Meeting the requirements for a new FAA pilot certificate is a huge accomplishment that gives the certificate holder an exciting set of privileges. However, terms and conditions apply: there are limitations to what a newly minted pilot can do with their certificate. Join CFI Kyle Smathers as he presents an overview of the limitations of
A pilot learns to fly using the whole brain. Ground knowledge has to be absorbed and understood, and complex muscle memory skills need to be acquired to the point of mastery. Flight Instructors sometimes note that in reality the student teaches themselves to fly, and the instructor is only responsible for creating a safe training
Students and new pilots are increasingly flying with computer tablets, and using software that replaces paper charts and documents with the digital equivalents. These applications, such as ForeFlight, are extremely powerful and have a plethora of features. For a pilot just beginning to use ForeFlight, the choices and options seem overwhelming. Valuable features and capabilities
Flying in a 182 to the mountains might seem like the adventure of a lifetime, but how about flying a TBM 930 throughout Europe? For one Bay Area pilot, this was one of the most challenging but yet rewarding experiences he’s ever had, and he is wanting to share it with all of you. San
What is the most intense job interview you have ever had? When you knew you really wanted the position but also knew that one wrong answer would get your resume deposited in the circular file. For Commercial Pilots trying to enter the world of charter aviation and/or corporate flying, that first job interview may seem
Stand next to the SpaceX Booster and see just how large it is If Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon can make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, then FOG can make the LA Run in 1 day. Fly to LA and cross LAX to land at Hawthorne Airport aka Jack Northrop Field where SpaceX and its
Is this tiny nick on the propeller an airworthiness item? How perfect does the paint need to be to keep the propeller balanced? If my propeller isn’t completely broken, do I still need to send it to the shop? San Carlos Flight Center has invited Samantha Bloodhart of Sullivan Propellers for an enlightening and educational
As pilots, we love altitude. So much that we've created a bunch of different kinds of altitude: true altitude, absolute altitude, indicated altitude, assigned altitude, and two kinds of confusing ones - pressure altitude and density altitude. For many pilots, this can lead to a mental overload. Many pilots don't have a working understanding of
Most of us have only been on cross-country flights closer than 300 miles away from our home airport. Only a few of us venture to fly even longer distances. Flying gives us the freedom to go anywhere when we deem its safe, and for one pilot he chose to make the stretch across America. Dave
If disaster strikes, you might be forced to land the airplane in the middle of nowhere. What happens next? You try to call for help, but nothing shows up. It’s getting cold outside as night falls, how can we take advantage of the remaining pieces of my damaged aircraft beside me? Taking apart your Cessna
