For a thunderstorm to exist, you need two very basic elements: moisture and warm, rapidly rising air. This is why in the spring and summer months with the warmer conditions you tend to see an increase in thunderstorm activity. According to NOAA, at any given time across the world there are 1,800 thunderstorms occurring all […]
By CFI
|
Posted in CFI Briefing, Weather
|
Tagged atmosphere, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, hail, learn to fly, lightning, Private Pilot, safety, thunderstorms, weather, writen exam
|
Differences in temperature create differences in pressure. These pressure differences drives a complex system of winds in a never ending attempt to reach equilibrium. Wind also transports water vapor and spreads fog, clouds, and precipitation. This week, we have a post from the classic FAA text Aviation Weather (AC 00-6A) to describe how the atmosphere […]
By ASA
|
Posted in Ground School, Weather
|
Tagged adiabatic, atmosphere, circulation, climate, cooling, feature, heating, learn to fly, weather, wind
|
Today we will finally wrap up our three part post on the pitot-static system and related instruments with a quick discussion on errors. If an error is noted on one of the three pitot-static instruments it is almost always caused by either a blockage in the pitot-tube or one of the static ports. As we’ve […]
By CFI
|
Posted in CFI Briefing, Flight Instruments
|
Tagged airspeed indicator, altimeter, CFI, flight training, flying, instruments, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, VSI
|
Airport pavement markings and signs provide information useful to pilots during takeoff, landing, and taxiing. Uniformity in airport markings and signs from one airport to another enhances safety and improves efficiency. This introduction to markings and signs comes from the FAA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. More on airport marking aids and signs, detailed with […]
By ASA
|
Posted in Ground School, Procedures and Airport Operations
|
Tagged airport, FAA, feature, flight training, landing, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, runway, safety, takeoff
|
I am sure you have been waiting all week for Part II of the CFI Brief on the Pitot-Static system. So here it is: today we will get into some of the principals of operation of each of the three pitot-static instruments found in the cockpit: altimeter, vertical speed indicator, and airspeed indicator. The altimeter […]
Getting started with your flight training and curious about the differences between ratings? As per 14 CFR 61.5, there are seven pilot certificates: student, sport pilot, recreational, private, commercial, airline transport pilot, and flight instructor. This summary comes from Bob Gardner’s The Complete Private Pilot. The definitive compendium of all federal regulations pertaining to pilots […]
By ASA
|
Posted in Ground School, Regulations
|
Tagged certificate, FAA, FAA Exam, feature, flight training, learn to fly, pilot in command, pilot license, Private Pilot, sport pilot
|
Today’s posts is the first part in a two part series on the pitot-static system and associated pitot-static instruments. We will begin by covering a quick general overview of the pitot-static system as seen in the picture below. The pitot-static system is responsible for the operation of the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator—also […]
Today, we’ll go over the airspeed indicator (ASI). This explanation comes from the FAA textbook Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. The ASI is a sensitive, differential pressure gauge which measures and promptly indicates the difference between pitot (impact/dynamic pressure) and static pressure. These two pressures are equal when the aircraft is parked on the ground […]
Steep turns are a fun and exciting maneuver and right in line with this week’s discussion on load factors. As a student pilot part of your training will include performing steep turns to established standards as outlined in the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards and shown below. Key concepts to be learned are coordination, orientation, […]
