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FAM trips – Bring them back!

Posted on by John Krog
Many years ago when I first started with the FAA, one of the benefits that I had heard from the older Controllers was the legendary FAM Trip. For those of you not familiar with the term, this FAA program allowed Controllers to ride in the cockpit jump seat on airliners. The program was conceived as […]

Photo Pilot Certificate Proposal

Posted on by Wally Moran
A lot of pilots I talked to recently seem excited to hear that they will soon get a pilot certificate that has their picture on it. I am sorry to hear this as getting a new pilot certificate with my picture on it is somewhere around the last thing I need. My certificate already has […]

Aviation Check List

Posted on by Wally Moran
GUMPS is not enough! Yesterday, I read about another general aviation inadvertent gear up landing. I wonder if the pilot used a written check list for landing? While doing flight tests or training in complex aircraft, I often see the pilot use the printed check list religiously for pre flight, starting and run up. Then […]

Should I Have Said Something?

Posted on by John Krog
World English Dictionary hindsight— noun “The ability to understand, after something has happened, what should have been done or what caused the event” Hindsight is great. 20-20 hindsight is even better. Have you ever had the feeling that you should have said something in a situation – any situation – and didn’t? Do we, as […]

New IFR Mastery Series Provides Online, Scenario-Based Training for IFR Pilots

Posted on by Mark Robidoux
PilotWorkshops.com has introduced a new product for IFR pilots that provides online, scenario-based training. The IFR Mastery Series is designed to improve technique, knowledge and overall safety for the IFR pilot. FAA WINGS credit is available for completing the training, which is available in online or CD format. Each month, a new topic is explored […]

Student Controllers and Student Pilots – Part 3

Posted on by John Krog
Last time, we talked about the common factors that a both a Student pilot and a Student Controller face during the process of learning to fly or control traffic. After the classroom (and simulator portion), On-The-Job (OJT) training starts for both of our Students. A certain number of hours of OJT are assigned to Developmentals […]

Student Controllers and Student Pilots – Part 2

Posted on by John Krog
Last time, we talked about the similarities of training Student Pilots and Student Controllers. For the purpose of this discussion, we will only discuss the facility portion of the training. Prior to assignment to a facility, a Developmental will go through the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and possibly a college level program known as […]

Student Controllers and Student Pilots Part 1

Posted on by John Krog
Did you ever wonder where and how Student Controllers learn their trade? Well, the process has many parallels to the way most of us learned to fly. That is not surprising considering the same agency oversees both processes. Controllers and pilots (except Sport Pilots and certain others) are both required to obtain Medical Certificates; all […]

PilotWorkshops Launches IFR Mastery Series

Posted on by Mark Robidoux
PilotWorkshops.com has introduced a new product for IFR pilots that provides online, scenario-based training. The IFR Mastery Series is designed to improve technique, knowledge and overall safety for the IFR pilot. FAA  WINGS credit is available for completing the training. Each month, new topics are explored in depth.  The pilot is placed in a realistic […]

Directional Gyro: Don’t Set It Here

Posted on by Wally Moran
How many of us have been told to always be sure and set the directional gyro (DG) when we are in position on the take off runway? Why there? Well, the instructor would say, because we are now on a known heading and therefore the DG will be accurate right after takeoff. This procedure worked […]
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