Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

Largely gone are the days when pilots had to manually control their aircraft from engine start-up to shut down by keeping their hands rigidly fixed on the controls at all times. As a result, the first autopilot was developed to introduce an element of control on the trajectory of airplanes. What is an autopilot?

Weight-Shift-Control 306

Weight-Shift-Control Cockpit Pilot Stability 306

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

At first glance, ailerons look like ordinary hinged panels on the wings, but don’t be fooledthey’re important for keeping an aircraft both stable and maneuverable. These control surfaces dictate the aircraft’s roll, and this allows it to bank smoothly through turns or even recover from turbulence. What Is an Aileron?

Aileron 90

Aileron Weight-Shift-Control Rudder Longitudinal Axis 90

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Aircraft Weight and Limitations An aircraft’s weight affects inertia and stopping distance. The POH lists landing distances for specific gross weights. Smaller aircraft may only have short field landing distances for maximum gross weight. Any substantial changes to speed and descent rate will destabilize the landing.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Descent 52

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Learn to use aircraft references to establish a stable descent rate and pitch, ending up in a smooth roundout and flare. Watch out for some common mistakes, such as over-controlling and reacting incorrectly to visual cues. A quick way to estimate the correct descent rate for a 3-degree glidepath is to multiply your groundspeed by five.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52