Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Pilots use holds for traffic delays, weather, emergencies, planning, or runway changes. If it is obvious that the bad weather is transitory, air traffic control may ask approaching aircraft to take up a holding pattern while the weather subsides. Runway Changes (or Closure) Where possible, airplanes normally like to land in the wind.

Airplanes

Fear of Landing

JANUARY 17, 2025

On the 29th of December 2024, a Boeing 737-800 operated by a low-cost South Korean airline crashed after an emergency landing and overshooting the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea. On approach, the captain made a mayday alert, declaring bird strike, bird strike. The flight crew announced that they were going around.

Thrust

Flying Magazine

MAY 28, 2025

READ MORE: Garmin Launches Pilot Web Flight Planner The user selects aircraft type, arrival/departure/approach transition fix, runway, and moreand the app does the rest to simplify the chart down to the information that they need to see to successfully brief and fly that procedure.

Approach

Professional Pilot

APRIL 3, 2025

Under visual flight rules (VFR) during daytime, a pilot can operate with only basic gauges: an airspeed indicator, altimeter, compass, fuel gauges for each tank, and oil temperature, pressure, and engine RPM readings. Garmins synthetic vision uses 3D modeling that can depict terrain, obstacles, traffic, and runway environments.

Cockpit

Air Facts

JUNE 4, 2025

Taxiing to Runway 06, I ran through the before-takeoff checklist: fuel selector both, flaps up, mixture rich, lights on. I focused on the panel: attitude indicator, heading indicator, altimeter. I locked into a steady scan: attitude, altimeter, turn coordinator, back to heading. I filed my flight plan and headed out.

Altimeter

Flying Magazine

MAY 23, 2025

Authorities investigating the deadly crash of a Cessna Citation S550 in San Diego on Thursday are looking at the possibility that a lack of current weather, specifically an altimeter setting at the destination airport, may have contributed to the accident. A lack of a correct altimeter setting can cause a pilot to fly at the wrong altitude.

Altimeter

Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

A witness reported that they saw the airplane lift off from the runway and remain in ground effect until it crossed the departure end of the runway. As it crossed the departure end of the runway, it was in a left bank and then struck a tree, then came down in shallow water off a public beach.

Density Altitude

Plane and Pilot

JULY 28, 2025

When it comes to pilot training materials, IFR approach plates, or even logbooks, the name Jeppesen is a common one. There were no sectional maps, no low or high IFR routes, and no instrument approach plates. He would jot down runway headings, hill elevations, and even phone numbers for farmers willing to provide weather updates.

Altimeter

Air Facts

JUNE 23, 2025

I turned back and entered the holding pattern over the VOR where the approach to Whiting Field began. As each airplane ahead of me began their approach, I descended in the holding pattern. The third one saw the runway but couldn’t land. I considered calling a missed approach. Two pilots landed successfully.

Altimeter

Simple Flying

JULY 23, 2024

On a foggy winter morning in February 2009, Turkish Airlines Flight 1951, using a Boeing 737-800, was on a seemingly routine final approach into Amsterdams Schiphol Airport when it suddenly stalled and fell out of the sky about a mile from the runway.

Altimeter

One Mile at a Time

JULY 20, 2024

We can now add yet another near catastrophe to the list, and this might just be the scariest one we’ve seen so far… Southwest 737 MAX has near disaster on approach to Tampa This incident happened on Sunday, July 14, 2024, and involves Southwest Airlines flight WN425 , scheduled to fly from Columbus (CMH) to Tampa (TPA).

Air Traffic Control

Aerotime

DECEMBER 20, 2024

We will also examine the next most critical phase of our flight, from descent and deceleration to the approach and landing phases, even touching upon what happens when the aircraft arrives safely at the gate. At this point, the use of the aircraft’s flaps becomes critical.

Cabin Crew

Fear of Landing

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Runway 14, a 4,202 foot runway , was in use. During the final stages of the flight, air traffic control told the pilot to expect the RNAV A approach to Montgomery County. The pilot asked for the RNAV GPS RWY 14 approach, which had lower minimums. His troubles began before he even started the approach.

Approach

Flight Training Central

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

What is the headwind component for a landing on Runway 18 if the tower reports the wind as 215° at 30 knots? Determine the pressure altitude at an airport that is 1,300 feet MSL with an altimeter setting of 29.6. What effect does high density altitude have on aircraft performance? It increases takeoff performance.

Density Altitude

Pilot Institute

MAY 1, 2024

For new instrument pilots, flying an approach to minimums is a big challenge. Adding an approach briefing to the mix feels like one task too many. Luckily, mastering approach briefings is not as hard as it seems. This article breaks down how to deliver a top-notch approach briefing, every time. Final approach course.

Approach

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

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. The departure runway and the departure procedure. For example, ATC: Fly runway heading until two miles from Kennedy VOR, then turn right, heading one zero zero. Altimeter 30.02

Approach

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

If you’re on a non-precision or precision approach, understanding MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude) and DA (Decision Altitude) is incredibly important. Key Takeaways MDA applies to non-precision approaches, requiring pilots to level off at a minimum altitude. IFR approaches use something called approach minimums.

Altimeter

iPad Pilot News

DECEMBER 17, 2024

It takes just a few taps to get to any location in the app which youll appreciate when you need to access information quickly, like finding an instrument approach chart or airspace information. In the air, theyll notify when approaching Class, B, C or D airspace, a TFR or the Washington, D.C. and jump to its location in the app.

Pilot

Flying Magazine

MAY 30, 2025

The altimeter started slipping. Radio calls, hold entries, and approach briefs all contribute to the mental stacka skill in itself to manage. At its core, an EFB replaces the binders and kneeboards once stuffed with paper charts, performance tables, and approach plates. This is particularly helpful when briefing an approach.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Runway visual range (RVR) under 2,400 feet triggers a SPECI, and another is issued if it rises to 2,400 feet or more within 10 minutes. Well, these events can quickly affect visibility or runway conditions so much that they call for a special report. Runway visual range (RVR). Let’s look at each weather condition. Visibility.

Altimeter

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

We both had a good chuckle, then we lurched out of the parking spot as I tested the toe brakes for the first time and began to waddle our way to the runway in the mighty Cessna 150. How they came to a stop holding short of the runway generally gave a preview as to how they would handle a plane for the rest of the flight.

Rudder

Air Facts

DECEMBER 30, 2024

The year was 2017, and I was two months into my first pilot job flying skydivers in the C182 at a small Canadian drop zone, when my boss approached me with this question. My approach into St. Landing in Moriarty was somewhat odd and memorable, as I was expecting a busy airport with its long runways and did not encounter a single soul.

Weather

iPad Pilot News

JUNE 3, 2025

Having access to always-updated, geo-referenced versions of sectionals, airport diagrams, and approach plates is table stakes these daysbut it still matters more than synthetic vision or digital logbooks. and any adjustments to be made (runway lighting out of service, remote altimeter setting, etc.). That changed last week.

NOTAMs

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Not only must you fly unnervingly slow, but you also have to pick a spot on the runway and hit it. It’s a runway that is too short for a normal takeoff or landing but still usable with certain precautions. This allows them to safely operate into and out of these tight runways. You’re not alone.

Weight-Shift-Control

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

But landing it safely on the runway is a skill. Briefing A pre-landing briefing highlights essential points critical to the approach and landing phase. Brief that you will use the right rudder to align the aircraft straight with the runway and the left aileron to counteract drift. Brief the runway conditions.

Airplanes

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 11, 2024

After takeoff, I contacted Cincinnati Approach: “Cincinnati Approach, Student Pilot Skyhawk 2135S, four miles south of I69 with request.” They gave me a squawk code and the altimeter setting, and with that, the flight was underway. Finding KLEX Finding a 7,000-foot runway seems easy, right? Not so much.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Two hours later, Allentown (Pennsylvania) Approach handed me off to Newark (New Jersey) Approach when I was 30 miles east of the city. The kind controller at Newark Approach asked me, “Skylane 8320Z, do you want to go straight into Linden or do something else?” This made the direct trip to KLDJ less than two and a half hours.

Clearance

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Two hours later, Allentown (Pennsylvania) Approach handed me off to Newark (New Jersey) Approach when I was 30 miles east of the city. The kind controller at Newark Approach asked me, “Skylane 8320Z, do you want to go straight into Linden or do something else?” This made the direct trip to KLDJ less than two and a half hours.

Clearance

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

We both had a good chuckle, then we lurched out of the parking spot as I tested the toe brakes for the first time and began to waddle our way to the runway in the mighty Cessna 150. How they came to a stop holding short of the runway generally gave a preview as to how they would handle a plane for the rest of the flight.

Rudder

Air

MAY 21, 2025

For landing, it means a shorter landing roll and a slower approach speed over the ground, offering enhanced control. Drawbacks: For takeoff, a tailwind significantly increases the required runway length and results in a shallower climb angle. For landing, it increases your groundspeed on approach and extends the landing distance.

Crosswind

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 27, 2025

Altimeter+ Calculates the altitude of your current location via GPS, or from the built-in barometer included on newer iPhones and iPads.Offers Apple Watch app. Cirrus Approach Access all your Cirrus airframe and avionics training courses in one easy-to-use mobile platform. WeatherSpork Another weather app, but with a unique approach.

Weather

Pilot Institute

MARCH 13, 2025

Now, we can fly more accurately while reducing our workload and also fly an ILS or GPS approach without using a separate ILS instrument. The HSI has found its home in modern glass cockpit avionics, along with the altimeter and airspeed indicator. Then, you simply follow the HSIs instructions. This is great from a pilots perspective.

VOR

AeroSavvy

OCTOBER 26, 2020

The ADC processes the data and sends it to various aircraft systems including airspeed/Mach indicators (like the SI-800), altimeters, Flight Management Systems (FMS), Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS), elevator feel computers, and more. It’s nice to have an accurate digital display, especially on a bumpy approach.

Pitot Tube

Pilot Institute

MAY 25, 2024

An airport has closed a runway/taxiway/apron for maintenance. He landed on a closed turf runway, causing the aircraft to nose over. In their example, runway 04L/22R is closed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). RWY 04L/22R tells us the subject is runway (RWY) 04L/22R. a closed runway has been reopened).

NOTAMs

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

Airports such as ATL and JFK have multiple runways and cover around 5,000 acres of land. Two-way radio contact with the approach controller is not enough. To request Bravo clearance, call the approach controller when you’re about 30-40 miles out. Learn the typical approaches and altitudes. This is called a ‘push’.

Clearance

AeroSavvy

JANUARY 16, 2024

Pilots often “refresh” METARs when approaching an airport with poor weather to monitor trends and have the most current decision-making information available. If I see a yellow light, I need to take a close look at winds and runway alignment before driving to the hangar. Airline dispatchers read and speak fluent METAR.

Weather

Air Facts

AUGUST 5, 2024

Next you look at NOTAM’s once again and notice that Runways 8R and 26L are closed. And a quick check of the ATIS on your trusty Sporty’s handheld VHF radio reveals that Runways 35 is currently in use. So why bother to look at an approach chart for your departure airport? My response would be, “what if ?”

Density Altitude