Guides

One quick way to improve the quality of your flight training is to acquire a copy of the airman certification standards (ACS) for the certificate you seek and measure yourself against the metrics provided. When you are beginning your aviation journey, you don’t know what you don’t know—the ACS is a means of determining what […]

Several years ago, a pilot friend and former aircraft owner told me that owning an airplane is “more expensive than you would ever imagine,” and that was assuming I already imagined that it would be extremely expensive, even staggeringly so. Today, as I shop for my own airplane after years of renting, I realize he […]

When you climb into the cockpit, your eyes become your most important asset in ensuring a safe flight. Sunglasses are key to protecting your sight. Here are some of FLYING‘s favorite aviator sunglasses that also allow for customization with prescription lenses if needed. Quicklook: Best Aviator Prescription Sunglasses Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses:  Best for classically styled […]

Learning how to accurately determine the density altitude is a critical skill that all pilots must master to fly safely. Airplanes simply cannot perform as effectively in low-density air, potentially putting pilots, passengers, and other aircraft at risk. Specifically, a high-density altitude can impact aircraft performance during takeoff and climb. It can also affect the […]

The endorsement has no corresponding check ride or minimum number of flight or ground hours to be completed.

To handle all the traffic flying in the sky in a safe and consistent manner, the FAA developed the National Airspace System. It divides the sky into sectors that serve different volumes of traffic or contain specific activities. Each airspace has different operational rules, pilot responsibilities, and even weather requirements to operate. How are Airspace […]

Aviation is filled with acronyms. Two of the first pilots are required to learn are IFR and VFR. IFR stands for instrument flight rules. VFR is visual flight rules. So what’s the difference? Let’s break it down. What Is VFR? Visual flight rules (VFR), created by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), govern how to pilot […]

Here are 10 of our top recommendations.

Here are some of the standout flight bags on the market based upon the size, price, and capacity.

Before contracting a jet management company, ask these questions to ensure it is the right fit for you.