The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

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?

Is your cockpit taking advantage of ADS-B? Getting real-time traffic information and current weather information used to cost thousands in equipment and subscription costs just a few years ago. Now, you just need a tablet and a small receiver for your glareshield.

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.

On the ground, speed is relatively simple to measure, and vehicles like cars only measure one type of speed. Once you take to the air though, other factors like air density and wind come into play and must be accounted for. Accounting for and quantifying the impact of these factors is what led to the definition of the four different types of airspeed.

So, you want to earn a helicopter license but you’re not quite sure how to go about it? Maybe you have a fixed-wing license and want to branch out into rotor, or you are just starting out and are interested in eventually pursuing a career as a helicopter pilot. Either way, we’ve got you covered. Today we will walk you through the process and what to expect as you acquire a helicopter license.

The pitot-static system is a pressure-based aircraft system that measures and compares ram air pressure and static pressure. That data is then transmitted to aircraft instruments in the cockpit, giving the pilot information on aircraft altitude, airspeed and vertical speed.

Perhaps you, like many other pilots, have been on the fence about whether you should get a multi-engine rating. You may be wondering what the advantages are and if it is worth it. Maybe you don’t know how long it takes to earn a multi-engine rating and are unfamiliar with the process.

Quick, how many sunglasses styles can you name? If you only came up with two, we bet they’re the cat eye and the aviator. We have nothing against the feline-inspired frames of the 60s, but we’re all pilots here. When it’s time to pick out a new pair of flying shades, the clear answer is a high-quality pair of aviators.

The decision to rent or own an aircraft is a complex one that requires a thorough understanding of the pros and cons of each option. This blog post will provide a comprehensive comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of renting and owning an aircraft, with a focus on the key factors that should be considered when making this decision.

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.

Unless they remember their ground school training, new pilots may be surprised at how their aircraft reacts as they engage their ailerons to make a turn. They may be caught wondering why if they were making a turn to the right, the aircraft suddenly seemed to have a mind of its own and pivoted to the left first. Sounds like it is time for a refresher on the topic of adverse yaw.

Think about this for a moment: who taught the first pilots how to fly? “Ground school” for the Wright brothers may have consisted of studying available information from balloon pilots and other sources, then extrapolating their best theories on how that would apply to fixed wing flight. Their “flight training” was a self-taught process of testing theories and learning from failures.

There is a certain mystique and allure about ultralight aircraft. They are reminiscent of the early days of aviation when would-be pilots built their own aircraft and took to the skies for their own test flights. Ultralights are affordable, exciting and building them from a kit evokes a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Curious about wingtip vortices and how they work? They’re spirals of air caused by pressure differences on an aircraft wing, creating induced drag that affects performance. Winglets, those angled extensions at the wingtips, help reduce these vortices and boost efficiency.

Let’s dive into the details!

Becoming an airline pilot is the ultimate dream for many flight students. Along with the thrill of traveling on a daily basis, there is also the financial security that comes with the job. Let's examine the airline pilot pros and cons to determine if it lines up with your personal goals and interests.

For new student pilots, weather reports can be tricky to understand. They use terms that we don't often hear in our everyday lives. One of those terms is "cloud ceilings". This may seem like a strange phrase, but it's actually very important for new pilots to know if they want to read weather reports (METARs) correctly.

In this article, we'll break down what cloud ceilings are and help you understand them better.