Tag: student pilot

Forty years ago, we would have never thought about the day when a desktop computer flight simulator would be used in a serious manner to train, maintain, and foster enthusiasm for being a pilot. Now we have so much to be...

When are pilots the most dangerous? This is a topic of discussion at many flight schools and anytime you get a group of seasoned CFIs together. Based on anecdotal evidence, there appear to be a few times in their aviation careers...

Welcome back to FLYING’s detailed dive into SAFECON 2023. Fasten your seat belts for “Episode 5: The Flight Competition,” a true test of precision, teamwork, and navigation in the heart of the skies. Our first waypoint is the Navigation Event. This challenge sets...

Welcome back to FLYING‘s in-depth coverage of SAFECON 2023. Fasten your seatbelts for “Episode 4: The Ground Simulator,” where the battle of brains, nerves, and teamwork unfolds right before your eyes. First, we take you inside the cockpit of a Frasca RTD (reconfigurable...

One of the most polarizing discussions among CFI candidates is the topic of lesson plans. Specifically, should you make your own? Or is it OK to purchase premade lesson plans from a third-party provider? Aeronautical Knowledge for CFIs FAR 61.185 lists...

For more than a century, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) has inspired collegiate aviators to strive for excellence through competition. If you have ever participated in a NIFA event, you know the value of this competitive series goes well beyond...

Mistakes are part of the learning process. With flying, often these mistakes can be expensive, even deadly when they result in incidents or accidents. When something happens, be sure the authorities investigating it will come back to the flight school—and the...

The aircraft fleet at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is expanding this month. University officials announced they would be taking delivery of seven glass cockpit Cessna 172s earlier this month. The aircraft were slated to be ferried from Independence, Kansas, to Southern Illinois...

The flight instructor is the first gatekeeper when it comes to aviation safety. It is incumbent on the CFI to teach and model good habits for mitigating risk—and you can’t do that without understanding where the risk is coming from, and...

Spring is the most fickle season when it comes to weather in the Pacific Northwest. One day it is unseasonably warm, with temps in the 80s, ,and people are wearing short pants and polo shirts. The next day the temperature is...