Piloting

One of the mystical things about airplanes is autopilot. We hear about it in movies, and we know it’s there, but what does it do and how does it do it? When you’re on an airliner, how much of the time is the pilot flying the plane? What is Autopilot? Autopilots are pretty simple devices

Airplanes have three main types of control surfaces that allow the pilot to control them as they fly through the air. The elevator allows the pilot to, as they say in the movies, “Pull up!” How Does the Elevator on a Plane Work? The elevator is a horizontal control surface, usually located on the tail

The airplane’s flight controls are the moveable control surfaces that the pilot can use to control the plane as it flies through the air. Of the three primary flight controls, the rudder is often the most misunderstood. What Does The Rudder Do? Like all flight controls, the rudder is a mini wing that creates a

Aeromedical factors are the study of how the human body works when flying a plane. Quite a few things change for our bodies once our feet leave the ground. Perhaps one of the most apparent challenges we face at altitude is the reduced amount of oxygen. What is Hypoxia? Hypoxia is simply the medical term

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

The speed an aircraft flies is one of those things that seems like it should be simple, and yet it isn’t easy. In a car, your speedometer simply tells you how fast you are traveling between Point A and Point B. But in a plane, many variables must be considered before you can figure that

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