Pilot Institute

JUNE 16, 2025

You’re probably wondering how much of a hassle it is to convert your foreign pilot license to a US one. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about converting your foreign pilot license to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) one. Does the FAA Recognize Foreign Pilot Experience? The bad news?

Pilot

Air Facts

APRIL 9, 2025

That new plan, when combined with the portable Starlink Mini hardware kit ($499), means pilots can finally have high speed internet access in flight, without large external antennas or prohibitively expensive monthly fees. If this anecdotal sample is any guide, pilots have noticed the news. The system is hardly perfect.

Weather

iPad Pilot News

MAY 23, 2025

Electronic flight bag legal briefing for pilots2025 edition iPad Pilot News The best reading is in some Advisory Circulars from the FAA. This is great information for pilots looking to make the transition from paper charts to an iPad, but should also be reviewed by experienced iPad pilots as well.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

APRIL 22, 2025

Pilots can have multiple licenses. Each license gives a pilot different privileges. Pilots usually start by getting their Private Pilot license and then work towards a commercial pilot license if they are interested in being a pilot as a career. But its a necessary step to obtain higher pilot certification.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

MARCH 17, 2025

A safety pilot has a key job: keeping the flight safe during simulated instrument training. By handling specific tasks and staying sharp, the safety pilot supports the flying pilot and makes sure the flight meets FAA requirements. Key Takeaways A safety pilot monitors the surroundings during simulated instrument flights.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 24, 2025

Special VFR is a clearance issued by Air Traffic Control (ATC) that allows pilots to operate in weather conditions below the standard VFR minimums. Student pilots cannot request Special VFR clearances. Special VFR should only be used with careful risk management and pilot discretion. What Is Special VFR? The short answer is no.

Clearance

Flying Magazine

MAY 21, 2025

That holds particularly true in aviation when a pilots failure to identify risk leads to a lack of situational awareness and poor decision making resulting in a fatality. This resulted in the pilot having to manually fly the airplane using the copilots EADI. ATC asked the pilot to verify his heading.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

MAY 11, 2025

How to become a pilot a learn to fly checklist Who can be a pilot? How much does it cost to earn a pilots license? How to earn a flight training scholarship Whats the right pilot certificate: Sport, Recreational or Private Pilot? There are numerous jobs in aviation besides just airline pilot.

Pilot

Flying Magazine

MAY 2, 2025

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former United Arilines pilot Romullo Tadeu Melo Silva, who claimed the airline defamed him following a hard-landing incident that damaged a Boeing 767-300 aircraft in Houston. Silva failed this evaluation, and United terminated his employment on October 12, 2023.

Pilot in Command

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

It is intended to be a flying lesson , but only for those pilots who read it with learning as a mindset. Take into consideration that weather reporting, and the dissemination of these reports to pilots, was not as accurate then as it is now. Also, Trial by Ice is not just another flying story.

VOR

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 24, 2025

A multi-engine rating is an FAA class rating that allows a certificated pilot to fly aircraft with more than one engine. It’s not a separate license but an endorsement added to your existing pilot certificate, whether private or commercial. c) are relatively simple compared to other pilot certifications.

Checkride

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

We practice power-off stalls to help us identify the signs of a stall and the characteristics of your airplane when it stalls. How to Perform a Power-off Stall The FAA’s Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards (ACS) outline the procedure for performing a power-off stall.

Descent

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Have you ever wondered how pilots keep control at high speeds, during stalls, or even when systems fail? Or how do modern airplanes reduce dangerous effects like aileron flutter or adverse yaw? The pilot is able to control the aircrafts roll by turning the control yoke or sidestick in the cockpit.

Aileron

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 24, 2025

Understanding the Two Paths When deciding between FAA Part 61 vs 107 , you’re essentially choosing between flying manned aircraft and piloting commercial drones. FAA Part 61 This is the traditional route for becoming a private pilot , commercial pilot, or flight instructor. At Leopard Aviation , we operate under Part 61.

Pilot

Air Facts

JUNE 9, 2025

Within the WYVERN team of aviation professionals, there is a Guidance Review Team composed of four well-seasoned contributors including a past member of the Blue Angels, a former Commanding Officer of the U.S. After each pilot shares their thoughts on their own performance and where they will re-focus, they say, “Glad to Be Here.”

NOTAMs

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

While VFR flights rely on seeing outside the aircraft, IFR procedures allow pilots to navigate precisely when they cannot see the ground, horizon, or surrounding terrain. Note : While the 1-2-3 rule may indicate you don’t legally need an alternate, experienced pilots often file one anyway. PIREPs : Pilot weather reports.

Flight Plan

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

One of the most important skills pilots learn during flight training is sound decision making. 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.

Ceiling

CFI Academy

AUGUST 16, 2024

A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) is a licensed pilot who has received specialized training to teach others how to operate aircraft safely and effectively. They take on the vital task of teaching and mentoring future pilots, guiding them through the complex process of earning their pilot’s certificate.

Checkride

Pilot Institute

JULY 9, 2025

Airworthiness is one of those parts of pilot life we tend to take for granted. But for a good pilot, following the rules isn’t enough. Pilots are responsible for determining their aircraft’s airworthiness before flight. We pilots have our licenses and ratings to certify that we’re fit to fly. What Does Airworthiness Mean?

Operating Limitations

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

To a pilot, however, aviation laws are the rules by which they operate to ensure the highest level of safety. Despite us pilots considering ourselves the epitome of human perfection, few are bar-certified lawyers. General aviation operations fall into this categorythink of a private pilot flying with his friends or family.

Federal Aviation Regulations

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

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. In other words, it seemed to be my kind of destination. Delaware River. Delaware River.

Runway

Air Facts

JUNE 23, 2025

As each airplane ahead of me began their approach, I descended in the holding pattern. Two pilots landed successfully. The previous pilot couldn’t see anything, and conditions weren’t improving. Had we crashed, it would have been a textbook investigation: Pilot in command descended below minimums and impacted terrain.

Altimeter

Air Facts

JULY 23, 2025

Skyway was a small but vibrant commuter airline that operated a fleet of Beech 99 turboprops, Beech 18s, and several single-engine airplanes of various lineage. My duties at Skyway included flying as copilot on the Beech 99 and Beech 18, as well as pilot-in-command on the single-engine airplanes.

NDB

iPad Pilot News

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Do I really need to use Airplane Mode on my iPad or iPhone? iPad Pilot News One of the most common questions we hear as pilots is, “Do I really need to put my phone in Airplane Mode?” Is that true in a small airplane? And what is Airplane Mode anyway? And what is Airplane Mode anyway?

Airplanes

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Airline Pilots Continuing education is required for airline pilots. Most professional pilots will be required to complete a flight proficiency check, either in an actual aircraft, or in a simulator, every six to 12 months. Most professional pilots will be required to complete a flight proficiency check every six to 12 months.

Pilot

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

The airplane, N130Q, was constructed by Douglas at Santa Monica, California in 1943 as a C-53D-DO with serial number 42-68834. For a very thorough and engaging read on the full history of the DC-3 floatplane, including wartime history and the details of the Folsom airplane, we encourage readers to pick up a copy of Jakob H.

Rudder

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 26, 2024

A dedicated team of volunteer flight crew members, including pilots, flight engineers, and scanners, has ensured the safe operation of Doc on hundreds of sorties. When combined with the over 300 hours he flew as a pilot in the CAF’s B-29 Fifi, Novak holds the distinction of being the highest-time current B-29 pilot in the world.

Pilot

Northstar VFR

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

Pilots observe checklist use and learn their importance starting at the first flight lesson. Checklist use is an element that pilots are tested on during checkrides at every level of training. However, it’s the nature of the repetition that helps the pilot notice if something is abnormal with the aircraft.

Pilot

Flying Magazine

MAY 16, 2024

If you can picture yourself in the left seat of an Airbus, Boeing, or Embraer—or whatever transport category jet technology comes up with next—then you have the first necessary step complete on your way to becoming a professional pilot. Pia Bergqvist (PB): I grew up in Sweden and dreamed of being a pilot since I was 8 years old.

Pilot

iPad Pilot News

MAY 14, 2024

Electronic flight bag legal briefing for pilots—2024 edition iPad Pilot News The best reading is in some Advisory Circulars from the FAA. This is great information for pilots looking to make the transition from paper charts to an iPad, but should also be reviewed by experienced iPad pilots as well.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

MAY 1, 2024

How to become a pilot – a learn to fly checklist Who can be a pilot? How much does it cost to earn a pilot’s license? How to earn a flight training scholarship What’s the right pilot certificate: Sport, Recreational or Private Pilot? There are numerous jobs in aviation besides just airline pilot.

Pilot in Command

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Pilots should always be evaluating alternate airports. One of the most important skills pilots must continue to hone is sound decision-making. Though it’s rare, your destination airport could become unusable due to a thunderstorm moving in, or a disabled airplane on the runway.

Ceiling

Air Facts

JUNE 24, 2024

Ignore the YouTube crash detectives—it’s usually pilot error Air Facts Journal When a high performance airplane crashes in IMC, the self-proclaimed experts on social media quickly spin elaborate theories about autopilot failure, in-flight icing, structural failure, carbon monoxide poisoning, or some other incredibly rare cause.

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 21, 2024

To help pilots avoid stalls, the FAA, in concert with all the king’s horses and men, rewrote the requirements for private pilot training, including stalls. Unless there are unusual gust conditions, stalls occur because the pilot pulls back too hard on the wheel or stick. And for young pilots, I think that’s entirely appropriate.

Rudder

Flying Magazine

MAY 10, 2024

With a better understanding of the structure of the test, the material the exam covers, and some sample questions, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a commercial drone pilot. Courses like those offered by Altitude University , The Pilot Institute and ASA , for instance, include several graded practice exams and quizzes.

Weight-Shift-Control

Flight Training Central

MAY 28, 2024

If the wind is as shown by the landing direction indicator, the pilot should land on Runway 9 and expect a crosswind from the right. Which approach and landing objective is assured when the pilot remains on the proper glidepath of the VASI? Pilot in command. Second in command. 040° and 220° true.

Crosswind