According to the 30th Joseph T. Nall Report, pilot-related accidents accounted for 65.5% of all general aviation accidents in 2018, of which 89 accidents were fatal. The FAA Risk Management handbook recognizes that flight training can be too heavily focused on just passing the written and practical tests, while ignoring safety principles and risk management....Read More

On 8 Dec 2014, a corporate jet carrying one pilot and two passengers crashed into a house in Montgomery County, Maryland, tragically killing all three occupants and a mother and two children on the ground. The NTSB reported that the aircraft encountered clouds and was exposed to structural icing conditions while descending to their destination....Read More

Filing a VFR flight plan and using Flight Following are excellent ways to provide an added margin of safety on all flights. Although these services are not mandatory for VFR flights, they are highly recommended. Many pilots are confused about the two services, what they provide, and are unsure of how to use them. VFR...Read More

Runway lines and markings help pilots identify the correct runway and how to align their aircraft with that runway during takeoff and landing. Although student pilots learn these markings early in their flight training, even experienced pilots occasionally use the wrong runway. Learning and reviewing these markings could help prevent a runway incursion, or worse,...Read More

On cross-country flights, pilots may be required to independently refuel at an airport before flying the next leg of the journey. Learn how to refuel your aircraft at a self service station, and the safety equipment available to you in this quick tutorial.Read More

Hazards Associated with Hydroplaning Wet weather season is upon us, and it is wise to review how to safely navigate inclement weather conditions. Wet weather can make air travel precarious both in the air and on the ground—during takeoffs and landings. In this article, we will address the types of hydroplanes, their causes, and how...Read More

Stress management is a topic that is often talked about in aviation theory but hardly ever utilized in practice. Students are often unaware of the reason why their training performance is declining or plateauing, even after flying for a significant amount of time. Although there could be several reasons for the slump, stress is a...Read More

How well do you know your aircraft? Whether you’ve been flying the same aircraft for several years, or are transitioning into a new make and model, knowing your plane is crucial to understanding its systems and limitations. Prior to a first solo flight, a student pilot will complete a presolo knowledge exam. This exam will,...Read More

Summer is here, and although there will be plenty of perfect flying days, pilots should be prepared for volatile weather, such as thunderstorms, which can pop up quickly and unexpectedly. While there are many hazards associated with thunderstorms, this article specifically addresses microbursts. Formation When a thunderstorm develops, the updraft can be so strong that...Read More

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...Read More