Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

But you’ll want to add a flight controller to utilize your simulators potential. A joystick is the most straightforward flight controller. 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.

Rudder

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

This article will teach you ways to deal with weather, routes, altitude choices, and using helpful tools when flying in poor visibility. Key Takeaways Creating an IFR flight plan requires looking at weather patterns, fuel requirements, and alternate airports. What Is an IFR Flight Plan?

Flight Plan

Professional Pilot

APRIL 3, 2025

Challenger 604, G-IV Contributing Writer Honeywell Primus Epic F ederal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.205 prescribes the minimum instruments and equipment necessary for flight. Technically, even a cockpit lighting rheostat qualifies as avionics, but pilots typically associate the term with advanced technology.

Cockpit

Flight Training Central

MARCH 10, 2025

You’ll likely pass through several classes of airspace on every flight, whether it’s your first solo or a cross-country flight to the beach. Each class of airspace is depicted with unique markings on the sectional chart and different VFR weather minimums and equipment requirements. Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA).

Visual Flight Rules

Aerotime

MARCH 13, 2025

On February 3, 1959, a Beechcraft Bonanza crashed in bad weather near Clear Lake, Iowa, killing four exemplary musicians of the time. By February, the cold weather had begun to take its toll. Registered N3794N, the aircraft seated three passengers plus the pilot, so there was competition for the seats. could get some rest.

Weather

Inflight Pilot Training

JUNE 9, 2025

The weather warms up, the skies clear, the lakes sparkle—and for aspiring pilots, it becomes the best time of year to take to the skies. If you’ve been thinking about starting flight training, there are few better times to begin than during the warm, vibrant Minnesota summer. Minnesota comes alive in the summer.

Weather

Plane and Pilot

MAY 24, 2025

One of the most confounding things about a visual illusion is the fact that knowing the illusion, understanding its a trick, doesnt stop us from being fooled. On September 30, 2023, a pilot who crashed in his Cessna 150 was a victim of an issue we all know, but he couldnt see it. The pilot understood the weather concerns.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

WayMan

MAY 2, 2024

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) are a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going. Essentially, it allows pilots to operate the aircraft with visual references outside the cockpit.

Visual Flight Rules

Aerotime

DECEMBER 20, 2024

These gateways to winter wonderlands offer more than just access to top ski resorts; they present a unique blend of breathtaking approaches and technical precision required from pilots. Aircraft Operations : Can accommodate up to a Boeing 767 with special training required for pilots due to the challenging terrain and weather conditions.

Visual Flight Rules

Pilot Institute

MAY 7, 2025

As a private pilot, most of your flying will follow the principle of see and avoid concerning terrain and other traffic. Luckily, there are weather minimums for pilots to ensure you always have good visibility. Key Takeaways Weather minimums vary by airspace class, altitude, and time of day. Lets go into some more detail.

Weather

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

Don’t Push It Special VFR is a great tool for getting in and out of airports when the weather is deteriorating, or the airport is sitting under a small cloud layer. This is not something to ever be abused — you don’t want to push the limits with hazardous weather or go beyond your own personal minimums. What About at Night?

Visual Flight Rules

Plane and Pilot

JULY 16, 2024

Becoming a private pilot is a challenging process and a big accomplishment. Student pilots go through many hours of flight and ground training to become proficient in the required skills and knowledge to ultimately earn their private pilot certificate. What Is the Private Pilot Knowledge Exam?

Density Altitude

Learn to Fly

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

Pilots are one of the most weather-informed groups in the world. The aviation industry has recognized this, and they make many resources available for pilots, from continual broadcasts from airports that include the weather to online treasure troves of weather data. Pilots do love their acronyms.)

Weather

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 5, 2024

Winning the Weather Lottery Every year, we plan a fall excursion to Lake Placid for the Williamson Flying Club. There were years -- like 2023 -- when we were unable to go at all due to high wind, low clouds, or some other form of dismal weather. But in 2024, we won the weather lottery. Success has varied.

Weather

WayMan

APRIL 9, 2024

In the journey to becoming a skilled pilot, understanding the distinctions between Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) is pivotal. These two sets of regulations govern aircraft operation under different conditions, playing a crucial role in flight training.

Visual Flight Rules

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 6, 2025

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) certification is crucial for aircraft that need to fly in low visibility or adverse weather conditions. It allows pilots to navigate using instruments instead of relying on visual cues, ensuring safer flights in challenging environments. What is IFR Certification?

Instrument Flight Rules

Pilot Job Central

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

It Can Be Difficult Landing Your First Pilot Job – But it Doesn’t Have to Be The Employment Catch-22 – employers want you to have experience before they’ll hire you. But how do you gain experience when every entry level pilot job is requiring experience to be hired? Pilot Jobs aren’t exempt from the employment catch-22.

Pilot

Inflight Pilot Training

APRIL 9, 2024

As a private pilot, you’re able to explore the world from the comfort of your small airplane. Flying into Mexico with a private pilot license (PPL) is a great way to explore the country’s beautiful landscapes and rich culture. Proper Pilot Licensing First, let’s make sure you have the skills and qualifications to fly into mexico.

Pilot

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 4, 2022

Most people do not understand that there are different types of pilot licenses or different levels of flying. Pilot License Types: These are the different types of pilot licenses that you can get. Each pilot license or rating has a two part section to it. We will now explain the types of pilot licenses there are.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Sporty’s is much more than a pilot shop. Today, our successful flight school has hundreds of students and is solely responsible for University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program. 3 Books The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publishes several textbooks that are often considered as required reading for student pilots.

Pilot

Airspeed Junkie

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

A Comprehensive Guide to Pilot Certificates and Ratings Looking to understand pilot certificates and ratings? This guide covers the types of FAA pilot certifications, what they allow you to do, and the steps to achieve them. The certifications include the Student Pilot Certificate and the Sport Pilot Certificate.

Pilot

Pilot's Life Blog

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

If you’re wondering what planes can you fly with a private pilot license, you’re in for an exciting journey. Single-Engine Land (SEL) Aircraft When you’re starting your journey in aviation , understanding what planes can you fly with a private pilot license is essential.

Pilot

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 17, 2022

This article will attempt to help you understand some of the basics of the process of becoming a pilot and pilot training. In covering the basics it will answer the question of how long does it take to become a pilot. Time Everything about going from zero flight experience to a private pilot rating is about time. (and

Pilot

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 17, 2024

Pilots are able to discontinue reporting compulsory points when informed by ATC that the aircraft is in “radar contact.” AIM 5-3-3 ) Change in the average true airspeed (at cruising altitude) when it varies by 5 percent or 10 knots (whichever is greater) from that filed in the flight plan. (

Instrument Flight Rules

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Unexpected issues like engine trouble or bad weather make routine flights a handful. VFR flight following offers real-time help and improves situational awareness, all for free. If you’re unclear about what flight following is or how to use it, this guide has you covered. Let’s look at a few of them.

Transponder

Pilot's Life Blog

APRIL 9, 2024

Aircraft contain all kinds of wonderous indicators and instruments to measure velocity, altitude, weather conditions, etc. True to its name, the airspeed indicator tells you how fast the plane is going and is important for flight planning and maintaining aircraft performance. If oriented otherwise, the system has an error.

Pitot Tube

Learn to Fly

AUGUST 15, 2024

On your road to becoming a certified pilot you’ll reach several milestones. Taking classes with an instructor and spending time in the pilot’s seat make up just part of the path. Here’s an example from the Helicopter Pilot Oral Exam Guide by Ryan Dale. The weather forecast is clear with light winds, ideal for VFR conditions.

Visual Flight Rules

AeroSavvy

JANUARY 16, 2024

The lights change color to indicate weather conditions based on METAR reports via internet. Either way, METAR is a format for reporting weather observations. ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System) or older AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System) stations automatically collect the data used in METARs. Take your pick.

Weather

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

From entry and weather requirements to interacting with ATC, we have you covered. Pilots must meet equipment and certification requirements and have ATC clearance to enter. They try to make the underlying airspace easily navigable by visual flight rules (VFR) aircraft. ATL / KATL Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, GA.

Clearance

Pilot's Life Blog

MAY 25, 2025

We believe great pilots start with great trainers. Key Criteria for Evaluating Training Aircraft Choosing the best trainer aircraft is crucial for student pilots. They offer stable flight behavior and are cost-effective to operate. These aircraft are commonly used for both private and commercial pilot training.

Stability

Aerotime

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

The aircraft also has twin-boom vertical stabilizers to the rear and a monocoque cabin that can accommodate up to six passengers, plus the operating pilot. The fans are exposed by way of slidable surfaces that retract into the wing structure when commanded by the operating pilot. In terms of dimensions, the Cavorite X7 measures 11.6

Lift

Pilot Institute

APRIL 26, 2024

We won’t help you practice your pilot voice, though… Preflight Preparation Talking to ATC can undoubtedly be stressful when you first start. Learn the Phonetic Alphabet Pilots and controllers use the phonetic alphabet to communicate clearly. You can listen in on real exchanges between ATC and pilots.

Clearance

Inflight Pilot Training

APRIL 16, 2024

North America offers a vast and varied landscape for pilots to explore. If you’re thinking of making the trip north, here’s everything you need to know about flying into Canada as a private pilot, including customs and immigration requirements, necessary documents, aircraft regulations, and other tips for planning your trip.

Air Defense Identification Zone

Inflight Pilot Training

MAY 22, 2025

Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM), located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is more than just a hub for general aviationits a premier destination for aspiring pilots. Whether youre pursuing a private pilot certificate or advancing toward a professional aviation career, KFCM delivers everything you need to take off with confidence.

Runway