Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 30, 2025

Youll learn how to navigate, communicate with Air Traffic Control, interpret weather, and conduct instrument approaches to airports, all without relying on whats outside your window. Flight canceled. An instrument rating unlocks access to: Airports with IFR approaches (ILS, RNAV, VOR, etc.) Light fog or morning haze?

Pilot

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

Pilots are required to check for NOTAMs along their relevant routes or locations before the start of a flight. NOTAMs are very important in that they can provide information that can cause a pilot to change their flight plans, such as Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) or an airport that has become temporarily unavailable.

Pilot

Air Facts

JUNE 4, 2025

I filed my flight plan and headed out. I tuned the Manila VOR to confirm my position and set up the next waypoint. Post-Flight: Lessons Learned I checked in with Bohol Approach, received vectors for the field, and joined the pattern in VMC. Winds aloft were light and variableideal for a smooth cruise.

Altimeter

AV Web

JUNE 24, 2025

Familiar Is The Enemy Another pitfall real pilots make is assuming that simming is all about approaches. Believe it or not, flying approaches in the sim has very little value for most seasoned instrument pilots who fly them on a weekly basis. Or even a full-procedure approach own nav? That’s the beauty of flight sim.

Weather

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 17, 2025

Falcon Field has a rich history and excellent resources, and our personalized approach ensures each student’s success. Facilities & Environment at Falcon Field Falcon Field offers: Two paved runways (4,500 feet and 3,700 feet) with well-lit approach lighting Air traffic control tower operates daily with VFR and IFR capabilities.

Checkride

Flight Training Central

JUNE 16, 2025

They are not charted because activities are suspended immediately when spotter aircraft, radar, or ground lookout positions indicate an aircraft might be approaching the area. Special flight rules provide for general aviation operations within the area. SFRA flight plan. VFR pilots must file a D.C.

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

JUNE 29, 2025

Buttonology as a Key to Instrument Proficiency Date Aircraft Route of Flight Time (hrs) Total (hrs) 29 Jun 2025 N21481 SDC (Sodus, NY) - GED (Georgetown, DE) - MD1 (Massey, MD) - EVY (Middletown, DE) - N57 (Toughkenamon, PA) - SDC 6.6 At the end of our otherwise perfunctory exchange, Rochester signed off with, "Have a great flight, Chris!"

Runway

Air Facts

JULY 23, 2025

This would necessitate an instrument approach at every stop—11 approaches in all. Eight of these would be non-precision VOR and fixed-card NDB approaches flown to minimums in a non-radar environment. We hand-flew them every minute of every flight. I met Jerry in the crew briefing room and we began flight planning.

NDB

iPad Pilot News

JANUARY 21, 2025

How to set up aircraft equipment codes in aviation apps to file VFR/IFR flight plans iPad Pilot News All VFR and IFR flight plans must be filed using the ICAO form. The international (ICAO) flight plan form , which is required to be used for all VFR and IFR flight plans filed in the U.S.,

Flight Plan

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 14, 2024

IFR Alternate Airport Planning Legal requirements for selecting an alternate airport Additional GPS Approach Considerations Which weather forecast should you use? While every IFR flight requires you to file an IFR flight plan and receive an ATC clearance, not every flight is flown in IFR conditions.

Ceiling

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. For example, ATC: Fly runway heading until two miles from Kennedy VOR, then turn right, heading one zero zero. From there, youre free to follow your filed flight plan.

Approach

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

Put the aircraft in level flight to give them a moment to consider their next course of action so they are not anxiously doing climbs, descents, and unplanned turns. Next, introduce the VOR. Have them use the VOR to determine what radial they are on, and if the unit has DME, show you where they are on a sectional.

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 4, 2024

We’ll explain what these approaches are, what equipment you’ll need, and why it’s important to understand them for safer flight. Key Takeaways LPV approaches use satellite guidance for near-ILS precision and lower minimums. WAAS-enabled GPS equipment determines which approach types your aircraft can fly.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

I expected minimal IMC time and the need for an approach appeared beyond remote. However, there was a presidential TFR (temporary flight restriction) around Scranton that lay on a direct line between Sodus and Philly. It added less than 10 minutes to the overall flight time. Famous last words.) Foolish mortal. That's not right.

Approach

Northstar VFR

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

Even in flight, these considerations are constantly evaluated. The FAA encourages use of the 5-P’s checklist to constantly evaluate and mitigate the hazards you might encounter during the flight: PLAN Cross-country flight planning, route, fuel, and weather.

Pilot

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

With flight following, they vectored us south almost to Kansas City explaining that south was the new east and the best way to get to the race VFR. The VOR was useless, so I was now flying IFD (I Follow Directions) zig zagging across the country getting new vectors from time to time.

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. Once you have a transition (an initial approach fix or Vectors), you can choose that for a simplified view. That changed last week.

NOTAMs

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While other types of controlled airspace require two-way radio communication, IFR flight plans, and various kinds of equipment, Class E airspace below 10,000 feet does not. The 700-Foot Exception In some cases, Class E can begin as low as 700 feet AGL to offer support for instrument approaches.

Airspace Classes

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 10, 2023

New Adventures in Flight Planning and Filing I decided to test-drive my PIN and the whole FRZ process for the first time as my annual fall solo flight in October of 2023. Any flight into the FRZ requires a FRZ flight plan. Just north of the Selinsgrove VOR, Harrisburg called with the first change in routing.

Transponder

Gary's Flight Journal

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

I've been going through weather updates and long range forecasts for the last two weeks along with reviewing approaches and alternates for our flight. To start our flying day I must stress the most important part of flight planning, ADM, Aeronautical Decision Making. Saturday 9.16 Sunday 9.17 Departure Day!

Clearance

Pilot's Life Blog

DECEMBER 20, 2024

Navigation and Flight Planning : This is all about understanding how to get from point A to point B safely. Youll learn to read airspace charts, understand GPS systems, and interpret flight plans. Youll also learn how to file flight plans, ensuring you stay on track and within legal airspace.

Pilot

Photographic Logbook

JULY 6, 2024

In order to reach College Park, pilots must receive specific training from the FAA, undergo vetting by the TSA to earn a personal identification number (PIN) necessary to authorize flight plans within the FRZ, and follow the unique and specific rules for operating into and out of the FRZ. If that sounds intimidating, it is. Tough room.

Pilot

Gary's Flight Journal

MARCH 18, 2024

The Weather Watch Some of my go to weather pages have changed or gone away but I have been working on some new to me weather tools for my cross country flight planning. Pre-Flight It's the day before departure and I am going to complete my preflight and fuel sump. Sunday 3.10

Weather

AeroSavvy

AUGUST 20, 2021

Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six Navigation equipment includes a Garmin GNS-530W GPS navigator and two VOR receivers for secondary navigation. An autopilot and Aspen primary flight display reduce workload on long flights. The approach and taxi are time compressed; the landing is normal speed.

Density Altitude

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Preparations for this trip the night before included: Flight planning to time-out each of the four legs of the planned round trip as well as verification of customs hours (Kingston, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm M-F, Ogdensburg, 8:00 am to midnight every day). Filing three IFR flight plans (KSDC to CYGK, CYGK to CYRO, and CYRO to KOGS).

Runway

AV Web

JULY 17, 2024

To make controllers and the ATC computer happy, I used to file a flight plan with lots of airways, named fixes, and VORs. The conversation with Columbus Approach went something like this: Me: “Columbus Approach, Cardinal 7582V, ready to copy IFR to destination.” Then I moved to Ohio.

VOR

Gary's Flight Journal

MAY 3, 2024

I launched from runway three-two and pointed for the Snow Hill VOR. I already had set up for Patuxent approach so I switched from CTAF to Pax to pick up my clearance. As we approached the Bay I counted seventeen ships at anchor, waiting to be cleared through the temporary channel at the former Francis Scott Key bridge.

Runway

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

But I also needed to be airborne at 3:00 pm or else amend my flight plan and arrival time with US Customs in Ogdensville, NY. She disclosed that she took flight lessons when she was younger, but only had experience with Cessnas. My filed route to Ogdensburg was via YOW (the Ottawa VOR) and IKLAX. Is that a Piper?"

Approach

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Off Sodus, I briefly leveled at 2,500 feet to remain visual until I received my instrument clearance from Rochester Approach. During flight planning, I determined that 8,000 feet would provide the best wind advantage of the available preferred westbound IFR cruise altitudes. The Perry Memorial seen from downwind.

Runway

Gary's Flight Journal

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

I completed my pre flight with only needing to sump fuel on departure day. My Garmin 480 is updated and I have my flight plan ready for entry after planning on Foreflight. It was a beautiful VFR day and Patuxent asked if I wanted to open my IFR plan. I worked each approach in reverse order of our flight south.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 28, 2023

Finding us there, Chief Instructor Mike B commented that we were an "optimistic group" owing to an approaching cold front. Tom and I filed via the Rockdale VOR, which was a starting point on the Nobbi Five arrival procedure used in the greater New York area. That was a good plan.

Clearance

Flight Training Central

APRIL 29, 2024

They are not charted because activities are suspended immediately when spotter aircraft, radar, or ground lookout positions indicate an aircraft might be approaching the area. Special flight rules provide for general aviation operations within the area. SFRA flight plan. VFR pilots must file a D.C.

Clearance