Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Before RNAV, pilots had to rely on radios (NAVAIDs) and antennas on the ground such as VORs (Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range) and NDBs (Non-Directional Beacons). These would guide them when they couldn’t see anything outside their airplane. The satellites then send the corrected signals back to your airplane.

Approach

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Every flight, regardless of the complexity of the airplane or the distance of the trip, is comprised of a continuous series of decisions involving a host of variables that the pilot must make in order to safely get from point A to point B. Something as simple as a disabled aircraft could you force you to an alternate airport.

Ceiling

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 22, 2025

Flying at MSA guarantees at least 1,000 feet of obstacle clearance. Non-precision approaches (such as a localizer, VOR, LNAV, or NDB) use a Maltese cross for the FAF. MSAs are used in emergencies. If you lose your bearings and are struggling to find the airport, you dont want to hit something accidentally.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

JUNE 29, 2025

"Hi.I'm in Delaware." - Wayne Campbell, Wayne's World , 1992 Restless Pilot Syndrome Having resumed acting as pilot in command of my own airplane after a relatively brief setback, I was delighted beyond words to be back at it. Geneva, NY and the north end of Seneca Lake. Warrior 481 parked at Massey.

Runway

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 13, 2024

These commonly missed questions often relate to IFR regulations, ATC clearances, meteorology, and complex instrument procedures. Here are the five most often missed questions from November 2024 on the simulated Instrument Rating Airplane Knowledge Test. climb to, but not descend from 4,000 feet, without further ATC clearance.

Clearance

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

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Use the CRAFT acronym to note down departure clearances quickly. You may be asking for a clearance or reporting your position. For example: Pilot: Seattle Approach, Cessna November Four Five One Romeo, Two Zero miles west of Seattle VOR, at 8,000, with Sierra, to land. is talking to Dallas Clearance Delivery.

Approach

Flight Training Central

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

An ATC clearance is required for operations within Class B airspace. Large turbine engine powered airplanes are not permitted to operate below the Class B airspace when en route to or from the primary airport within the airspace. IFR operations require an operable VOR or TACAN receiver or a suitable RNAV system.

Indicated Airspeed

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No ATC clearance is required for VFR flights below 10,000 feet. They allow you enough clearance to see and avoid other airplanes. Most importantly, you do not require clearance or need to talk to a controller for VFR under 10,000 feet. These airways help guide IFR and VFR aircraft from one navaid/VOR to another.

Airspace Classes

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Every flight, regardless of the complexity of the airplane or the distance of the trip, is comprised of a continuous series of decisions involving a host of variables that the pilot must make in order to safely get from point A to point B. Pilots should always be evaluating alternate airports.

Ceiling

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

Even though I was likely to be cleared through the outer ring by ATC (air traffic control) while on an instrument flight plan, I filed a route from Sodus to the Williamsport VOR (FQM) that circumvented the TFR entirely. hours I had already put on the airplane since the repair increased my confidence that the issue was suitably managed.

Approach

Pilot Institute

AUGUST 9, 2024

Most holding fixes are NAVAIDs such as VORs, RNAV (GPS) waypoints, and even ILS markers. When VORs are used as holding fixes, the fix is usually a specific DME distance on a particular radial. If the VOR doesn’t have DME capability, it will be the intersection between two radials from two separate VORs.

VOR

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

Pilots must meet equipment and certification requirements and have ATC clearance to enter. Operating Requirements in Class B Airspace Operational Requirements VFR traffic needs explicit clearance to enter Bravo airspace. If you’re flying under IFR, you don’t need an explicit Bravo clearance. What is Class B Airspace?

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

We were assigned a slightly ridiculous alteration to the route I filed: MANCH T316 LAMMS T608 ROC that had us flying past Sodus to the Rochester VOR before setting up for Sodus. But I accepted the clearance knowing that I could change it with a local Approach control like Syracuse. This was even better than I requested.

Ceiling

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 10, 2023

When I contacted Rochester Approach, the controller came back with, "Are you looking for your clearance to College Park?" I answered in the affirmative, received my clearance, and was given a climb to 6,000 feet as the rain streaked over my windscreen. Emerging from the clouds on reaching the Finger Lakes. Do you have a prop lock?

Transponder

AeroSavvy

AUGUST 20, 2021

A few years ago, I got the bug to fly small airplanes again. We fly our new-to-us Piper to Florida often (the airplane could probably find Orlando on its own), and we agreed it was time for something more adventurous. Our Aircraft Our family’s airplane is a 1976 Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six.

Density Altitude

Photographic Logbook

JULY 6, 2024

Long story short, when I received my clearance that evening, it was to my originally intended BELTS waypoint.) Ed and I staged our airplanes on the ramp that morning while Gilead took on avgas for the club's Bold Warrior. We were cleared direct to College Park via the Westminster VOR (EMI). Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, PA.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

MAY 1, 2024

Does the approach match the clearance? Set the ILS, LOC, or VOR frequency required for the approach on your navigation radio. It also serves as a final opportunity to catch any misunderstanding among the crew. 1) Declare the Approach Start by identifying the name of the airport, the arrival runway, and the approach name.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

I filed a route of BRUIN to ART (Watertown VOR) to Kingston to avoid overflying significant portions of Lake Ontario. Kingston Radio provided updated weather conditions while sequencing traffic like a tower with the exception that no landing clearances were given. No officers met me at the airplane. What the Heck is a LANRK?

Runway

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Departure from the Canada Aviation and Space Museum At 2:30 pm, I notified museum staff that I needed to return to my airplane. In a prior telephone conversation with the Rockliffe Flying Club, I was assured that I could pick up my IFR clearance in the air from Ottawa Terminal and planned to do exactly that.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

I was very fortunate this year to share my airplane with a varied cast of terrific friends both old and new. Off Sodus, I briefly leveled at 2,500 feet to remain visual until I received my instrument clearance from Rochester Approach. West of the Geneseo VOR, I passed high above Silver Lake and the gorge in Letchworth State Park.

Runway

Pilot Institute

APRIL 26, 2024

Practice requesting and receiving clearances. Before you request your first clearance, follow these inflight tips. Before you set foot in the airplane, determine who you’ll need to contact during your flight. First, be mentally prepared for the clearance. For a flight following clearance, use the CRAFT mnemonic.

Clearance

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

I generally knew what to expect since this was not my first time in a small airplane. ASA Airplane Flying Handbook can be a great resource. Stay ahead of the airplane in-flight to give yourself time to think and to free yourself for jotting down notes as needed.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 28, 2023

As our trip to Sleepy Hollow neared, forecasts for IFR weather inspired a shuffling of airplanes and pilots so that our seven adventurers were distributed among three IFR-capable airplanes with current IFR pilots. Once the rain relented, we staggered our departures and called for our IFR clearances on the ground.

Clearance

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

I generally knew what to expect since this was not my first time in a small airplane. ASA Airplane Flying Handbook can be a great resource. Stay ahead of the airplane in-flight to give yourself time to think and to free yourself for jotting down notes as needed.

Aeronautical Information Manual