instructor tools

Gleim Virtual Cockpit®️ BATD Instructor Operating Station

Gleim recently launched the FAA-approved Gleim Virtual Cockpit®️ BATD. In only a month, Gleim has already delivered the simulator to flight schools, high school STEM education programs, student pilots, simulation enthusiasts, and government agencies in every corner of the United States and internationally who have found the system to compliment their training needs. The powerful simulator inclu...
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Deciphering Key Elements in the Chart Supplement

Chart Supplements are an incredibly useful source of information, providing extensive data regarding the airport environment. They are designed to be used in conjunction with Sectional Charts, High Enroute Charts, Low Enroute Charts, or other visual charts published by the FAA. Chart Supplements contain an Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), notices, associated data, and airport diagrams. An air...
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Introducing the Gleim Virtual Cockpit® BATD

Flight simulation has become a critical component of primary flight training. Simulators help pilots complete their flight training faster and they tend to learn more about their aircraft, systems, procedures, and maneuvers. This all helps students become safer pilots while also saving money. To help pilots-in-training, Gleim launched the X-Plane Flight Training Course in 2015 which revolutionized...
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Clearing up Generational Misconceptions

 I recently read an article that listed a number of problems with teaching millennials to become pilots. It was clear an assumption was made by the author that growing up in a high-tech world does not jive with old-school aviation technology. Yes, the characteristics of millennials differ from earlier generations, but don’t all generations have a degree of individuality? Rather than writing off an...
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Interactive E-6B Flight Computer Available Online for FREE

Every pilot will use a variation of the E-6B flight computer for flight planning calculations. The traditional E-6B is primarily used during flight training, as many pilots opt to use online flight planning apps post training. While some students use electronic E-6B computers, the manual E-6B flight computer has some significant advantages, including lower cost and reliability without power. The m...
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Understanding Eights-On-Pylons and Pivotal Altitude

During commercial pilot training, advanced maneuvers are required to further evaluate the student’s piloting abilities; one such maneuver is eights-on-pylons. In this maneuver, students are required to demonstrate a strong ability to divide attention between precise control of the aircraft while turning around a ground reference at a specific pivotal altitude, which is constantly changing with the...
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The Basics of Ground Reference Maneuvers

Of all the skills student pilots must develop, ground reference maneuvers (including rectangular course, turns around a point, and s-turns),are among the least understood. This article explains why these maneuvers are important and how to execute and conquer them. Why are ground reference maneuvers important? Ground reference maneuvers help students understand the relationship between flight...
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The Basics of Stall Recovery

Inadvertent stalls are are an example and loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and are a leading cause of fatal general aviation accidents. Many accidents involving stalls are caused by simple distractions. These accidents wouldn’t have occurred if the distractions had been avoided. The number of accidents could be further reduced by using proper technique to recover from a stall when one occurs. Ina...
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The Basics of Straight-and-Level and Slow Flight

One of the first maneuvers student pilots learn is how to fly straight-and-level. For a given airplane configuration, this maneuver is successful when the pilot can control the airplane with minimal altitude and heading changes. Except for basic instrument maneuvers, straight-and-level flight is not actually listed as a specific task in the Airman Certification Standards; however, it is a fundamen...
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Guide to Student Pilot Endorsements

Flight instructors carry one of the most important responsibilities when it comes to pilot certification – single-pilot endorsements. A CFI represents the FAA when they serve as an evaluator, and their role is crucial. A CFI’s pen carries the ability to authorize student pilots to exercise their solo privileges for the first time and operate as pilot in command. Beyond solo flight, CFIs endorse pi...
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How Instructors Should Use ACS Codes on Knowledge Test Reports

With testing standards transitioning from Practical Test Standards (PTS) to Airman Certification Standards (ACS), as of January 13th, 2020, knowledge test reports have begun listing missed questions as ACS codes. Why the change? The old PLT codes used were derived from references, which meant any given topic could have a number of different codes depending on where relevant information could be fo...
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How to Conduct Thorough Pre and Post-Flight Briefings

Two very important, yet often overlooked, aspects of flight training are the pre- and post-flight briefings. These briefings are frequently rushed (or skipped entirely!) because many do not realize the immense benefit they can offer. Between their anxiousness to get in the air and the sheer amount of they have yet to learn, new students can become inundated with information, which adversely affect...
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