Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

However, flying a small plane often means operating at much lower altitudes, usually between 5,000 and 10,000 feet, depending on weather conditions, terrain, and air traffic. When flying a small plane, staying within the appropriate altitude ensures better control and a more comfortable experience, especially in turbulent weather.

Weight-Shift-Control

Flying Magazine

JULY 8, 2025

Sure, if all the pieces line up, such as an available instructor, a healthy airplane, the weather, your health, your aptitude, finding a place to take the knowledge test, your finances, and an available DPE when you are ready for your check ride. Could it happen?

Wind Shear

Fear of Landing

JULY 4, 2025

The weather was overcast, with drizzly rain and visibility decreasing. The pilot dragged the helicopter onto a helipad and removed the ground wheels, storing them safely before boarding the helicopter. In this case, the Robinson R44 was in a hangar, but the hangar had been left open to park the other two helicopters.

Cockpit

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Whether it’s due to runway obstacles, unstable approaches, or weather changes, the aircraft go-around is a pilot’s best tool to avoid accidents and ensure a smooth, safe flight every time. Landing gear is also retracted as the aircraft gains altitude to reduce drag and improve climb performance.

Air Traffic Control

Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

Probable cause(s): The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees after takeoff, during high density altitude weather conditions. The airplane made a slow descent toward the east for about nine minutes, away from the destination airport. The airplane then turned west back toward the airport and continued a slow descent.

Density Altitude

AV Web

DECEMBER 11, 2024

The last thing you want to do is make a normal descent and landing. From that perch, you can eyeball the airport and then execute a circling descent to both lose altitude and set up for the approach and landing. Both flaps and gear stay retracted until the runway is made, and only then do you add drag and land.

Runway

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

These figures are vital for the crew to be able to calculate the actual take-off speed of the airplane in the prevailing weather conditions (as we’ll see later). This data can then also be loaded into the aircraft’s flight management system for aircraft performance calculations. Part two will soon be available on AeroTime.

Cabin Crew

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The weather was overcast for the flight route, with cloud tops reaching temperatures forecast from 0° to -35°C (32° to -31°F). The captain made a passenger announcement to give the Guarulhos weather information and estimated time left in the flight. The controller advised that their descent would be authorised in the next two minutes.

Knot

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

This system includes modes for: roll pitch heading vertical speed altitude hold approach These modes allow for a steady rate of descent, ascent, and consistent speed and altitude ranges. Several incidents involving the Cessna 172 have been documented, typically attributed to pilot error, adverse weather conditions, or mechanical issues.

Knot

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

And ice doesn’t just make things slippery, it messes with the airflow over the wings, cuts down on lift, and ramps up drag. This leads to a serious loss of lift and an increase in drag. This roughness adds to friction drag, which can reduce lift and increase drag by as much as 50% on a wing’s leading edge and upper surface.

Pitot Tube

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Weather, field conditions, obstacles, and many other elements greatly affect short field operations. Any substantial changes to speed and descent rate will destabilize the landing. Full flaps are generally used since they lower approach speed and increase drag. Power controls the rate of descent, and pitch controls airspeed.

Weight-Shift-Control

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

However, the increased drag might make it impossible to take off again. If you’re at a field with no weather reporting, gauge the wind speed and direction using the windsock. High-wing aircraft might need more power or pitch to arrest the descent. This does two things: it keeps the load on the wings and increases drag.

NOTAMs

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

MARCH 28, 2024

This is the area of Rossio Santa Maria Maior The view is absolutely stunning especially in good weather. On the day of departure Even though we had plenty of time before our flight departure, we decided to head to the airport early as dragging our cabin baggage across the footpath was not ideal. Goodbye Lisbon, until next time!

Turbulence

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

With gusty winds forecast along the eastern seaboard on October 11, I let the weather prognostic chart suggest a different course. Because the north end of the dragstrip and the east end of runway 28 were so close together, I wondered if the drag strip was a former runway, but could not find any evidence of that being the case.

Runway

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 11, 2023

Shy of a hurricane or tornado, the Warrior can easily tolerate most weather phenomena experienced while parked outdoors in her cabin cover. No one wants the skin of their airplane to resemble a dimpled golf ball, Pollyanna commentary about drag reduction aside. Fortunately, the hail was small and the damage minor.

Descent

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

Weather Go-arounds due to weather occur due to wind shear caused by gusting winds or microbursts. It helps reduce the chances of a stall and puts you in a better position to arrest the descent and start your climb out. Pitch for Climb The next immediate action is to arrest the descent.

Wind Shear

Vintage Aviation News

AUGUST 26, 2024

When he attempted to contact the tower again, he discovered that the antenna on his primary radio was gone, having iced over during his descent through the overcast and snapped off. They turned out to be from a weather outpost for the US Army Air Force’s 11th Weather Squadron, and that they were the only other people on the island.

Weather