Pilot Institute

APRIL 22, 2025

These exercises aim to sharpen your skills and awareness in the cockpit. Expect an increase in groundspeed, and use smooth inputs on the controls to return to your original heading. Ground reference maneuvers involve flying precise patterns relative to landmarks on the ground. Unfortunately, theyre infamously tricky.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Airplanes Aileron Rudder 52

Photographic Logbook

NOVEMBER 25, 2023

For both Scott and I, it was an opportunity to get back into the cockpit and fly for the simple sake of flying. Aside from a groundspeed boost from a tailwind, the outbound flight was nondescript. Date Aircraft Route of Flight Time (hrs) Total (hrs) 25 Nov 2023 N21481 SDC (Sodus, NY) - AQW (North Adams, MA) - SDC 3.8

Groundspeed 52

Groundspeed Cockpit Weather Runway 52

iPad Pilot News

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

We’ve been flying with the Apple Watch since it first launched, and it’s become increasingly useful every year for both preflight weather checks and as an in-cockpit resource. It includes a GPS and compass for backup navigation and a bright sunlight readable screen for easy viewing in the cockpit.

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Pilot Altimeter Weather NOTAMs 52

Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Preparing the cockpit and cabin. Too little groundspeed, and you may turn too soon, making a mess of the hold. These can include: Staying near a suitable airport. Burning excess fuel to avoid making an overweight landing. Avoiding overflying populated areas. Completing checklists and emergency drills. Here’s why.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Crosswind Approach Knot 52

iPad Pilot News

JUNE 14, 2024

Eventually, the FAA’s Flight Technology group acknowledged the benefits of flying with datalink weather in the cockpit and released Advisory Circular 00-63A in 2014. For example, a pilot of a light twin aircraft, flying at a medium altitude with a tailwind could easily have a groundspeed in excess of 200 knots.

Weather 59

Weather AGL Flight Deck Pilot 59

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 23, 2024

Fifteen hundred feet past the end of the runway, a pilot was trapped in the cockpit of an Extra NG. Forty-five minutes after the accident, the pilot was found alive, still pinned upside down in the flooded cockpit. The plane was high and very fast, crossing the airport boundary at 200 feet and 165 knots groundspeed.

Knot 93

Knot Runway Pilot Groundspeed 93

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 23, 2024

Fifteen hundred feet past the end of the runway, a pilot was trapped in the cockpit of an Extra NG. Forty-five minutes after the accident, the pilot was found alive, still pinned upside down in the flooded cockpit. The plane was high and very fast, crossing the airport boundary at 200 feet and 165 knots groundspeed.

Knot 52

Knot Runway Pilot Groundspeed 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

If you were the pilot in the cockpit, what would you do? Doubling your groundspeed quadruples the impact force. Then, head into the wind to reduce groundspeed and hang the airplane in the branches in a nose-high attitude. The aircraft had run out of fuel and was gliding without power from 35,000 feet. Do you know why?

Pilot 59

Pilot Descent Approach Thrust 59