private pilot
✅ DONE! Cessna 172 Avionics Makeover [+] Startup & First Flight
via https://youtu.be/80mOVHF8rbY
Read more
How to Avoid Study Burnout in Private Pilot Training — #AviatorCast 123
Are you the type of person that could burn out because you try and study so hard? Are you so excited about flying that you think you might overdue it? This podcast is all about pacing, and it's for you.
Read more FULLY LOADED Short Field Takeoff in Alaska + Tree Clearance
It’s one thing to takeoff from a short field, and an entirely different thing to do it with a heavy load. While we weren’t at max gross weight, we still had two grown men on board and a lot of camera and drone equipment. Of course performance completely changes when the aircraft is loaded like …
FULLY LOADED Short Field Takeoff in Alaska + Tree Clearance »
Read more ACTUAL Short Field Landing in Alaska + Forward Slip, CFIT Avoidance
Now it’s time for a Short Field Landing. To make things more challenging, we’ll be landing in Seldovia, Alaska. Surrounding by terrain and trees, it can be a challenge to get into. Also, we’re going to use a technique of staying higher over the terrain and then slipping down into the runway. Admittedly, I could …
ACTUAL Short Field Landing in Alaska + Forward Slip, CFIT Avoidance »
Read more ACTUAL Soft Field Landing in Alaska + Trees
During the soft field landing our main objective is to protect the nose wheel and propellor as we land. We land as softly as possible, maybe even with a little bit of power, and hold the nose wheel off as long as possible. A soft field landing is performed when there is grass, loose gravel, …
ACTUAL Soft Field Landing in Alaska + Trees »
Read more ACTUAL Short Field Takeoff in Alaska + Max Performance Climb ( Vx )
Have you ever done a short field takeoff? I mean at an actual short field? Well this is your chance to live that experience. Most pilots go through flight training and never get to experience a short field takeoff from an actual short runway. Now, admittedly there are much shorter airports than this one in …
ACTUAL Short Field Takeoff in Alaska + Max Performance Climb ( Vx ) »
Read more ACTUAL Soft Field Takeoff + Confined Airport
Many pilots learn to do the soft field takeoff at airports that aren’t all that soft. In fact, most training airports are on hard runway surfaces. So, the pilots ‘pretend’ and never really deal with an actual soft field. Many, many pilots may never even experience a soft field. In a former video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftKgpiTVoh0 …
ACTUAL Soft Field Takeoff + Confined Airport »
Read more Power off 180º Accuracy Landing
Now we’re going to execute a Power Off 180º Accuracy Landing. Simply, we’re reducing the power to idle abeam the touchdown point, and exercising the same requirements for a short field landing in terms of our spot — 0 + 200 feet. What is the purpose of a power off 180? Why would we …
Power off 180º Accuracy Landing »
Read more Justin Siems — Corporate Pilot | Pilot to Pilot Podcast: AviatorCast 119
Becoming a pilot takes a whole lot of hard work, dedication and planning. Nearly everyone has a unique path to their career in the skies. Whether that’s as an airline pilot, military aviator, corporate pilot or so many different types of flyers in between, there is a path to your dream. Today we talk to …
Justin Siems — Corporate Pilot | Pilot to Pilot Podcast: AviatorCast 119 »
Read more IM SAFE Checklist — AviatorCast Episode 118
Today’s Flight Plan The IM SAFE Checklist. As pilots we spend a whole lot of time making sure that our airplanes are running well and we’re setup for flight. We have routine maintenance, we do extensive preflight procedures, engine runups, and much more. So why not check ourselves as well? Before you got flying, …
IM SAFE Checklist — AviatorCast Episode 118 »
Read more The Prepared Aviation Student — AviatorCast 117
Today’s Flight Plan How do you best prepare for flight training of any kind? What does your instructor expect of you? How can you squeeze the most out of every hour? Through my time as an instructor, I’ve seen a range of preparedness, from the completely unprepared to the fully prepared. On this episode of …
The Prepared Aviation Student — AviatorCast 117 »
Read more Alaska Discovery Flight — “Where do I sign up?!”
What’s it like to take a Discovery Flight in Alaska? This is a glimpse into a flight I took a few days with a new student, Ryan. The idea of a Discovery Flight is to see if you like flying, and like your instructor. If you get lined up with the right person, then it’s …
Alaska Discovery Flight — “Where do I sign up?!” »
Read more Collision Avoidance — AviatorCast 116
Today’s Flight Plan Collision Avoidance. It’s another one of those FAA terms that someone flying a desk came up with. But hey, it’s fairly accurate. And it’s certainly important to avoid colliding with things, especially when you’re in an airplane. In this episode of AviatorCast, we’re going to go over situations both on the ground, …
Collision Avoidance — AviatorCast 116 »
Read more A Benchwarmers Guide to Aviation — AviatorCast Episode 115
Today’s Flight Plan Have you heard of flight following? Have you known about it, but don’t use it? Flight Following is a way to be under the watchful eye of air traffic control for traffic and other advisors. With that come a lot of other benefits. For example, say you are having difficulty or have …
A Benchwarmers Guide to Aviation — AviatorCast Episode 115 »
Read more AviatorCast Episode 114: Flight Following
Flight Following Have you heard of flight following? Have you known about it, but don’t use it? Flight Following is a way to be under the watchful eye of air traffic control for traffic and other advisors. With that come a lot of other benefits. For example, say you are having difficulty or have a …
AviatorCast Episode 114: Flight Following »
Read more 5 Pilot Fears (and how to overcome them) — AviatorCast 113
Today’s Flight Plan Even as pilots, there are still fears we haven’t got over. These are things we need to keep working at to be more proficient, safe and capable. It’s true that you don’t have to overcome these fears, but life is sure easier (and more fun) as a pilot if you do. So, …
5 Pilot Fears (and how to overcome them) — AviatorCast 113 »
Read more Ice Giants — Flight VLOG
[vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/96072J55R-E” align=”center”] My new friend Kevin introduced himself at Lake Hood last Summer because he had seen and followed me on Instagram. We became quick friends and later planned on flying together in his SuperCub. Kevin started flying at a young age in the back of this cub (his dad’s SuperCub at the time) …
Read more AviatorCast Episode 110: Phil Stokes: Flying as a One-Armed Pilot
Today’s Flight Plan Learning to fly is hard enough. With the time, money and effort required to get it done, there’s a high washout rate and very few people achieve the end result; a pilots license. Can you imagine also going through this process with a “limitation” or “disability” like having the use of just …
AviatorCast Episode 110: Phil Stokes: Flying as a One-Armed Pilot »
Read more AviatorCast Episode 109: Sarina Houston: CFI | Aviatrix | Flying Mom | Writer
Today’s Flight Plan Ever wonder if you can be a mom AND be a pilot? Well, the answer is yes. Is it easy? Of course not. In our last interview we talked to Zoan who was a CFI while raising her kids. This time we talk to Sarina, mother of a few young boys, and …
AviatorCast Episode 109: Sarina Houston: CFI | Aviatrix | Flying Mom | Writer »
Read more What can go wrong, will go wrong
[vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VFe5wFPeb0″ align=”center”] It’s back to California for my commercial training. I would have rather this entire process didn’t turn out this difficult, but that’s just life. On the first stint in California I was unprepared for the task ahead. Coupled with weather and maintenance issues, it wasn’t going to be possible to finish my …
What can go wrong, will go wrong »
Read more AviatorCast Episode 108: Sky Wars: The Last Pilot — 9 Flying Lessons from the Galaxy of Star Wars
Today’s Flight Plan The epic battles, the last second saves, the crazy things we’d never do as real pilots — this is aviation/astronautics in the Galaxy of Star Wars. What can we learn from our flying friends from a Galaxy… far, far away? In this episode I’ll share 9 lessons we can learn from the …
AviatorCast Episode 108: Sky Wars: The Last Pilot — 9 Flying Lessons from the Galaxy of Star Wars »
Read more AviatorCast Episode 107: Zoan Harclerode: AOPA National Best Flight Instructor 2017
Today’s Flight Plan Zoan and I met at Redbird Migration where we were able to spend a bit of time working on a fun aviation education video. She was full of life, passion and knowledge so I wanted to get her on the show. Turns out that Zoan ended up winning the AOPA National Best …
AviatorCast Episode 107: Zoan Harclerode: AOPA National Best Flight Instructor 2017 »
Read more Winter Flying in UTAH & Commercial Pilot Training
[vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqITrnlvn7k” align=”center”] No-one said it would be easy. But, I still thought it’d be easier than this. My time in California was full of many disappointments. There weather was poor, the aircraft had some maintenance issues, and I wasn’t as prepared as I wanted to be. This meant that I couldn’t get my Commercial …
Winter Flying in UTAH & Commercial Pilot Training »
Read more California Dreamin’ with Commercial Pilot Training
[vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/57emDcdChCg” align=”center”] At one point many years ago I was really close to being able to get my commercial pilot license. But then I got distracted by life, moved to Alaska, and took a break from flying. It wasn’t until years later that I would consider getting a commercial license with the inevitable goal …
California Dreamin’ with Commercial Pilot Training »
Read more 
Stay Connected
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
