Pilot Proficiency

Perhaps you’ve heard the term “nowcasting.” The American Meteorological Society defines this word as “a short-term weather forecast, generally for the next few hours.” Pilots from all backgrounds are likely to recognize the immense value of this topic. In this article, we’ll talk about some down-to-earth techniques for how to accomplish nowcasting, without a lot […]

Your flight is short—just over an hour. What could happen? A lot. Solid clouds can develop on the way and hunker down into low bases by the time you descend for the destination. If it’s misty underneath, visibility likes to swing from marginal to none. Well, that’s why missed approaches and alternates exist. Meanwhile, it […]

A professional pilot reviews short- and soft-field takeoffs and landings at three grass strips, and explains why the experience is important for those flying for airlines.

It’s important to verbally communicate the responsibilities before a flight.

Tarmac pavement as it is known today was originally inspired by an accident outside a factory.

Without regular practice, skills can grow rusty.

If an automated surface observation system does not have a lightning sensor in the array, it may still report lightning.

Watching fireworks shows from the air can be done safely and legally, provided you take some precautions.

Every five years, such decisions are based on how much the Earth’s magnetic field changes.

The requirement for light sport aircraft is a maximum gross weight of no more than 1,320 pounds for land-based aircraft.