Why reference the ground? In this lesson, we’ll focus on Ground Reference Maneuvers, as well as a few other “air work” tools you can add to your toolbox to effectively control and fly your airplane. We’ll cover: S-Turns Turns about a point Forward Slips and Side Slips A few important regulations The purpose behind all… Continue reading Lesson 5: Ground Reference, Maneuvers, and FARs
Lesson Category: Student Pilot
Lesson 6: Building Good Landings
Building the Perfect Landing Good News! You don’t have to be Maverick from Topgun to land like a champ! While flying a several thousand pound machine at highway speeds down onto the pavement may seem daunting, you can relax, you’re in good hands! Learning how to land, like any other complex skill learned in life,… Continue reading Lesson 6: Building Good Landings
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
FB – Winds Aloft
Check out the video above to learn how to decode a “FB” or winds aloft forecast. You’ll need to use this forecast to account for the different wind above the surface when you start flying longer distances (cross country planning) and at higher altitudes. This is also helpful to predict windshear and turbulence as calm… Continue reading FB – Winds Aloft
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every 8 hours, 3 times a day Now only covers the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii Old Textual FA has been replaced by the “GFA” or Graphical Forecast for Aviation For the lower 48 states,… Continue reading FAs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
METARs
METARs (Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Report) are always coded the same way. The video above explains the layout and coding. Below are a few examples of METARs that have been decoded so you can see where the information is coming from. Leave your questions in the comments below! KTPA 221853Z 15009KT 10SM FEW043 BKN210… Continue reading METARs
Lesson 4: AOA, Stalls, and Other Scary Things
In this lesson we’ll cover some of my favorite TOPICS! Angle of Attack (AOA) Stalls Intro to Weather As you advance in your training it will be time for you to explore the “backside” of the power curve, gain a better understanding of Angle of Attack and Relative Wind, and also practice stalling the airplane… Continue reading Lesson 4: AOA, Stalls, and Other Scary Things
Crosswinds Lesson #3
The Landing As you fly your base leg you will more than likely add your next notch of flaps (20 degrees in Cessna, 25 degrees in Piper). You may consider leaving the flaps at just 10 degrees if you find yourself already low in relationship to where you are in the traffic pattern or if… Continue reading Crosswinds Lesson #3