Matthew Johnston 
The pilot shortage is creeping further into the aviation industry. Not only are pilots needed, flight instructors are too. The need for Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) is great. Not only is news of the pilot shortage attracting more students– corporate, regional, and airline jobs are pulling instructors away from the classroom as soon as they …
One look at a cockpit, especially one belonging to a new airliner or a fighter jet, might seem like an impossible mess to a non-pilot and an overwhelming task to a new one. How can anyone master all those screens, knobs, and pedals? And what about everything else a pilot is expected to manage—information about …
Many instructors compliment their student pilots’ learning sessions in the cockpit with some touch-and-goes, but some CFIs do not think the practice actually contributes to proficiency and safety. However, experienced pilots sometimes turn to this practice drill because can be a good way to get used to a new aircraft. Sometimes you might see a …
Competent and professional contact with air traffic controllers is a weak area for even experienced pilots. Working in air traffic patterns is a basic part of life for student pilots, but it’s an important reality of aviation life that should be continually considered. While managing all the systems in the cockpit and making constant decisions …
The basics of altitude seem like the most basic aspect of flying: As long as you’re in the air, isn’t that good? But working with the realities that come with different altitudes are much more complicated. To become a truly efficient and safe pilot, you should understand how various altitudes affect flying, as well as …