In aviation, altitude is far more complex than its dictionary definition. Pilots use several types of altitude for varying purposes, which include reading aeronautical charts, communicating with ATC, and calculating aircraft performance. In this short guide, you’ll learn about the different altitude types and their significance. Let’s start with the simplest one. Indicated Altitude The
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Pilot health constitutes a crucial safety element in aviation. Most aviators require some proof of medical fitness to exercise the privileges of their airman certificate, which often entails passing a medical exam and meeting specific medical standards. The pilot medical certification in the U.S. falls into three categories: FAA medical certificate, U.S. driver’s license, or
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LASIK surgery has become a widespread surgery since its inception in the late 1990s. The treatment has restored vision to millions of people without complications. As pilots, however, our vision is of utmost importance. Therefore, it is essential to understand the benefits, risks, and legal implications that LASIK surgery may have on your flying career.
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We’ve all been there. You need to calculate when and how quickly you need to descend—so much math, not enough time. Luckily, in this article, we’ll clearly explain two rules of thumb that will allow you to calculate your Top of Descent (TOD) and your Rate of Descent (ROD) so that you can make descents
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You may have noticed the seemingly random flashing and solid lights on an aircraft and wondered what they are supposed to mean. This article will explain all the different lights you may encounter on an airplane and their purpose. Although every aircraft may have slightly different lights, a framework of the same types of lights
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Becoming the holder of a PPL (Private Pilot License) opens a door of opportunity. Furthermore, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) allows you to fly at night with this license, further expanding the options available to you as a private pilot. This article will explain the FAA PPL night requirements and how they differ from the
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There are numerous ways to measure your airspeed. We talk about 6 different ways below: 1. Indicated Airspeed (IAS) The direct instrument reading obtained from the Airspeed Indicator (ASI), uncorrected for variations in atmospheric density, installation error, or instrument error. The Airspeed Indicator (ASI) measures the difference between the static pressure from the aircraft’s static
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For a passenger, aviation law is a concept that receives little thought during a flight. To a pilot, however, aviation laws are the rules by which they operate to ensure the highest level of safety. Different restrictions apply to different types of flights, and they can often create confusion. In this article, we’ll explain the
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The past year has certainly proven to be an interesting time for the aviation industry. With commercial air transport suffering a huge decline, airlines lost billions of dollars in revenue. This decline also cascaded to the rest of the tourism industry with a loss of up to 1.1 billion tourists in a year. One question
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Have you ever wondered how aircraft can fly in heavy snowfall? Does your heart miss a beat when you nearly slip on the snow when boarding the aircraft, only to take off minutes later? This article will explain some of the misconceptions surrounding aircraft operations in snow and how they manage to do it! Where
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