Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 13, 2025

Mistakes are a natural part of learning, but understanding common pitfalls ahead of time can help you progress more efficiently, build confidence, and become a safer pilot. In this comprehensive guide, well take a deep dive into the top 10 mistakes student pilots make, why they happen, and actionable strategies to avoid them.

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

MARCH 25, 2025

I dont exactly fit the standard pilot profile of Game Aerospaces GB1 GameBird But theres always been something about the GameBird that has piqued my interest. Its first-class team, led by Ian Waghorn, ensures that pilots leave the training program feeling confident, competent, and safe in their new or new-to-them GameBird.

Knot

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Slow Flight Slow flight is one of the key types of aircraft maneuvers every student pilot should learn because it teaches how the plane behaves near stall speeds and how to maintain control with reduced airflow over the wings. Crosswind Takeoff and Landing: Handling wind coming from the side is a skill every pilot must master.

Pilot

Northstar VFR

MARCH 30, 2025

Turns Around a Point This is a classic maneuver that helps pilots learn how to maintain a constant radius around a point on the ground while compensating for the wind. Rectangular Course This maneuver essentially mimics a standard traffic pattern and helps pilots learn to compensate for wind when flying a set ground track.

Groundspeed

Inflight Pilot Training

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Earning your wings is about more than just learning to flyits about developing the skills, confidence, and decision-making abilities that will shape you into a safe and competent pilot. If you plan to pursue a Private Pilot Certificate, you must be at least 17 years old to obtain it, though you can begin training earlier.

Aileron

Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

Fearsome metal airplanes helped win a global conflict, yet pilots came home to variations on prewar designs of tube-and-fabric construction and modest performance. You can see other Weick influences, such as the oil-damped tricycle landing gearall produced Cherokees are trikeswith a wide track to make crosswind landings more manageable.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 23, 2025

On May 1, 2023, a pilot flying his 1979 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, with two friends on board, was headed to the Big Bear City Airport (L35) to check out a Cessna 150 for sale on the field. And the pilot didn’t plan to land in the open-looking lot, because of a landing gear issue. All pilots have been there. Fuel is not mentioned.

True Airspeed

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Sometimes it’s emotional—the Beech Starship, what few of them are still in the wild, inevitably wow viewers of both the pilot and nonpilot persuasion. The canopy provides plenty of headroom for even taller pilots, while the view over the nose is equally generous. But successful? Not at all. How did any given airplane sell?

Airplanes

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 25, 2025

The aircraft had to land into a 15-knot crosswind, and the plane landed at a speed of 115 mph, well below the standard landing speed of between 150-175 mph. One of these is a Curtiss JN-4D Jenny displayed inverted with the mannequin of a wing-walker standing between the two wings, while the mannequin of a pilot sits in the rear cockpit.

Cockpit

Pilot Institute

APRIL 22, 2025

Think of them as the lessons where you learn to master wind correction, aircraft control, and situational awareness all critical skills for a safe and proficient pilot. Use coordinated aileron and rudder pressures to swiftly, but not excessively, angle into this turn. Uncoordinated use of aileron and rudder, leading to slips or skids.

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. If the pilot increases the wings angle of attack too much, the airflow can separate from the wings surface, causing a stall – an abrupt loss of lift. What does Newtons Third law tell pilots about thrust?

Torque

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 15, 2025

Piper PA-28-180 Riverside, California/Injuries: 1 Minor NTSB Report: WPR23LA156 The pilot completed the airplane’s engine run-up and carburetor heat function checks with no anomalies noted. The pilot initiated a forced landing straight ahead in a field. The owner reported that he discussed the turbocharger operation with the pilot.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

AV Web

DECEMBER 22, 2024

I did not fly through tropical storms, hurricanes, or blizzards; the only inversions I have experienced were voluntary aileron rolls or the occasional intentional spin. I was thinking of the thousands of pilots out there just beginning their Christmas trips.

Airplanes

Air Facts

JULY 7, 2025

After my flight with the DPE, I became a private pilot. In the months that followed, I added an instrument rating, which helped me deepen my knowledge and have more nuanced conversations with instructors and fellow pilots. Many pilots can recite the FAA definition but struggle when asked how to apply it in real-world flying.

Rudder

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 17, 2025

Another safety element was the interconnected ailerons and rudders. To steer in the air or on the ground, the pilot needed only to turn the control yoke left or right. Shoulder harnesses are a very wise upgrade that greatly enhances safety for both pilot and passenger. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

Primary Flight Display

AV Web

APRIL 15, 2025

Student pilots get a free pass, because theyre adorable skittering off runways in Loss of Directional Control (LODC) events that vex the best among us. But assumptions spiraled for this private pilot in a 1953 Bell 47D helicopter (think M.A.S.H) No mention if the Cessna pilot noticed. at Marana, Arizona, on 2021s first day.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

Thousands of simulated Private Pilot written exams are completed every month in Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course , but certain topics consistently trip up aspiring aviators. Here are the five most often missed questions from August 20204 on the simulated Private Pilot Knowledge Test. lean the mixture. apply carburetor heat.

Density Altitude

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

The only thing that caught my attention was a 90 degree crosswind coming from the east that was gusting to 11 or 12 knots. Turning base to final, I found the crosswind to be gusting as advertised. Pointing my thumb into the wind to get my ailerons around I counted one…two…three, and still, no upwind main touching down.

Aileron

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Although it is sort of heavy on the ailerons,” Storo said. ” On takeoff and landing, the pilot’s seat is adjusted to the upward limit of travel. .” ” On takeoff and landing, the pilot’s seat is adjusted to the upward limit of travel. It is a terrible airplane for crosswinds. 6, 1941).

Crosswind

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

The small aileron “tabs” were not doing a great job in crosswind ability. I imagine this is how a real CRJ pilot must feel. I imagine MD80-style pilots are used to the same sensation. Landing was wild, leading to the aircraft’s big wings striking the ground at times in the crosswinds approaching 35 knots.

Crosswind

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 4, 2024

With your fresh pilot certificate, what fun steps can you take to continually grow as an aviator? The question for the new private pilot is simple: Is that a doorway to go through or one that you never open, limiting your flying career? One is with other pilots. Ride with other pilots and learn from them.

Crosswind

Flight Training Central

MARCH 4, 2024

As the airplane turns onto the following base leg, the tailwind will decrease and becomes a crosswind. The bank angle should be reduced gradually with coordinated aileron and rudder input. The turn from downwind leg to base leg will be more than 90 degrees to compensate for the increasing crosswind.

Groundspeed

Flight Training Central

MARCH 29, 2024

The FAA continues to add new questions based on guidance from the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards. Quartering tailwind Quartering headwind Direct crosswind Correct! What are the reporting requirements for a pilot convicted of possessing and selling marijuana? Read the complete March 2024 update here.

Aileron

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

Once there, he put us in a slight right turn toward our first fuel stop 60 miles ahead, continuously fighting the stick as the gusting left crosswind did its best to push us off course. Efforts like this freed male pilots for combat missions, and her dedication led to her appointment as commander of Reading Station.

Runway

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Out in the practice area, I did some of my favorite beyond-ACS but still normal category exercises—alternating steep turns with full aileron deflection, extended low speed flight, and Dutch rolls to 45-degree bank each way, again with full aileron deflection. I’m focusing on the old pilot part, not the bold pilot.

Pitot Tube

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 2, 2025

Piper PA-28-180 Riverside, California/Injuries: 1 Minor NTSB Report: WPR23LA156 The pilot completed the airplanes engine run-up and carburetor heat function checks with no anomalies noted. The pilot initiated a forced landing straight head in a field. The owner reported that he discussed the turbocharger operation with the pilot.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Air

MAY 21, 2025

Aviation Winds Types Explained A Pilots In-Depth Guide For pilots, from their first solo to their thousandth hour, a profound understanding of the different types of wind isn’t just beneficial it’s absolutely fundamental to safety, efficiency, and the art of flying itself. It also allows for a steeper angle of climb.

Crosswind

Photographic Logbook

MAY 19, 2025

He is a high energy, enthusiastic aviator who flies for NetJets to put food on the table and provides aerobatic and upset recovery training under the Tango Whiskey umbrella while instructing aspiring rotary wing pilots with BAC Helicopters owned by my mechanic Ray. Despite the crosswind, take-off was perfunctory. He was right.

Rudder

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

It’s a rite of passage for pilots-in-training to hear these words come from their flight instructor repeatedly. The pilot can control the yawing of the plane by inputs on the rudder pedals. Some new student pilots think the rudder and vertical stabilizer are the same thing. The pilot controls the throttle to create thrust.

Rudder

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 23, 2025

My first flight as a student pilot several years back was unforgettable. It is a milestone for aspiring pilots. This is a great time to discuss your goals, whether youre pursuing a private pilots certificate for personal use or dreaming of an aviation career. This was by far the most intimidating factor for me as a new pilot.

Rudder

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Landing an airplane can be one of the most nerve-wracking tasks for a student pilot. As a pilot, you will need time to master it. A pilot must consider several things before landing. If there is a crosswind at the airport, you should mention this in your brief. Discuss your nominated crosswind technique.

Airplanes

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

Despite the easygoing name, many pilots find lazy eights harder than they thought. There’s a reason why it’s been a commercial pilot practical test staple for decades. If you’re about to begin your commercial pilot journey, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s get started.

Rudder

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Even the best of pilots can mess up sometimes. But for new pilots, it can be tough to figure out where it all went wrong. A stabilized approach requires the pilot to establish and maintain a constant angle glidepath towards an aiming point. You can find them in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or the owner’s manual.

Descent

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 4, 2023

A pilot needs to control the airplane in a manner that the wings support the weight of the airplane as long as practical to minimize stresses imposed on the landing gear by a rough surface or to prevent sinking into a soft surface. Once committed to the landing, the pilot should gently lower the nose-wheel to the surface.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Sometimes it’s emotional—the Beech Starship, what few of them are still in the wild, inevitably wow viewers of both the pilot and nonpilot persuasion. The canopy provides plenty of headroom for even taller pilots, while the view over the nose is equally generous. But successful? Not at all. How did any given airplane sell?

Airplanes

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Short field landings are a true test of a pilot’s skill. They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. Whether you’re new to short field landings or a pilot needing a refresher, this essential guide is for you. Will you need a crosswind correction? Full flaps, 1.3

Weight-Shift-Control

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

Even if it’s possible to complete the training course in a reasonable time with these stipulations, the product of a bubble-wrapped curriculum is a half-trained pilot. The peppering of rain on the windshield, the darkening of thick clouds, or the battering of wind shear all deliver a clear message that some piloting is now required.

Wind Shear