Category: Aeronautics | Page 3

Sky Safety: Understanding Crew Resource Management (CRM) In Aviation

May 23, 2024September 1, 2020 Matthew Johnston

Crew Resource Management - California Aeronautical University

Crew Resource Management (CRM) is a little-known aspect of aviation within the general public. However, it is as vital as checking the weather and conducting a pre-flight walkaround. [lwptoc numerationSuffix=”dot” title=”CONTENTS:” titleFontSize=”34px” itemsFontSize=”18px” skipHeadingText=”Share This:”] Crew resource management focuses on strong decision-making skills, problem solving techniques, and effective teamwork to improve the safety culture within …

Aircraft Weight And Balance: How Do They Affect Flight?

May 23, 2024July 29, 2020 Tamu Smith-Kohls

Aircraft Weight and Balance - California Aeronautical University

Aircraft weight and balance play an important role in flight, and knowing these two factors can help ensure a safe and enjoyable flight. Some general aviation (opens in a new window) passengers are taken aback when asked how much they weigh as the pilot prepares for flight, or if the first officer takes a look …

A Beginner’s Guide to Airplane Winglets

May 23, 2024June 5, 2020 Matthew Johnston

Airplane Winglets - California Aeronautical University

If an airplane has wings, why does it need winglets (opens in a new window)? Airplane winglets are the “baby wings” placed at an angle at the end of airplane wing. Most modern passenger jets have winglets. They became a staple of the aircraft industry the 1980’s when concern about oil prices pushed increased research …

Navigating the Skies

July 22, 2024April 30, 2020 Matthew Johnston

On the ground, we are able to make our way from Point A to Point B by knowing where to turn on roads, guided by maps, GPS, or memory. Even while traversing areas in which roads aren’t available, backpackers find their way by using a compass to point them in the right direction. But how …

Mastering Lift: The Design Of Airplane Wings

November 27, 2024March 26, 2020 Matthew Johnston

Design of Airplane Wings - California Aeronautical University

As our understanding of lift and basic aeronautical principals (opens in a new window) has improved and changed, so has the design of airplane wings. Wing design is an incredibly important aspect of aeronautical engineering. Now that computer software and advanced wind tunnel technology are aiding in the development of wing design, we are better …

The Differences In Flying With Different Engine Types

May 23, 2024February 4, 2020 Matthew Johnston

One aspect of aviation knowledge which immediately separates the general public from professionals or self-educated enthusiasts is the matter of aircraft engines. Most members of the flying public are happy to step on and off an airplane, reaching their destination without thinking at all about what has powered them there. For pilots, engineers, and many …

How Does a Plane’s Control Surfaces Function?

May 23, 2024January 28, 2020 Matthew Johnston

Understanding the basic aerodynamics of how an airplane’s control surfaces work is a major part of safely commanding it both on the ground and in the air. When you have a good grasp of these principles, both abstractly as well as while acting as pilot in command, you are better equipped to make sound decisions …

Why Get Your Bachelors in Aeronautics?

May 24, 2024December 11, 2019 Matthew Johnston

Graduating with Bachelors in aeronautics

With a decades-long sluggish aviation industry at last hiring again due to a worldwide pilot shortage, many who want to become pilots might wonder why they should spend time and money on earning a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics. Aren’t most of the major airlines hiring without one? And doesn’t military experience or the equivalent satisfy …

How Airplane Designs Have Changed Over Time

August 30, 2024October 22, 2019 Matthew Johnston

When someone says the word “airplane,” a lot of different visuals might come to mind—the 1903 Wright Flyer (the world’s first airplane), a World War II fighter, or a huge passenger jet with a modern cockpit. The fantastic part about aviation is that all of these images apply. Since it landed on a runway like …

Why Are Airplanes Pressurized?

May 23, 2024August 29, 2019 Matthew Johnston

“For your comfort, the cabin will be pressurized.” Passengers hear this as part of in-flight announcements as they settle into their seats, but most might not know how this takes place, much less why. Airplane pressurization seems like a mystery; it’s important for those with this knowledge to have a good understanding of how it …

Maintaining the Correct Course When Flying

May 23, 2024August 21, 2019 Matthew Johnston

Maintaining the correct course in the air is as easy as following the line on the GPS, isn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s not so simple. What happens when your cockpit GPS isn’t operational, or is loaded with outdated maps? What if strong crosswinds (opens in a new window) blow you off track? It’s important to know …

Navigating Airports from Big to Small As a Pilot

August 30, 2024June 12, 2019 Matthew Johnston

Some student pilots think the toughest part of flying is simply staying aloft. However, the mechanics of taking off and landing at an airport extend far beyond the aeronautics of the matter. Outside of checking the weather, filing a flight plan, and assessing the airworthiness of your airplane, there are many decisions to be made …

What Kind of Speeds do Different Kinds of Airplanes Reach?

May 23, 2024May 28, 2019 Matthew Johnston

To understand the kinds of various speeds airplanes reach, it’s important to also understand how airspeed is measured in aviation and what it means for you as a pilot. Remember that atmospheric conditions, temperature, the weight of the aircraft and its cargo, and other factors all come into play when discussing the speed of an …

How Does Altitude Affect Flying?

May 23, 2024April 9, 2019 Matthew Johnston

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 …

What Makes the Cessna a Quintessential Training Aircraft?

May 23, 2024April 4, 2019 Matthew Johnston

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 aircraft, it’s a solid choice for student pilots. Several factors have contributed to the popularity of this stable and reliable flying machine. The Skyhawk: …

All About Runway Distance Requirements

August 30, 2024February 26, 2019 Matthew Johnston

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 pilot program will address this issue. Since working with runway distance is a matter which stretches far beyond simple memorization, it’s an important part of …

Propeller Based Versus JetEngine Propulsion

August 30, 2024February 19, 2019 Matthew Johnston

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 efficient pilot. It can also help you to diagnose potential mechanical problems and take action to mitigate any damage. Even the earliest aviation pioneers knew …

How The Existence of Weather Impacts Flight

November 27, 2024January 2, 2019 Matthew Johnston

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 ocean. From the very beginning of training, pilots learn how to read meteorological reports, interpret weather depiction charts, and analyze forecast discussions to create a …

Differences Between Airspace Classifications

August 30, 2024November 8, 2018 Matthew Johnston

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 clearance, paying attention to these divisions help ensure positive interactions with controllers and other pilots. The classification of airspace is not always static. It might …

V1 and Other Airspeeds

May 23, 2024October 8, 2018 Matthew Johnston

In aviation, the concept of “speed” isn’t just “how fast an aircraft is going.” It can refer to a number of operating conditions in relation to the aircraft. To fully understand the capacities, safe performance operation, and limitations of any aircraft, it’s important to have a good grasp of “velocity speeds”, known as V-speeds. For …