Category: Flight Training Articles

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 […]

The term “holding pattern” is probably the aviation term most often borrowed by non-aviators – the phrase is even included in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a “state of waiting.” For pilots pursuing an instrument rating, learning holding patterns is a required part of training and their regular practice will be an ongoing part of an […]

In this article, we’re going to help all you new pilots out there who are struggling with ATC communication phrases. 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.   Your flight instructor should cover […]

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 […]

Flight turbulence can be very unnerving, even for seasoned pilots. However, turbulence is part of every pilot’s experience. Turbulence can be caused by irregular air motion that the aircraft is flying through.  To pilots and passengers, it feels like a bump in the road. While most turbulence is just an inconvenience, it can be dangerous […]

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.   WILCO “Wilco” is […]

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 […]

Touch and goes are a fundamental flight training maneuver. The pilot lands and then immediately takes off again. It might look like they’ve suddenly changed their mind, but, in actuality, a touch and go is a planned maneuver. In the cockpit, it’s pretty intense and rigorous. Some pilots even describe it as one of the […]

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 mass majority of us. The Federal Aviation Administration requires certain prerequisites before anyone is able to get their private pilot license, and age does play […]

Misplaced your Private Pilot’s License and don’t know where to start when it comes to getting it back? The feeling of losing your license can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry. It’s not as inconvenient or annoying as it seems to replace the one you lost.  The FAA has made replacing your Private Pilot License a […]

The goal of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights (PBR) is to give pilots rights during FAA enforcement actions. Before the Pilot’s Bill of Rights, pilots would struggle to understand enforcement actions and couldn’t access information that would help their defense.  To understand the PBR, it’s important to understand the FAA’s structure and history. It’s a […]

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 […]