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Proficiency

Our pilot training articles are designed to help you improve your flying proficiency. Bone up on beneficial skills as well as the biggest mistakes to avoid as a pilot. Fly right with articles on topics such as dealing with ice and the most dangerous things you can do as a pilot.

March 1, 2005

The FAA’s Capstone Project

Phase II brings this remarkable high-tech situational awareness a step closer to the Lower 48 states

capstoneGeneral aviation in Alaska is different. Changeable weather and difficult terrain create an environment where you’d expect most flying to be done on instruments, but an antiquated route structure and limited navaids make this impossible in many places. Yet many towns and villages depend on aircraft to a degree that’s almost unknown in the rest of the country.

March 1, 2005

What’s All This Flap About?

Counting on that extra lift can get to be a drag

What's All This Flap About?With a simple flick of a switch or a pull of a handle, pilots become empowered to instantly change the shape (and in some cases, the size) of the wings. Imagine! Altering the aerodynamics of the wing and the flight characteristics of an airplane, all while in flight. By not understanding flaps thoroughly, pilots lose the ability to take full advantage of their capabilities, and under some circumstances, it can compromise safety.

March 1, 2005

Uncontrolled Airports

Flying into and out of these airfields demands much more than just knowing the procedures

Uncontrolled AirportsOperating at uncontrolled or non-towered airports is something we all do and probably do often enough that we get so used to what happens at our “home ’drome.” We figure that operating procedures around these airports shouldn’t be as strict as controlled airports. After all, who’s watching us and what are the chances that there will be another airplane in the pattern, especially in such a remote area?

March 1, 2005

Learn To Fly

Piloting your own airplane is a special opportunity you should truly take advantage of

Learn To FlyThe idea probably started thousands of years ago, if not tens of thousands, when our ancestors first looked up to watch the birds. What would it be like to fly? It was only in the last 100 years that man actually conquered powered flight, and consequently, only a tiny fraction of the world’s population has had the opportunity—and what an opportunity!—to fly an airplane.

February 1, 2005

The 10 Commandments Of Aviation Safety

There are some things you should absolutely positively know about any airplane you’re flying before you even start the engine
The 10 Commandments Of Aviation SafetySafety has always been a tough sell. Ask Bruce Landsburg of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. Landsburg has been in the safety business for 25 years, having worked for FlightSafety in Wichita, Kan., before moving to AOPA. “The sad thing is,” says Landsburg, “much of the time, safety consciousness is a direct result of an accident post-mortem.”

February 1, 2005

Revisiting Stick & Rudder

It’s easy for all of us to turn our back on the basics, but the few simple skills required for precision flying have a huge payoff

Revisiting Stick & RudderFeel your butt. Center the ball. Control torque, precession and P-factor. Check the nose attitude. Watch the runway numbers for movement. Get it down in the first 800 feet. Nail that airspeed. Stop holding outside aileron in the turns. Kill the drift. Put it on the mains and hold the nose off. Understand what the rudder is actually doing. Be smooth. Be precise. Be proud.”

February 1, 2005

Why Every Pilot Should Take Acro

Learning the basic maneuvers is more important than you think
Why Every Pilot Should Take AcroYou may wonder about the benefits of aerobatics to general-aviation pilots, especially when most pilots’ main mission primarily consists of pleasure flights to try another $100 hamburger. After all, why bother with inverted loops when you can merely enjoy the view and have a pleasant flight? The answer is simple: Anyone who practices aerobatics becomes a better, safer pilot, and the skills you learn from a professional aerobatics instructor not only can be applied to your general-aviation flights, but also to saving your life one day.

December 1, 2004

University of North Dakota/Aerospace

Training helicopter pilots for the U.S. Army

Most aviation insiders feel that the University of North Dakota (UND)/Aerospace is to aviation what Harvard is to law and business, partly because of its technologically advanced complex for collegiate aviation. And just like Harvard Law School, UND/Aerospace, which offers seven aviation majors, is a big part of a quite highly respected, four-year liberal arts university.

December 1, 2004

The Hazards Of Winter Flying

A pilot relates the dos and don’ts he learned from cold-weather flying

Canada’s Maritime Provinces are among the country’s most beautiful regions, with rolling tundras, pristine lakes and dramatic coastlines. Unfortunately, the area also is possessed of some of the country’s most dynamic weather. While the far west may have the more vicious winter temperatures, often subceeding minus-40 degrees C, the northeast is infamous for its radically changeable winter atmospherics.

October 1, 2004

The New Sport-Pilot License Is Here!

Landmark changes from the FAA have just made Flying cheaper and easier
The New Sport-Pilot License Is Here!It took more than 2 ½ years to review the more than 4,700 comments on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 2002 proposal to simplify pilot training and make the sport more affordable and accessible. After a tremendous amount of debate, research and consideration (and a certain amount of suspense), the FAA made its announcement on September 1, 2004: The new sport-pilot license became official, and with it came an entirely new category of planes, the light-sport aircraft (LSA).

October 1, 2004

Mountain Flying In The Wild West

Fall always seems like the perfect time to head for the hills. But for the unprepared pilot, there are some lessons to learn.

Mountain Flying In The Wild WestOn a warm, summer afternoon, a commercial-rated pilot and his three passengers climbed into a Cherokee for a pleasure flight over the picturesque landscape of northern Arizona. After he topped the tanks, the out-of-state pilot’s preflight was limited to the traditional walk-around inspection.

September 1, 2004

Taking On Extreme Runways

Flying into backcountry strips makes you a better pilot and can be a welcome relief to your flying routine
Taking On Extreme RunwaysHave you ever wanted more from lightplane recreational flying than driving from point A to point B for the $200 hamburger? (Well, there’s aerobatics, but that’s another story.) So, instead of thinking of flying from A to Burger, how about A to Backcountry? Before you dismiss this with a “Hey, my airship is a 172, not a Super Cub,” read on.

September 1, 2004

Mastering The Panel-Mounted GPS Part 2

Last month, we explored the commonality of the Bendix/King KLN94 and Garmin’s CNX80, and 430 or 530 for VFR operations. This month, we’ll discuss how to use these units during instrument procedures.
Mastering The Panel-Mounted GPS Part 2The Honeywell Bendix/King KLN94 and Garmin’s CNX80 and GNS 430 or 530 are representative of IFR-approved GPS units, and their commonality extends to IFR operations, in which flight plans are modified in very interesting ways as IFR procedures are added. So, we’ll explore the addition of IFR procedures, which can complicate a simple VFR flight plan.

August 1, 2004

The Last Spin

Why do experienced and inexperienced pilots alike fall victim to this all-too-common traffic-pattern accident?
The Last SpinThis is how it happens. The pilot turns base to final and notices a following wind is causing him to overshoot the centerline. He adds a little left uncoordinated rudder in an attempt to bring the nose of the aircraft back toward the runway. The aircraft rolls a bit to the left and he compensates by adding some right aileron to hold the 30-degree bank angle.

August 1, 2004

Flying High & Dry

Why the FAA has added pilot dehydration to the list of flight hazards

Flying High & DryThere is scant attention given to it. Most pilots overlook it. Some shrug it off, while others simply don’t know about its effects in the cockpit. The problem? Pilot dehydration. Most pilots are unaware of its devastating effects and symptoms, which can increase the risk of aircraft incidents and accidents, even during a mildly warm day.

August 1, 2004

The Go/No-Go Decision

Does self-induced pressure to continue a flight supercede everything else?

The difference between a safe pilot and one with an enhanced chance of becoming an accident statistic often is found in the ability to detach oneself from the emotional and social aspects of flying. Have you properly planned for the flight or will you be playing catch-up once you get off the ground? Are your qualifications and experience sufficient for the expected flight conditions?

July 1, 2004

Cockpit Career Update Part 3: The Future Of Pilot Careers

Last month, we covered the technological changes occurring in the industry today. In this final installment of our three-part series, we’ll discuss what you can expect in years to come.

Cockpit Career Update Part 3: The Future Of Pilot CareersNo one has the luxury of peering into a crystal ball, especially when it comes to predicting the future of the aviation industry. Technological developments continue to change the face of aviation, and the result of this progress is anyone’s guess. There are, however, certain factors that help foretell what may happen to this ever evolving industry.

July 1, 2004

Challenge Yourself

There are lots of ways to have more flying fun. But if you sign up for advanced ratings, you’ll also end up being a better pilot.
Challenge YourselfNo question about it—earning the private license is a major accomplishment. Some pilots will never need to seek additional ratings. The private allows pilots to operate in a wide variety of conditions, and many aviators content themselves with the entry-level ticket.

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