The saying “in like a lion out like a lamb” is most often used for March, but April can also be a crazy weather month. While aviation training tends to focus on the go/no-go decision, equally critical are the continue/divert decisions that happen quite literally throughout the flight. Once the decision is made to divert, the next decision is to return to the departure, continue to the alternate (which was determined as part of flight planning), or pick a new destination to get out of the weather. Pilots must consider each of these factors, relative to both their capabilities as the pilot as we ..read more

For the past several years, the FAA has been working on an update for the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS). Monday, using a process called incorporation by reference (IBR), Parts 61, 63, and 65 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) have been amended, and the new standards are now regulatory as outlined in 14 CFR 61.43. Several brand-new ACS have been published to replace the former PTS and will become effective as of May 31, 2024. Through IBR, several brand-new ACS are now available: Certification Change Old New Instrument Rating He ..read more

If you’re a remote pilot, you should know that March 16, 2024, is an important date regarding the enforcement of Remote ID for drones. The FAA has been working to safely and securely integrate UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) into the national airspace system. This has included a move toward drones broadcasting their identification and location through Remote ID (remote identification) unless they are operating in a FRIA (FAA-recognized identification area). Any drone that needs to be registered or that has been registered must comply with Remote ID regulatory requirements as outlined in 14 CFR ..read more

Some of the most important jargon you’ll learn as a pilot has to be how to read a METAR. These “aviation routine weather reports” provide pilots with an accurate depiction of current weather conditions at an airport. METARs are issued on a regularly scheduled basis, usually close to the top of the hour, unless significant weather changes have occurred between routine reports, causing a special METAR, or SPECI, to be issued. METARs use a standard international format (which may as well be called an encryption) that this post will help you decipher. First of all, METAR as an abbreviation is vagu ..read more

If you hang out around aviation enthusiasts, you may have heard the term mosaic a whole lot more often in recent months. What is this term and how does it apply to you? No bits of ceramic are used to make art in this type of MOSAIC. It stands for Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification and could make a huge difference in the future of general aviation. First published by the FAA in July, the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for MOSAIC is available for comment until January 22, 2024.1 In 2004, the FAA published the final rule titled “Certification of Aircraft and Airmen for the ..read more

Want to be sure your flightpath is clear on Christmas Eve? Don’t worry, NORAD has you covered. Early in the morning on December 24th, NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command) records the launch of a very special aircraft. After coordinating with “Santa’s Elf Launch Staff” to confirm his launch time, they then tell anyone who is looking for a specific placement on Santa, “We have the Watch.” NORAD’s Santa Tracker website launches each year on December 1, and in 2023 it offers plenty of activities leading up to Santa’s trip. Visitors can explore world traditions at the North Pole’s ..read more

Wondering what to get the student pilot, private pilot, remote pilot, or aircraft mechanic on your list? Look no further than ASA’s 2023 Gift Guide, your key to finding a gift that’s on every aviator’s wish list. On the hunt for something under $20 or some smashing ASA merch? We’ve got that, too. On the other hand, if you’re the pilot yourself, you can send the link to everyone who’s been asking what you want. We’ve done the work, so you don’t have to. The post ASA 2023 Gift Guide first appeared on Learn To Fly ..read more

Because of questions raised about the supply of airline pilots and aircraft mechanics meeting upcoming demand, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 included a provision to study the aviation and aerospace workforce of the future, including the current and future supply of people in the workforce. In May of 2023, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published their report on the aviation workforce. The overall summary of their findings goes something like, “the current demand for pilots is strong, and maintaining enough aircraft mechanics is challenging. In response, the industry is r ..read more

When a student pilot first encounters all the calculations required to fly, it can be overwhelming. With altitude conversions, angles of descent, bank angles, temperature differences, and more, anyone who had any trouble with math in school may wonder if it’s possible for them to get their mind around all those equations. In his book Mental Math for Pilots, Ronald McElroy, a seasoned pilot and instructor, offers shortcuts, solutions, and problem-solving techniques that are simple and practical for use in the cockpit without a calculator (or even a pencil and paper). This excerpt from Mental Ma ..read more

Talking on an aviation radio and understanding air traffic control (ATC) instructions can be one of the most intimidating aspects of flight training. First-timers may find that mic fright is real. In Say Again, Please, Bob Gardner encourages pilots to remember that they are a part of a team and that safety and clarity are more important than using the perfect turn of phrase when it’s time to keep those on the ground and in the air in the know. Read on to get Bob’s advice on joining the air safety lineup. The Pilot-Controller Partnership for Safety Aviation communication is a team effort, not a ..read more