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I got this from the FAA and thought it would be good to post it where others can find it. FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education Your ADS-B Questions Answered: How do I obtain initial approval for my ADS-B Out system? Notice Number: NOTC8340 Your ADS-B Questions Answered: Get the Facts Here How […]

We a high pressure system sitting over the Central Coast for much of the fall which meant great flying weather, but no rain. On December 23 I went out to fly and noticed that the altimeter registered negative 20′. I thought it was unusual so I took a picture. Then set the altimeter and got […]

I ran across this article in the February 1914 issue of Popular Mechanics.

My brother just got a Piper Arrow with a Sandel 3308 HSI. I can’t find any videos on how to use the 3308, but there are lots on how to use an HSI. These are some of the best. For those of you who like to read, rather than watch an explanation, this Introduction to […]

This is the third skill of the Fundamentals Skills of Instrument Flying as found in the Instrument Flying Handbook. The attitude indicator is used to control the movement of the airplane, followed by cross-check, interpretation, and then control again. Attitude Control Proper control of aircraft attitude is the result of proper use of the attitude […]

There are a couple of questions on this topic on the knowledge test, so getting the terminology right can come in handy. From the Instrument Flying Handbook: During attitude instrument training, two fundamental flight skills must be developed. They are instrument cross-check and instrument interpretation, both resulting in positive aircraft control. Although these skills are […]

I just read about QNH and QFE so I thought I’d throw this out there. We don’t use QFE in the US but I think my logic is correct. From the FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook Barometric Pressure for Local Altimeter Setting (QNH) A local altimeter setting equivalent to the barometric pressure measured at an airport […]

GND Mode Setting the ground-speed recognition function that activates airborn/ground modes the GTX 330. Pushing STBY puts the transponder in standby. That seems pretty obvious. Just on a whim I tried pushing and holding the STBY button. After 5 seconds, it arms itself into an auto detect mode. And sure enough, I went flying and […]

This simulator is a work in progress to allow you to practice unusual attitudes and failed instruments. The power is controlled with 1—10% power, 2—75% power, 3—100% power. Pitch up and down arrows Bank is controlled with left and right arrows. Hold down the shift key and the pitch and bank go three times as […]

The Knowldedge Tests have lots of questions on the compass, especially turning errors. The Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge covers the questions well so I’ve quoted it here with bold for things to remember. Items in brackets […] is added. Variation Although the magnetic field of the Earth lies roughly north and south, the Earth’s magnetic […]

The FAA still has questions on using an ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) to navigate an NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) approach. The questions aren’t too hard to answer, and in fact give you some practice adding and subtracting degrees, so they aren’t all bad. Non-directional radio beacons (NDBs) are simple AM radio transmitters that were first deployed […]

Some of the speeds you need to know are marked on the airspeed indicator but many are not. VS1, VS0, VFE, VNO, and VNE are almost always color coded on the ASI because they are required by the FAA. (Airplanes weighing 12,500 pounds or less, manufactured after 1945, and certificated by the FAA, are required […]

VORs operate within the 108.0 to 117.95 MHz frequency band and have a power output necessary to provide coverage within their assigned operational service volume. They are subject to line-of-sight restrictions, and the range varies proportionally to the altitude of the receiving equipment. Range also depends on the class of the VOR—Terminal, Low Altitude, or […]

Roll over each instrument to see it labelled. Beginning students should name and roll until the names become second nature. Adjusting the Kollsman altimeter. Here are some examples of real aircraft that you can do the same thing with.  Commanche  Cessna T210  Cessna T182RG