Northstar VFR

APRIL 21, 2024

By Jordan Bullock CFI, Boeing 737 Pilot Traditionally, becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (commonly abbreviated as CFI) has been a required step to build hours before inevitably leaving for a coveted airline gig. So, knock out that Commercial checkride, and hopefully in a relatively fast timeline, start on the CFI prep.

Checkride 56

Checkride Airplanes Pilot Crosswind 56

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 27, 2025

Pilot’s aviation app directory 2025 Edition iPad Pilot News iPad Pilot News has helped pilots discoverover 100 quality aviation appssince the invention of the iPad in 2010.Here AOPA Magazine Delivers AOPA’s monthly magazines to AOPA members, including AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training.

Weather 91

Weather Pilot Flight Plan Airplanes 91

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Key Takeaways Slow flight trains pilots to handle the aircraft at speeds just above stalling. Common mistakes include neglecting clearing turns, delaying stall recovery, and misusing the rudder. That’s why it’s crucial for pilots to learn aircraft control at low speeds. Pilots use reference stalling speeds instead.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag Checkride 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

Lazy eights sound like the least challenging commercial checkride maneuver to learn. 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 amount of rudder required depends on roll rate and airspeed.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 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

Air Facts

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Air Facts Journal I got my pilot’s license in 1984, but it was another five years before I became a pilot. Beginning almost forty years ago, I spent time in the cockpit with a series of pilots whose influence I have only recently started to appreciate. Even then, my education had only just begun. I’ve been a lucky man, indeed.

NDB 52

NDB Checkride VOR Approach 52

Jetwhine

JANUARY 17, 2024

I’ve been flying jets for years as a corporate pilot, but not real jets to some … like fighter jets. When opportunity knocked with an offer to fly an Aero Vodochody L–39 Albatros (one “s” in the Czech spelling)—a single-engine bird still used as a basic trainer for some nation’s fighter pilots—I jumped at the chance.

Knot 52

Knot Rudder Pilot Jet 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

It might seem like you have to learn a ton of stuff all at once while becoming a private pilot. But don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to help you balance your flying lessons and book smarts for your private pilot license. Focus on Hard Subjects Early Learning to fly is about more than just about stick and rudder skills.

Weather 52

Weather Pilot Air Traffic Control Checkride 52

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Steep turns should be one of the most fun maneuvers pilots learn. But for many pilots, flying coordinated turns while keeping altitude and speed steady is hard enough. In maintaining a properly coordinated steep turn, the pilot must use the opposite aileron to maintain bank. Induced Drag Induced drag is a byproduct of lift.

Lift 52

Lift Aileron Drag Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

AUGUST 2, 2024

Being disoriented causes the pilot to make incorrect control corrections. High Workload During a period of high workload, a pilot can become overloaded. Startle affects a pilot’s mental processing. Pilots can protect themselves from startle through scenario-based training. Use rudder to check balance.

Altimeter 52

Altimeter Turbulence Descent Lift 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Short field landings are a true test of a pilot’s skill. They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. Whether you’re new to short field landings or a pilot needing a refresher, this essential guide is for you. Feeling overwhelmed by this challenging maneuver?

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Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Density Altitude 52

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

What matters for VFR proficiency: better landings Air Facts Journal Earlier this year I argued that if IFR pilots wanted to prevent accidents, they should focus on the most boring of skills: basic attitude instrument flying. It’s not just GA pilots who can struggle with airspeed control. Neither one is good.

Knot 98

Knot Runway Airplanes Pilot 98

Air Facts

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Today, those pilots are mostly long gone, and while there are a lot of us around who were trained by them, I cannot help but look at today’s flight training environment and find that it is sorely lacking in overall experience. There aren’t many pilots today, younger than age 50, anyway, who can do that I would imagine.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Pilot Checkride Rudder 98