Today we are going to spend some time on the subject of clouds. Understanding the various types of clouds is important to pilots as clouds are direct indicators of the type of weather that one can expect. Having the ability to understand and correlate the meaning of a particular cloud
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Today we’ll think about the effect of temperature on the weather. We’ve covered how solar energy from the sun drives all atmospheric and geological processes on Earth, so now we’ll address it’s role in atmospheric stability. Words and pictures in this post come from the FAA’s
…Advisory Circular 90-109 has been cancelled and updated to 90-109A effective June 29, 2015. For those of you not familiar with this AC, it deals with transitioning to unfamiliar aircraft. As a pilot or instructor this is an important and resourceful document to become familiar with. Research and available data
…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.
…Everybody starts off as a student pilot but the next step or progression to a higher level can be a bit confusing to some. You essentially have three choices: Private Pilot Certificate, Recreational Certificate, and Sport Pilot Certificate. Let’s break it down.
The student pilot certificate outlined in Part 61 Subpart
…The first step in becoming a pilot is selecting an aircraft (whether it’s airplanes, gyroplanes, weight-shift, helicopters, powered parachutes, gliders, balloons, or even airships). The second step is obtaining a medical certificate and Student Pilot’s Certificate if the choice of aircraft is an airplane, helicopter, gyroplane, or airship. Today, with
…However controversial, it is said that the magnetic compass first originated in China during the Qin Dynasty sometime between 212 and 206 B.C. as a Chinese fortune telling device. It wasn’t until the 13th Century that the magnetic compass began to be widely used as a directive aid during maritime
…Today we’re taking another look at flight instruments, specifically the altimeter. Understanding the instrument and altitudes is critical in learning to fly. This post comes from on of our favorite textbooks, Bob Gardner’s The Complete Private Pilot.
Aircraft altimeters are aneroid (dry) barometers calibrated to read
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