The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

As technology continues to advance, all aspects of flying become easier. Gone are the days when you couldn’t see the latest up to date weather report in real-time or had to use paper charts. Now, you have all of the information you need to fly safely on an iPad.

Are you a brand-new student pilot? Congratulations! As you count down to the first day of class, you’re probably wondering, “how do I prepare for pilot training?” and “what supplies are needed for flight school?”

The aircraft that was chosen to run two of the most pivotal missions of World War II flew higher, faster, and further while carrying a heavier payload than any other bomber. These planes were designed to be just what the U.S. military needed to succeed in the Pacific Theater. Meet the WWII game changer – the B-29 bomber otherwise known as the Superfortress.

At PilotMall.com, we believe in providing our customers with a wide range of options when it comes to headsets. In this blog post, we will be discussing passive headset models and their unique features.

For those unfamiliar with aviation headsets, there are two main types: Passive Headsets and ANR Headsets. The latter refers to headsets that utilize active noise reduction technology. However, in this post, we will solely focus on the benefits of passive headsets.

We’ve covered the largest aircraft, smallest aircraft, most produced aircraft, and most affordable aircraft. Now it’s time to talk about the fastest plane in the world.

For this post, we’ve rounded up a list of the 10 fastest planes plus details about an 11th whose release is highly anticipated.

Flying comes with certain risks. After all, we as humans aren’t physically designed to soar through the skies alongside birds. Biology would say that we were meant to stay planted firmly on the ground.

Still, to reach for the skies seems to be part of our DNA, so how do we do that in as safe a way as possible? Is there anything we can do to make aviation less risky?

Imagine personal hover cars and other small flying transports navigating the skies just above major cities. It may sound like the backdrop for a science fiction movie or an episode of Star Trek, but as aircraft designs and technology continue to evolve, we are moving ever closer to that reality.

Join us on a journey through aviation history with the Grumman Goose. From its inception as a commuter aircraft for New York's elite to its wartime utility and post-war commercial service, the Goose's story is one of innovation and adaptability.

Learn about its key design features, rich history, and diverse variants–read on for a flight through time and technology that shaped the iconic Grumman Goose.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever experienced fatigue. Is everyone’s hand up? Good. Now keep it up if you’ve ever piloted an aircraft while fatigued. That’s what we thought.

Naturally lack of sleep is a factor, but low-quality sleep, stress, poor health, dehydration, disrupted circadian rhythms from jetlag and night flying, plus commuting and extended layovers also play a role.

What can you do to keep from dozing off mid-flight?

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.

Long gone are the wild west days of purchasing a drone online and immediately taking to the skies with no training, no license, no registration, and not so much as even a glance at the owner’s manual. 

Calling all aircraft trivia buffs – what are the most produced aircraft of all time? Consider about both fixed wing and rotor craft from both the civil and military sectors worldwide. Then gather your pilot pals around, make your guesses and then read on to discover how many of the top twenty-two aircraft you named.

The FAA bills ADS-B as, “an environmentally friendly technology that enhances safety and efficiency, and directly benefits pilots, controllers, airports, airlines, and the public.”

On the other side of the fence are those who see ADS-B as a complex, confusing, and expensive alternative to standard radar.

Keep reading for ADS-B answers and more, plus we will share our recommendation for an easy, low cost product solution that will have you ADS-B compliant.