Learn to Fly

Insider Series

CONTINUING EDUCATON

AWOS Controversy

Having an AWOS at an uncontrolled airport makes getting local weather information easy -- but when this machine…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Wacky Tachs

The majority of tachometers on the market are mechanical meters, which translate the engine RPM from a cable…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Spreading Your Wings

WHERE'S THE ENGINE!? There are probably as many ways to rationalize why we fly as there are pilots,…

⏱ 4 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Escape from the Black Hole

Many highly instrumented aircraft and very capable crews have flown their aircraft right into the ground during seemingly…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

The Agent, the Broker, and You — (Part 2, Indications and Quotes)

Last week we discussed the difference between a broker and an agent -- this week, we discuss another…

⏱ 3 min read
WEATHER

Coriolis Who?!

Why a hurricane and bathwater always spins counter-clockwise ... er, one of those, anyway.

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Lights, Camera, Action!

Ever since the second aircraft started flying, a primary concern among pilots has been the ability to see…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

The Agent, the Broker, and You (Part 1)

No, it's not the beginning of a very bad joke ... hopefully.

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Zulu, shmulu

Where did 'Zulu' time come from, anyway?

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

High Hopes — and the Headlong Plunge

This year, several aspirants to the edge of space will each consummate years of preparation and sacrifice to…

⏱ 4 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Acting Your … Altitude

When flying a light single engine airplane you would not expect to accelerated while climbing, but what if…

⏱ 3 min read
WEATHER

Running Scud — Safely

'VFR Flight Not Recommended....' How often have you driven instead of flown, only to fume the entire way…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

PilotSpeak 2: What else is in a Name

The controller's use of an aircraft call sign is also a code within a code.

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Unlisted Numbers

Most problems are of our own making and most solutions begin as numbers.

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Trivia Testers: Stuff you probably didn’t know, take three…

Stuff you probably didn’t know, take three...

⏱ 4 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

PilotSpeak: What’s in a Name?

What happens when an air traffic controller tells an aircraft with the call sign of 'Six-Seven-Tango' that they…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Trust: You … And The ‘Other Guy’

Just how much do you control when you fly?

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

High, Hot and Long

No, we’re not talking about that date you went on...

⏱ 4 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Time Travel

The Global Positioning Systems (GPS) we enjoy today appears to be the product of our new technology, but…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Decision Training VS. Maneuvers Training

When was the last time a controller asked, 'Hey give me a Lazy Eight out there!'

⏱ 3 min read
WEATHER

The Highest Clouds

Some Things You Probably Didn’t Know: Chances are that if some nine year-old asks you just how high…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Ground Reference Maneuvers: Getting Good, Staying Good

We learn to fly an 'S' turn down a road, a circle around a barn or to fly…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Trivia Testers: Did You Know…

A second installment of Jeff Pardo’s Trivia Testers: When we’re talking “degrees” it’s not always about the weather...

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Instrument Approaches, It’s Just That Easy … or is it?

Boy, was I disappointed!

⏱ 3 min read
WEATHER

In A Dead Run, Ahead Of The Storm

Lightning flashed and torrential rain blew in sheets as the 747-400 lined up for takeoff.

⏱ 3 min read
WEATHER

The Problem With Being Cold…

Old Man Winter is here, and he’s brought his little bag of tricks with him -- here are…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Beyond the Flight Plan: Special Measures

We all know the real reason for filing a VFR flight plan (to speed up a rescue should…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Trivia Testers: Did You Know…

A first installment of Jeff Pardo’s trivia testers. Remember: What your friends don’t know only makes you look…

⏱ 2 min read
WEATHER

The Ice Man Cometh, The Iced Plane Falleth

It’s time to watch the Outside Air Temperature Gauge and determine your altitudes based less on winds and…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Two Gallons And The 747 They Nearly Brought Down

Two summers ago, a British Airways crew found themselves unable to provide roll control to their Boeing 747-136…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Carbon Monoxide For Renters: A Tale For The Season

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a natural by-product of combustion, it is poisonous and, as long as your engine…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

IFR or VFR, Carbureted or Injected — This Ice Will Get You

You would never think that water could cause these problems, but the fact of the matter is that…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

“It’s Broke” …But How “Broke” Is It?

Can you fly your airplane with that missing or inoperative equipment?

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Your First Solo and the FAA

Your first solo was the challenge of a lifetime, but was it legal?

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Holding Your Altitude: Risks and Fixes

“Altitude busts” heighten the risk of a midair collision, FAA enforcement action, and, in a descent, controlled flight…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Insurance: Don’t Get Totaled

Everyone has the potential to have a bad day when flying and, if you’re not careful, your insurance…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

BFR: The Ethical Question

A pilot certificate (except for the student and flight instructor certificate) is issued without an expiration date, but…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Insurance Crisis #2: Your Options and Your Premiums

Insurance is a gamble: When you take out an aviation insurance policy, you’re gambling that you may have…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Electronic Interference Part 2 – Computers and Games

Just as cell phones can cause interference with flight instruments, many other electronic devices can cause problems.

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Hanging in the Breeze

The most commonly glossed-over subject on complex checkouts could cost you several knots in cruise and a couple…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

When Does The Airspeed Indicator Lie?

The airspeed indicator has colorful arcs that advise us about our speed -- and on every flight those…

⏱ 2 min read
WEATHER

Wind: A Real Lesson for Real Pilots

A good pilot customarily calculates a ground speed, duration and estimated fuel burn before each flight -- all…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Electronic Interference Part 1 – Cell Phones

There are dozens of documented reports that suggest electronic interference from cell phones caused a disruption to key…

⏱ 3 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

The Insurance Crisis #1 : Understanding the Causes

Editor’s note: A very inside look at a very expensive problem that effects us all.

⏱ 3 min read
WEATHER

Icing Conditions and Staying Alive

Ice is the last great unknown in instrument flight -- although wide areas of suspected icing conditions may…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Roger, Wilco, Oveur and Dunn – Part 3

When there’s more to the meaning than the words show, you had better know what you’re saying --…

⏱ 2 min read
WEATHER

PIREPS: The Fabric of Our Society

One of the most critical aspects of flying cross-country is dealing with the weather, but almost all the…

⏱ 2 min read
CONTINUING EDUCATON

Flying and the Unfortunate Comeuppance

Most pilots continue to learn about flying and being prepared, but, no matter how many hours we fly,…

⏱ 2 min read