Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Today we will explain airplane holding patterns in detail, answer some common questions, and even teach you a few ‘hacks’ to make flying a hold a real breeze. A holding procedure is when an airplane flies in a pattern to maintain its geographic location using its onboard navigational instruments. Here’s why airplanes take up the hold.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Crosswind Approach Knot 52

iPad Pilot News

AUGUST 20, 2024

The panel in your airplane shows indicated airspeed (IAS, derived from the pitot tube on the wing), while the iPad shows groundspeed (derived from the GPS in your ADS-B receiver or iPad). ” Groundspeed is helpful for estimating your time en route, but it is affected by wind and other factors. Confused yet?

Altimeter 111

Altimeter Indicated Airspeed Pitot Tube Groundspeed 111

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 1, 2025

Learn how to use the wind side to find groundspeed and wind correction angles. Your groundspeed (which will differ from your airspeed as the wind pushes you around). The rear has the wind side for calculating wind correction angles and groundspeed. That means our groundspeed was 90 knots. Thats not all.

Groundspeed 52

Groundspeed True Airspeed Density Altitude Knot 52

iPad Pilot News

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Get the watch app here. Altimeter+ Display an altimeter flight instrument on your watch. It continuously displays the direction and distance to nearby airports, along with a navigation instrument to guide you to a selected airport and descent planning data based on your current groundspeed.

Pilot 52

Pilot Altimeter Weather NOTAMs 52

Air Facts

DECEMBER 30, 2024

Our airplane is certified for day VFR operations only, so my progress was at the mercy of daylight length and good VMC. I encountered unexpected headwinds to start, slowing my groundspeed down to 75 knots at times. Additionally, the needle on my altimeter at one point was swinging through 500 increments!

Weather 98

Weather Approach VFR On Top Knot 98

Air Facts

AUGUST 5, 2024

The Warrior has introduced countless people to the joys of light airplanes. Let’s break it all down here: 400 feet of ceiling (broken/ overcast/obscured) means that you’ll remain under that cloud deck until your altimeter reads 5,200 feet and you will also need to have 2-1/4 miles of visibility. It quite literally did happen to me.

Density Altitude 98

Density Altitude Ceiling Runway Weather 98

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

At the current groundspeed, I believed it shouldn’t be of much concern unless the cell began producing lightning. As the airplane passed by the approach end of runway 6 a few strange wispy “ripped up” small pieces of clouds appeared off to the left. The lone shower to the southwest appeared larger and drifting slowly northeast.

Descent 98

Descent Approach Weather AGL 98