Our aviation inspired blog is dedicated to all things related to airplanes and air travel. From the latest industry news and developments, to reviews of new aircraft models, to tips and tricks for making your next flight more comfortable, our blog is the go-to destination for aviation enthusiasts. We also feature stories of pilots, flight attendants, and other aviation professionals, as well as coverage of major air shows and events. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, a plane spotter, or just someone who loves all things aviation, our blog is sure to keep you informed and entertained.
Airline miles are most useful when they help you book a trip you actually want. Start with the itinerary, then compare points options with the cash alternative.
Continue reading Using Airline Miles: Compare the Whole Trip
Piper builds aircraft for different jobs, from flight training to personal and business travel. Choosing one starts with the mission: how many people you carry, how far you travel and which airports you use. The right model for learning basic skills may be a poor match for a long trip with a full cabin.
Continue reading Choosing a Piper Aircraft: Match the Model to the Mission
The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, or CAPS, is a whole-aircraft recovery system. It is intended to lower the aircraft and its occupants under a parachute in certain life-threatening emergencies. Its value is best understood as part of the aircraft’s overall design and the pilot’s training, rather than as a promise that every emergency will end safely.
Continue reading Cirrus CAPS: What the Aircraft Parachute Does
V-speeds are named airspeed limits or performance references. They are not divided into airspeed and engine-power categories. Their exact values come from the aircraft’s approved flight manual or pilot’s operating handbook and may change with weight, altitude, configuration or other specified conditions.
Continue reading V-Speeds Explained: Aircraft Limits and Performance
A pilot career does not follow one fixed eight-step ladder. Airline, instructional, corporate and other commercial flying have different entry requirements and lifestyles. Planning around a specific goal is more useful than assuming that each new certificate automatically leads to the next job.
Continue reading Pilot Career Progression: Planning Each Stage
Air traffic control helps organize aircraft movements on the ground and in the air. Controllers work with pilots to keep traffic flowing within applicable separation standards. The system includes people, procedures, communications and surveillance equipment; it is much more than the radar display shown in films.
Continue reading How Air Traffic Control Supports Airline Safety
Weather decisions begin before departure and continue throughout a flight. A useful plan connects the available information with the pilot’s qualifications, the aircraft’s limitations and realistic alternatives. This article introduces the subject; it is not a procedure for penetrating hazardous weather or conducting a particular flight.
Continue reading Aviation Weather Decisions: Planning and Limits
Early reports, night duty and changing time zones can make sleep difficult for pilots. Fatigue can affect judgment and attention even when someone feels capable of continuing. Planning rest is part of preparing for a flight, and a legal duty schedule does not by itself establish that an individual is fit to fly.
Continue reading Pilot Sleep and Fatigue: Building a Safer Rest Routine
An Airline Transport Pilot certificate, or ATP, is a pilot qualification, not an employment category. Some ATP holders fly passenger airlines; others work in cargo or corporate aviation, teach, or no longer work as airline pilots. Counting certificates therefore cannot tell us directly how many people are currently employed by airlines.
Continue reading What an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate Means
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, high-wing, single-engine airplane familiar to many flight students and private pilots. Its recognizable shape is only the starting point for understanding it. Aircraft built across different decades can have different engines, instruments, weights and equipment, even when they share the 172 name.
Continue reading Cessna 172 Skyhawk: A Model Guide