Cleared for what approach? In this lesson we’ll cover several different types of instrument approaches including: ILS LOC / LOC Backcourse LDA RNAV / LNAV / VNAV / LPV VOR ASR / PAR We’ll be skipping NDBs because, well, they’re old and the FAA has removed them from the testing standards. I think the waitress… Continue reading Instrument Approaches and Plates
Lesson Category: Checkride Prep
Lesson 20: Test Prep
Time to get your Pilot Certificate! By the time you arrive here in the course I’m sure you are ready to go and get your Pilot Certificate! Over the next few topics we will give you some quick review and prep to help you with passing the written exam, as well as preparing for the… Continue reading Lesson 20: Test Prep
Lesson 15: VFR Charts and Navigation
Charting your path to success! There are many different charts or “maps” pilots use to find their way through the sky. You’ve already had a glimpse at what the sectional chart looks like, and some of its basic features. Over the next few TOPICS, we’ll take a closer look at it again, and some of… Continue reading Lesson 15: VFR Charts and Navigation
Spinning the Plane
Time to Spin it! If you choose to complete spin training with your instructor, you will have already completed thorough briefings and instruction with them. In this LESSON, check out the video above and take a few notes. This is what you can expect to be practicing with your instructor when you go up for… Continue reading Spinning the Plane
Spin Briefing
Whoa, let’s talk about this first. In the spin briefing there are some important topics to cover including: 4 left turning tendencies P-Factor Spiraling Slipstream Torque Effect Gyroscopic Precession 4 Phases of a Spin Stall Incipient Developed Recovery Angle of Attack and Relative Wind Center of Gravity Proper recovery technique for the specific airplane being… Continue reading Spin Briefing
AOA and Stalled Airflow
The Angle it Attacks Angle of Attack, or AOA as we’ll call it going forward, is technically defined as such: THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE RELATIVE WIND MEETS THE CHORD LINE OF THE WING. Now, that sounds awful fancy, so let’s break it down a bit. The Chord Line is the line that goes from… Continue reading AOA and Stalled Airflow
GFA, Graphic Forecast for Aviation
Graphic Forecast The GFA has replaced the FA for the lower 48 United States. Watch the video above on how to use the new tool and interpret the information from the Graphic Map. Below is a chart to decipher the symbols displayed on the map. Weather Symbols Symbol METAR Code Description Dust or sand FU… Continue reading GFA, Graphic Forecast for Aviation
METARs and TAFs Advanced
Check out the video above and take notes on some of the more advanced codes and abbreviations used in METARs and TAFs. Below are all the codes you could ever hope to encounter. There is absolutley no need to ever memorize all of these. Just have a rough idea what they are, that they do… Continue reading METARs and TAFs Advanced
FAs
Area Forecasts cover the area between airports that TAFs do not cover. REMEMBER these facts about FAs: Issued every 8 hours, 3 times a day Now only covers the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii Old Textual FA has been replaced by the “GFA” or Graphical Forecast for Aviation For the lower 48 states,… Continue reading FAs
TAFs
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts TAFs have similar coding to METARs. Some important facts to REMEMBER about TAFs: Cover an area with a 5nm radius from the center of the aerodrome (airport) Valid for 24 or 30 hours Issued 4 times daily (every 6 hours) Here is an example TAF in plain coded text and decoded text:… Continue reading TAFs