review what weight and balance is as well as how to calculate it. We will also discuss some of the most common weight and balance mistakes that other pilots have made.

Let's start!

“Buy a plane” and “save money.” Never thought you’d see those two phrases put together, did you? Now, to be fair, we’re not saying that buying a plane is likely to save you money as opposed to not buying a plane. We all know that’s not the case. The point is that when you’re in the market to buy a plane, it pays to do your homework and know how to save money on the purchase.

If you've ever been curious about the aviation terms used at flight school, the influence of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the intriguing dance between VFR and IFR, you've found the right guide.

Think of VFR as your ticket to the skies on those picture-perfect, clear days, but if you want to become an IFR pilot, you're diving into the world of controlled airspace and navigating the unpredictable nuances of weather conditions.

Get out your notebook and let's cover the VFR vs. IFR debate together.

One thing that I can say about my journey with becoming a pilot has been the realization of how much information we have to memorize. Trust me, it's a lot. Part of the oral examination process is proving how many rules, regulations, and requirements you remember and can relay off the top of your head.

In this guide, we'll explore all the most important acronyms every pilot needs to know.

Let's get to it!

Have you ever wondered how is a helicopter different from an airplane? In this article, we will deep dive into the key distinctions between helicopters and airplanes, studying their unique characteristics and uncovering the reasons why these aircraft, though sharing the same airspace, cater to different aviation needs.

You've made the switch to becoming an instrument-rated pilot, and now it's time to explore one of the most important tools for making a safe landing—the ILS (instrument landing system). For over half a century, this has been the cornerstone of flight safety for IFR pilots.

We want you to feel fully equipped to take on this challenging new journey, let us give you the full lowdown on the ILS! Ready to get started? Let's go!

Steeps turns require a lot of your attention and plenty of practice. During a steep turn, you must split your attention both inside and outside the aircraft while maintaining strict flight parameters.

There is something that unifies all pilots together—an unwavering fascination with the wonder of flight and the multiple components that make everything possible. Among these components, aircraft wings stand out as a clear sign of the ingenuity of aeronautical engineering.

In this article, we will explore the diverse types of aircraft wings, delving into ten distinct designs that have left their mark on the history of aviation.

Ready fellow aviators? Let's dive in!

In our world of increasingly digital cockpits, the iPad is a useful tool for both professional and general aviation pilots. Gone are the days of flipping through multiple paper sectionals on a long cross-country flight. Many pilots have embraced the Apple iPad, iPad mini, or another tablet device in lieu of paper charts for flight planning, in-flight navigation and more.

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?

According to the Air Safety Institute, unintended stalls are among the leading causes of fatal accidents for pilots. Although pilots must study them, train for them and practice recovering from them, unintended stalls are still claiming too many lives.

It won't take long for you to realize the moment you start your flight training how much of a game-changer winds and crosswind components can be. When it's time to plan your first journey, the thought of having to make sense out of all the information needed for your cross-country flight could seem impossible. But don't worry! We're here to help you master the skills you need as a pilot.

So let's get started and learn how to calculate a crosswind component like a pro!

If you've ever studied how to read METARs, then you may have noticed an "R" symbol followed by a runway number. That's an RVR and only appears in a METAR when visibility is low. What does this tell us as pilots, why is it important?

In this article, we will discuss what RVR information means for pilots and why it is essential to comprehend them.

Let's get to it!

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.

Read on to learn more about what it means to be a pilot in command and how pilots can get credit for their PIC hours.

Choosing a career is an important step and shifting careers later on involves major life change. With as much time as we spend at work, it is natural to want to pick a profession that will be fulfilling and rewarding both now and in the long term. Is a pilot that profession for you? Here are twelve reasons why you may want to say yes to becoming a pilot.