What is a Special VFR clearance? Special VFR clearances allow VFR pilots to land at surface E, class D, and some C and B airports when the field is IFR, but only if: the pilot can stay clear of clouds the visibility is at least 1 statute mile (SM) from sunrise to sunset So, that’s ..read more

Advisory Circulars provide guidance, methods, procedures and clarify regulations ..read more

What books should every pilot have on their bookshelf? There is an endless number of resources for pilots. It’s hard to know where to turn when you first start flying which ones are the best. So, I’ve narrowed it down to the six books I have continually turned to throughout my 20-year aviation career. These books […] The post The Six Best Aviation Books first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more

When do pilots need to wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses? Do PICs always have to brief passengers? The seat belt rules are pretty straight forward and leave little room for interpretation. The bottom line is always wear your seat belt! When are pilots requiremented to wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses? Pilots need to […] The post When Are Pilots Required to Wear Seat Belts? first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more

Most pilots start out with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) charts, but at some point in their career, they have to make the switch to Jeppesen plates. The transition between the two charts can be confusing which is why this article will cover the differences between Jeppesen and FAA charts in depth. The main difference […] The post The Differences Between Jeppesen and FAA charts first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more

This is such a complicated question. Standard takeoff minimums depend on a multitude of factors such as what FAA Part you’re operating under, the standard instrument departure, and the airport’s published takeoff minimums. The most basic, but incomplete answer to this question is as follows: Part 91 operators (with a few exceptions) have NO standard […] The post What are standard takeoff minimums? first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more

It is hard to figure the difference between a category, type, and class of aircraft when pilots first start out. Part of the problem for pilots is often these definitions don’t apply to them initially. It’s only much farther into your career when you get exposed to different kinds of aircraft that it starts to […] The post What is the Difference Between a Category, Class and Type of Aircraft? first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more

Picking up flight following is a critical final step in the VFR flight planning process.  On cross country flights, the sequence of events starts with planning the flight, filing the flight plan, opening it with nearest flight service station (FSS), and finally requesting flight following with air traffic control (ATC) .  It’s one thing to […] The post How to Pick Up VFR Flight Following first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more

Flight plans are an essential part of flight planning for both IFR and VFR pilots. Creating, opening and closing flight plans are relatively easy, if you know how to do it. But, as with anything, there are specific things you should know about how to close an IFR and VFR flight plan. Before we get […] The post How to Cancel a VFR and IFR Flight Plan first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more

On cross-country flights, it’s essential you file a VFR flight plan for search and rescue purposes. However, just because you filed the flight plan, doesn’t mean it’s open. So, what’s the best way to activate your VFR flight plan? First, though, if you missed how to create and file a VFR flight plan check out […] The post How to Open a VFR Flight Plan first appeared on ThinkAviation ..read more