Four Tips for a Brand New Pilot
Welcome to your private pilot’s certificate. Many people say they’d like to learn to fly, but aren’t prepared for the sacrifice and diligence completing the course of study requires. Earning …
Matthew Johnston
What Makes the Cessna a Quintessential Training Aircraft?
The Cessna 172, called the Skyhawk, is by far the most common training aircraft at flight schools in the US. A well-balanced airplane with qualities that translate well to other …
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What Kind Of Careers Can You Pursue With An Aviation Business Degree?
In the early days of corporate and mainline aviation, pilots tended to transition from the military. A professional pilot with a college degree was not always the rule unless the …
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Transitioning Your Small Airplane Education to Commercial Aviation
The pilot shortage is real, and it’s affecting every aspect of aviation. For pilots, it means a welcome upswing in opportunities after over a decade of struggle post-9/11 and in …
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Becoming a Charter Flight Pilot
There are many paths to having a career in aviation. When most people think of becoming a professional pilot, they usually picture airline or military pilots. However, flight instructors, transport …
All About Runway Distance Requirements
Part of being a safe pilot is making sure that any runway you plan to use has enough distance to safely operate for both takeoff and landing. A strong student …
Propeller Based Versus JetEngine Propulsion
To fully understand how an aircraft works, student pilots must become familiar with its form of propulsion. Comprehending how your airplane’s engine works helps you to become a safe and …
The Best Parts of Learning To Fly in San Diego
Learning to fly in any geographic area holds its own benefits and challenges. Choosing the place to take your flight training means learning to turn these challenges to your advantage …
How to Become an Air Traffic Controller
Air traffic control (ATC) is complex work which requires fast thinking, ability to judge spatial relationships, situational awareness, and attention to detail. They are essential to keeping the world’s airways safe. …
Airline Industry Hiring Opportunities: Then and Now
The airline industry offers many exciting career opportunities which range throughout the salary scale. If the goal is to simply work around airplanes, the current economic climate and shifting expectations …
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The Biggest Breakthroughs in Aviation History, Part II
In the first part of this series, we discussed the importance of the Wright Flyer, maintaining control over the surfaces of an aircraft, the use of airplanes as a weapon, …
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The Biggest Breakthroughs in Aviation History, Part I
Air travel and transport are so interwoven in our everyday existence that it’s difficult to imagine life without it. But at one time, aviation was considered an impossibility, then a …
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How The Existence of Weather Impacts Flight
Since aircraft operate in a three-dimensional environment, sailing in the ocean of air called the atmosphere, it is critical for pilots to understand how the weather affects flying through that …
The Path To Becoming A Flight Instructor
Being a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) is a tremendous responsibility. Before becoming a CFI, one must ask oneself if he or she really wants to teach, or if the CFI …
What Does a Flight Dispatcher Do?
In the airline and air charter world, a flight crew is not alone in accomplishing their work. Besides the flight attendants caring for the passengers, the mechanics making sure the …
Essential FAA Aircraft Inspections: Ensure Safety & Longevity Through Compliance
Since flying is such a complex operation, the reality of maintenance on any aircraft type can seem daunting. However, by paying close attention to the aircraft’s operation and keeping track …
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The Prep Work for Learning to Fly: What Do You Need to Learn Before Ever Flying a Plane?
Becoming accountable for yourself in a cockpit, not to mention your passengers, is a serious responsibility. Before you leave the ground on your own, it helps to familiarize yourself with …
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Crew Roles in Commercial Aviation
Although commercial aviation is a relatively young industry, it has changed a great deal since its beginnings in the last century. Let’s have a look at commercial crew roles and …
Differences Between Airspace Classifications
Knowing how the Federal Aviation Administration divides airspace is key to developing awareness and safe operation as a pilot. From the planning phase of a flight to requesting a landing …
Don’t Pilots Have to Talk with Air Traffic Control?
Most people take it for granted that pilots must communicate over the radio with ATC (air traffic control). After all, how else can airplanes know what to do and when …
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