Do You Know How To Give PIREPs?
John Peltier Pilot reports (PIREPs) are an integral part of the aviation meteorological network. They’re used to assess the accuracy of weather reported by automated stations and instrumentation. Other pilots use them to make important decisions on the ground and in the air. FSS uses them to brief pilots. ATC uses PIREPs to sequence traffic […]
Halley’s Comet and the Go No-Go Decision
Shawn Arena Over the years, I’ve had a lot of memorable flying experiences. And hopefully, by sharing some of the lessons I’ve learned, it will help other aviators in the future be able to make the decisions that will help them fly more safely. I hope you enjoy reading these stories! Making The Go No-Go […]
Competency vs Proficiency: A Look at Flying Aircraft Safely
When Flying Aircraft, Exceeding Flight Minimums = Maximum Safety in the Skies! Margie O’Connor Competency versus Proficiency. Flying aircraft competently means you have met the standards. Flying aircraft proficiently means you’ve taken that extra step to gain a certain comfort level in the cockpit – you’ve refined and built your competence to a point where you are confident […]
Quiz: How Do You Handle Aircraft Radio Communication Problems?
John Peltier You’re ten miles away from your home airport, inbound for landing, and you switch over to the AWOS for a weather check. Nothing. Must not be working. You get closer to the airport and dial up the control tower to inform them of your intentions. No response. After some troubleshooting, you determine that […]
How to Get the Most From Online Flight Training
Dr. Mary Ann O’Grady Online flight training and aviation courses are designed to help pilots get off the ground (pun intended), and accredited online programs provide job skills training to high school graduates and college students who have an interest in pilot training. Distance learning aviation courses prepare pilots for the rigors of flying and/or […]
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Aircraft Icing?
Dr. Mary Ann O’Grady How much do you know about aircraft icing and the conditions that cause it? Take this quiz, and see how well you do. Aircraft Icing Quiz Questions _____ ice is lighter than _____ ice, has an irregular shape and a surface roughness that reduces aerodynamic efficiency. The three negative outcomes of […]
Flight Training Videos: How Relevant Are They?
Mary Ann O’Grady The term andragogy, which is defined as “the art and science of helping adults learn,” was used as early as 1833 but it was popularized in the United States by Malcolm Knowles in the 1970s (Whitmyer, 1999, p. 1). Originally, andragogy was contrasted with the term pedagogy, which focused on helping children to […]
Quiz: Do You Know These Five Aviation Acronyms?
Albert Antosca To those outside of aviation, pilots seem to have their own language, filled with acronyms, jargon, and incomprehensible terms. The more time you spend in the aviation industry, the more accustomed you become to this terminology. Do you recognize these aviation acronyms, and can you pass this quiz from memory? Questions – Aviation […]
Know the Signs and Symptoms of Hypoxia and Avoid Becoming a Victim
Margie O’Connor Whether just learning to fly or a seasoned aviator, hypoxia does NOT discriminate. It doesn’t care if you have 15 hours of flight time and you’re still aspiring to get your Private Pilot’s License or if you’re a seasoned aviator with 12,000+ hours flying for a major airline. Hypoxia lurks just around the […]
VORs: Avoiding Confusion with the TO / FROM Flag
John Peltier If there’s one area of the Instrument Flying Course where most students struggle, it’s usually on the subject of VORs. For some reason, VORs are very mysterious, and for some reason many students have no motivation to learn them thanks to the capabilities of GPS! VORs are still important to learn – not […]
What Do the Best Aviation Colleges Offer?
Dr. Mary Ann O’Grady Typically, prospective students who are considering careers in the aviation industry tend to contemplate becoming pilots through aviation colleges which offer five essential pilot ratings as follows: private single engine, instrument rating, private multi-engine, commercial single and multi-engine, and certified flight instructor (CFI). In addition, the best aviation colleges usually offer courses […]
Pilot Shortage: What Should the Aviation Industry Do?
With a thirty-five percent increase in global travelers, there are more than half a million aviation positions currently available for qualified pilots. The aviation industry is working hard to meet that demand, but experts are saying there may be a serious pilot shortage. Both fixed wing and helicopter pilots are required and, in addition, many pilots […]