Pilot Proficiency

Delta Air Lines pilots walk FLYING through the instrument panel of the sophisticated, fuel-efficient Airbus A330-900neo.

Knowledgeable groups known as type clubs can provide a plethora of information about specific types of aircraft.

Headset, kneeboard—seat belt cutter? A flight instructor from Seattle, Washington, has added the latter to his must-haves when he flies, after he experienced an uncommanded loss of engine power and ended up putting the airplane into the water in West Seattle.

More Redbirds and scenarios await visitors year-round at Oshkosh.

Q: I’d like to complete my private pilot certificate—I’m disabled with my left foot shortened by 7 cm following a minor accident in 2007, with both hands and feet still in perfect condition. Is there any flight school available to pursue my dream? A: The short answer to your question is yes, there are flight […]

“Kick the tires and light the fires” is a cheeky reference to preflight checks and engine starts –  but is not a best practice for before flight actions for any aviator. Whatever stage of flying you are in, preflight checks before takeoff are a necessary element of your flight.  “Preflight action” is so important that […]

The aviation alphabet is a phonetic alphabet that is commonly used among pilots. The International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, developed a list of codes that coordinates to the letters of the standard English alphabet. This was meant to simplify communication between pilots and other positions that deal with air traffic throughout the world. Prior […]

Despite some of my instructors doing their best to drill into me how important a thorough post-flight walkaround was to end a flight properly, it wasn’t until some self-inflicted embarrassing experiences that I learned my lesson.  If you are familiar with this type of pilot error, you’ll also know that it’s likely you won’t notice […]

From our partners at Jet It. In today’s job market, pilots are at the helm of their careers. According to Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth, domestic airlines have more than 13,000 pilot positions to fill this year and in 2023.  The Upshot: Pilots Have Their Pick of Postings  So why is fractional jet ownership company […]

Mistakes breed in the shadowy land between the systematic and the instinctive.