Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 27, 2024

Back in the early days of jet airliners, pilots long experienced in more forgiving two- and four-engine, piston-powered prop planes found themselves running out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas on the final approach to landing. Several of these unstabilized approaches resulted in major aircraft damage or worse. And one more thing.

Stability 89

Stability Approach Runway Pilot 89

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Have you ever thought about landing an airplane without using flaps? Think about these scenarios: maybe the flaps stop working, or youre flying an older airplane that doesnt even have them. Pilots must adapt their approach and landing technique during flap failure. Flatter approach angle (due to less drag).

Pilot 52

Pilot Drag Descent Approach 52

Air Facts

APRIL 14, 2025

The system for VAOAI is pretty much all of general aviation and not just the hardware on the airplane. 1] NASA provides this excellent but unavoidably long definition: At NASA, systems engineering is defined as a methodical, multi-disciplinary approach for the design, realization, technical management, operations, and retirement of a system.

Final Approach 90

Final Approach General Aviation Approach Wind Shear 90

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

How did any given airplane sell? In order to be flown by a sport pilot, the resulting airplane must still meet the current regulations—1,320 pounds maximum gross weight, 120 knots max cruise speed, for example—but how it gets there is up to the builder. But successful? Not at all. Was it profitable for the company?

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 98

Air Facts

APRIL 9, 2025

Starlink Mini isnt exactly tiny, but it can be mounted in most GA airplanes. Ive flown with it on multiple cross-country trips and can tell you its like having full-speed home Wi-Fi on your airplane, all over the US and at all altitudes. Attention is a scarce resource in life today, and flying light airplanes requires a lot of it.

Weather 98

Weather Airplanes Pilot Cockpit 98

Air Facts

MARCH 5, 2025

You then execute a 180 o descending Final Turn maintaining 175 knots to arrive wings-level one mile from the threshold on final approach at 500 AGL. At that point, you slow to the final approach speed of 155 knots, which is held until crossing the approach-end overrun where you reduce power to touch down at 130 knots.

Pilot 98

Pilot Knot AGL Approach 98

Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

If youre flying an airplane with a short wingspan, you should do everything you can to avoid severe wake turbulence. Pilots need to keep this behavior in mind as theyre likely to encounter these vortices while theyre on approach or during departure. As at higher altitudes, the vortex movement near the ground is affected by crosswinds.

Turbulence 97

Turbulence Lift Drag Runway 97

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

If you’ve arrived at a non-towered airport recently, especially one with a busy flight school, you may have heard another airplane announce something to the effect of “overhead for the teardrop entry.” This is not an instrument procedure, but rather a way to enter the traffic pattern when approaching from the opposite side of the runway.

Crosswind 98

Crosswind Airplanes AGL Runway 98

Air Facts

MAY 14, 2025

He shook the stick in reply: Youve got the airplane. After closing the speed brakes and raising the gear and flaps, I turned crosswind at the departure end. Add half the gust factor to final approach and touchdown speeds. Rolling wings-level on final, the jet slowed to our approach speed of 160. Youve got the airplane.

AGL 52

AGL Threshold Final Approach Crosswind 52

Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

It felt like pushing it for that airplane, but checkrides are so hard to schedule I went. So I decided to try the approach, and see how it felt. A low approach couldn’t break anything. Several times I’ve landed smoothly in a strong crosswind, then had trouble keeping the airplane on the runway. How do you know?

Knot 98

Knot Crosswind Rudder Turbulence 98

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 15, 2025

Velocity Andrews, North Carolina/Injuries: 1 Fatal NTSB Report: ERA23FA194 The owner recently purchased the experimental amateur-built, modified airplane. He did not have a lot of experience in the make and model airplane, so he hired the accident pilot to conduct the first flight since recent modifications.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 52

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Airplanes Runway Pilot 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

It can also be dangerous when the learner drops the airplane to fly the checklist or radio, so practice in the ATD is often a good way to learn procedures, as the ATD is a CFI-controlled environment. To get the most out of the scenario, the learner should use the same procedures in the airplane. It’s an ATD.

Crosswind 110

Crosswind VOR Airplanes Runway 110

Flight Training Central

MAY 28, 2024

But as the destination traffic pattern approaches, workload increases dramatically. A firm understanding of the proper terminal area procedures is essential for staying safe as you depart or approach the airport. Runway 27 and expect a crosswind from the right. a long straight in final approach to the active runway.

Crosswind 98

Crosswind Runway Clearance Air Traffic Control 98

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 3, 2025

If youre preparing for takeoff, navigating an approach, or landing at an uncontrolled airport, knowing how to read a windsock can give you quick wind information. These aircraft have lower crosswind limitations and are more affected by gusts and wind shear. Why does this matter?

Knot 98

Knot Weather Wind Shear Weight-Shift-Control 98

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Landing an airplane can be one of the most nerve-wracking tasks for a student pilot. Getting an airplane to fly is easy. Briefing A pre-landing briefing highlights essential points critical to the approach and landing phase. If there is a crosswind at the airport, you should mention this in your brief.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Final Approach 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 4, 2025

One cross-country flight of 250 nautical miles, including three different instrument approaches at different airports. One cross-country flight of 250 nautical miles, including three different instrument approaches at different airports. 10 hours of instrument training (5 hours in a single-engine airplane).

Pilot 98

Pilot Checkride Cabin Crew Airplanes 98

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Anyone who’s tried to enter a sideslip during a crosswind landing with a twist grip knows how hard it is. Mid-Tier The MFG Crosswind pedals are twice the price of the Logitech pedals, but they are a significant step up in quality. The Crosswinds use Hall sensors for both rudder and brakes, making them very precise.

Rudder 96

Rudder Crosswind Pilot Air Traffic Control 96

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 18, 2024

It actually flew fine, and it flies like a normal airplane. “If you view the video of the first flight on YouTube ( LINK ), you’ll see the airplane does some wiggling around, but most of that was done on purpose as I was trying to get the feel of it as fast as I could.” It is a terrible airplane for crosswinds.

Airplanes 124

Airplanes Crosswind Tail Cockpit 124

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 8, 2025

Amy and I walked our gear out to the airplane, and she returned to the FBO while I did my ritual of loading everything up. The FAA would have a conniption at the idea of a new airplane rolling out with a sales brochure for a POH, but thats what the Mooney owners manual is. The hourly forecast called for winds to lessen around 4 p.m.,

Crosswind 96

Crosswind Wind Shear Knot Airplanes 96

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. The approach for the soft-field landing is similar to the normal approach.

Approach 52

Approach Ground Effect Final Approach Airplanes 52

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 27, 2025

From misjudging the flare to battling crosswinds, these mistakes can challenge pilots of all experience levels. This article dives into the most prevalent landing errors, shedding light on why they occur and how they can sneak into even the most carefully executed approaches.

Airplanes 89

Airplanes Runway Accelerated Stall Lift 89

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Just to be clear, although I avoid flying in “hard” IFR, all of my IFR practice includes approaches to minimums, go-arounds, and holding patterns—just in case. Fussing with the avionics to keep tabs on the weather gave many more knob touches than the airplane itself. Soft” IFR is what you plan for, and “hard” IFR is what you might get.

Weather 79

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 79

Inflight Pilot Training

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

This regimented approach can be beneficial for students pursuing aviation as a full-time career, as it is often designed to meet airline and professional pilot training standards. For a deeper understanding of stall behavior and recovery techniques, the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook provides an excellent resource.

Aileron 52

Aileron Approach Visual Flight Rules Rudder 52

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. Velocity Andrews, North Carolina/Injuries: 1 Fatal NTSB Report: ERA23FA194 The owner recently purchased the experimental amateur-built, modified airplane.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 87

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Airplanes Runway Pilot 87

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

As I went through the preflight inspection, my wife strapped my daughter into the car seat and climbed into the airplane herself. With a little forward pressure on the yoke, I was able to keep the airplane on the runway to continue picking up airspeed as we arrived at my target of 60 knots for takeoff. Approach switched me to Tower.

Aileron 98

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 98

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

The airplane rudder is one of the most misunderstood of the primary flight controls. The yaw of the airplane rotates around its vertical axis. The rudder is a movable flight control which is mounted on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer on the back of the airplane. Where is the rudder? Now we’ve rotated and in the air.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

When I had the endurance to drive 20 miles to an appointment, had good situational awareness of all the cars around me on the freeway, and when driving didn’t take 100 percent concentration, I had passed the first challenge before getting in the airplane. Hmm, OK, how about the LPV approach? We have to ask for GPS approaches.)

Pitot Tube 85

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 85

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

The many analyses and videos on these topics have been done in what can best be described as laboratory conditions—carefully selected ideal conditions of pilot, airplane, and environment. This approach gives perspective on all factors, including those that might otherwise be ignored or unrecognized.

Gross Weight 98

Gross Weight Runway Airplanes Pilot 98

Flying Magazine

JUNE 5, 2025

The runway and the surrounding apron area were repaved in late 2022, and there is an RNAV (GPS) approach on both ends. An additional point of emphasis for pilots flying in is that the runway sits in an east-west orientation and often has a crosswind, caused by north-blowing winds. The concluding event in November is planned as a lunch.

Runway 70

Runway Pilot AGL Crosswind 70

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Next, every six months, captains must undergo a proficiency check in the simulator or airplane to ensure proficiency in all normal and emergency procedures. Simulators are preferred for these checks since many of the maneuvers are very dangerous in the airplane. This is not training; this is a pass or fail check.

Pilot 94

Pilot Wind Shear Airlines Airline 94

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

How did any given airplane sell? In order to be flown by a sport pilot, the resulting airplane must still meet the current regulations—1,320 pounds maximum gross weight, 120 knots max cruise speed, for example—but how it gets there is up to the builder. But successful? Not at all. Was it profitable for the company?

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 98

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. Wilkins guided the craft along the invisible roller coaster, working to keep the wings level while maintaining a crab as the Cub climbed the first 500 feet.

Runway 98

Runway Crosswind Rudder Pilot 98

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

To our surprise, the ubiquitous calls from airplanes inbound to a popular fly-in breakfast were absent, causing me to double check that I set the correct frequency. As we approached the airport, I counted only three airplanes parked on the crosswind runway. N21481 and N4344P at Re-Dun. This 1956 version was for sale.

Crosswind 53

Crosswind Runway Airplanes Descent 53

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Key Takeaways Start by setting up your approach correctly to ensure you arrive at the threshold perfectly every time. Perfect the approach phase by managing the aircraft’s energy and using references to improve positioning throughout the pattern. Flying the Approach Haphazard approaches are very likely to lead to haphazard landings.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Air Facts

MAY 6, 2024

And she made a cloud of dust getting her airplane on the ground. It was just after I heard the last airplane clear off the frequency that I first heard Karen, and she was in trouble. She was on a left upwind leg to the airport, and would have to make crosswind, downwind, base and final legs to get set up to land.

Runway 98

Runway Crosswind Airplanes Knot 98

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 25, 2025

After a low pass for the public and the press that had gathered to watch, Captain Thomas made the approach on runway 36 north. 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. of airmail in an enclosed cabin.

Cockpit 95

Cockpit Pilot Ceiling Rudder 95

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

It only takes a 10% increase in approach speed to increase the landing roll by 20%. These obstacles frequently affect the approach and missed approach paths. Plan your approach path carefully to eliminate large pitch and power changes. Full flaps are generally used since they lower approach speed and increase drag.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52