Brian Brassaw

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…

One term you often hear within the airline industry is “regional airline.” Regional airlines operate all over the country, yet many members of the flying public are unaware of their existence. Here’s a look at what the term means and which airlines fit the definition. Let’s also look at what regional airlines mean for those…

Welcome to Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Aerodynamics and Performance section in Thrust Flight’s comprehensive Piper Seminole multi-engine training program. During videos 1, 2, and 3, you’ve delved deeper into the critical aspects of multi-engine aerodynamics and performance. The knowledge you’ve accumulated so far has laid a solid foundation, and this quiz is…

In this article we’re going to explore the difference between AIRMETs and SIGMETs. A wise pilot once said it’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Getting a good pre-flight briefing and understanding the basics of weather are…

For new pilots, airports are a sea of confusing markings and signs. It takes a little study and practice to get it down, but once you do, you’ll find that airports are fairly straightforward and well-marked. The trick is always to have and use the airport diagram.  However, understanding the colors, shapes, and meanings of…

In this article we’ll explore the different types of altitude every pilot needs to understand. Most ground-pounders think of altitude in black-and-white terms—how high the plane is off the ground. But pilots know there’s a little more nuance to it. Like everything worth doing, flying is complicated. There are actually five types of altitude that…

The anatomy of an airplane is complex, with each component meticulously designed for safety, efficiency, and performance. In this article we’ll go over all of the major parts of an airplane. Fuselage The fuselage is the central body of an airplane and a principal structure to which all other parts are attached. It is the…

In this article we’ll cover easy ways to remember an aircraft’s required equipment. When learning to fly, the question often arises: what would you do if this were broken or inoperative? It’s just one of the many “what if” questions instructors love throwing at their students. Knowing the answer means you have studied and know…

You might admire flat spins at the airshow, but you never want to find yourself in one—outside of perhaps a planned aerobatics lesson. Flat spins result from several things going very wrong, and they are potentially unrecoverable.  Here’s a look at what constitutes a flat spin and how one could happen. We’ll also look at…