Real World VFR

Real World VFR

Follow a pilot and CFI through a series of challenging flights that will expand your flying horizons.

You Will Benefit From Real World VFR If…

  • You strive to improve your flying knowledge
  • You appreciate new ideas and techniques
  • You’re drawn to different flying experiences
  • You feel rusty on some flying or radio skills
  • You’re a student pilot looking to be inspired

Instruction That's Fun To Watch

Real World VFR is delivered in a series of ten recorded end-to-end flights, spanning a wide variety of airports and terrain. These flights were designed to be challenging, yet accessible to a proficient private pilot. They don’t require superhuman skill, just more preparation, and thought.

Each flight starts with a thorough briefing, then you follow Keith and Jeff through the flights in real-time as they tackle unusual takeoffs, approaches, landings, airports, airspace and navigation that could challenge any pilot flying VFR. Each flight is followed by a thorough debrief.

As you fly along, Keith talks you through each task and procedure as he completes it. You hear all of his ATC interactions so you’ll know the proper phraseology to use. There are no shortcuts—you follow most flights in real-time from engine start to engine shutdown.

The flights span tiny fields to international airports.

Not Like Typical YouTube Flying Videos

There are tons of flying videos on YouTube. Some are entertaining, but few have real instructional value. Real World VFR is different—like YouTube videos, it offers a first-person view from the cockpit. But it also offers real instruction that meets our quality standards. You can be sure that our pilot is demonstrating good technique (or being called out if he’s not).

Each flight includes a thorough preflight briefing to help you plan, then a debrief to evaluate the flight as if you were there. There are countless expert tips throughout that you can easily transfer to your own cockpit. Real World VFR offers a fun, effective and proven way to learn.

Meet the Pilot and Instructor

Jeff Van West (L) and Keith Smith discuss a flight.

In this program, you’ll be riding along with pilot Keith Smith. Keith also starred in our Real World IFR program, so we brought him back and gave him a new set of flying challenges—this time in the VFR world.

Keith flys his Lancair 360 extensively on business (mostly IFR). To keep things real, we placed Keith in a Cessna 172 for these VFR challenges. Keith is not an instructor, which further enhances the real-world feel of these videos.

Joining Keith in the cockpit is veteran CFI Jeff Van West, who is also the Creative Director at PilotWorkshops responsible for overseeing the development of our training programs. Jeff created the missions that Keith flies in the program, and provides a valuable role as both instructor and color analyst. Jeff is a nationally recognized aviation writer whose work has appeared in AOPA Pilot, AVweb, IFR Magazine, and Aviation Consumer. He was also the creator of the original pilot transition program for Cirrus Aircraft.

Watch This 3-Minute Overview

Here’s What You’ll “Experience” In These Flights

  • Find a small, remote island airport at night
  • Land at Boston Logan Airport (Class B) VFR in a Cessna 172
  • Fly the New York City Hudson River VFR Corridor, and then land at Teterboro, one of the busiest Class Delta airports in the world
  • Depart at night in the mountains, using an IFR technique to avoid them
  • Encounter VFR into IMC for real, at night
  • Manage system failures, simulated emergencies, and other surprises
  • Use the power of ForeFlight for VFR planning and in-flight situations
  • Navigate cross-country, using only pilotage and dead reckoning
  • Takeoff and land on short fields—some grass, some paved, some scary
  • Get sucked into a “black hole approach,” but escape to avoid disaster
  • Make an overwater crossing that is eerily similar to the JFK Jr. flight

Skill Training Sessions

Before Keith and Jeff launched on the real flights, they used a flight simulator to re-familiarize Keith with the Cessna 172 and get him comfortable with the tricky airports and conditions he would encounter. They worked on specific skills he would need for the challenging takeoffs, landings, night flying, emergencies and other procedures that he would be facing.

The exercises Keith completes in the simulator and the coaching he gets from Jeff are valuable for any pilot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I access the Real World VFR videos?
A: Your training is available online via a secure, password-protected website. You can watch it on any computer, tablet or phone.

Q: Will my online access ever expire?
A: No. Once you register your login credentials, they will never expire. You will always have access to the program.

Q: Can I download the videos?
A: Yes, with your online access you have the option to download the videos in the program.

Q: Can I access the videos from more than one computer or device?
A: Yes – with your login info, you can access the site from any device as often as you want for personal use.

90 Day Money-Back Guarantee!

If you aren’t completely satisfied we’ll give you a full refund. No questions asked! PilotWorkshops.com has been an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau since 2006.

WINGS Approved!

You can earn 6 WINGS credits for completing this program. It’s an easy way to stay current and advance within the WINGS program!

Order Today

Real World VFR

Online Access

– Get started now with instant online access
– Watch on any computer, tablet or phone

You can download any of the videos (optional) with your online access.

Your Price: $129

Add To Cart

PilotWorkshops is proud to support AOPA and its membership in their mission of advancing the growth and safety of general aviation.