Pilot Proficiency

When renting an aircraft, there are certain things you should be looking for in maintenance records.

Convection is something you probably deal with every day as a pilot, whether you’re aware of it or not. When you hear the word “convection” you might be thinking of a cumulus cloud or maybe the lively bubbling in a pot of boiling pasta. But the exact definition of convection is the spontaneous release of […]

Suffice to say we’re all guilty of at least one.

If you have assets to protect, then insurance is a good idea.

From year to year there may be a stark contrast in where severe weather strikes, especially thunderstorms that produce tornadoes.

For pilots, uttering the phrase “MAYDAY” means they’re in trouble—but have you ever wondered why?

The answer to this question can appear to be complicated unless you enjoy reading FAA regulations for amusement.

Since I began this column over 10 years ago, I’ve strived to write as though you’re with me in the weather operations center, looking over my shoulder and seeing things from my perspective. Since my entire life after high school has revolved around meteorology, it’s always seemed to me that there’s no better way to […]

Here’s why many pilots carry handheld radios in their flight bag.

With some very rare exceptions, the FAA should never take more than six months to a year to review your medical certificate application. That might seem like a long time to some pilots. For others stuck in the quagmire of successive information requests from the FAA, it might seem laughably naïve. To be clear, that […]