Pilot Institute

APRIL 4, 2025

If you dream of becoming a pilot, you might be wondering if its a hard career to enter. So, is it hard to be a pilot? Key Takeaways To become a pilot, you must invest a considerable amount of time, effort, and money. Pilots face many challenges, but the rewards and incentives make them worthwhile.

Pilot

Aerotime

MAY 28, 2025

In addition to an all-new cabin, the D328eco has adopted advanced avionics in the flight deck, permitting single-pilot operations in some strict regulatory circumstances and fully electronic flight charts, checklists, and other documents. m (76 ft), permitting it to carry up to 40 passengers, 25% more than its predecessor.

Runway

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 31, 2024

It might sound a bit scary, but its a valuable skill for a pilot to master. Pilots must adapt their approach and landing technique during flap failure. The flaps on an aircraft are used for controlled descents with slower airspeed during the approach and landing. What is the purpose of flaps?

Pilot

Flying Magazine

JUNE 23, 2025

But pilots like to be prepared for whatever might happen, so some theory is important. The pilot and one passenger suffered minor injuries; another passenger was uninjured. Credit: Jim Wolper] Prevention Is the Best Cure In another example, I was a contract second pilot on a King Air.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

MARCH 28, 2025

Pilots avoid vortices by maintaining safe separation and adjusting flight paths. When the aircraft encounters a vortex and its strong enough to induce roll, the pilot counters it by using the ailerons against the roll and tries to fly out of the wake as soon as possible. How Are Wingtip Vortices Formed?

Turbulence

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

It is the first time you will step into the cockpit and demonstrate to your examiner, the FAA, and yourself that youre ready to safely and competently operate as a private pilot. The Importance of Your First Check Ride Passing your private pilot check ride signals that youre competent to fly independently and carry passengers safely.

Federal Aviation Regulations

Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 13, 2025

Mistakes are a natural part of learning, but understanding common pitfalls ahead of time can help you progress more efficiently, build confidence, and become a safer pilot. In this comprehensive guide, well take a deep dive into the top 10 mistakes student pilots make, why they happen, and actionable strategies to avoid them.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 3, 2025

Have you ever wondered how pilots determine wind direction and speed at a glance? 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. A windsock is an essential aviation tool that helps pilots make safe decisions.

Knot

Flight Training Central

MAY 13, 2025

Most experienced pilots would be willing to admit that the perfect landing is much more of an art than a science. Flying any speed other than best glide speed during a power-off approach will result in what? Best glide speed is only effective in strong crosswinds. Approach speed is a fixed value. It may not be adjusted.

Approach

Professional Pilot

MAY 7, 2025

Climate Scientist Downburst windshear can cause aircraft to deviate from the approach path. If not recognized quickly, it can lead to incorrect pilot inputs and loss of control. A pproaching the threshold, the flying pilot was trying to keep the wings level in the gusty crosswind. miles (2 km).

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Holding procedures often leave many prospective IFR pilots in a cold sweat. Pilots use holds for traffic delays, weather, emergencies, planning, or runway changes. Wind correction is critical, especially crosswind drift on the outbound leg. Pilot Planning Nobody likes being put under pressure. What Is a Hold?

Airplanes

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Many sim pilots also purchase dedicated peripherals to control the rudder and engines. Never before have sim pilots seen the world portrayed with such stunning accuracy. For the first time, sim pilots can navigate visually using real-world landmarks. .” Well, except Ercoupe pilots.

Rudder

Air Facts

MAY 19, 2025

” The book spoke of how humans approach the world in two fundamental ways: I-It , where we analyze, use, and experience things objectively, and I-Thou , where we enter into genuine relationships with them. The checklist transformed from mere procedure into a ritual of relationship, a dialogue between pilot and machine.

Crosswind

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Whether you’re aiming for a private pilot license or seeking advanced certifications, Leopard Aviation provides personalized training programs to fit your schedule and goals. Understanding aerodynamics gives you confidence as a pilot and ensures you make informed decisions while flying a small plane.

Weather

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

As we approached the gate, my phone rang again. I say a favor, but once you pick up the phone, calling it a favor is candy-coating an assignment, unless it is blatantly in violation of our pilot contract or regulations. Now, if you’re on a 25-mile, straight-in approach to an 11,000-foot runway, there’s time to process that.

Runway

WayMan

APRIL 17, 2025

How to Read a Windsock Knowing how to read a windsock is a foundational skill for any pilot. At Wayman College of Aeronautics, we emphasize this essential skill early in our pilot training programs to build situational awareness from day one. Improved judgment: Reacting confidently to shifting or crosswind conditions.

Knot

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Slow Flight Slow flight is one of the key types of aircraft maneuvers every student pilot should learn because it teaches how the plane behaves near stall speeds and how to maintain control with reduced airflow over the wings. Crosswind Takeoff and Landing: Handling wind coming from the side is a skill every pilot must master.

Pilot

Air Facts

MAY 14, 2025

Throttle Mismanagement: A T-38 Lesson That Stuck Air Facts Journal An Air Force instructor teaches a powerful lesson on throttle finessein a jet that doesnt forgive overcorrections Have you ever been in a car or plane where the person driving or piloting is constantly adjusting the throttle? At least he didnt light the afterburners!

AGL

Air Facts

APRIL 14, 2025

Rather, the system, in the largest sense, includes VAOAI advocates and promoters, regulators, pilots, aircraft, regulations, training, airports, air traffic, airspace, weather, publications, public opinion, and more. An historical antecedent is the concept of the unstable approach. This was not acknowledged until decades later.

Final Approach

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 23, 2025

As Leopard Aviation, we know that using the best flight simulator for private pilot training isn’t just a supplement—it’s essential. They offer certified hours toward your private pilot license and can simulate complex scenarios like icing or low visibility. Many student pilots find radio work intimidating at first.

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

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 18, 2025

Not only that, but there was quite a crosswind, as wind was blowing at a direction 40 degrees off the runway heading. What makes this noteworthy is that the air traffic controller advised the pilots that somebody saw some sparks from one of your wings, and asked you guys feel anything?

Air Traffic Control

Inflight Pilot Training

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Earning your wings is about more than just learning to flyits about developing the skills, confidence, and decision-making abilities that will shape you into a safe and competent pilot. If you plan to pursue a Private Pilot Certificate, you must be at least 17 years old to obtain it, though you can begin training earlier.

Aileron

Northstar VFR

MARCH 30, 2025

Turns Around a Point This is a classic maneuver that helps pilots learn how to maintain a constant radius around a point on the ground while compensating for the wind. Rectangular Course This maneuver essentially mimics a standard traffic pattern and helps pilots learn to compensate for wind when flying a set ground track.

Groundspeed

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Sometimes it’s emotional—the Beech Starship, what few of them are still in the wild, inevitably wow viewers of both the pilot and nonpilot persuasion. Sure, the economics put the airplane in the high-value category in the wild world of 2024 aviation, but this approach ignores what it’s like to fly the RV-12. But successful? Not at all.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 23, 2025

On May 1, 2023, a pilot flying his 1979 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, with two friends on board, was headed to the Big Bear City Airport (L35) to check out a Cessna 150 for sale on the field. The Bonanza lay crumpled up in an empty lot just 2,400 feet from the approach end of the runway. All pilots have been there.

True Airspeed

Flying Magazine

JUNE 5, 2025

Pilots will notice that the natural spoils of the greater Ozarks region are as stunning from the air than they are on the ground. The runway and the surrounding apron area were repaved in late 2022, and there is an RNAV (GPS) approach on both ends. The Thorncrown Chapel is a popular architectural staple that stands 48 feet high.

Runway

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

One of the most reliable aircraft for training is the Piper Seminole, a twin-engine plane that offers hands-on experience for future pilots. Section 1: Getting to Know the Piper Seminole The Piper Seminole is a versatile twin-engine aircraft frequently used for flight training, particularly for pilots advancing to multi-engine ratings.

Descent

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 26, 2025

Many of you may know Johnson from his monthly Plane & Pilot columns and website, bydanjohnson.com , a popular light sport resource that will soon be integrated into the P&P website. Hunton and McLeod pilot the J-230D around South Texas. The post Easy on the Eyes—and Your Wallet appeared first on Plane & Pilot.

Aileron

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

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Have you ever wondered how pilots keep control at high speeds, during stalls, or even when systems fail? The pilot is able to control the aircrafts roll by turning the control yoke or sidestick in the cockpit. The hydraulic system works similarly to a cars power steering and greatly reduces the effort needed by the pilots.

Aileron

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 15, 2025

Piper PA-28-180 Riverside, California/Injuries: 1 Minor NTSB Report: WPR23LA156 The pilot completed the airplane’s engine run-up and carburetor heat function checks with no anomalies noted. The pilot initiated a forced landing straight ahead in a field. The owner reported that he discussed the turbocharger operation with the pilot.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Pilot Institute

APRIL 12, 2025

Newton’s Third Law helps pilots and engineers improve flight safety and aircraft performance. If the pilot increases the wings angle of attack too much, the airflow can separate from the wings surface, causing a stall – an abrupt loss of lift. What does Newtons Third law tell pilots about thrust?

Torque

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 24, 2025

At Leopard Aviation , we guide pilots through every step—from ground lessons to engine-out drills—with flexible options that fit your goals and schedule. A multi‑engine rating is an FAA‑issued class rating add‑on that lets a certificated pilot legally fly twin-engine airplanes. Normal, short‑field, and crosswind takeoffs and landings.

Checkride

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. Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. The post Two Weeks in the RV appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

Weather

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 27, 2025

The curved display line offers spectacular topside passes, especially when aircraft approach from the left, emerging from behind the crowd with the sun perfectly illuminating them as they round the corner above the control tower. The gently sloping ground also ensures a great view, even for those further back. Thats why we keep coming back.

Crosswind

Flying Magazine

JULY 8, 2025

You may have ideas on how to expedite your training—such as flying five hours a day, five days a week with the idea you’ll be a private pilot in two months. Sometimes the flight school will urge the learner to accelerate their training by doing both the private pilot and instrument ground schools at the same time. Could it happen?

Wind Shear