Many light general aviation aircraft historically have been equipped with a traditional heading indicator-only instrument. As we modernize aircraft and as pilots fly bigger and better-equipped aircraft, they encounter aircraft panels equipped with HSI instruments of depictions on glass panels. … Continue reading →

ASA just released the Ninth Edition of the Multi-Engine Oral Exam Guide, a project I had the opportunity to help with updating this edition. This ninth edition of the Multi-Engine Pilot Oral Exam Guide softcover book aligns with the Airman … Continue reading →

Looking at ATP certification numbers is something that helps us gauge how many pilots we are pushing through the system to go into service in professional, primarily airline, pilot jobs. As we all hear current stories about reductions in hiring, … Continue reading →

The Eleventh Edition of the Aviation Supplies and Academics (ASA) Commercial Pilot Oral Exam Guide was just released on May 30th, 2024. Originally written by Michael D. Hayes, after his retirement I had the pleasure to again continue his work … Continue reading →

A few years ago I went back through a bunch of practical tests I had given and came up with some averages of how many hours people had when they completed practical tests. With a couple more years of tests … Continue reading →

Over many years of flying, there are a few things that I have run into that I keep in my aircraft or hangar that aren’t as common as others, have unique applications, or are just the best version I have … Continue reading →

Catching a late afternoon opportunity to get some clear skies and lower winds, before they are going to ramp up for a few days again, Charlie came home from her annual inspection. A new beacon on the tail, she had … Continue reading →

Want to get a quick big picture briefing for an area for a day? You can do this like the controllers to if you check out the Pre-Duty Wx Briefing that Center controllers get when the come on station each … Continue reading →

‘Tis the time for Charlie to get her yearly checkup again. Taking advantage of some of the nice spring weather on April Fool’s day, Charlie got warmed up and we headed out to drop her off for the annual inspection … Continue reading →

The FAA published on April 1st, 2024 much-awaited updated Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards for numerous certification tests. Applicants, CFIs, and DPEs are encouraged to become familiar with the updated and new documents for upcoming testing activities. The … Continue reading →

There is lots of other data that I (and hopefully you may) find interesting in the U.S. Civil Airman Statistics each year. Ok, I’m probably more of a data dork than most, but someone else has to join me in … Continue reading →

For the first time since 1999, we experienced a year-to-year overall decrease in the number of holders of FAA Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) certificates. For a long time, the average age of the holder of  CFI certificate was continuing to … Continue reading →

Some concern has been raised over the past year that anecdotal data was pointing to increased failure rates in practical tests. A decrease in applicant performance. Until we got some data, that was all it was, anecdotal. The good news … Continue reading →

The number of ATP certificates issued each year is something that helps us identify how many potential pilots are being qualified each year for service in airline operational environments. With active hiring over the past couple of years, the pressure … Continue reading →

Tracking pilot certification numbers each year allows us to understand how robustly our training system is producing potential future employable pilots for our aviation system. In a continued trend, and with demand for hiring strong, it again appears that certification … Continue reading →

The FAA’s airman knowledge testing numbers for 2023 were just released, and to little surprise, increases in testing volume were again experienced in most categories. With active hiring, a very positive outlook on the career path being spread, and training … Continue reading →

Commercial pilot certification is a process that requires pilots have specific and somewhat varied experience tasks completed to be eligible for the commercial pilot certificate. One of the requirements listed relates to night flying experience. Specifically, a commercial pilot must … Continue reading →

The Eleventh Edition of the Aviation Supplies and Academics (ASA) Commercial Pilot Oral Exam Guide was just released on January 15, 2024. Originally written by Michael D. Hayes, after his retirement I was honored with the opportunity to help keep … Continue reading →

Every year I find the reporting of how many CFIs signed off any applicants for a practical test a very interesting data point. While I don’t have the end-of-year numbers just yet regarding how many total CFI certificates were held … Continue reading →

Airline pilot hiring remained strong for most of 2023, and as such, so did the production of ATP pilots. With 2023 behind us, some early data is available that helps indicate how well our production of ATP pilot certificates compared … Continue reading →

Sometimes, there are pretty obvious cues that it isn’t the day for your checkride. As a DPE, I hear all kinds of justifications for why someone is choosing to go forward with the test on a particular day. In too … Continue reading →

Ok, I am biased, but if anyone is in the market for a pretty darn cool Carbon Cub, I can’t think of a cooler one than this that is on the market right now. Built by students at the West … Continue reading →

What counts as “cross-country” flight for pilots, especially those in training, can be confusing. Just to make it more so, there are multiple differing definitions of “cross-country” flight time that a pilot might be able to log depending on the … Continue reading →

Looking for improved aviation weather information before you fly? The soon-to-be updated AviationWeather.gov combines all your weather information into one place, the Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA). The GFA holds a plethora of weather data all in one customizable map. … Continue reading →

The FAA has updated the Aeronautical Chart User’s Guide effective as of Ocgober 5, 2023. Check out the updated gulde by clicking here. … Continue reading →

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Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit one of the coolest little grass strips I have been to in a long time! While attending the Stinson Summit in Quincy, IL, the attendees took Saturday morning to head out to 9I0 … Continue reading →

Tired of looking up codes from FAA knowledge tests the hard way? Me too, which is why I created a website to make that easier a few years. I recently reworked the website and expanded the functionality and options for … Continue reading →

A week or so ago I was talking with a friend at a flight training provider and we were discussing the challenges many flight training providers are experiencing at sourcing new employee CFIs as airline hiring has actively hired away … Continue reading →

Halfway through the year, the question of how we are tracking when it comes to the numbers of ATP certifications issued for airplane multi-engine pilot certificates. The numerical flow of issuance of these ATP certificates is directly related to how … Continue reading →

The WINGS Industry Network (WIN) administers the Paul and Fran Burger Sweepstakes. In 2023, WIN offers two sweepstakes drawings, each including cash AND prizes. The sweepstakes is designed to provide incentives to participate in the FAASTeam WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program. WIN offers … Continue reading →

The FAA has recently released an updated Advisory Circular on Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations (AC 90-66C), issued on June 6, 2023. This is a great document to brush up on your understanding of traffic pattern operations, study for any upcoming … Continue reading →

Sometimes, you just need to get out and fly a bit for fun. With a non-committed morning ahead of me and an opportunity to sleep in, it was a good night to take Charlie for a spin and reset some … Continue reading →

Pop quiz time. If you are an FAA Air Safety Inspector or NTSB Accident Investigator, pick three of the following six days you would choose to be on call for accidents. A. Christmas Day B. Easter Sunday C. New Year’s … Continue reading →

Charlie returned home today after what I am kind of thinking of as a “mid-life checkup. This year’s annual we dug in a little deeper than most require, did a couple upgrades, and generally tried to make sure her mid-life … Continue reading →

The ATP-CTP course pilots complete as they transition from being certificated as a commercial pilot to being employed by airlines is not doing what it was intended to do. In some ways it is serving as a hurdle to the … Continue reading →

Flight training to non-U.S. citizens remains a large part of the flight training community in the United States. This is something that FSANA gets and I work look at each year, with data provided by the TSA. The interest is … Continue reading →

Here are a couple videos that were forwarded to me that just might be good review for people flying in G1000-equipped aircraft (or taking practical tests!) … Continue reading →

The FAA has recently notified the industry that there will be reductions in the allowed time for applicants taking the Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) and Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) FAA knowledge tests. Administrated at PSI-operated authorized testing sites, these two … Continue reading →

Aircraft are a critical component of the business infrastructure of flight training. If we look back in history, we used to produce LOTS more aircraft per year. But times have changed. If we look at the graph below, we see … Continue reading →

I had a question asked a day ago regarding some of the data I have been publishing. It was, “I see some CFI certification issuance data you have put out, but I did I miss where you put something out … Continue reading →

After an icy-slushy crusty mix of weather the day before, it was time to take advantage of a few hours of good afternoon weather and a dried-off runway to get Charlie to where her annual inspection will happen this year. … Continue reading →

Some of the less commonly followed airman certification data points includes how we are doing with increasing the number of females pilots, how our CFI certification numbers are tracking, and a personal curiosity, what percentage of ATPs are being issued … Continue reading →

A request on a Facebook comment for what the pass rates on ATP certificate issuances got me wondering. I hadn’t previously been tracking this, just generally out of a perception that it was pretty stable and high generally. So, this … Continue reading →

The flight training industry knows that the training system has been putting out as much training and testing as humanly possible. Some might question if we are doing too much at the expense of safety for the result of numerical … Continue reading →

The pass rates on practical tests for initial issuance certificates, specifically the private pilot, the commercial pilot, and the flight instructor certificates went down in 2022 for the first time in the past few years. And it went down on … Continue reading →

A special thanks to the Michigan FAA Safety Team for the honor of Grand Rapids district and Michigan FAASTeam Representative of the year honors! … Continue reading →

The following is a screen record of the slides and audio from the 2023 Michigan Aviation Safety Forum (MASF) MI FAASTeam Presentation at Eastern Michigan University on February 11, 2023 – Non-Towered Airports Operations, Conflicts, and Remedies with Jason Blair … Continue reading →

Your student wants to use their aircraft, in this case, a Bonanza, to fly some of his friends to their boat in the Bahamas. There are 6 seats in the plane. The owner/student is not able to be PIC of … Continue reading →

The volume of ATP certificates issued in the United States is something that directly relates to our ability to provide pilots for commercial airline operations. As a base certificate requirement, only pilots who meet this certificate level can be employed … Continue reading →

It’s that time of the year when a data point is shared relating to how many instructors sign off applicants for certificates and ratings in the FAA system. Looking back at 2022, the flight training industry has felt great pressure … Continue reading →

Should pilots be trained as generalists, with a broad set of base skills, and then made into specialists for specific conditions and operational environments? Or should we be training pilots to specialize in a specific role and not worry about … Continue reading →

Have you earned a phase of FAA Wings this year? If you did a practical test with me, you probably did. And whether it was on a practical test with me, another DPE, or you earned a phase of FAA … Continue reading →

What is more important? The number of hours a pilot has to be an airline pilot or,r having the skills and proficiency as a well-rounded pilot? I can’t help but notice that what we say is more important versus what … Continue reading →

So, last winter I remember vividly the moment when I was laying in bed after a visit to my chiropractor thinking, “the most dangerous thing to me losing a medical might just be an icy airport ramp.” Ok, so a … Continue reading →

Every generation seems to think the next generation doesn’t work as hard, isn’t as talented, or doesn’t have the same motivation that their generation did when they were younger. I don’t think that has been any different in aviation training … Continue reading →

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When you ask most people where they think most pilots train to become airline pilots, they will answer “at a college or university.”  The data I have accumulated so far indicates that less than 20% of the aircraft we referenced … Continue reading →

Aimee and I took the opportunity this year to bring Charlie to visit with some other Stinsons (and their caretakers) a the 2022 Stinson Summit in Quincy, Il. After a quick flight over from 35D to KBTL to finish up … Continue reading →

Most people get to work in their land-based vehicles. That isn’t always the case for me, especially since most days I am going to an airport anyway. It is a pretty special thing to have an airport greet you as … Continue reading →

Not long ago I was on a flight during which we were setting up to fly an ILS approach at South Bend, IN (KSBN). The aircraft had a glass panel, a G1000 to be specific, and the approach was programmed … Continue reading →

In a continued effort to track ATP pilot certification numbers, I am sharing with readers the current status of production over the past 5 years on a monthly basis of ATP certificate issuances in the United States. The table below … Continue reading →

The Wings Industry Network has released a new application that makes it easier to issue, request, and administrate FAA Wings Credit in the FAA Safety Program. CFIs, DPEs, and students can access this site at https://www.ezwings.net. You create an icon … Continue reading →

A quick video discussing a variety of TFRs that goes beyond the most commonly covered presidential or stadium TFRs. I put this together quick after taking screen shots from around the country over the past few weeks of some examples … Continue reading →

Checkride [practical test] day is something that people look forward to, prepare for, and are nervous and excited to get completed. There is pressure. Pressure to perform, to get it done, and finally have that certificate or rating for which … Continue reading →

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There has been much discussion and banter about there being a pilot shortage. Some will say there isn’t, or that it isn’t a shortage, it’s a pay issue. You can call it whatever you want, or characterize why the current … Continue reading →

Holiday weekends mean accidents for general aviation pilots. It happens every year. Many of the FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) that I have talked with would rather be tasked with being on call on New Year’s Day, Christmas, or Thanksgiving … Continue reading →

Programming the correct things into your navigation system is pretty darn important. The wrong information in the navigation system gets you to the wrong place. And unless you are just looking for an adventure, or to get ATC grump, going … Continue reading →

With a forecast of a week of lousy flying weather ahead, it was a calm evening before the storm to take advantage of for a little night currency with Charlie. It didn’t take long for this, the second flight after … Continue reading →

One of the data points that stuck out to me this year in the U.S. Civil Airman Statistics relates to a continued jump in pass rates on initial CFI practical tests. A test for a certificate that has historically been … Continue reading →

I like looking at pilot certificate data. Those of you that read this blog probably already know this. But what about mechanics? Airplanes don’t fly, at least for long periods of time without mechanical attention. Our pilot population is aging, … Continue reading →

Each year that the FAA releases statistical data on U.S. airmen certification efforts, I, and probably a very small number of other people in our industry get excited. We dork out over the data and try to parse it in … Continue reading →

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Ever wonder how you compare to other CFIs when it comes to how many applicants you sign off for a practical test in a given year? The good news is that in a general sense we can help you figure … Continue reading →

The aviation industry is without a doubt in need of pilots to serve in the front offices, airline flight decks, that transport people and goods throughout the United States and internationally. There was a certain downturn in 2020 and a … Continue reading →

Many of us have memorized the minimum VOR service volumes for various VOR types, Terminal, Low, or High as a part of our training or the training and testing we provide. But those days are changing. As the FAA navigation … Continue reading →

The FAA has recently released a new Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C). DPEs, CFIs, and students should check it out in their training and testing efforts. Some of the updates in this version include adding information about the FAA Wings Program, … Continue reading →

Imagine you are a good CFI sitting around the airport while your student is flying the flight demonstration portion of their instrument practical test with a DPE, and, as you watch the FlightAware track generated by the ADS-B the aircraft … Continue reading →

Its always better when you get to fly to work, right? Well, Charlie let me do that for 4 days this past week thankfully. The weather behaved, checkrides were scheduled and got to happen as planned, and timing made sense … Continue reading →

Recently the FAA issued a new edition of the FAA Aeronautical Chart Users Guide which became effective June 17, 2021. Produced by the FAA, the guide is good for new and experienced pilots alike as a reference for all FAA … Continue reading →

The Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) (www.FSANA.com) is seeking feedback from CFIs and flight training providers about what is taught to instructors, how line staff are empowered to take actions that might affect safety, and how training providers … Continue reading →

A few who know me know that over the past year and a half I have had the opportunity to be a representative of the aviation training and testing industry on an FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee focused on recommending … Continue reading →

A quick post-maintenance flight home from the annual, and Charlie rests again in her hangar ready for another season of flying. Nothing major on the annual this time, just a little welding on some cracks on the exhaust before she … Continue reading →

With a year of uncertainty behind us there were questions about pilot certification numbers that many in the industry were asking. Did we keep training the next generation of pilots in 2020? How did flight training operations fair with shutdowns, … Continue reading →

Some things you just can’t get back. Like time. And time is what it takes to train pilots. About mid-way through 2020, as the country managed its responses to COVID-19, most regional airlines stopped hiring new pilots due to reductions … Continue reading →

Lately I have been asking fellow pilots and applicants on practical tests an interesting question. One that hopefully they never need to know the answer to, but one that if they do need, can make a situation much better. The … Continue reading →

Flying an approach will typically take a pilot along a specific path that keeps them clear of obstacles and aligns them with an intended landing point. When things work correctly or are properly conducted. When that isn’t the case, a … Continue reading →

After much work from some great friends who worked the maintenance hiccups, I have now had three successful, albeit cold, flight with Charlie and I in the last week. Phew! Time for us to start venturing out again and sharing … Continue reading →

Involved in flight training in the United States and feel like it has been a super busy summer? You aren’t alone. This year has felt very busy for many flight training providers, instructors, and pilot examiners around the country. There … Continue reading →

The FAA recently updated a number of the FAA Knowledge Test databases. Of particular note was updates to the Fundamentals of Instructing database of questions to incorporate changes from the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook (FAA-H-8093-9B) that was updated in May of … Continue reading →

We all know that airline passenger travel and overall airline flight operations have declined significantly during the effects of COVID-19. What we don’t know is the overall long term effects on the aviation industry that will be lasting, and potentially, … Continue reading →

It is far too early to tell a great deal from FAA data available, but with a little help from some data shared with industry members from a couple of FAA offices, we can certainly see that the impact on … Continue reading →

Training CFI applicants? Working to make sure you as a CFI have the most up-to-date information for your teaching efforts? Then make sure you have the most current version of the FAA’s Aviation Instructor’s Handbook. The biggest changes to this … Continue reading →

Dateline 6-7-2020 – 1 Year to the Day Charlie had a “Hiccup”. Happily, after much work, Charlie has returned to her hangar after some successful flight tests, after much work! A freshly overhauled carburetor (that really seemed to need it … Continue reading →

Every year when the FAA issues the previous year’s Airman Certification Statistics, I get a little giddy. I know. I’m a dork. But someone has to be, so it’s me. Well, and there are a few others in our industry … Continue reading →

When I soloed, I didn’t get my shirt cut, water dumped on me or dunked, a bell rung, or a bottle of champagne (I was 16, so that probably would have been a bad idea). I got a dollar. But … Continue reading →

In January of 2020, the FAA began a transition to knowledge tests that will no show AKTR codes as areas found deficient instead of the previously used LSC codes. Airman Certification Standards (ACS) Codes on AKTRs “If the applicant takes … Continue reading →

COVID-19 has put a major hiccup into our aviation system. Professional pilots are not flying and training providers are shut down and their customers have had to stop training. This is going to make the pilot shortage we have seen … Continue reading →

The broker or even the last owner may have no idea if there are any title liens on an aircraft. In many cases I have seen aircraft title searches turn up old liens that were either incorrectly or never cleared … Continue reading →

Not every mechanic knows every make and model well, and not every mechanic is as diligent in their research or has as robust of software to check all ADs on all components of the aircraft. Some of these ADs can … Continue reading →

Tracking FAA testing volume is one way to help determine what our flow of pilots looks like and what it might look like in the upcoming years. Two major pieces of this include the practical and knowledge tests. While the … Continue reading →

While helping another client this past year, I noticed that the aircraft looked like it had recently had an oil change when we dumped the filter. I got curious, asked that it be run for a while, noted the nervousness … Continue reading →

I always recommend that buyers engage a non-interested party to conduct a pre-buy. Remember, the broker is looking out for the best interest of the seller, not the buyer. This could mean bringing your mechanic with you when you look … Continue reading →

ATP pilot certification trends continue to head upwards with the 2019 numbers. That’s a good thing for filling the needed seats in U.S. airlines. Remembering that there was a major change in certification requirements in the past decade, we were … Continue reading →

Sometimes, you gotta pat your own back! And on your own birthday, why not, right? Well, I certainly have to pat the back of the publisher that helped make a cool project happen. Collecting all my notes from working with … Continue reading →

Ok, want to know how many other CFIs signed off as many, or more applicants for practical tests than you did in 2019? I can give you a little data that might put the work you did last year in … Continue reading →

As an examiner, having an appropriate location to do a practical test is not always a guaranteed thing even though it is something that is fairly important to the overall success of the practical test. I know to some readers … Continue reading →

FYI RE Airman Knowledge Tests! From a recent communication to DPEs, but important also for all flight instructors, the following communication from the FAA was indicated: Important changes to Knowledge Test Reports! Effective January 13, 2020, any applicant that wishes … Continue reading →

Pilots for whom DPEs conduct practical tests aren’t just applicants, they are also customers. As a DPE, there are many things that can be done to help improve the practical test experience, allay some concerns, and enhance the professionalism of … Continue reading →

Sometimes the questions I get asked on practical tests (checkrides) leave me a little befuddled and confused, even a little surprised that they are actually being asked. But, yet, they still get asked. Just for fun, I thought I would … Continue reading →

Practical Test (checkride) day is stressful enough. Any number of things can make it easier or make you more prepared, but as you do get ready, there are a few things many FAA Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) have noticed that … Continue reading →

Continuing the effort to track “how much time it becomes to get a _______________ pilot certificate/rating”, I have collected some more data from some additional examiners around the country and increased the sample size. It has even allowed some data … Continue reading →

Sometimes, you just get that lucky gap. On a recent flight, we found ourselves trying to go west through a big wall of thunderstorms climbing to altitudes over FL400, definitely higher than we could fly in the Twin Cessna. So, … Continue reading →

So how many flight hours DOES it take to get a private pilot certificate? Or an instrument rating? Or even a commercial pilot certificate? Well, the FAA does gather this data on the application forms that it collects when a … Continue reading →

You just botched that short field landing on your private pilot test. Ugg. The examiner issued you a notice of disapproval. What do you do now? Ask the examiner to let you try it again? Well, they can’t let you … Continue reading →

Check out the webinar I did for Sporty’s (www.Sportys.com) on Tips and Tricks to Pass Your Checkride … You can also find many more videos from Sporty’s on their YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDZjCZ1CA_I8VQW0zOxSBPw … Continue reading →

Sometimes, it’s better to put a plane on the ground. It can be a hard decision, but on a recent Friday it was the exact right decision. Flying around for the afternoon with a friend in Charlie, we found ourselves … Continue reading →

Every major holiday weekend in the summer, starting with Memorial Day, including the Fourth of July, and ending with Labor Day weekends results in higher than normal General Aviation accident rates. It happens every year. Without fault. Folks I know … Continue reading →

Imagine its an IFR day, not terrible down to the minimums IFR, but certainly IFR enough that you need to establish on the approach, transition beyond the final approach fix, and expect to break out somewhere along the approach to … Continue reading →

Releasing its 20 Year Aerospace Forecast, the FAA has again highlighted important considerations for the aerospace industry. Noting growth in the U.S. domestic passenger carriage sector over the next 20 years, the FAA credited positive economic indicators and lower overall … Continue reading →

RTS – Returned to Service Charlie. Well, winter is long in Michigan, and there is no rush to get an annual done when you drop the plane off to your mechanic at the end of January and it is just … Continue reading →

The FAA Wings program through the FAA Safety Team (www.FAASafety.gov) is a national effort to “improve the Nation’s aviation accident rate by conveying safety principles and practices through training, outreach, and education; while establishing partnerships and encouraging the continual growth … Continue reading →

There are lots of tips I could give you about doing better logging of your flight time, but there are three that could save you a big chunk of heartache if things go wrong. All three of these relate to … Continue reading →

The CFI practical test is definitely known as one of the hardest, longest, most grueling practical tests pilots take. As I have been giving them over the last couple of years, there are a few things that are standing out … Continue reading →

Ok, my wife says I am really a dork because I got excited when I saw that the 2018 FAA Airman Certificate Data was posted publicly. I told her that I couldn’t be the only person who thought it was … Continue reading →

Why drive when you can fly? Especially when you are going to an airport anyway! I didn’t do it every time I could over the past year, but one of the reasons we bought Charlie was to make the travel … Continue reading →

Flying a VOR approach? Asking yourself why you would do this instead of doing a GPS approach (assuming your aircraft is equipped with an IFR GPS system)? Well, the answer might be because there isn’t a GPS approach to the … Continue reading →

Round three of government shutdowns affect on FAA pilot testing activities. While some of the information is still coming on on the effects, this has been experienced before (in 2013, and a short version in January of 2018). Back in … Continue reading →

So, you have an aircraft (or are renting one) and want to help a political candidate fly to some meetings, rallies, parades, or any other type of event in furtherance of their election efforts. There are some rules here that … Continue reading →

“Airport XXX Traffic, Cessna N1234 Engine Out Runway 27.” Yup, that was the radio call I heard. Obviously, location and aircraft number have been changed to protect the pilot, an instructor, who made this call. When I hear this on … Continue reading →

“Sorry _______ approach, can you say that again? I missed your call while I was listening to the ATIS.” Or, worse, you hear “Aircraft N1234, third call, descend to 3000 and turn to 360 degrees.” It is common for pilots … Continue reading →

IFR pilots (or applicants on practical tests with me) will readily tell me the different types of VOR checks available, and many will even be able to find designated points they can use, but fewer apply some of the more … Continue reading →

So, what’s the best advice I can give a pilot who is in the early stages of their career? Well, it is kind of simple. Be mobile. Your first professional flying job is just that. The first one. There will … Continue reading →

The FAA has released final rules that offer changes to training and pilot certification requirements that will offer new flexibility in flight training and certification provision. The biggest change that will affect most flight training providers is the matching of … Continue reading →

‘‘Tis the season for landing on sod (grass) runways in much more of the country than it was just a few months ago. With the spring and summer weather comes a desire for many pilots to land on runways they … Continue reading →

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Today the FAA published FAA Notice N8900.463 which specifically addresses a change in policy in the Commercial Pilot ACS and the CFI PTS documents to allow for completion of a practical test without requiring demonstration of a complex aircraft on … Continue reading →

“What’s the highest you have had this plane?” It’s one of the most common questions I get when I tell someone I fly a friend’s Cessna 340. As if there is some special badge of accomplishment I get if I … Continue reading →

As someone who has been acting as a DPE for a significant period of time and still currently provide CFI services to clients, I hear all kinds of assumptions and myths about DPEs. After recently encountering a few of these … Continue reading →

UPDATE 2:30pm 1/22/18 – A short term funding extension has been passed so tomorrow things should be back up and running. As long as no other shutdowns develop, it should be back to normal operatons. Deja Vu all over again. … Continue reading →

While we all may be starting to wish Old Man Winter will take his leave of us soon, we still have a couple months of operating our aircraft, and Wings of Mercy trips during the colder season. This season brings … Continue reading →

‘Tiz the season for cold weather flying, and in a few cases, pilots may find the opportunity presents itself to do a few landings on a frozen lake or two! For pilots from the further north, the question of whether … Continue reading →

Flight training as a business has been going through changes in the past few years. In some respects, it is growing up and becoming a more stable, more mature business offering training for students seeking career pilot employment. These changes … Continue reading →

Whenever you send a new aircraft for its first maintenance work after you buy it, it is always a fear that you are going to find a bunch of things that need attention, and as a result, can get expensive. … Continue reading →

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Showing a pilot looking out the slid back window, soaring above clouds, with what would appear to be “the kids” in the back seat, the “great new Stinson Voyager” presents itself as the plane for the “everyman” (and I mean … Continue reading →

The 545am weather check showed major improvement from the day before, so it was time to get up and get on the way for the last leg of the trip to bring Charlie back to her new home, Allegan, Michigan … Continue reading →

So, the plan to get home looked like this. Unfortunately, the storms to the west moved in on Saturday evening, and by the time we were to leave on mid-morning Sunday, they covered most of the route, so it changed … Continue reading →

I don’t think anyone really gets to own an airplane. Instead, I think you become a caretaker of a machine with a soul. You adopt it, become its protector and promoter and if you do a good job it takes you on adventures. … Continue reading →

The FAA has proposed changes to AC 61-98D, Currency Requirements and Guidance for the Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check. This a good opportunity for the flight training community to review the document and any proposed changes and then provide feedback … Continue reading →

A recent recommendation of an FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) proposed that the FAA change long-standing requirements under FAR 61.195(h)(2)(iii) that a CFI must have been a CFI for more than 24 months before they are authorized to train … Continue reading →

A good instructor must stay up-to-date on what is happening in the aviation training industry to be able to provide quality training to their students. The hard part is finding resources that keep you up-to-date, without having to go digging … Continue reading →

Below are some recent data points in tracking commercial pilot and ATP pilot initial FAA certificate issuances. The source of the data is derived from FAA original certificate issuance by each period data and has been compiled to the current … Continue reading →

Check out the webinar I did for Sporty’s (www.Sportys.com) on How to Prepare and Pass Your Checkride – Tips from a Pilot Examiner… You can also find many more videos from Sporty’s on their YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDZjCZ1CA_I8VQW0zOxSBPw … Continue reading →

The FAA has released the new ACS standards for the Commercial Pilot Certificate along with updates to the Instrument and Private Pilot ACS. These documents become effective on June 12, 2017. All parties involved with receiving and/or providing training and … Continue reading →

In accordance with federal guideline changes, on April 1, 2016, the FAA was required to issue plastic student pilot certificates, breaking from the historically issued joint FAA Medical/Student pilot certificate. Whenever a change like this happens, it is always interesting … Continue reading →

Recent data from the FAA empirically indicates that we are experiencing a declining trend in US Commercial Multi-Engine pilot and ATP certificates being issued. There are many motivations for whether people choose to become pilots and seek professional employment in the … Continue reading →

In multiple discussions over the past year or so, the question of the Mode C veil around a Class B airport applies to “drones” has come up. With a lack of an ability to definitively Here is what was asked: … Continue reading →

Scenic and uneventful. The best way I like to describe a ferry, transfer, or delivery flight, especially one of significant distance. If it is scenic, it typically means it is VFR and the travel can continue, and if it is … Continue reading →

An FAA/Industry group has been working to decrease delays in scheduling of practical tests that are being experienced in some regions recently. As this work continues, an effort to better understand where and why some of these delays are being experienced … Continue reading →

Tired of trying to look up FAA Knowledge Test Codes for your student or applicant in a pdf file or on a scrolling website? So was I. So, I created a website that does it for you with help from … Continue reading →

Determining how much it costs to buy, own, and operate an aircraft isn’t just about the initial purchase price. There is much more to consider, including things like maintenance, hangar costs, insurance costs, any loan costs you may have, or … Continue reading →

Ever have a hard time determining the correct aircraft model, make, or code to enter into IACRA for an applicant’s practical test? I know I have! Some aircraft are much harder to find than others, so here is a little … Continue reading →

One of the major benefits of flying higher, is that you get to descend for a longer distance, using less fuel, and typically at a faster speed across the ground. But taking advantage of these longer descents takes a little … Continue reading →

In a recent practical test, I ran into the IACRA challenge that the aircraft to be used for the test, in this case, a Flight Design CT, was not available in the list of aircraft for the applicant in IACRA. … Continue reading →

Designated Pilot Examiners have experienced discussion debating what was intended in the private pilot airman certification standards (ACS) for use when demonstrating use of an installed electronic navigation system and demonstrating use of installed navigation equipment function and displays under … Continue reading →

For those of us who have flown IFR actively, we know that sometimes a 500′ overcast ceiling will allow us to easily get down an ILS approach to our destination airport when sometimes the same reported 500′ ceiling on an … Continue reading →

UPDATE – June 2017: With the implementation of the updated Instrument pilot ACS standards that become effecitve June 12, 2017, the DME arc is no longer required to be demonstrated on an instrument pilot practical test. It is required as … Continue reading →

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We have a major problem brewing in the GA aviation sector:  we are going to run out of planes. Through the 1950’s, ‘60’s, and ‘70’s, aircraft manufacturers pumped out thousands of aircraft that the general aviation flying public bought and … Continue reading →

Ever line up to land on a runway you have been cleared for only to find out that you were slightly off and it was the wrong runway? I’ll admit it, I have done it. Ever not notice it until … Continue reading →

A friend recently texted me a picture. It was a flight track screen shot of a plane a contact of his was onboard when they experienced a catastrophic pressurization system failure. The flight was a demonstration flight for a Citation … Continue reading →

A couple of short years ago, the certification process for ATP pilots changed. We are all familiar with the reasons and what the changes were, but we are starting to see data that can help forecast some of the effects. … Continue reading →

As the weather gets better in the spring and summer months, many of us fly more for pleasure than during the winter months. A fantastic pleasure flight that many of us do near the Great Lakes is to fly the … Continue reading →

Changes to the issuance of the FAA student pilot certificate now allow CFIs to issue student pilot certificates. Click here for a pdf that is a step by step walk through of the process for the student and the CFI. … Continue reading →

Get Ready for the ACS – Airman Certification Standards! These represent exciting improvements are on the horizon for airman testing and training. Effective June 15, applicants for the private pilot certificate (airplane category) and the instrument rating (airplane category) will … Continue reading →

When we fly as pilots in volunteer organizations such as those that fly patients for medical treatment, veterans for memorial services, wounded warriors, or even animals to places of new homes, we do so with the trust of those people … Continue reading →

While this winter has been warm to start, it will get colder. And winter flying increases the likelihood that pilots will experience carbon monoxide while flying. The FAR/AIM details some information in section 8-1-4 (Click here to see more – … Continue reading →

We did this video a couple years ago to use with a presentation at the AOPA Summit in Palm Springs, but I thought I would share it in a public forum now. This wasn’t a real checkride, obviously, but it … Continue reading →

Over the past month, I have on at least 3 occasions noted prior to flights that the approaches I would normally have intended to use for my destination airport were Out of Service when I checked NOTAMs. This was able … Continue reading →

  I was talking with an acquaintance not long ago who was complaining about a commercial flight that had arrived 20 minutes late and how much of a problem it was and it got me thinking. Twenty minutes is actually … Continue reading →

Gliding is for gliders, right? Well, it’s not just for them. Something I notice in many checkrides I give and I know is the case for many pilots is that they don’t really know how to “glide” the aircraft they … Continue reading →

It has been a long time since I wasn’t in the air for more than two weeks. In fact, it may have been more than a decade since this happened. Wow. Wonder when the shivers of withdrawal will start? They … Continue reading →

I would like to share a few reflections and tips from recent practical tests I have given. In most cases, the tests I have given are proof of fantastic candidates who are dedicated to learning and progressing as pilots, but … Continue reading →

Well, the GPS was working properly after all on the flight from the previous post (Normally when a pilot had a depiction of 3.9 nautical DME miles from a Class D airport and hadn’t talked with the tower on a … Continue reading →

In this case, things weren’t exactly as they seemed, and a little more detail is required, and it brought up a very interesting question. What if your GPS data is not depicting correctly. If you look at the first picture … Continue reading →

The question of a pilot shortage continues to draw comments from all sides of the discussion, showing that interests instead of fact may be what are gaining media press, clouding the real situation from real analysis. The Air Line Pilots … Continue reading →

Well, with more information in hand, the trip may happen in the future. While a number of things remained outstanding for our original proposed date of departure, the day came and went without solution, for good reason. We have since … Continue reading →

Just an odd follow up…I think this speaks volumes why I would have chosen a coastal route. … Continue reading →

With less than a week to go before the proposed departure, the question of is it time to pull the plug on the trip looms. A pilot must know when to say no right? And if too many things are … Continue reading →

Wow. Less than two weeks to launch.The goal is launch on Sunday, May 3rd. I am pretty certain it is going to by very fast and there is much yet to do. Much has been done, but a trip like … Continue reading →

Ever find yourself flying en route on a long leg and start wondering if those storms you were watching before you left had moved at all? How about if the ceilings had come up enough that you could plan for … Continue reading →

Had a great flight today in the 337. A nice climb out of Jacksonville up to 10,000 MSL and I headed enroute using GPS direct (and I’ll be honest, the autopilot most of the way) to Knoxville for a half … Continue reading →

Ok, so a slight change of plans. The plane is mostly good go to, but we are now going to bring it up to Michigan for the few weeks before our planned departure to deal with the minor discrepancies I … Continue reading →

AFter a thoroughough pre-flight and a review of the logbooks…she looks good to go. Annnual is good through the end of May and pretty much everything works. Only discrepancies were a beacon bulb that isn’t working now and will be … Continue reading →

Starbucks and Chic Fil A secured…time to drive to Jacksonville to check out the 337 and to get me checked out in the it. Next stop… Jacksonville. … Continue reading →

The job…. Ferry a Cessna 337 from Jacksonville, FL to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is something that I have never done before, but want to expand my pilot experiences and said I would do when the offer was made to … Continue reading →

Weather is a major factor in the ability for pilots to safely and successfully conduct flights. It is the same for pilots seeking training. We all know that cancelling training flights slows down training, can result in increased training costs, … Continue reading →

Here is a video from in the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Runway Safety online course….with a special appearance from Jason Blair. Check out the full course at: http://www.aopa.org/lms/courses/runway-safety/ … Continue reading →

Here is a video from in the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Runway Safety online course….with a special appearance from Jason Blair. Check out the full course at: http://www.aopa.org/lms/courses/runway-safety/ … Continue reading →

Here is a video from in the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Runway Safety online course….with a special appearance from Jason Blair. Check out the full course at: http://www.aopa.org/lms/courses/runway-safety/ … Continue reading →

A couple of the biggest accidents in aviation history have been the result of “runway incursions” where more than one aircraft were on a runway at eh same time due to confusion, missed clearances, or just human error. Avoiding runway … Continue reading →

“Ok, so let’s do a turn around a point next.” Common words I say to a student as an instructor and as a DPE examiner. This is most commonly followed by the student or applicant setting up at an altitude … Continue reading →

Flying in the summer months at Battle Creek, Michigan is, on average, almost 40% more likely to result in experiencing weather conditions that allow flight training to be successfully completed. Flying when the weather is better allows more flight training … Continue reading →

“I just don’t feel like I’m inspired to fly,” a good friend of mine said in a conversation we had not too long ago. We were having a long conversation about the state of General Aviation when we came to … Continue reading →

Remember those vague Area Forecasts (FAs) that you try to interpret and figure out what portions of what areas the un-decoded text is talking about as you think about alternate minimums, cloud ceilings over an area bigger than a TAF … Continue reading →

One of the most thankless jobs in aviation has to be that of an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI). This cadre of experienced aviation professionals has made the choice to work for the government bureaucracy that is the FAA and … Continue reading →

Fall flying brings us all back to needing to worry about icing on our flights, but still gives us warm enough days that flights in IFR conditions may sometimes still be able to be completed. We all know that icing … Continue reading →

A global pilot shortage continues to grow, airlines airlines in the United States (with regional airlines being hit hardest) continue to feel the pilot shortage. On a global basis, Asia and the Middle East continue to see the largest growth … Continue reading →

Vehicle ends up in pond. Everyone gets out safely. Can you imagine this making national news if it were a car? Even a bus? Probably not. But if it happens with a jet it will be major news. Don’t believe … Continue reading →

Not every phone briefing you get is the same. Not every briefing you get is complete. If you don’t know what you are missing, you might miss something important. In some cases, getting a local briefer can be important to … Continue reading →

In 1999, there were 79,684 flight instructors according to FAA records. By last year, there our numbers had risen to 98,328, an increase of 23% in just 10 years. This however isn’t necessarily an indication that we have a greater … Continue reading →

Little things motivate us in aviation sometimes. Sometimes they motivate us to stay engaged when we might not otherwise do so. It is these little things that sometimes keep people from giving up on dreams, leaving a reminder for us … Continue reading →

The United States has been the world leader in training pilots for many years, but the words “has been” might be more applicable in the near future than we might desire. As airlines expand in international markets, a strong desire … Continue reading →

In our first century of aviation, many professional pilots got their training at local airports. A few went away to “schools” that offered promise of jobs and career prospects, and during times of war, many were trained in the military, … Continue reading →

The last twenty years or so aviation training has seen aircraft used that, well, worked. They haven’t been ideal. We have used old airplanes, airplanes that cost a lot, airplanes that are too big, and in some cases aircraft that … Continue reading →

Sometimes when you choose between two paths in the woods, you choose the path less taken. Sometimes this is the wrong path. General aviation has chosen the wrong path when we started walking down the road toward Light Sport Aircraft. … Continue reading →

New aircraft are expensive. I doubt anyone will disagree with this statement. But exactly “how” expensive are they and are they “affordable” for Americans? And has their cost in relation to consumer buying power relegated modern GA aircraft manufacturers to … Continue reading →

Owning an aircraft comes with additional responsibilities beyond that of just being the pilot that flies the plane. The owner of an aircraft is responsible for ensuring that it is maintained and operated in accordance with FAA inspection requirements. Most … Continue reading →

I still don’t know why I learned to fly, but for some reason I almost feel like it was always in my blood. Perhaps it was, even though when I began, I didn’t know it. Yesteray I received a letter … Continue reading →

We all are hoping that the government shutdown will be over soon, but in the mean time, a few things that are important for instructors and examiners to know: FAA Knowledge Tests Halted – FAA knowledge test providers have been … Continue reading →

Aircraft rental and instruction rates are too low in many places around the country. I know, this sounds blasphemous and like I am advocating that companies raise their rates just so they can make more profit. There is no doubt … Continue reading →

The image of the senior pilot carrying his big flight bag full of charts, plotters, headsets, and other goodies is one that remains strong in my mind from my initial days of flight training. The big flight bag full of … Continue reading →

New students and their completions isn’t the only answer to the dropping activity levels we have seen in aviation over recent years. Over the past two years, much has been highlighted about instructors need to “do a better job” at … Continue reading →

The argument over user fees for general aviation activities doesn’t seem to be going away. The President keeps putting them back into his budget proposals. Outside the U.S., user fees have had significant effects on GA activities in other countries. … Continue reading →

Just three months from now, the United States aviation system is poised to experience one of the most significant regulatory changes in its history; the deadline for implementation of the requirements of Public Law 111-216. On August 2, 2013, along … Continue reading →

We discuss aviation safety regularly in the aviation industry, promoting safer operations, discussing previous accidents, helping pilots make the self-evaluative decisions that are intended to make them safer pilots. But what is our communal role? Do we have a greater … Continue reading →

I think I might be an airport snob. I know, it is a weird statement to make, but I will explain. I have historically flown a significant number of hours in my aircraft each year for business and personal travel, … Continue reading →

Travelling by use of general aviation (GA) aircraft is extremely effective for pilots who take advantage of the benefits. Many times our job as an instructor is to convince our customers that becoming pilots is a logical choice, a useful … Continue reading →

Discussion surrounding FAA Control Tower closures as a result of sequestration has dominated the transportation community recently. Some of the concerns and opinions are valid, while others could be characterized as fear-mongering. In any case, sequestration cuts will likely result … Continue reading →

This is much debated at the national level. In Michigan, we are currently charging $350.00 for most checkrides (private, instrument, commercial, etc) and $500.00 for CFI checkrides. For most examiners, a practical test takes roughly 5 hours from start of … Continue reading →

This week we heard President Obama discuss the State of the Union. This got me thinking about the state of the flight training industry, so I decided to take a stab at my own version of a “State of the … Continue reading →

N7801U – that’s the first plane I ever flew. It was a Cessna 150.  I soloed in it too.  I didn’t get my private pilot certificate in it, that was in N13527, a Cessna 172.  I also did my instrument … Continue reading →

As an instructor and pilot examiner, many times when I train or test private pilots, they ask me if they need to get an instrument rating to really be able to fly for travel.  I started thinking about the question … Continue reading →

An Examination of the Impacts of Reduced Training Capacity, and the Declining Rates of Airmen Certification by:  Jason Blair & Jonathon Freye To download a pdf of this paper click here. Executive Summary Industry forecasts predict that the North American … Continue reading →

I drove to work last week. It’s a new thing for me. It’s only the third time I’ve really done it in the last two-and-a-half years. The trip takes me from roughly Grand Rapids, Michigan to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It’s a … Continue reading →

Check out the webinar I did for EAA on How to Pass Checkride … … Continue reading →

by Jason Blair  Originally published in NAFI Mentor Magazine, April, 2008 Click Here to View a PDF of the Article As instructors, we have the duty to provide training to our students that simulates potential emergency situations. Our intent is … Continue reading →