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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Being an Unofficial Co-Pilot in a Small Plane
A passenger in a small airplane cockpit’s front seat is in an entirely different environment than that of a passenger seated elsewhere in an airplane. Not only does the passenger …
V1 and Other Airspeeds
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 …
Do Small Airplanes Fly Better on Cold Days Than on Hot Days?
To a non-pilot’s eye, on cold days and hot days, an airplane taking off, flying overhead, or landing looks pretty much the same. Sure, if it’s icy or raining very …
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How Do Small Airplanes Find Their Way Around?
Giant airplanes like airliners and military transport aircraft use sophisticated, onboard methods to fly from Point A to Point B. Today, they usually use GPS (Global Positioning System) and/or a …
California Aeronautical University Launches Flight Centers in Ventura (KOXR) and San Diego (KMYF) Counties
BAKERSFIELD, CA – To better serve Southern California residents, California Aeronautical University (CAU) launches its new Flight Centers in the communities of Oxnard and San Diego, California. The University Flight …
The Science Behind Turbulence
If an airplane can zoom along at supersonic speeds and provide Wifi on demand, why are passengers still grabbing for barf bags and gripping armrests when it comes to turbulence? …
How Air Traffic Control Keeps Us Safe
The Crash in the Desert At the Desert View Watch Tower on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, which offers an unparalleled view of the Colorado River and …
Airplane Aerodynamics
An understanding of flight is rooted in a strong grasp of how an airplane gets in the air—and stays there. Both a passenger jet and a tiny paper airplane are …
How Do Airport Codes Work To Identify Individual Airports?
Have you ever flown CLT to ORD to COS? If you read that as “Charlotte to Chicago to Colorado Springs,” you’re clued into the language of airport codes. The world’s …
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Airplane Instrument Errors
Some pilots say that the only thing an airplane has in common with cars is that the tires are rubber, and that’s not really too far off the mark. The …
What Happens During a Small-Plane Takeoff?
Some people warm up their cars before taking to the road but others don’t. Some use electric turning signals, some use hand signals, and others don’t. There is a lot …
Preparing a Small Airplane for an Anticipated Hard Landing
With all of the safety advances in equipment and in pilot training, the vast majority of airplane problems are surmountable, and even if an airplane makes its way to the …
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