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?
Pilot Institute
MARCH 28, 2025
Category also has different meanings in pilot certification, aircraft certification, and instrument approaches. A quick note before we begin: There are three different definitions of category based on the pilot, the aircraft, or an instrument approach. no control surfaces). What Is an Aircraft Category?
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Pilot Institute
JANUARY 3, 2025
If youre preparing for takeoff, navigating an approach, or landing at an uncontrolled airport, knowing how to read a windsock can give you quick wind information. The best windsocks strike a balance between weight and strength. Have you ever wondered how pilots determine wind direction and speed at a glance? Why is this important?
AV Web
MAY 5, 2024
Because I had not yet donned my prescription bifocal sunglasses, my peepers were too overwhelmed by the light to give me a chance to avoid Frank, who approached quickly, like an adept fighter pilot—high and out of the sun. Frank shifted uncomfortably but wanted to hang in there to overwhelm me and get his point across eventually.
Flying Magazine
MAY 1, 2024
The ability to bank is essential to controlled flight. Otto Lilienthal did it by shifting his weight, but for the much larger Wright Flyer the solution was to make one wing produce more lift than the other by twisting them in opposite directions. But it cannot have been quite so obvious then. The T-38 scores around 0.26.
Professional Pilot
APRIL 3, 2025
The term avionics an amalgamation of aviation and electronics encompasses all electronic systems used to monitor, control, or operate an aircraft. This shift from analog to digital redefined pilots roles, turning them from reactive operators into proactive system managers. Information is situational dependent.
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. It only takes a 10% increase in approach speed to increase the landing roll by 20%.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
305 
Let's personalize your content