October, 2008

Where are flight instructors needed the most?

Freddie wrote me to ask:
Hi Paul. I have waited my entire life to finally get to this point where I am able to make flight teaching my one and only. My wife has taught high school for 25 years, and that helps a great deal so now I can devote my heart, soul and mind [...]

Special VFR at Night

Here’s the question Paul just sent me:
Special VFR at night requires, amongst other things, that the pilot be IFR-rated. But it strikes me that there is no requirement for the pilot to be IFR-current - is that true? Seems dangerous to me.
Well, Paul (great name by the way).  I agree with you that it would [...]

Does an alternator handle all the electrial load?

Here’s the question I received this morning from Jorge:
Hi could you please tell me if the alternator handles all of the electrical load?
It would have been easy to answer this question (yes) but I thought it would be fun to use a flash animation developed by MSAviation with some narration to demonstrate this point.  Here [...]

Lessons Learned

The FAA has just released a new web tool / service called “Lessons Learned” and it is worth checking out.  The idea behind the site of course, is learning lessons from aviation accidents.  And although the site focuses mainly on commercial transport category accidents, there is still something to be taken away for even an [...]

Aviation Photo Contest

Like most of the pilot’s that I know, I have another interest in addition to aviation, photography.  I love taking pictures, especially of airplanes.  That’s why my ears perked up when I got an email from my a fellow aviation blogger, Plastic Pilot.
In honor of 500th post at PlasticPilot.net, he is holding an aviation photo [...]

How do I become a ground instructor?

Rob wrote me and asked, in essense, “What do I have to do to become a ground instructor?”
Maybe it’s the economy and people are looking to utilize their skills sets but I am glad that so many people are thinking about instructing! Whether it is ground or flight instruction, general aviation needs you!
First off, there [...]

How do I become a CFI?

Steve from New York just sent me a question about how to become an flight instructor:
I want to train to be a CFI as a second career and I’m perplexed about the steps to take. I want thorough training so that I can be a professional CFI and be able train with confidence. I’m currently [...]

Can I get credit for previous training?

Just got a question from Kerry who asks:
I have a renewed interest in getting my private certificate. I did have over 40 hrs of flight time albeit 20 years ago. The school I received instruction from is no longer in business and I have no personal contact with the instructors I flew with. I believe [...]

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