This week’s discussion is geared towards the topic of aircraft performance and I thought today would be a great day to talk about crosswinds. The tree blowing across the freeway on my way into the office this morning is probably what gave me the idea. After all, March comes in like a lion and out […]
By CFI
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Posted in Aircraft Performance, CFI Briefing, Ground School
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Also tagged aerodynamics, Aircraft, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, takeoff, writen exam
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February 18, 2016 – 9:14 am
That little green book I’m sure you’ve seen lying around the FBO or on the briefing room table in the flight school actually packs a punch. As you learned in Monday’s post, it contains a wealth of crucial information that every pilot requires for pre-flight planning purposes. Just to recap a few key points regarding the […]
By CFI
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Posted in CFI Briefing, Ground School, Procedures and Airport Operations
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Also tagged airport, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, takeoff, writen exam
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November 9, 2015 – 9:46 am
We’re staying warm this week, but we’ll be talking about ways to keep your engine cool. Today’s post is on your aircraft’s engine oil system. Look for follow up Ground School posts in the coming weeks about your engine’s cooling and exhaust systems. And be sure to check out what we’ve already covered in regards […]
By ASA
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Posted in Aircraft Systems, Ground School
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Also tagged adventure, aerodynamics, Aircraft, airspeed indicator, engine, FAA Exam, feature, flight training, flying, Four Forces, instruments, Lift, Navigation, oil, pilot in command, Private Pilot, regulations, safety, takeoff, weather
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November 5, 2015 – 7:59 am
I sure hope you read Monday’s post on ground effect because today I’m throwing a pop quiz at you! Remember that ground effect occurs when flying within one wingspan or less above the surface. The airflow around the wing and wing tip is modified and the resulting pattern reduces the downwash which reduces the induced […]
By CFI
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Posted in Aerodynamics, CFI Briefing, General, Ground School
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Also tagged aerodynamics, Aircraft, airport, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, takeoff, writen exam
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November 2, 2015 – 8:24 am
Thinking about your takeoff technique? Today we’ll consider the role of ground effect. Simply put, ground effect is the reaction of the airflow against the ground surface. Today’s post comes from our foundational flying textbook The Pilot’s Manual 1: Flight School. Here’s a basic overview: The cushioning of ground effect when the airplane is flying […]
By ASA
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Posted in Aerodynamics, Ground School
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Also tagged aerodynamics, altitude, FAA, FAA Exam, feature, flight training, flying, Four Forces, learn to fly, Lift, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety, takeoff
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August 24, 2015 – 8:17 am
Today, we’re going to look at some flight maneuvers from one of our favorite books, the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Critical load factors apply to all flight maneuvers except unaccelerated straight flight where a load factor of 1 G is always present. Certain maneuvers considered in this section are known to involve relatively high load […]
By ASA
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Posted in Aerodynamics
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Also tagged aerodynamics, Aircraft, airport, altitude, ASA, atmosphere, communications, FAA, FAA Exam, flight training, flying, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, radio, safety, takeoff, Thrust
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The majority of airports have some type of lighting for night operations, and the variety and type of lighting systems depends on the volume and complexity of operations at a given airport. We’re going to be examining these types today with help from the FAA‘s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Airport beacons help a pilot identify an airport […]
By ASA
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Posted in Ground School, Procedures and Airport Operations
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Also tagged aerodynamics, Aircraft, airport, ASA, FAA, FAA Exam, feature, flight training, flying, instruments, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, safety
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Back in February, we introduced the concept of weight and balance and its significance in preflight planning. This week, we’ll look at one of the methods of determining your loaded weight and CG. There are a variety of methods to do this, but this week we’ll illustrate the table method with an example from the […]
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
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Posted in Ground School, Procedures and Airport Operations
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Also tagged airport, FAA, feature, flight training, learn to fly, pilot in command, Private Pilot, runway, safety, takeoff
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Effective communication is absolutely critical to your safety and the safety of those in the air around you and on the ground. There’s a well established phraseology and accepted techniques in aviation, so mastering this will be key in your flight training. Take a look at the introduction to radio communications, excerpted from Bob Gardner’s […]
By ASA
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Posted in Communication Procedures, Ground School
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Also tagged AIM, alphabet, communications, emergency, feature, flying, learn to fly, phonetic, pilot in command, radio, radios, takeoff
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