As I sat down to write this column, I had just returned from an amazing trip to EAA AirVenture. It was 19.7 hours of single-pilot IFR spread over three days, most of it between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, dodging cumulus buildups....
With a tip of the hat to Stephen Covey, just what are some of the habits and characteristics that define the highly effective pilot? We often call these folks professionals, or for short, “pros.” However, professionals don’t need stripes on their...
Ask the front porch gang at the local airport which is better, a “six-pack” full of traditional round dial instruments or a bright new glass cockpit screen, and the answers will be all over the map. The more experienced aviators...
Every now and again, the concept of “energy management” comes up. But is that something a pilot would actually think about in flight? Does this concept allow the pilot to fly more precisely or more safely? To make better decisions? Does...
I was pounding along in the ancient Aeronca, clinging to the four-lane highway under my left elbow while rain and low scudding clouds enveloped me. Emergency IFR was out of the question, given the sparse panel in front of me, so...
Stalls are feared in general aviation for being a significant factor in a large proportion of accidents. To help pilots avoid stalls, the FAA, in concert with all the king’s horses and men, rewrote the requirements for private pilot training, including...
The FAA’s IMSAFE checklist specifically lists “stress” as a factor that pilots identify and mitigate when determining their readiness for flight. Most of us evaluate stress level as a part of our preflight considerations. It might even be a critical go/no-go...
Before I started flight school, I went on a discovery flight at a local towered airport. I generally knew what to expect since this was not my first time in a small airplane. As a kid, I had the chance to...
Becoming a private pilot is a challenging process and a big accomplishment. Student pilots go through many hours of flight and ground training to become proficient in the required skills and knowledge to ultimately earn their private pilot certificate. One way...
Many training programs for on-the-road vehicles focus on defensive driving techniques as a safety strategy. They include key points, such as avoiding distractions, trying to predict risks ahead, not assuming others will do what you would in a particular situation, being...
