Liz Brassaw

When I first started my flight training I found it difficult to remember the difference between category, class, and type of aircraft.  If you’re a new pilot, hopefully this guide helps you learn and remember the differences. One of the most confusing things the FAA does—and there are many, by the way—is how they divide…

In this article we’re going to cover flying basics; how airplanes fly and the basic parts of an airplane. They say that the flying is the easy part. Once you start diving into your pilot books and studying aerodynamics, you’ll quickly realize what they mean. But there’s good news: flight instructors have been doing this…

In this article I’m going to teach you how to chair fly. As a CFI, I’ve walked many students through the process of chair flying. I’ve put together my exact advice in this article. Good study habits are the key to success in pilot training. Students who know how to maximize their time outside of…

In this article, we’re going to compare indicated airspeed with true airspeed and help you get a deeper understanding of the difference between the two. Like its partner in crime, the altimeter, your airspeed indicator gives you vital information about the plane you’re flying. Unfortunately, they both like to keep their secrets, and it takes…

So, you’re thinking about getting your private pilot’s license, but are not sure if you meet the age requirements? The age requirement for a private pilot’s license luckily doesn’t affect the majority of us. The Federal Aviation Administration requires certain prerequisites before anyone can get their private pilot license, and age does play a factor. Your…

In this article, we’ll help you learn how to study to become a pilot so you can effectively move through flight training. Flight school can be an intense experience. Many future pilots think the hardest part will be learning to fly the plane, but any certified pilot will tell you that the hard part is…

Ailerons are one of the main controls you use to fly the plane, so it’s important to understand how ailerons work. This is also one of those times when understanding a little bit of aerodynamics will make you a better pilot in the cockpit. As a private pilot student, your instructor will go in depth…

One of the most common questions we hear from prospective pilots is how long will it take to complete training. To answer this question you’ll need to understand your options. There is paced training and accelerated training. Paced Flight Training Programs Paced flight training programs tend to fit a busy lifestyle. Between work, family, and…

What says “squawk” and flies in the sky? Is it a parrot, a Cessna, or a 787? Or all three? Squawk is a common term used in air traffic control to describe a specific type of radio signal that comes from the plane’s transponder. So this funny word is not just for the birds–pilots of…

There are many cases where individuals get their Private Pilot License (PPL), stop flying for a while, and then go back to try and fly again. Unfortunately, you can’t hop into a plane after 20 years of not flying and be ready to go. There are a few things you have to do before you…

In this article, we’re going to help all you new pilots out there who are struggling with understanding air traffic control communications. Remembering specific radio calls can be difficult to learn at first. But once you become familiar with a few phrases, you’ll be piloting in a controlled environment in no time.   If you’re just…

The I’M SAFE checklist is one of the first introductions to human factors that student pilots receive. It helps pilots identify possible reasons why a pilot might not be fit for flight.  The checklist boosts self-awareness amongst all pilots. Most of the items on the list are pretty self-explanatory. For example, I is for illness–are…

In this article, we’ll dive into how to properly plan an IFR flight. Do you remember when you learned to fly cross countries in your Private Pilot training? It was one of the last things you did, and in hindsight, that probably makes sense. After all, a cross country is a culmination of all of…

In this post we’ll walk through a few IFR acronyms every instrument pilot should memorize. Pilots are crazy for acronyms. If a non-pilot walks up to a group of pilots at a bar and listens to their conversation, the verbal alphabet soup will probably make them nauseous. “The FAA ATC guy at TRACON said my…