Jamie Beckett

Maneuvering flight accounts for a large percentage of general aviation accidents—often categorized as loss of control accidents—and the traffic pattern is a common place for these to occur.

The word “altitude” has many meanings to an aviator, and accurate appreciation of the term’s most important meaning—distance above solid objects—requires active intervention and situational interpretation.

Cross-country requirements can be confusing, but don’t be discouraged: Your CFI can help you understand and meet them.

If you find yourself flying perfect circles around landmarks one day and sad balloon shapes the next, you are not alone. The secret is staying a step ahead of the wind.

Apprehension tends to give way to joy of flight very quickly as we begin our training, only to return (for some of us) when the time comes to intentionally induce stalls.

It may surprise you to learn that there is no requirement to keep a logbook. The FAA has no such rule.

Learning to perform the many complex tasks required of a pilot is less likely to overwhelm you when you know the reason behind each step.

It happens to every student pilot, sooner or later: The engine drops to idle, often when your crafty instructor has lulled you into a complacent state. It is time to get to work, pilot.

In 2015 AOPA launched the tremendously successful You Can Fly initiative. Primary among the goals was to encourage and support individuals and groups with an interest in forming flying clubs.

Four years after its inception, the Aspiring Aviators Aero Club (AAAC) of Winter Haven, Florida, has made a major purchase.