Acquiring flying time is not the same as accumulating flight experience. Simple repetition of acts of aviation teaches us very little about the art of flying. It’s only when we meet varied and challenging conditions that we acquire a sense of...
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...
“Know your limitations and don’t exceed them” is common advice for aviators. That statement is all well and good, so far as it goes. It generally encourages you, as the pilot, to do a good job of preparing for each flight...
