Piloting - Page 11

One of the most fundamental concepts in aerodynamics is the concept of angle of attack, also called AOA. Aerodynamics is a complex subject and there are many concepts that go into understanding precisely what the AOA is and why it is essential. The angle of attack (AOA) is the angle formed between the wing and

KIAS in aviation means knots indicated airspeed, the number on the airspeed indicator. How it differs from KCAS, KTAS and ground speed, with examples.

Several medical factors affect pilots while flying aircraft. Most of these have to do with operating at high altitudes, or medical considerations that could affect their ability to operate the plane safely. What Is Spatial Disorientation? Spatial disorientation, on the other hand, comes as a result of flight itself. Spatial disorientation occurs when the pilot’s

As professional pilots progress through their careers, they earn increasingly higher grades of certificates or pilot licenses. In the United States, pilot certification is handled by the Federal Aviation Administration. What is an ATP? ATP stands for airline transport pilot. The pinnacle of a pilot’s career is when they earn their ATP. The airline transport

Weather is the most crucial factor affecting airport operations. At towered airports around the world, air traffic controllers report on wind and visibility conditions so that arriving pilots know what to expect. But what do pilots do when they arrive at non-towered (also known as uncontrolled) airports? The answer is that many airfields have automated

Airports are complex and dynamic places. Just a slight wind shift can change the runway in use, and the traffic patterns planes must fly. Pilots are expected to enter these changing environs fully abreast of what is going on and where. How do they do it? What Is ATIS in Aviation? The answer is the

What is an altimeter? A barometer that reads in feet. How it works, how to read its three pointers, what QNH means and why cold air fools it.

One of the essential factors in aviation weather is flight visibility. Visibility is the only legal weather requirement that must be met when landing after an instrument approach. If the visibility isn’t at least the minimum published on the approach plate, the pilot can’t land. What Does RVR Stand For? RVR is one way of

Modern small aircraft pilots can be forgiven for taking the “direct to” button on their GPS for granted. The ability to navigate straight to any point on the planet is a powerful tool in the cockpit. GPS has brought this technology to nearly every plane in the sky, but the concept has been around for

While it may seem like a simple matter, determining how high an airplane is flying is rather complicated. There are at least five different types of altitude that pilots use and think about. Which one is the altimeter reading, and is it even correct? It’s not a question an experienced pilot should have to ponder