VFR Challenge from Pilot Workshops—A Fuel’s Errand

You're making a 650nm VFR cross-country from Red Wing, Minnesota (KRGK) to Sheridan, Wyoming (KSHR) for a ski trip. About half way there, at your only planned fuel stop, you discover the self-serve pump is inoperative. Now, with no other airports within comfortable fuel range, you'll have to find a way out of this mess. None of your options are very good, and each one adds potential risks or long delays. Let's jump in and see what you would decide.

Interactive Exercise: Test Your Knowledge of RNAV Approach Charts

In this interactive exercise, through guided examples and hands-on practice, you'll learn to identify and interpret key symbols, such as waypoints, course reversals, and missed approach points, all designed to help you navigate the complexities of RNAV procedures with confidence.

IFR Insights with Spencer Suderman: Procedure Turn and RNAV Circling Approach

IFR Insights, hosted by Spencer Suderman, shares valuable experiences and tips for instrument flying. Spencer is a Florida-based airshow pilot and instrument flight instructor. In this episode, ride along with Spencer in a G1000-equipped Cessna 172 as he flies a full RNAV circle-to-land approach with a holding pattern course reversal into Cecil, FL.

Choosing the best IFR route — Advanced IFR, by PilotWorkshops

In this excerpt from Advanced IFR, by PilotWorkshops, follow along on this scenario-based IFR route selection exercise as we plan a flight from Oceana, CA (L52), to Monterey, CA (KMRY), using ForeFlight Route Advisor. As you can see, there are many variables to consider when planning an IFR route including weather conditions, airspace, aircraft capabilities and ATC preferences.
approach fog

IFR challenge from Pilot Workshops: What would you do?

In this PilotWorkshops IFR Mastery scenario, you own a Beech Sundowner equipped with upgraded instruments, an IFR GPS and an autopilot. The Sundowner will take you, your spouse and a family friend from Abilene, Texas (KABI) to McAlester, Oklahoma (KMLC). On approach to your destination, you execute a missed approach in low IFR conditions. Should you try this approach again or cut your losses and head to the alternate?

Air Facts video classic: mountain flying

Richard explains the importance of understanding density altitude as it relates to performace as well as the nuances of moutain waves and turbulence. Richard even provides some good rules of thumb for flying near or across mountains - whether in the East or West.
Upset

Interactive exercise: Unusual attitude recovery procedures

An unusual attitude is commonly referenced as an unintended or unexpected attitude in instrument flight. It's important for pilots to recognize the conditions or situations that could cause an unusual attitude, with focus on how to recognize one, and how to recover from one.
Cessna with snow

Air Facts video classic: operating in winter conditions

"Not everyone flies when there's snow or ice around, but some of us do." Enjoy these insights and tips on flight planning, preparation and execution in wineter weather conditions in this Air Facts video classic.
iPad in cockpit

Webinar video: Flying with Datalink Weather

Datalink weather, either from ADS-B or SiriusXM, is an essential tool for almost all pilots. Once you’ve flown a cross country with in-flight radar, up-to-date METARs, and visual AIRMETs, it’s awfully hard to go back to flying without it. It makes flying safer, easier, and more comfortable – a rare combination - but only if you know how to use it properly.

Video: flying an instrument approach with synthetic vision on the iPad

Synthetic vision brings situational awareness to a new level especially when connected to an ADS-B receiver. This portable device provides real-time pitch and bank information and for the ultimate backup display.

Video: Patty Wagstaff on flying aerobatics

Patty Wagstaff is one of the most famous airshow pilots in history as a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team, the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, and one of the few people to win it three times. She'll share her decades of experience flying aerobatics to show you how aerobatics can help improve your pilot skills.
Instrument approach from cockpit

Video: what really matters to ATC in an IFR flight plan

Most of the information filed in an IFR flight plan is based on weather forecasts that are released well before your wheels ever leave the ground. Here's a look at what parts of the flight plan actually matter to ATC so that you know how to react if and when the weather conditions don't match the forecast.

Video: what’s the real IFR alternate?

Alternate airports are a required part of an IFR flight plan when your destination's weather is forecast to be below 2000 and 3. But the filed alternate is almost never used in the real world. This video tip, from Sporty's Instrument Rating Course, explains why and offers some tips for making safe, stress-free diversions if the weather doesn't support your original plan.

Video: instrument approach lighting systems

Instrument pilots spend a lot of time thinking about approaches, but that usually means glideslopes and GPS procedures. Often overlooked in such discussions is the lighting system you hope to find at the end of the approach. This video tip, from Sporty's Instrument Rating Course, explains what all those lights mean and how pilots can use them to transition from instrument flight to visual flights.

Video tip: flying procedure turns

Around major airports, vectors to final on an instrument approach are the norm. But outside radar coverage it's common to fly a procedure turn to start an approach. This video tip reviews the basics of this maneuver, including when it's required, what shape these turns take, and why the winds aloft matter. It's a great 3-minute review for any instrument pilot.

Video tip: IFR departure considerations

Instrument approaches get a lot of attention, whether it's the intricacies of WAAS approaches or the unique missed approach procedures at mountain airports. Most pilots spend far less time considering the instrument departure, which is equally demanding. In this video tip, taken from Sporty's Instrument Rating Course, you'll review the key elements of an instrument departure, when to file one, and what the difference is between an ODP and a SID.

Video tip: circle-to-land instrument approaches

Circling approaches are pretty rare these days, but at some airports they are the only option. While flying the approach to minimums is the same as a straight-in approach, what happens next leaves no room for error. This video breaks down the circling approach, including when it's required, how close to stay to the runway, and what to do if you lose sight of the airport.

Video tip: introduction to the G1000 PFD

Transitioning to a glass cockpit sounds intimidating to some pilots, but it doesn't have to be. It mostly means learning how to fly the Primary Flight Display (PFD). This video tip, from Sporty's 2019 Garmin G1000 Checkout Course, explores the basics of the most popular glass cockpit system.

Video tip: flying IFR with glass cockpits

Are glass cockpits harder to fly than traditional round instruments? They don't have to be. The whole point of systems like the Garmin G1000 is to be more reliable and safer. In this new video tip, learn three habits for mastering glass cockpit flying, from using bugs to interpreting trend lines. With a few tricks, you can learn a lot from a glass cockpit with a quick glance - and stop chasing the tapes.

Video tip: seven bad radio habits

Talking on the radio is an important skill for any pilot, but especially for instrument pilots where ATC interaction is what it's all about. Sometimes it's not what you say but what you don't say that matters. In this video tip, we share seven things you should not say on the radio. From the improper use of "roger" to using too much information, don't make these mistakes!