Rules of thumb
Rule of thumb
-noun
1: a method of procedure based on experience and common sense
2: a general principle regarded as roughly correct but not intended to be scientifically accurate
In aviation we use a lot of these. They help us to reduce workload in the cockpit while flying, since we can do certain calculations in our head (or on paper) in an easy way...
Avionics and Technology
With avionics becoming more and more advanced pilots often times find themselves knowing how to perform basic operations with the equipment installed in the aircraft they fly but might be struggling with more advanced operations.
Most pilots, for example,
The situation might however start to look different when, for example, being asked to perform a RAIM prediction...
NASA Reporting
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has established an incident reporting system for aviation members such as pilots and ATC members to enhance safety in flight.
This is used as an anonymous way to enable pilots to report (observed or suspected) incidents to NASA so they have the chance to evaluate the incident and, if possible, find a solution to...
Cards
I remember as a student pilot I've always wondered about those License Cards.
To me it always seemed like in the end with all my licenses done, I'd have to carry around a dozen cards whenever I go flying.
Well, if you were wondering about this also, then I've got good news! Whatever you do, the maximum of cards you will have at a moment for your flight licenses...
Flight Plan
Do you have to file a flight plan?
Yes and no.
If you fly IFR (in Instrument Flight Rules) you have to.
But if you fly VFR (in Visual Flight Rules) you are not required to file one.
Although you may not be required to file one it is a good habit to do so anyways and as far as I'm concerned, if you prepare your flight in a thoroughly manner...
Calling the Briefer
A word up front: I'd recommend to call a Briefer (the FSS) whenever possible to get the added amount of safety for your flight. To the Advantages of filing a flight plan in the first place (see How-to make a flight plan for more info) there is the added value of having a second (trained) opinion on the flight situation (e.g. the weather, ATC conditions, NOTAMS, PIREPS,...
The truth about breaking the VSI glass
Say you're flying in IMC (Instrument meteorological conditions = no/low visibility) and the static port of your Pitot-Static System freezes or otherwise gets clogged.
You happen to be in an aircraft without an alternate static port. So what to do now?
Easy thing, break the glass of the VSI! You introduce static air from the cabin into the static system...
Airman Certification Standards (PTS)
Before you go to any checkride make sure you become familiar with the respective Airman Certification Standards (ACS). The ACS has, at this point for most certificates, replaced the old Practical Test Standards (PTS’s) while the FAA is still working on upgrading more PTS’s into ACS’s.
While the PTS’s mostly covered the actual maneuvers and standards for executing...
Certificates
This is a list with an explanation of the typical Licenses you will get through your training. There are some more like the Sport Pilot's License or the Recreational Pilot's License which I don't mention at this point since they're not going to be important for most people.
Student Pilot's License
The first License you will get is the Student Pilot's License.
It...
Financing Flight Training
One of the most important topics regarding flight training (at least from the organizational standpoint) at the same time sadly enough is one of the least talked about ones is the Financing of the Pilot training.
Before you start your training you should have some kind of a plan about how you are going to solve the problem that aviation training is quite expensive....