Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Their design, reliability, and consistency help us provide a seamless training experience from first flight to final checkride. If you want a smooth, professional path from day one to checkride, train with us. Compared to Cessna 172s, Piper trainers have slightly different handling and runway performance.

Cockpit

Northstar VFR

MAY 15, 2025

NOTAMs and ATIS Temporary runway closures or airspace restrictions are published in Zulu. But I recommend you still learn the manual conversionits a great skill to have, and instructors will ask you to demonstrate it on cross-country flights or during checkride prep. Got questions about Zulu or flight planning?

UTC

Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 30, 2025

Theres nothing quite like breaking out of a thick layer of clouds to find the runway right where it should beor shooting a perfect RNAV approach to minimums. Be Professional From your first preflight briefing to your last checkride, we emphasize structure, discipline, and decision-making.

Pilot

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 17, 2025

Its history as a World War II training base adds to its charm, with well-maintained runways, modern air traffic control, and a nearby aviation museum that keeps the spirit of flying alive. Our CFIs take pride in seeing you succeed, from your first discovery flight to your checkride.

Checkride

AV Web

JANUARY 22, 2025

The airplane came to rest about 1600 feet from the Runway 31 threshold and about 250 feet right of the extended centerline. Over, Beyond the Runway Over 21 percent of pattern stalls occurred over the runway during the landing flare. The private pilot was fatally injured. So, where do most pattern stalls occur?

Final Approach

Northstar VFR

MARCH 23, 2025

As an aircraft enters the traffic pattern, it begins the process of getting configured to land on the runway. As the plane descends toward the runway on final approach, it may encounter various scenarios where a safe landing cannot be assured. The go-around is a maneuver tested during your private pilot checkride.

Pilot

AOPA

JULY 22, 2025

Latest News Magazines Videos Podcasts Webinars Media Room Contact Us Newsletters Training & Safety Training & Safety Embark on a journey of continuous learning: from prepping for checkrides, perfecting instrument approaches, to proficiency flights. Enhance your aviation skills here! Enhance your aviation skills here!

Checkride

Inflight Pilot Training

JUNE 9, 2025

Imagine flying three to five times a week throughout the summer—you could be soloing by mid-season and approaching your checkride by fall. You’ll also avoid complications like aircraft pre-heating, icy runways, or deicing protocols. The skies are clear, the runways are warm, and your dream of becoming a pilot is within reach.

Weather

AOPA

JULY 2, 2025

Latest News Magazines Videos Podcasts Webinars Media Room Contact Us Newsletters Training & Safety Training & Safety Embark on a journey of continuous learning: from prepping for checkrides, perfecting instrument approaches, to proficiency flights. Enhance your aviation skills here! Enhance your aviation skills here!

Checkride

Flight Training Central

JUNE 23, 2025

Here we’ll highlight the various maneuvers you’ll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your Private Pilot checkride. In this spotlight, we’ll review the key steps for managing drift and maintaining alignment during landing when the winds aren’t straight down the runway.

Crosswind

AV Web

JULY 25, 2025

I’ll be back—although small fly-ins involving grass runways and free ice cream attract my old rheumy pilot eyes more often than the glitzy trade shows the alphabet groups’ super fly-ins have become. AirVenture was a fun outing with friends. I’ll work him up through the recommendation ride for free if he buys me lunch.

Gross Weight

Air Facts

DECEMBER 9, 2024

Checkrides gone wrong: rope-a-dope Air Facts Journal In 1974, an epic boxing match took place in Zaire, Africa between Muhamed Ali and George Foreman. The very first student I recommended for a Private Pilot checkride was Steve Schwenk. Incredibly, on his retirement flight, Steve landed a B-747 at JFK on Runway 22 Left.

Checkride

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Our passenger flight was getting a checkride from the FAA. I preached that you could not flunk a checkride if you go by the book. The weather at O’Hare was IFR and the airport was using the ILS to runway 14L. The runway soon came into view and a normal landing was made.

Checkride

Air Facts

JULY 15, 2024

I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. It felt like pushing it for that airplane, but checkrides are so hard to schedule I went. I’ve landed in strong winds enough times that 30 knots can seem routine, as long as it’s reasonably aligned with the runway.

Crosswind

Northstar VFR

OCTOBER 27, 2024

By Leslie Caubble, CFI/IGI My checkrides have always had at least one element of surprise to them. On my Commercial checkride, this happened during the oral exam. The FAA isn’t out to get you on your checkride. I passed on the first attempt, but it was a great reminder how thorough we need to be in our checkride preparation.

Longitudinal Axis

Air Facts

OCTOBER 30, 2024

The flying club’s Cessnas and Pipers stood out like a flock of scrawny pigeons as the eagles of Pan Am, TWA, British Airways, and the like lumbered by on their way to and from the runways. Then came the long taxi to the runway. I exclaimed, pointing at the Concorde as it hurtled down the runway. Charlie turned slowly around.

NDB

Air Facts

DECEMBER 18, 2024

At the end of the departure runway, I called on my cell phone to receive my clearance, but my engine was so loud at idle, I could not hear the controller and was forced to shut down my engine so that I could hear the clearance. When we reached the end of the departure runway, the moment of truth was at hand.

Clearance

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

While complete engine failures are not common, the stakes are high which is why pilots train extensively for such occurrences and why they get evaluated as part of a checkride. It is usually NOT advisable to turn back to the runway, but instead, to select a landing location directly in front or slightly left or right of your flight path.

Flight Deck

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

But, as you near the runway, the airplane starts to float. The aircraft will float and try to takeoff too early or float over the runway and delay touchdown while landing. Conversely, an aircraft may float down the runway during landing due to the ground effect, making it challenging to make a smooth landing at the desired location.

Ground Effect

Flight Training Central

MAY 25, 2024

This was my last dual cross country before my instrument rating checkride, and I was beginning to feel confident. But my flight instructor wasn’t wrong – if I would have been on a checkride, I would have failed. After flying down the full length of the runway, I added power and went around. Tough instructors are like this.

Longitudinal Axis

Flight Training Central

MAY 16, 2025

Is it about fun flights in taildraggers to grass runways? You want to become a safe and confident pilot, but you also want to be ready for your unique mission after the checkride, whatever that might be. Then make sure youre really learning how to travel cross-country. Communicate those goals to your flight instructor early on.

Checkride

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. 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. What Makes a Short Field Short ?

Weight-Shift-Control

Flight Training Central

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Practice takeoffs and landings on contaminated runways – Just because the runway at your airport has residual snow or slick spots doesn’t mean you have to cancel your flight lesson. After a winter storm passes you’ll want to wait for the airport maintenance crew to clear the majority of snow from the runway.

Weather

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

Going into a checkride (or a grass strip) without solid soft field skills is asking for trouble. Unlike paved runways, every soft landing surface is different. Obstructions: Ensure the runway is clear of obstacles, from stones to animals. You can walk down the length of the runway. Well, not exactly.

NOTAMs

Air Facts

DECEMBER 2, 2024

That November, I passed my commercial checkrides. Annabelle Fera, my commercial DPE, had conducted checkrides from Private to ATP for over 35 years before retiring in the ’90s. Descending through the clouds, his windscreen iced over, he broke out just in time to make the runway. She reminded me a lot of Ms.

General Aviation

Airline Reporter

MARCH 13, 2024

I’m still convinced that KBFI has the best runway view in the US. Photo by Adam Kephart This is a continuation of my multi-part series on learning to fly. You can read the whole Fly With Francis series here. It’s been a good while since I’ve done a Learning to Fly post.

Weather

Jetwhine

JANUARY 17, 2024

Cram enough L–39 knowledge and skill into my brain to pass a type-rating checkride. Only if a pilot chooses the complete course with a checkride is an instrument rating required. Once it spins up the engine we begin taxi practice to the runway, something a bit akin to learning to steer my old taildragger. In a non-U.S.-certified

Knot

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 21, 2024

All the countless nights of studying, memorizing the FAR AIM (save time by using the NorthStar pre-tabbed FAR AIM ), chair flying your maneuvers and endless stress over checkrides has finally paid off. Same process as before, with the one change being that once we get to the runway, the Captain relinquishes control to me.

Pilot

Northstar VFR

JULY 2, 2023

Section 4-3-3 states “If remaining in the traffic pattern , commence turn to crosswind leg beyond the departure end of the runway within 300 feet of pattern altitude.” Also, the FAR/AIM can be used during your oral, since the checkride is technically an ‘open book’ evaluation. Be sure to check it out! Why is the FAR/AIM important?

Federal Aviation Regulations

Air Facts

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

He was warm, friendly, patient, an amazing stick, and sure enough, on my 16th birthday I found myself taxiing toward the runway without him, he standing in the grass next to the taxiway, smiling broadly. I was a working CFI at the time and I remember flying along with Bill in the school’s Beech Duchess, practicing for the checkride.

Airplanes

Flight Training Central

MAY 31, 2024

Is it about fun flights in taildraggers to grass runways? You want to become a safe and confident pilot, but you also want to be ready for your unique mission after the checkride, whatever that might be. Then make sure you’re really learning how to travel cross-country. Communicate those goals to your flight instructor early on.

Checkride

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 27, 2025

Boeing Company Allows Boeing flight crews to calculate takeoff analysis, landing analysis and weight and balance information, correcting for pressure variation, runway conditions, engine bleeds and MEL items. Improve your stick and rudder skills as a private pilot go beyond the instrument checkride with these advanced courses.

Weather

Pilot Job Central

OCTOBER 1, 2023

The other three cargo airlines listed below have developed preferential hiring programs.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

These include a runway collision, porpoising, bouncing, or possible overrun. ATC can also ask for a go-around if the landing runway is unsafe or for spacing reasons. An approach is stabilized when: The aircraft is on the correct flight path, i.e., on runway centerline and glideslope. Airspeed is not less than 1.3Vso +10/-0.

Wind Shear

Flight Training Central

MARCH 15, 2024

Real World VFR Online Course This fun and educational course will give you the confidence to fly cross-country flights in VFR conditions, whether your destination is a remote island runway or a busy Class B airline hub. Ride along with an experienced pilot and flight instructor as they fly ten end-to-end flights.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

While of course, a runway is ideal, even rough terrain can be survivable if approached correctly. You have little time to react, and your altitude is often too low for a safe turn back to the runway. Always know your runway length, calculate accelerate/stop distances, and identify alternate landing sites in case of an engine failure.

Pilot

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

But too much airspeed can lead to bounced landings if the pilot tries to force the airplane on the runway or a runway excursion if the airplane runs out of room before it runs out of speed. The left wing dropped and the airplane descended off the side of the runway, impacted terrain, and cartwheeled before coming to rest.”

Knot