Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

A soft field landing is a technique pilots use when landing on unpaved surfaces. Why Do Pilots Perform Soft Field Landings? Crowd Source Information The next best resource for information about runway conditions is other pilots. Calculate your landing and takeoff distances using the pilot’s operating handbook (POH).

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Northstar VFR

AUGUST 11, 2024

Pilots are known for liking speed, whether it’s in an aircraft, motorcycle, or boat. Let’s look at the basics of slow flight: what it is, why we practice it as pilots, and the fundamentals of performing slow flight. You can study more on the aerodynamics of slow flight in Chapter 5 of the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.

Checkride 52

Checkride Airplanes Pilot AGL 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

It’s just S-turns with climbs and descents, right? Despite the easygoing name, many pilots find lazy eights harder than they thought. There’s a reason why it’s been a commercial pilot practical test staple for decades. The pilot’s job is to prevent the airplane from banking too quickly or too far.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 4, 2023

by Gustin Robinson, FAA CFI-I ASEL Flying under instrument meteorological conditions keeps even a good pilot on their toes. As a student pilot you were always taught “see and avoid”, keep your eyes outside, etc. Stay ahead of the airplane and be safe! Have any questions? Check out our FAQs page or contact us.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Instrument Meteorological Conditions Approach Weather 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

You’re not supposed to feel it like you do the aircraft, but this can make you a better pilot as you will develop instrument scan and interpretation skills. READ MORE: Our Pilots of the Future May Share Sim Stories Partial power loss scenarios—especially at low altitude—are very useful. It’s an ATD. It’s just a few minutes, right?

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

The request to make a short approach or maintain a higher-than-normal speed to the final approach fix is the most common reason pilots don’t meet stable approach criteria. Aviation writers and safety pundits hate writing about this topic as much as pilots hate reading about it. Houston, we have a problem.

Approach 105

Approach Descent Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Runway 105

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

With nothing to lose, at a little over 1,000 feet agl, I started a turn to the left, looking for a place to land. It looked like I was still on a descent to touch down at the threshold on Runway 15. The post Where There’s Smoke… appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine. I lined up and continued to descend.

Runway 64

Runway Threshold Approach AGL 64

Pilot Institute

APRIL 19, 2024

It is true that pilots have performed the maneuver and safely landed on the departure runway. These famous tales of success are why pilots continue to try their luck at it. The pilots who walked away from this maneuver had tons of experience, the right conditions, and heaps of luck. You completed the climb check at 300 ft AGL.

AGL 52

AGL Runway Descent Lift 52

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

A circling approach is one that, by dwindling numbers and its inherent design, forces the pilot(s) into a seldom used and high-risk evolution–often migrating us to an unexpected and seldom visited zip code of the threat/error management neighborhood. When was the last time either pilot (single pilot) performed this exact approach?

Approach 70

Approach AGL Descent Runway 70

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

The pilot held instructor ratings for helicopter and instrument helicopter, with 872 hours flight time, of which 29 were on type. Five minutes later, about two miles south of Teterboro, the pilot said “What is going on here?” The controller asked if the pilot needed assistance but the pilot said no.

Torque 76

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 76

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

Go-arounds are among the easiest tasks a pilot can perform. Pilots avoid go-arounds because it is seen as an admission of guilt. Pilots perform the maneuver when a landing is unsafe or can result in an incident. Pilots perform the maneuver when a landing is unsafe or can result in an incident. What Is a Go-Around?

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Runway Approach Aeronautical Decision-Making 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Key Takeaways Slow flight trains pilots to handle the aircraft at speeds just above stalling. That’s why it’s crucial for pilots to learn aircraft control at low speeds. Additionally, both private and commercial pilot checkrides require the demonstration of slow flight. Pilots use reference stalling speeds instead.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag AGL 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 6, 2024

Maybe it’s the Georgia flying weather, or maybe it’s the ever-increasing emphasis on “old” pilot instead of “bold” pilot, but it seems that flight planning these days is a lot more about if and when than about route and altitude. But if I was going VFR over strange territory, I would want lots more than 1,000 feet agl.

Airplanes 87

Airplanes Weather Ceiling Turbulence 87