Brian Brassaw

The ATP certificate, which stands for Airline Transport Pilot certificate is the highest pilot license level issued by the FAA. As such, it’s sometimes called the “doctorate of flying.”  But what exactly is an ATP and who needs to hold it? In this article we’ll cover all of the details and help you learn exactly…

Every phase of an instrument flight has a published route one can follow. They’re called Standard Instrument Departures. To accommodate the number of airplanes in the sky, air traffic controllers need to have an organized system of routes that both they and the pilots know. The pilots carry charts and approach plates, and the controllers…

On April 8, 2024, many parts of America will experience a total solar eclipse—it’s being called the Great North American Eclipse.  While solar eclipses aren’t rare, it is rare to have front-row seats for one. The next total solar eclipse won’t come to the US for another 20 years, and the 2044 eclipse will only…

In this article, we’re going to take a look at all the types of stalls a private pilot should know. For many people learning how to become pilots, stalls are one of their biggest concerns. Stalls are a perfect example of why ground school is actually pretty important. All those hours you spend learning aerodynamics…

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is among the most popular and iconic airplanes for aspiring pilots and seasoned aviators alike.  So inevitably many new pilots find themselves wondering How much does a Cessna cost? In this article I’m going to help breakdown the complete Cessna cost so you know exactly what your getting yourself into. Since…

One of your first tasks as a new student pilot is to get your first FAA medical exam. The result of the exam—hopefully—is to be issued an FAA medical certificate. Basically, it’s a certificate that says the doctor found you fit to fly.  However, there are several different types of FAA medical certificates. What’s the…

In this article we’re going to dive deep into NOTAMS, or Notices to Air Missions. FAR Part 91.103 states that a pilot must “become familiar with all available information concerning that flight,” and that’s a lot of information! We all know to check weather briefings and check the aircraft. But how are we supposed to…

Here’s a look at the three principal airplane axes, how the plane moves around them, and how a pilot controls everything.  One of the unique things about learning to fly an aircraft is that it moves in three dimensions. To understand how this works, we describe the airplane moving around three axes—an axis for each…

“More right rudder!” Who among us hasn’t heard those words, the favorite phrase of flight instructors everywhere?  To better appreciate your instructor’s sentiments, here’s a deep dive into all things rudder. What is a rudder, what does it do, and why is it there? And, for goodness sake, why is my CFI so wound up…

Anyone who has flown on an airliner and looked out over the wing during flight is probably familiar with flaps. They come out of the wing, a sure sign that you’re slowing down for landing. The wing grows and changes shape in fascinating ways. But after watching this you may be asking yourself, what do…

Flight simulators can be great aids to help you with flight training. No matter what type of computer you have at home, you can download one of these programs and get flying in moments. Among the most sought-after comparisons in this virtual aviation world is X Plane 12 vs Microsoft Flight Simulator, highlighting the rivalry…

Sometimes called the walk-around, the Cessna 172 preflight checklist is the initial inspection a pilot makes of the aircraft right before they take it flying. It’s a vital safety check to ensure that that plane is airworthy–that is, it has everything it legally needs to fly and is in good condition to do so.  Most…