Category: Airplane

  • Enhancing Skills: VOR Practice and Flying in a Busy Airspace

    Today, I made the decision to fly to Lakeland for additional VOR practice. Although it will be a VFR flight, I wanted to sharpen my skills using our Cessna’s VOR equipment as well. The airspace was bustling with activity today. Numerous small light aircraft, turboprops, and even a jet were present. Radio communications were quite…

  • Exploring the Scenic Route: A Delightful Trip from Crystal River to Cross City

    The route from Crystal River to Cross City is considered rather simple, and many students from our school fly there almost every day. I had only been there once before, and even on that occasion, I was wearing ‘foggles’ (special glasses restricting the view, used for instrument training), so I hardly saw anything. Today, I…

  • Trusting Your Instruments: Navigating the Night Sky

    A FAA CPL applicant must meet certain aeronautical experience requirements outlined in 14 CFR § 61.129 which includes a night cross-country flight and 10 night landings at a controlled airport. Since I had some time before returning to Moscow, I decided to gain some night experience. Flying at night is really cool. The winds are…

  • Exploring Winter Haven: Flying without GPS in a Beautiful Area

    Winter Haven (KGIF) is an exceptionally beautiful place, boasting two concrete runways and a water runway. I hope to try out the water runway in a seaplane one day, but for now, I am flying an ASEL (Airplane Single Engine Land) and sticking to concrete or grass runways. Flying without GPS is an amazing experience.…

  • Rediscovering Visual Flying: Back To Basics

    The next logical step for an Instrument Rating holder is a Commercial License. Finally, I can fly without ‘foggles’ or a ‘hood’! It’s so beautiful outside! I decided that it does not make sense to follow the 141 route for my commercial course. I already have some flight time under my belt above the private+IR…

  • IR Part 141, Checkride: Becoming a Legal Instrument Pilot

    After about two months of flying, studying, and waiting, I am finally going to have my Instrument Rating checkride. I am thrilled since I only had to wait for two days after my end-of-course check, which is not common at all. We will be flying to Brooksville, a nearby controlled airport with an ILS approach…

  • IR Part 141: The End-of-Course Check Flight

    The Part 141 course requires an internal school check flight before allowing students to have a checkride. This check is usually performed by the school chief pilot or a senior flight instructor. In my case, the school owner, Tom Davis, will conduct the check. The weather is fine today, and I need to demonstrate that…

  • Racing Against Time: My Unexpected Journey from Florida to Moscow

    I was supposed to have my end-of-course check tomorrow, but my job unexpectedly requires me to be in Moscow before 2 pm MSK. This means that I have less than 21 hours to get from Crystal River, FL to Moscow, including booking flights and traveling to/from airports. Luckily, it was still early in the day…

  • IR Part 141, Stage III Check: One More Cross-Country Flight

    Stage III of the Instrument Rating course mainly focuses on cross-country flights and everything related to them, such as weather briefing, flight planning, reading and interpreting NOTAMs, fuel, weight and balance computation, and more. Therefore, this stage check is a one more cross-country flight with full preparation. Unfortunately, the weather today is far from perfect,…

  • IR Part 141: Long Cross Country Flight

    Every student pilot should undertake a long cross-country flight during their training course. It doesn’t necessarily mean flying across the entire country, but certain flight leg requirements must be met based on the specific program (e.g., private, instrument or commercial). For instance, instrument rating demands a flight of 250 nautical miles with an instrument approach…