AOPA Member Benefit
Welcome to the AOPA member training portal provided by PilotWorkshops. We’re proud to support the AOPA as a Premier Partner and pleased to provide you with this sample library of our best pilot proficiency lessons. Taught by our team of award-winning instructors (see their bios), these programs are packed with tips and techniques you can use on your next flight. Bookmark this page so you can return to these lessons.
Video and audio lessons can be played on any computer or mobile device with internet connection.
Pilot’s Tip of the Week: Each tip is under 2 minutes long and contains valuable nuggets of wisdom. Over 200,000 pilots receive these tips weekly on Wednesday mornings.
Non-Towered Airport Communications
The Quick Reference Guide to Non-Towered Airport Communications provides clear guidance on what to say and when to say it as you maneuver for takeoffs, landings or pattern work. Great for new students or as a refresher for Rusty Pilots. From Pilot-Friendly Manual for VFR Communications.
VFR Scenario: The Impossible Go-Around?
You’ve got the whole family on board for a great weekend by the ocean. However, the landing attempt on a runway that’s short and obstructed didn’t go so well. Now you have only a second to decide if an attempted go-around will safely clear the trees—or result in a catastrophe. What will you do? Watch the video and choose.
From VFR Mastery.
IFR Pilots—Don’t Make This Mistake
Watch this video to learn a little-known gotcha with RNAV approaches, it can save you from embarrassment (or worse). From IFR Mastery.
Black Hole Approach
Sometimes the most powerful learning experiences are the ones you wish never happened. On this short flight, two experienced pilots nearly ended up becoming a statistic. It was only by chance that the cameras were running and caught it all for later analysis. Here’s the behind-the-scenes story of the accident that almost—but didn’t—happen. From Real World VFR.
172 Lands at Logan International
Many pilots shy away from landing at a busy, Class B airport. But watching a Cessna 172 land between Boeing jets at Boston’s Logan International (KBOS) is interesting whether or not you ever want to do it.
Listen to the rapid-fire ATC comms and watch pilot Keith Smith slip into a smooth landing. From Real World VFR.
Predicting Thunderstorm Movement
Convective precipitation usually moves in two different ways. The line of precipitation usually moves in one direction while individual cells along the line move in another. This lesson explains why and how to predict both motions all along your route. From IFR Weather Briefings.
Back to Basics: Improving Rudder Skills
Rudder pedals are not meant to be footrests! Wally Moran explains how good rudder skills can drastically improve your safety. He also provides simple exercises you can do to improve your rudder proficiency. From The Airmanship Series.
Takeoffs & Landings Refresher
Wally explains his techniques for all sorts of takeoff and landing situations: normal, crosswind, short field and soft field. You will want to listen to this refresher again and again. From The Airmanship Series.
Accident Report: Botched Go-Around
Watch as we dissect an accident involving a 1,660 hour IFR pilot flying a Piper Malibu who was fatally injured while performing a go-around. There are many lessons to be taken from this scenario. From The Airmanship Series.
Mastering GPS Approaches
Wally Moran breaks down the different types of GPS approaches and shares some tips to help you fly them smoother, more safely and more precisely. From The IFR Proficiency Series.
Which Sim Should You Use for Home Proficiency Training?
Which sim software is best for pilots? FAA certified or non-certified? This video answers those questions with solid recommendations to get you started with a sim that supports home proficiency training while saving lots of research time. From Getting Started With Simulation.