Training

If youre a member of Sportys new Breakdown Assistance Program (BAP), no matter what time of the day or night it is, you pull your membership card out of the glove box, call the phone number on it and provide your membership information. Within 15 minutes-current average wait time is five minutes-you’ll get a call from a person who is an A&P and IA, is looking at the file on your airplane and will start the process of troubleshooting the problem and getting you on your way. From our perspective, its a 24/7 AAA service for general aviation.

We surveyed six of the more popular internet prep courses to see what was available, how they approached getting a student ready for the instrument written, what they cost and their convenience of use-notably whether they could be used on any internet-connected device or didnt require connectivity while using. We came away feeling all were good-its a competitive market and the high quality of the products reflects it.

One of our readers-an airplane owner and active CFI-recently called to ask why the magazine doesnt bring more attention to rule-bending, which he thinks is a growing trend. Although he had no hard statistics to back up his assertion, he offered the stereotype that older and financially capable pilots with medical issues are getting their hands on technically advanced and highly automated aircraft (yes, he mentions Cirrus). He went on that the combination of an aging pilot population and the anticipation of third class medical reform is making for a lot of scofflaws, while the advocacy of AOPA and other alphabets is fostering an arrogant sense of entitlement among the older and financially flush GA pilot community.

I read with interest your coverage of seaplane transition training in your last issue, since Im planning on earning my rating to transition to the Glastar amphib Im building. I was surprised how gently Aviation Consumer treated a product that has been promised for years, has been offered for sale since 2014, yet has so many major shortcomings. I wish you guys would write another report on servicing old avionics. It seems there are many in service that need repair.

Since a good teacher is always learning, I set out to do just that when I immersed myself in Jack Browns initial seaplane training course. Ive been instructing part and full time for over 10 years, so I guess I was due for a good lesson. Hopefully the following can help your transition. …

Browns offers two options for SES training at the private or commercial pilot level. Either curriculum includes 1.5 hours of ground instruction, five hours of dual instruction in one of Browns 100-HP Piper J-3 Cubs, plus a checkride, which is administered by company principle and FAA designated examiner Jon Brown or his brother Chuck Brown. The course has a flat-rate fee of $1400, which also includes the examiner fees.

Electronic pilot logbooks have become ubiquitous in the last few years. Weve been impressed that a lot of skull sweat has gone into making them easy to use as we’ll as a safe place to keep something very important to you-your history as a pilot. We looked at a representative sampling and liked what we saw.

With fresh seaplane rating in hand and your chest puffed out with seaplane pilot ego, thoughts turn to actually renting a seaplane to feed your new addiction. Unfortunately, that could be a pipe dream. The buzz-killing reality is that seaplane rentals are few and far between. After surviving the initial training and seeing your instructor […]

While most pilots comply with the Part 61.56 recurrent training requirement by taking a flight review, there are attractive alternative methods of meeting the mandate. Paragraph (d) of the reg states that if you take and pass a pilot proficiency check conducted by an examiner, an approved check airman, or a U.S. Armed Force, for a pilot certificate, rating or operating privilege you don’t have to take a flight review. So, if you fly under Part…

With flight reviews being the overwhelming method used by pilots to comply with the Part 61.56 recurrent training mandate, its no surprise that there are preparation materials available from a number of sources. Our survey of whats out there uncovered a half-dozen good ones. AOPA and the Air Safety Institute have a number of videos, online courses and web pages that provide material of benefit to pilots preparing for their FR. Specifically, other than the acting,…

Flight reviews are not checkrides. You won’t fail them, but they are mandatory every two years. When it’s time for your next flight review, treat it as a brush-up session. Review operating and flight rules and inspect your tailwheel. Discuss flight risks like runway loss of control, night instrument approaches, and low altitude maneuvering. In short, make your flight review work for you.

Youve been thinking about getting a tailwheel checkout and endorsement and, to be truly honest with yourself, about buying a tailwheel airplane. You cant help it, the advertisements with the tailwheel airplane sitting on some lovely backcountry airstrip have gotten to you-or you want to switch over to a legacy light sport bird. Plus, youre a little tired of hearing real pilots fly tailwheels when you don’t-yet.