Explore airplane flying techniques, flight training procedures, and practical aircraft operations. Learn about basic flight maneuvers, flight controls, ground operations, takeoffs, approaches and landings, performance maneuvers, night operations, emergency procedures, and upset prevention and recovery. Discover the operating characteristics of different airplane types, including complex, multiengine, tailwheel, turbopropeller-powered, and jet-powered aircraft. These resources provide pilots and student pilots with essential knowledge and practical guidance for developing flying skills, improving aircraft handling, and conducting safe and efficient flight operations.
The mechanical operation of an airplane at night is no different than operating the same airplane during the day. The airplane does not know if it is being operated in the dark or bright sunlight. It performs and responds to control inputs by the pilot. The pilot, however, is affected by various aspects of night … Read more
Basic flight maneuvers taught to pilots include: straight-and-level, turns, climbs, and descents. As training advances, other performance maneuvers serve to further develop piloting skills. Performance maneuvers enhance a pilot’s proficiency in flight control application, maneuver planning, situational awareness, and division of attention. To further that intent, performance maneuver design allows for the application of flight … Read more
There is an old saying that while takeoff is optional, landing is mandatory. In consideration of that adage, this section focuses on the approach to landing, factors that affect landings, types of landings, and aspects of faulty landings. A careful pilot knows that the safe outcome of a landing should never be in doubt. Pilots … Read more
Safe pilots take steps to prevent loss of control in flight (LOC-I), a leading cause of fatal general aviation accidents in the United States and commercial aviation accidents worldwide. LOC-I involves a significant deviation of an aircraft from its intended flightpath and often results from an airplane upset. Maneuvering is the most common phase of … Read more
Airplanes operate in an environment that is very different from that of automobiles. Drivers generally focus on forward movement and a relatively narrow field of view, and beginning pilots may initially approach flying in a similar way. However, flying requires a broader awareness of the airplane’s attitude, movement, and position in space. To develop this … Read more
All pilots must ensure that they place a strong emphasis on ground operations as this is where safe flight begins and ends. At no time should a pilot hastily consider ground operations without proper and effective thoroughness. This phase of flight provides the first opportunity for a pilot to safely assess the various factors of … Read more
Upon leveling off at cruising altitude, the pilot should allow the airplane to accelerate at climb power until cruising airspeed is achieved, and then cruise power and rpm should be set. To extract the maximum cruise performance from any airplane, the power setting tables provided by the manufacturer should be closely followed. If the cylinder … Read more
Good habits learned with single-engine airplanes are directly applicable to multiengine airplanes for preflight and engine start. Upon placing the airplane in motion to taxi, the new multiengine pilot notices several differences, however. The most obvious is the increased wingspan and the need for even greater vigilance while taxiing in close quarters. Ground handling may … Read more
It is beyond the scope of this site to incorporate a course of training in basic attitude instrument flying. This information is contained in the Instrument Flying section. Certain pilot certificates and/or associated ratings require training in instrument flying and a demonstration of specific instrument flying tasks on the practical test. Pilots and flight instructors … Read more
In most instances, the occurrence of an inadvertent door opening is not of great concern to the safety of a flight, but rather, the pilot’s reaction at the moment the incident happens. A door opening in flight may be accompanied by a sudden loud noise, sustained noise level, and possible vibration or buffeting. If a … Read more