Flight Training

Seemingly for generations pilots have argued over which controls speed and which controls altitude: power or pitch. At varying times the FAA contributed support to both sides with publications outlining flying techniques and training information. The very existence of the arguably adolescent-level debates ignores the hard reality: In powered aircraft neither one works alone. To […]

Logbooks as a means of preserving precious memories of flight are way overrated because most of us just jot down the basics, rarely making note of how scared, excited or inspired we were by a particular flight or lesson. So even if I could find my first logbook, it would be of no use in […]

Sure, we know what maneuvering speed is, we learned it in private pilot ground school. You know, Va-Design Maneuvering Speed. “This is the maximum speed at which the limit load can be imposed (either by gusts or full deflection of the control surfaces) without causing structural damage.” That’s the definition straight out of the old […]

AVweb’s weekly review of developments in aviation revealed news that Cessna delivered its 10,000th single-engine airplane from its Independence, Kansas, facility, Bell Helicopter broke ground on a new manufacturing facility, Cutter Aviation received a safety award, and the FAA authorized transition training in Bearhawk amateur-built aircraft. Textron Aviation Inc. announced that Cessna Aircraft Company delivered […]

Just as attendance at AirVenture earlier this month showed a brisk uptick, the flight training industry is also enjoying a modest growth spurt through the first part of 2014. According to an informal survey of more than a dozen flight schools across the country conducted by AVweb this month, virtually all report increased training activity […]

AVweb’s weekly review of what’s going on in aviation turned up news of everything from Beech’s delivery of new airplanes to the Mexican Navy, through word of CTI Professional Flight Training’s new training approval, to a new national commander of the Civil Air Patrol, to PlaneLogiX going live with its maintenance backup program. Beechcraft Corporation, […]

The world of training aircraft has all but reinvented itself since Diamond introduced the DA20 to the North American market nearly 20 years ago. When the Katana appeared, Diamond reasoned that the fleet of ancient Cessna 150s and 152s was growing weary and operators would lust for replacements. What it didn’t anticipate was a couple […]

It’s happened to every pilot at some time or another-suddenly the airplane isn’t doing what the pilot intends. Causes vary-his or her attention is diverted while hand flying, or spatial disorientation does its insidious thing or maybe its an upset due to turbulence. The deviation from the desired attitude can range from “Aw, nuts, I […]

Sure it’s a cliche, but examiners still occasionally offer the comment as they hand over the temporary IFR certificate to the newly minted instrument pilot: “Here’s your ticket to learn.” The implication is that while the applicant has passed the FAA requirements, there is much more to mastering this new environment. The first year following […]

For high-school and middle-school students, or anyone who dreams of becoming a pilot, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is now offering a free online course, Aviation 101. Twelve video lessons give students an introduction to the industry, with topics including aircraft systems, aerodynamics, flight instruments, airports, airspace, air traffic control, aeromedical factors, aviation weather, performance, navigation and […]