The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

If you already have your commercial pilot license and you are ready to take the next step up the pilot food chain, it’s time to talk about an airline transport pilot (ATP) certification.

When talking airspace, the closer we get to the beginning of the alphabet, the more nervous some pilots become. Each class of airspace moving towards A is accompanied by extra rules and regulations that can seem intimidating.

The first airplane flap was developed in 1916, just over a decade after Kitty Hawk. Aircraft designers realized that wing flaps could be used to change the shape and therefore the aerodynamic performance of the wings during flight. Over the next century, multiple designs have been developed in the quest to achieve the perfect lift-to-drag ratio capabilities for all phases of flight from takeoff to landing.

Most aircraft follow standard design norms and have a predictable configuration. Then you have other aircraft – the kind that look more like a product of Photoshopping than engineering. Some are simply unique, and others are downright weird.

It is no secret that new pilots are often more than a little nervous and hesitant about getting on the radio. They worry about not remembering what to say and how to say it when they finally key up the mic, but even if you get those variables right, it still does you no good if you are not on the correct frequency. That is why an important hurdle of using your radio is understanding and learning common aviation frequencies.

Marrying a pilot – it sounds so romantic and exotic, doesn’t it? Jet setting to dream destinations and living a spontaneous life of adventure and excitement that is fit for a movie or at the very least the page of an Instagram influencer. You may be wondering, what’s not to like?

We're excited to be a launch partner with Bose for the new Bose A30 Aviation Headset. In this video, we explain the differences between the new Bose A30 headset, and its predecessor, the Bose A20 Aviation Headset. Check out this video to see what makes the A30 special.

Quality flight sim hardware that doesn’t cost a fortune is at the top of many pilots’ gear wish lists. After all, flight time isn’t free. That’s why it simply makes sense to log hours of practice in the simulator so by the time we slide into the real-world cockpit, our muscle memory is there.

Aircraft designers love to stretch the perceived limits of flight to the extreme, creating aircraft no one even knew were possible. You won’t be checking any bags on these flights, and you may even be too tall to ride.

Air show season has officially arrived and it is almost time to head to Lakeland, Florida for the annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. Here’s what you need to know as you prepare to experience the second largest aerospace convention in the world.