By Mike Bliss Obtaining a pilot certificate or rating normally involves passing three tests, a knowledge (written) test, a flight test, and an oral exam taken together with the flight test.  In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of the oral exam. The exam is usually

Sunset can move by two hours or more between June and December, and your flight planning has to move with it. That shift changes when your position lights go on, what you can log as night, and when your landings count toward carrying passengers at night. Civil, Nautical, and

V-speeds are the standardized language for aircraft performance and safety. These numbers, several of them marked on your airspeed indicator, cover your stall speeds, your best climb speeds, and how much the airframe can take. Your instructor will expect you to know them before your first solo. Here are

Weather is the final authority in aviation, dictating the terms of every flight before you even step onto the ramp. Successful pilots do not just watch the sky; they translate atmospheric data into a clear, tactical picture using METARs and TAFs. Learning to decode these reports allows you to

Airspace functions like invisible boundaries in the sky. It is a complex, three-dimensional grid designed to manage the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. Mastery of airspace regulations for pilots serves as a pillar of being a professional pilot. This knowledge distinguishes a disciplined aviator from a recreational

By Mike Bliss Automation handles much of the pilot workload today, especially regarding aircraft movement. This raises the question of whether hand flying remains a necessary skill. Automated systems often execute maneuvers with high precision, making it reasonable to wonder if manual flying has become obsolete. Manual flying is

By Mason Ross We often hear the adage about making lemonade from lemons. In aviation, the corresponding philosophy is straightforward: when weather limits visibility, file IFR and continue the mission. You must hold a private pilot certificate to adopt this approach. Training for this certificate occurs primarily under visual

Airline hiring in 2026 has normalized. The record-setting surge in 2022 and 2023 accelerated hiring timelines, pulling future demand forward. With that pace settled, the market reflects a traditional hiring cycle. This cycle offers strong opportunities for pilots, as well as maintenance technicians needed to keep fleets operational and

If you want to become a commercial pilot, your training path matters. A lot of students start by looking at the obvious things first: cost per hour, aircraft availability, location, and how quickly they can begin. Those are all valid considerations. The bigger question is how the training is