Getting Started Guide
Congratulations on taking the first step on the path to learning to fly! Here are some common questions and answers regarding this process to help you get started in the right direction.
Read the latest blog posts from our team of flight instructors and pilots. Every week, we share tips and tricks, helpful resources and personal training stories.
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A Practical Approach to Using an iPad During Flight Training
Many students beginning their training often ask the question “is the iPad the right tool for me in my flight training?” There are many schools of thought on the use...
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Log your flights with photos and video
We’re all required to log our flight times and landings to prove FAA currency, but this only tells part of the story of a flight. Here you’ll learn how you can record a more memorable experience from your flight by using a smartphone or portable cockpit camera to capture the sights and sounds.
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Question authority – and ATC
Many new pilots regard Air Traffic Controllers with a mix of respect and fear. So it’s only natural that we trust them and want to follow their instructions no matter what. But as Ben Franklin famously said, “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.”
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Time to Review
Earlier this week, I was talking to a few students from my Fundamentals of Instructing class about a presentation that they have to do for my class. The presentation requires...
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Non-Towered Airport Ops Briefing
The pending closure of 149 contract control towers as a result of the FAA’s sequestration plan has brought the issue (or non-issue) of non-towered airport operations to the forefront. For...
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Keep Learning, Keep Current
All too often I see excited pilots after they’ve earned their license with big plans to put it to good use. Maybe they want to take business trips to make work more...
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You Can Fix Stupid
Comedian Ron White has a famous stand-up routine where he explains that modern plastic surgery can “fix” almost any perceived flaw with the human body. From butt lifts to tummy...
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Choosing a Flight School
I spend a great deal of time talking with prospective students each day who are searching the area for a flight school. Although each student is unique, those who have...
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Top off the airplane fuel tanks? Maybe…
During flight training most pilots get accustomed to filling the fuel tanks all the way up before each flight. As you begin to fly larger airplanes you’ll soon learn that topping off the tanks is more the exception than the norm.
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Safe isn’t enough–focus on smooth flying
We all want to be safe pilots–that’s emphasized from day one of flight training, and for good reason. But after we’ve completed our first solo and gained some confidence, it’s time to raise the standard beyond just safe flying. What your passengers will judge you on is how smooth you are.
