Lately, we flight instructors are seeing IFR flight plans from students that always include an alternate airport, no matter what!

Of course, this then prompts us to ask our students what weather and other conditions compelled them to file an alternate airport.

Read more…

Sedona (SEZ), left downwind for Runway 21.

It seems like a few times a year, I’m flying on the downwind at some small uncontrolled airfield, like Sedona (SEZ), when seemingly out of nowhere, I spot another plane at my 10 o’clock descending (diving might be a better term). The plane  is about to cut across in front of me as its pilot attempts to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern.

It’s a scary sight. In situations like that, you don’t have just seconds to respond. You have milliseconds. Evasive maneuvers require me to veer hard, sometimes climb, go into slow-flight mode, and allow the offending aircraft to sequence into the traffic pattern.

There’s got to be a better way for airplanes to get into the traffic pattern.

There is! Read more…

The Federal Aviation Administration says pilots are required to become familiar with all aspects of their flight before they take off.

Now, there’s an app for that. Read more…

It takes a lot of skill to get to where these guys are! Keep studying. Keep practicing. Then, it will look as easy as these guys make it look.