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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 flightplanning these days is a lot more about if and when than about route and altitude. It’s only two hours by RV-9A, but there are gotchas lurking in the flightplanning.
Do I really need to use Airplane Mode on my iPad or iPhone? iPad Pilot News One of the most common questions we hear as pilots is, “Do I really need to put my phone in Airplane Mode?” Is that true in a small airplane? And what is Airplane Mode anyway? And what is Airplane Mode anyway? First, FAR 91.21
In the case of certain passengers, a flight may represent the first time they have ever been onboard an airplane, generating feelings of excitement and trepidation in equal measure about what may lie ahead. This data can then also be loaded into the aircraft’s flight management system for aircraft performance calculations.
In those years, I never missed a trip as a commuter, never scratched the paint on one of our airplanes, never got an FAA violation, never injured a passenger, and never had a less than cordial conversation with the chief pilot. KMPO is an non-towered field as are several other places I fly to and from on an IFR flightplan.
Flying a light airplane offers access to thousands more airports than the airlines serve, which means you can land closer to your destination, avoid long taxi routes, and save time. To review, flying an IFR trip involves four main steps: File a flightplan (either with Flight Service or in an aviation app).
One of the most important skills pilots learn during flight training is sound decision making. Every flight, regardless of the complexity of the airplane or the distance of the trip, is comprised of a continuous series of decisions involving a host of variables that the pilot must make in order to safely get from point A to point B.
FlightPlan Auto Update – Alerts when ForeFlight receives and loads a new flightplan from the panel avionics. The alert will display a New FlightPlan Loaded From Panel message. There’s also a scratchpad tool to copy clearances as you listen.
It can also be dangerous when the learner drops the airplane to fly the checklist or radio, so practice in the ATD is often a good way to learn procedures, as the ATD is a CFI-controlled environment. To get the most out of the scenario, the learner should use the same procedures in the airplane. It’s an ATD.
Fussing with the avionics to keep tabs on the weather gave many more knob touches than the airplane itself. The next leg, and the two after it, followed my standard cross-country plan. And on short final at Knoxville, I got chirps from a flock of unrecognized electronic birds, telling me something but not in airplane-speak.
Every flight, regardless of the complexity of the airplane or the distance of the trip, is comprised of a continuous series of decisions involving a host of variables that the pilot must make in order to safely get from point A to point B. Pilots should always be evaluating alternate airports.
Poor flightplanning. Follow these strategies for better pre-flightplanning and checklist use: Establish a consistent pre-flight routine. Organize flightplanning materials in advance. Here’s what Inadequate preparation can lead to: An accident or loss of engine power. Fuel miscalculations.
CRAFT is a simple way pilots remember their IFR clearance. Key Takeaways Use the acronym CRAFT as a helpful guide to break down your IFR clearance. Avoid the common mistakes in receiving your clearance by staying prepared and organized. Develop your own techniques alongside CRAFT and keep practicing to master IFR clearances.
Last summer I had the golden opportunity to fly a single-engine airplane, not once, but twice, round trip to Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. First, I planned to fly into midsize airports equipped with both approach radar and an operating tower. The last point was the critical one.
You might have come across this term while studying for your written exam, or maybe it popped up on your sectional chart during flightplanning. In Class B airspace, both IFR and VFR traffic require ATC clearance to enter. Today, well focus on one of the lesser-known yet important terms: TRSA, or Terminal Radar Service Area.
Before entering Class C airspace, pilots must receive clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). Maintaining awareness of airspace boundaries helps with the planning and carrying out of successful flights. Before flying into Class C airspace, a pilot must obtain a clearance from ATC.
This AC also points out that cell phones and LTE-enabled iPads, while prohibited from use in flight by FCC regulations, are allowed to be used in aircraft while on the ground (ie, for picking up a clearance or filing a flightplan). The AC “is intended only to provide clarity.” Our suggestion?
Use the CRAFT acronym to note down departure clearances quickly. The Importance of Clear IFR Radio Communication If youre on an IFR flight, chances are youre dealing with clouds and low visibility. You may be asking for a clearance or reporting your position. Every flight has those. Why Why are you calling?
The day before we left, I had already worked the flightplan dozens of times, looking for potential pitfalls and hiccups. I read online about the Hudson River Skyline Route, where we can actually fly our airplane up and down the Hudson River at 1,300 msl for some spectacular views of NYC. Yes, sir, 20Z with VFR request,” I said.
The day before we left, I had already worked the flightplan dozens of times, looking for potential pitfalls and hiccups. I read online about the Hudson River Skyline Route, where we can actually fly our airplane up and down the Hudson River at 1,300 msl for some spectacular views of NYC. Yes, sir, 20Z with VFR request,” I said.
A pit stop at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (KCRE) was planned, and after a weather briefing, I filed an IFR flightplan. I queried ATC about when to expect the approach clearance and was informed that the Saratoga had appeared to land but the pilot hadn’t contacted ATC to close his IFR flightplan.
This online course includes nine end-to-end flights that explain and demonstrate some overlooked IFR procedures, going far beyond the basics of approaches and holding patterns. The manual aims to help with that task, by breaking each IFR procedure down into individual tasks, and explaining in detail how to complete each one.
For example, a pilot flying IFR in controlled airspace will have to file an IFR flightplan and receive an ATC clearance. For VFR flight, controlled airspace means increased cloud clearance and visibility requirements. Note that no clearance is required to enter Class C, just establishment of communications.
However, there was a presidential TFR (temporary flight restriction) around Scranton that lay on a direct line between Sodus and Philly. It added less than 10 minutes to the overall flight time. hours I had already put on the airplane since the repair increased my confidence that the issue was suitably managed.
Sporty’s Flight Training Central offers a flight school directory to help you identify a flight school and instructor for your IFR training. Complete any necessary preflight planning such as an aircraft weight and balance or IFR flightplan.
Many factors could prevent the controller from providing this service, such as: Radar Limitations Traffic Volume Controller Workload Frequency Congestion The workload-permitting service makes flight following different from Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) flights. Are you then forced to stick with that plan?
September 24: Cloudscapes Date Aircraft Route of Flight Time (hrs) Total (hrs) 24 Sep 2023 N21481 SDC (Sodus, NY) - 5B2 (Saratoga Springs, NY) 1.9 Even slowed by a 25 knot headwind, the airplane still saved time. From flightplanning, I knew that we would experience rain, instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and darkness.
As MTH is non-towered, we intended to get our IFR clearance in the air after departing and heading south. But ATC was very helpful and gave us our IFR clearance quickly and we were on our way without even a glimpse of an F-16. He looks up to tell us that we need to file a flightplan. ADIZ”, like right away!
No ATC clearance is required for VFR flights below 10,000 feet. While other types of controlled airspace require two-way radio communication, IFR flightplans, and various kinds of equipment, Class E airspace below 10,000 feet does not. They allow you enough clearance to see and avoid other airplanes.
New Adventures in FlightPlanning and Filing I decided to test-drive my PIN and the whole FRZ process for the first time as my annual fall solo flight in October of 2023. Any flight into the FRZ requires a FRZ flightplan. For the most part, the process was quick and easy.
You might think that Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are just about how to control and use your instruments in the aircraft, but you need more than skill–you need a rock-solid plan. IFR flightplanning is about preparing for every twist and turn along the route. What Is an IFR FlightPlan?
As an aviator, I crave the novelty of these aerial vistas and compulsively fly to new places to absorb uncommon beauty streaming in through my airplane's windscreen. Exactly like NYC, downtown Boston is encircled by restrictive Class Bravo airspace down to the surface that requires explicit clearance to enter. I was a little nervous.
In order to reach College Park, pilots must receive specific training from the FAA, undergo vetting by the TSA to earn a personal identification number (PIN) necessary to authorize flightplans within the FRZ, and follow the unique and specific rules for operating into and out of the FRZ. If that sounds intimidating, it is.
A few years ago, I got the bug to fly small airplanes again. I trained for a few weeks at a local flight school, then rented a Cessna 172 to fly with my family. We fly our new-to-us Piper to Florida often (the airplane could probably find Orlando on its own), and we agreed it was time for something more adventurous.
Follow procedures when requesting an SVFR clearance or departing a non-towered airport. Special Considerations: VFR, SVFR, and Departures Special VFR at Non-Towered Airports Special VFR (SVFR) cannot be requested at non-towered airports because theres no ATC to grant you the clearance.
Daily responsibilities include pre-flight checks, weather analysis, creating and filing flightplans, coordination with ground crews and air traffic controllers, and continuous in-flight monitoring and communication. They also create and file detailed flightplans that include the intended route, altitudes, and speeds.
Fussing with the avionics to keep tabs on the weather gave many more knob touches than the airplane itself. The next leg, and the two after it, followed my standard cross-country plan. And on short final at Knoxville, I got chirps from a flock of unrecognized electronic birds, telling me something but not in airplane-speak.
High-pressure conditions decrease altimeter accuracy, affecting terrain clearance and aircraft spacing. Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) EFBs have made flightplanning easier and more convenient than ever. When you plan a flight using an EFB such as ForeFlight , the software will pull up any NOTAMs along your route.
After climbing through a localized layer of clouds, we found ourselves cruising in smooth air on an IFR flightplan with clouds scattered about -- but not impinging on -- our route. By now, we had a visual on the other airplane and all three of us kept careful watch on it. It was my best experience ever with the tower there.
Decades ago, when I learned to fly, it was well-known that a commercial co-pilot/first officer was allowed to occupy the right seat of a transport airplane only if they’d proven themselves subservient enough to understand that the guy in the left seat was perfectly capable of handling the airplane all by himself.
On July 21, 2024 we departed the Rochester area in three airplanes carrying a total of ten people for an incredible view of Manhattan with lunch afterward at Hangars Cafe on the field at the Sky Acres Airport (44N). In my airplane, I was accompanied by Alyssa and Mark. Peril, indeed. Scott followed in Eight One Six. Photo by Eric.
I was very fortunate this year to share my airplane with a varied cast of terrific friends both old and new. Off Sodus, I briefly leveled at 2,500 feet to remain visual until I received my instrument clearance from Rochester Approach. Except for a single airplane tied down on the ramp, the parking apron was empty. Ohioville?
This could be caused by landing without clearance, straying from an assigned altitude, or any number of other errors. Pre-flightplanning reduces surprises and supports safer flight operations. Conditions change and sudden temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) can pop up. Pilot deviations are incredibly stressful.
Flying to Sun ‘n Fun 2024 Air Facts Journal I’ve been flying since 1994 if you don’t count model airplanes, rockets, balsa wood and tissue paper rubber band powered models, control line, radio controlled (R/C) model aircraft and gliders. I fly a Rockwell Commander 114B which I flightplan at 14 gph and 140 kts.
The pilots, the flight attendants, and their aircraft were dispatched, flight-planned, and fueled for a trip to Edinburgh. Essentially you eyeball the airport through the windshield, report “field in sight” to ATC, get your clearance and go ahead and land. angle irresistible. But that isn’t what happened.
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