When flying an airplane, you become a part of the air around you. So, you will want to know what the air and prevailing weather conditions are doing. Forget checking your phone apps or the TV. You will want detailed and accurate weather information. The best way to do that is to read a METAR….
A safety pilot has a key job: keeping the flight safe during simulated instrument training. Simple right? By handling specific tasks and staying sharp, the safety pilot supports the flying pilot and makes sure the flight meets FAA requirements. This guide will explore what being a safety pilot involves, how to log your time correctly,…
The Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) and the Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) are both crucial to effective navigation. But there’s a slight problem. You may unknowingly be misusing the terms! Let’s dive into the difference between HSI and CDI and how to use them correctly. Key Takeaways CDI shows course deviation; HSI combines CDI with a…
Aircraft are massive, heavy machines. How do they manage to fly, supported by nothing but thin air? Many explanations on websites, videos, and even some textbooks oversimplify or misrepresent the true mechanics of lift. In reality, lift generation involves both Bernoulli’s principle and Newton’s third law working together. Read on to understand Bernoulli’s principle and…
Let’s say you’re cruising at 10,000 feet when Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructs you to “squawk 1200.” Do you know what that means, and do you know what to do next? Pilots and ATCs daily use transponder codes, also known as squawk codes. They help the ATC identify and keep track of who you are….