by Mike Bliss Summer often brings some of the best flying weather, but also its share of challenges: turbulence from uneven surface heating, reduced visibility due to haze, and diminished aircraft performance due to the hotter air. The greatest threat, however, comes from thunderstorms. To fully understand this threat,

For many pilots, the phrase “Pilot in Command” (PIC) is a proud milestone — the moment you took full responsibility for the aircraft, the crew, and the decisions in the air. But here’s a question every aviator should ask regularly: When was the last time you were the PIC?

If you’ve started exploring flight schools, chances are you’ve seen this promise over and over: “We have connections with major airlines. “We guarantee you an interview.”  It sounds impressive—until you realize most airline pilot training programs make the same claim. In today’s aviation landscape, the truth is this: due

Flying is a pursuit that rewards precision, discipline, and consistency. But it also thrives on variety. As pilots, we spend countless hours refining procedures and mastering fundamentals, often in the same aircraft, over the same routes, and in predictable conditions. While repetition is valuable, staying within your comfort zone

For anyone passionate about flying, earning a pilot’s license is a major accomplishment. But as you progress through your aviation journey, you’ll quickly discover that not all pilot certifications are created equal. Two of the most common — and often misunderstood — are the Private Pilot Certificate and the

In aviation, every detail matters. Safety isn’t just about checklists and clear skies — it starts long before you taxi to the runway. One of the most overlooked yet essential habits every pilot should develop is keeping their aircraft clean, organized, and properly stocked before each flight. It may

By Steven Daun, National Chief Pilot I guess you can say I am a little biased, but who wouldn’t want to work in aviation? Yet most people seem to think that if they aren’t cut out for being a pilot, and they don’t want to be a flight attendant

You don’t need to have accumulated hours of experience before embarking on your instrument training; in fact, you can start the day after your private pilot checkride. Almost 80% of our private pilot graduates come back to American Flyers for their Instrument Rating; they recognize the safety and the

You’ve dreamed about flying since you were knee-high to a grasshopper, and you’re finally in a position where this dream will become a reality. Your friends and family know you are training to become a pilot, but only one thing stands between you and your coveted certificate: the FAA