The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

Are you ready for icy conditions? Winter can bring some unique challenges, but not to worry, we've got you covered. Always make sure to research local regulations and seek advice from seasoned winter travelers before taking off on your journey. Take a look at these helpful tips before you head out into the frosty air.

During a night flight, you will want a reliable and consistent way to illuminate your instrument panel. While newer aircraft will come with pre lit instruments, there are plenty of ways you can upgrade your existing instrument lights.

While we all wish we had unlimited funds and that price was no factor in our choice of personal aircraft, the reality is that most would-be aircraft owners must stick within a certain budget when choosing their next plane. We are excited to share with you an updated version of our 2024 guide to affordable personal aircraft.

Aircraft engine oil is a powerhouse. It cushions moving parts, manages heat, seals combustion chambers, cleans contaminants, and guards against corrosion. These six functions are fundamental to keeping engines performing in tip-top shape.

Let’s get to the details behind the purpose of engine oil.

Becoming an airline pilot offers a unique blend of adventure, challenge, and reward. From the thrill of flying to the opportunity to explore the world, it's a career like no other. Plus, the compensation and benefits can be highly competitive.

Let's explore the frequently asked questions that arise when it comes to being an airline pilot.

Besides an airline uniform, no other piece of clothing screams “pilot” more than the classic bomber jacket. Bombers are some of the most recognizable pieces of outerwear, and these iconic jackets are known not only for their style but also for their history. With distinctive lines and a storied past, they are so much more than just another piece of clothing.

As you prepare to land a Cessna 172, your heart starts racing when you notice a large jet in front of you. Before you can react, a powerful force slams into your plane, causing it to lurch to the side and roll uncontrollably. After regaining control, your passenger asks you what had happened.

All you can manage to say is, "Wake turbulence."

Everyone who holds at least a private pilot’s license has had to learn about and practice recovering from stalls. You may recall that during ground school, you were taught about angle of attack, critical angle of attack and various types of stalls.

Well, today, flying is one of the safest modes of transportation, but many travelers still wonder whether private jets offer a safer experience versus commercial flights with the airlines.

And yes, keep in mind that both private and commercial aviation stick to strict safety standards, but there are some differences that can influence overall safety.

In this article, we'll break it all down for you and compare statistics, along with examining the factors that contribute to the security of private aviation.

Do you love aviation and flying, but don't want to be a pilot? Well, let me introduce you to the exciting role of an aircraft dispatcher. Aircraft dispatchers are the heroes behind the scenes that keep everything in aviation operating smoothly.

In this article, we'll explore what it takes to become an aircraft dispatcher.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) formally defined TAA to modernize training requirements, so that pilots would have an alternative to traditional complex aircraft training(which was costly and at time hard to get).

In this article we'll help you understand everything you need to know about a technically advanced airplane.

Have you ever wondered how does a prop plane work? It's hard to believe that an airplane's propeller blades, which are much smaller than the aircraft itself, can generate enough force to move and lift and aircraft into the air. But there are certain fundamental aerodynamic principles at play that make this all possible.

In this guide, we'll explore how propellers work, their design, and the aerodynamic principles that make them so effective.

If you're migrating from analog gauges or refining your instrument flying, learning how the HSI improves on traditional systems will make things easier and less stressful for you.

Let’s break down how it works and why it’s a valuable addition to modern cockpits.

If you examine the wings on almost any aircraft, you’ll first notice the aerodynamic shape that help all aircraft to have lift. But something you might not notice as easily is a design feature called “wash out”.

The purpose of wash out is to help make the aircraft more stable during a stall. But what does it look like and how exactly does it work?

We’ll answer all of those questions and more in this article!

It's important to make sure that your flight operations are both economical and safe, a big part of that is planning your descent. Modern procedures like the Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) give you the power to manage your descents in really innovative ways.

Want to learn more? Well, read on and elevate those keen descent planning skills.

Maybe you are a student pilot in training or you just have an interest in aviation. No matter what your goals are, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to listen to ATC on a scanner.