Flight Instructor Blog

Like most parents at this time of year, I’m making my daily trek to Wal-mart to buy school supplies for my kids. Even if you don’t have kids, I’m sure you can remember being sent home with a list of needed school supplies that ranged from protractors to rulers. Good times.
If you are […]

I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite monthly reads is the “Callback” safety bulletin produced by NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System. I just received notice in my inbox that this month’s bulletin, “Short Takes” is available for viewing. Here is the URL to read the safety bulletin for yourself:
http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/publications/callback/cb_344.htm
As the email they […]

I love getting questions from readers and my favorite questions are the ones I don’t already know.  Such as the question I received lately from Jon regarding the max altitude on Tango routes:
Hi Paul. I’ve always wondered. On the Jacksonville sectional here in Florida we got a few T-Airways where the MAA is 15 000 […]

My most recent flight training question comes from Holly who asks:
So I am a new student pilot.  So far, I really like my CFI. He’s very knowledgable, patient and we have we have a good raport. However, on our second official training flight, my CFI said we were going to learn slow flight and recovering […]

I just received an email from Scott, asking about what to do when you lose your logbook:
In previous years I have accumulated approx. 30 to 35 hours in student training in the air, either with my instructors or by myself, Unfortunately I have lost my log book. What should I do ? Both of my […]

Here’s a good question concerning logging of pilot time that I received from Don:
Can one log time as a safety pilot? If so, under what heading, eg, PIC, or a separate category “safety pilot“? Thanks.
First a quick review.
A “safety pilot” is a required flight crew member when another pilot is flying under simulated or actual […]

I have been really amazed at the timing of some of the questions I have been receiving from readers lately.  The last two questions that have been asked of me have been questions I have asked myself within the past week.  This morning’s question is a perfect example:
Paul, I’ve been teaching this gal with ADD…how […]

Here is a question I received this morning regarding required equipment for over water flights:
I’d like to fly to the Florida Keys. Of course, we all know the FAR about flying high enough to get to land power off. I can’t find the rule about flying over water and what the requirements are for equipment. […]

I received an outstanding question this afternoon concerning instrument approach visibility minimums from Michael.  His question went something like this:
I’m looking at the RNAV (GPS) Z Runway 31 at McNary Field in Salem, Oregon (SLE) and I can’t make sense of the minimum visibility requirements of the approach.   Why is it that the visibility requirements […]

Here is a flight training question from Frank:
Recently forced to retire from an airline career due to age 60; had 22 years of military flying before that, including appx 1500 hours of instuctor time in various military aircraft.
Do you know if the FAA has changed their rules to allow the military instructor time to count […]

We all know what a hold short line looks like right?

But do you recognize the markings in this picture?

These are the markings of an “enhanced taxiway centerline” part of the AC No: 150/5340-1J: Standards for Airport Markings. These particular photos were taken at my home airport and to be perfectly honest when someone asked […]

One of the questions I am often asked, especially when they learn that I fly a jet single-pilot, is, “What do you think about all these new VLJs?” This question is often followed by additional questions such as, “Do you think there will be a rash of VLJs accidents?” or “How are they going […]

Woke up this morning and saw that I got a question concerning requirements for the instrument written test:
Can I take an IFR written test without any endorsement? I am thinking of flying to Florida for the IFR training on G1000 equipped aircraft but if possible they recommend already having passed the knowledge test.
Well, kind of.  You […]

Received a question tonight from a northern aviator:
In Canada we have the Designated Airspace Handbook. It’s the legal document that defines Canada’s airspace.  Does the FAA have something similar?
Hi Blake.  I took a look at the link you sent me for the Canadian Designated Airspace Handbook and to answer your question, the U.S. federal government […]

Here’s a question that was recently sent to me:
It has happened to me twice recenely. I fly a Cessna 172R (1997). Under very normal weather conditions at low altitudes like 2,000 to 3,000 MSL, the RPM ramps up very high getting into the red zone and I have to pull the throttle back to almost […]

Received a question this morning from Jim:
When flying a piston single (e.g. C172), I’m trained to do a run-up before every leg of every trip. I can understand the value of a runup before the first leg of the trip — you want to be sure the engine is running fine. I’m less clear about […]

This question comes Michael:
I passed my IFR written nearly two years ago but failed to complete my training due to some  issues. I have to take the written again because the old test will soon go beyond the two year expiration. Is there a limit to the number of times you can take a written […]

This question comes from David:
How do you find an intersection that is off the airway your on without GPS/loran or a vector from ATC.  For example, let’s say your over PXN (cental california) cleared to the Oakey intersection.  Once I set up my radials to identify the fix, how do I estimate my ETA at […]

Received a question this morning from Kelly:
Hi. I am a multi-commercial, instrument rated pilot who received my training through the Air Force. I also have a single engine airplane private license which I got before I went into the military. Here’s my question? Do I have to take a checkride with […]

This question comes from Karl:
I’m thinking about buying a retractable gear aircraft with 250 HP engine from a CFI who lost his medical. I am certified in high perfomrance AC (C-182) but I only have under 2 hrs of retract time.
I’m interested in taking a flight in the AC and he tells me that since […]

How many times have you said that to yourself?
Last night was one of those nights. There was an amazing strong thunderstorm that passed through Chicago last night around 7:30 P.M. Right after it passed through, there was an amazing scene that I feel fortunate enough to witness. Picture this…dark clouds on the […]

AOPA recently released a video that contains the audio and video showing the radar on March 21 when on March 21, 2008 a F16 pilot apparently tried to successfully scare the absolute living daylights out of two general aviation pilots flying a Pilatus PC-12 and a Beechcraft Premier. Both aircraft were equipped with […]

This question comes from David:
Hi, I am a medical student and I wish to become a pilot after I finish my college. I am considering to go to a flight school in the U.S. but am confused about chosing the best one since I am overseas. Hope to hear from you soon.
David, thanks for your […]

I don’t know why, but I have noticed a lot of songs lately on the radio talk about flying private jets. That got me to do some research about airplane songs. Airplanes are featured in a LOT of songs! I found this great post at “Dictatorship of the Air” that suggested 10 songs […]

I was stumbling this afternoon and discovered an amazing collection of shots from the cockpit of aircraft around the world. You have to appreciate the lanyard around the pilot’s neck in photo 9 (the A320). Let me know what you think about these pictures. I think my favorite is the picture from […]