Category: Airplane

  • OK CPL!

    I am currently on the way to my EASA Commercial License! As I already mentioned, I’ve chosen some rather unusual route to my pilot career: EASA PPL, then FAA IR and FAA CPL, and finally EASA CPL. It looks a little strange, but in reality it has some advantages. Initially I came to Czech Republic…

  • EASA Instrument Checkride

    I completed my competency-based instrument rating course and recently got my night rating. The examiner was able to squeeze my exam into his schedule on Sunday, and the weather was perfect, so I had my checkride today. It was my second attempt since previously the attitude indicator failed in the school Cessna 172, and we…

  • EASA Intrument Checkride: Nice Try

    Yesterday I got my EASA NVFR (night rating), and today I manage to schedule my IFR checkride. It does not make sense to wait if the examiner is available and all lessons are done. Usually students fly to Vodochody or Karlovy Vary for instrument checkrides because these airports are controlled, and they have published instrument…

  • Finally EASA NVFR!

    For being able to obtain the EASA Instrument Rating an applicant have to meet some criteria. The full list can be found in Part-FCL 610. Summary is the following: hold at least a PPL; have 50 XC hours as a PIC (and for EASA cross-country time is not required to be more than 50 miles…

  • Radio Operator Certificate – Europe

    Some schools in Czech Republic require their students to have a Radio Operator Certificate for operating a radio. As I understand, some EASA members do not have this requirement for domestic flights (but I don’t know for sure). For me it looks strange for a pilot license holder, since even the EASA PPL has a…

  • EASA Night Rating (NVFR): Navigation/Cross-Country Flight

    Night rating in essential for having the Instrument Rating checkride according to my school curriculum. Usually students just obtain it in spring or autumn (because of early sunset) after their PPL, but I came for the EASA Competency-Based IR after getting a FAA CPL, and somehow started my instrument training before getting a night rating.…

  • EASA Instrument Rating: Level Up!

    So, the blog is alive, and I still keep going. Any professional pilot path starts from the PPL (Private Pilot License). After that you’re good to go by visual cues all by yourself. In Europe only day flights are legal (night rating should be obtained to fly at night), in the US you’re allowed to…

  • EASA ATPL Theory: The Exams are done!

    Today was The Day! I passed all the rest of the EASA ATPL theoretical exams. All 14 exams are done! I am so excited about it! I remember my university master’s degree thesis, when I was studying days and nights during some months to get it done. It took about 7 months, countless sleepless nights,…

  • Seaplane Rating

    Now I am studying theory for the EASA ATPL exams, and sometimes it is very tiring and boring (sometimes it is fun though). Anyway, I decided to take a small vacation and go flying (I am a pilot, right?) I mentioned that I have been training for my IPC, and since I am in the…

  • FAA IPC

    It is essential for every pilot to be not only current but proficient. Without practice skills degrade and can even fade away some day. That’s why FAA requires BFR (Biannual Flight Review) for any type of flying and IPC (Instrument Proficiency Check) for instrument pilots who did not fly enough instrument procedures during the last…