Transponders

MODE C Transponders Well first, what is a transponder?  A transponder is a little box mounted in the panel of your airplane where you can set a 4 digit code that ATC assigns to you.  The purpose of this box is to tell ATC where you are and how high you are.  Transponders are also… Continue reading Transponders

Graphic Forecast Area

Graphic Forecast Area Tool We used to have something called “area forecasts”.  Don’t worry, you’re not missing out on much.  They were several pages long of coded information you had to try and decipher to figure what kind of weather there was out there and where it was (imagine a METAR or TAF that was… Continue reading Graphic Forecast Area

Airport Diagrams

No Google Maps at Your Destination Airport Unfortunately, you will not have google maps on your cell phone to guide you around the taxiways and other movement and non-movement areas at your destination airport.  An essential part of your preflight planning needs to include becoming familiar with not only the runway information and layout at… Continue reading Airport Diagrams

Spatial Disorientation

Spatial disorientation Spatial disorientation results from the brain not properly interpreting the signals it is receiving from the rest of the body.  Remember, flying is not natural for humans, this is partly what makes it so great! The body uses three integrated systems that work together to ascertain orientation and movement in space. Vestibular system—organs… Continue reading Spatial Disorientation

Risk Matrix / Hazardous Attitudes

Avoiding Risk… In this topic we’ll talk about two different ways to avoid risk.  The first is using the risk assessment matrix as described in the video above.  The second is avoiding hazardous attitudes and being able to recognize and remedy them when they appear! Risk Matrix The video above does a good job explaining… Continue reading Risk Matrix / Hazardous Attitudes

Chart Suplement

Because there wasn’t already enough info on your Sectional Chart Since the FAA was only able to cram five thousand and one pieces of info onto your sectional chart, they decided that they wanted to give you even more information and they thought the best way to do this was through a Chart Supplement (note: the… Continue reading Chart Suplement

Terminal Area Charts

TAC Charts Please don’t call them TAC Charts (you are literally saying Terminal Area Chart Charts). In any case, these charts contain awesome detailed information for VFR pilots who plan to fly near some of the busier airspace in the NAS. The two main things I want you to take away from this TOPIC are:… Continue reading Terminal Area Charts

FLYWAY Charts

VFR FLYWAY Charts So what exactly is a FLYWAY chart?  Well, it’s a chart that depicts VFR FLYWAYs of course. A VFR FLYWAY is a route underlying busy CLASS B airspace showing where ATC and the FAA would prefer you to transition underneath the busy overlying airspace. It also has the same jet arrival and… Continue reading FLYWAY Charts

AIRMETS / SIGMETS

AIRMETs and SIGMETs The big scary warnings of when not to fly!  If you remember almost nothing from this TOPIC, then just REMEMBER these two things: AIRMETS are bad news for little GA airplanes and you should avoid flying in or near an area covered by an AIRMET SIGMETS are very bad news for any… Continue reading AIRMETS / SIGMETS

Surface / Prog Charts

Surface Analysis and Prognostic Charts Surface analysis and Prog charts are my favorite way to get a big picture view of what the weather will be doing over the next few hours and into the next few days even.  One thing you will learn about weather forecasting as you study aviation weather is that although… Continue reading Surface / Prog Charts