We're back again with the second part of our epic voyage into the exciting world of pre-flight prep! If you're not up-to-date, click here for part 1 before reading on. Without further ado, let's get back to it with a look at serviceability. Serviceability The pilot’s aerial steed must also be in serviceable ...
When preparing to go flying, every pilot, from the captain of a Boeing 747, to the pilot of a microlight, must consider a number of factors in order to determine that they can safely complete the flight - including weather conditions, aircraft serviceability, and the pilot’s qualifications and experience. There's ...
Part of gaining your Private Pilot’s License is learning how to communicate using the aircraft’s radio. A number of students fear talking over the airwaves; some of mine have said it’s the scariest part of flight training! However, knowledge dispels fear. Here, we share some tips and tricks to promote good radio ...
If you've ever looked at one of those big bulky full-motion flight simulators wobbling around seemingly without rhyme or reason, you'd be forgiven for thinking that they might be better for simulating sea sickness than anything approaching a realistic flight experience. From the outside, what looks like a set of ...
The odds of an engine failure in a light aircraft are pretty low - in fact, statistics show your car journey to the airfield carries a higher risk! Even so, after thorough training, students will need to demonstrate their ability to safely carry out an emergency landing during their final license test. We outline the ...
The dream of flying in a Spitfire is shared by many pilots and aviation enthusiasts. To many, the Spitfire needs no introduction; the single-seat WW2 fighter is often synonymous with the glamour and bravery of RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain, and is one of the most recognisable historic aircraft today. ...
Many student pilots plan to own an aircraft after gaining their license, and have spent some time considering the various types on offer. However, it may not be obvious that many of those types are available to be built at home, by pilots. In fact, some pilots may have built the very aeroplane they learnt to fly in! ...
We’re very fortunate to have an excellent Air Traffic Control (ATC) system in the UK: there are number of high quality services available to private pilots, providing superb levels of safety and capability. New and inexperienced pilots can sometimes fail to get the best out of these services. Here we outline these ...
Talking about parachuting with a group of pilots usually elicits one of the following responses: ‘Jump out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft? You must be joking!’ or 'Did someone say parachute? Yes! Let’s go! I am a skydiver!’ The art of parachuting has come a long way since the 1400s when the ...
Microlights could be described as hang gliders with engines and undoubtedly afford the pilot a fantastic, air-in-the-face experience with views that must come close to what birds see. So how did they evolve? The idea for the hang glider came from NASA and the need to give Space Shuttle astronauts an emergency ...
