The Pilot’s Way
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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IR part 141, Stage II Check: Mastering Instrument Approaches
Probably the most important stage in the Instrument Rating course is Stage II, when the student learns to fly approaches. It requires precise and correct piloting, proper radio communications, multitasking skills, and attention to detail. Of course, these skills are important in every flight, including visual piloting, but instrument flight is even more demanding. Although…
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