Whether we like it or not, all of us have to face Examination or ‘test’ flights at some time in our flying career, and they are a necessary part of becoming and remaining a safe and competent pilot. As pilots gain and maintain additional ratings and maybe instructor / examiner qualifications, the number of potential …
You may be able to borrow a basic headset from your flight school. But you’ll inevitably want the convenience, additional comfort, high performance — and style — that comes with having your own. That’s why aviation headsets tend to be the first major purchase for student pilots. Whether you’re an aviation student looking for your …
You might consider yourself a ‘gifted’ pilot. But if you persistently break the rules and disregard the importance of safety, then you’ll put yourself and others in serious danger. What’s more — you can land yourself in prison. That’s precisely that happened to private pilot Robert Murgatroyd who was jailed for crash landing his plane …
Learning to fly is expensive. Take a look at our post on the cost of becoming a pilot for evidence of that. One tip we have for keeping your costs down is to invest in one of the top PPL Starter Packs. Flight training study kits bundle together important equipment, which works out much cheaper …
Are you looking to quickly and easily calculate the fuel burn of a Cessna 152? Do you need a Cessna 152 fuel burn chart? If so, then you’re in the right place! The white FlyGA Cessna 152 Fuel Burn Calculation Ruler is a unique, multi-purpose flight situational awareness tool. This handy nautical mile ruler informs …
Once you have your finances in order and you’ve committed to the PPL(A), you’ll begin to feel a mixture of excitement and nerves. Something you’ll ponder is: “What’s the hardest or most challenging parts of the PPL(A) course?” or, “What’s the most difficult aspect of the PPL(A) to get your head around?”. These are precisely the …
What makes a professional pilot good at what he/she does? Being a successful pilot requires a combination of skills. It’s not all mathematical and technical. You also have to think creatively, act under pressure, and adopt a mentality fitting for a role of such great responsibility. Pilots not only require leadership qualities — they also have …
Here’s a question that’s asked by just about everyone that’s interested in flying: “how much does it cost to learn how to fly?” or “how much does it cost to become a pilot?”. And rightfully so — learning to fly is a huge financial commitment. In this post we’re going to run you through all …
When most people talk about obtaining a Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL), the default tends to assume that this will be done on a fixed wing aeroplane. Planes have been around a while longer than helicopters, so perhaps this is natural. Attempting to change a well-established thought process will be no mean feat! However here’s a …
When you begin your Private Pilot Licence (PPL) course it’s hard to know what flight equipment you really need to buy. Apart from a few aviation blogs and forums, there isn’t much information on this topic. But I’ve been in this position myself — and I’m able to advise you on what flight equipment is …
We want to become the starting point for learner pilots in the UK. So we’re making every effort to build out our collection of tools & resources — including the Flight School Finder, Aviation Products — and the Resources section that you’re on right now. The contributors of FlyGA draw from their own aviation experience & knowledge …
So you want to learn how to fly? That’s great news. You’re about to embark on an exciting and challenging adventure. But before you get bogged down with all the aviation jargon, we’ll provide you with a simple (and much needed) introduction to General Aviation & Flying, outlining every step from when you’re starting out right up to the highest possible level. …
Interested in flying, or know someone else who is? I recommend booking an introductory flight lesson (or “flight experience“), where you’ll take over the aircraft and learn to fly for the very first time. Then it’s over to you to decide whether flying is something you want to pursue further. Where Do I Book My First Flying Lessons …
If you haven’t yet read our Introduction to Flying, then we recommend giving it at least a precursory browse. What follows is a Q&A outlining precisely what’s involved in the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) course from start to finish. What Is The Private Pilot Licence (PPL)? PPL stands for ‘Private Pilots Licence’, and it’s effectively the aviation equivalent …
In every industry, technology improves efficiency. In the case of aviation, technology ultimately reduces the pilot’s workload in single IFR & VFR. But in my opinion, technology such as GPS devices have made pilots a bit lazy, and they take away an element of the fun. That’s why I predominantly use only basic navigational aids — such …
Want to experience flying without ever leaving the ground? Or want to ‘fly’ a plane beyond your experience level? A flight simulator experience is as realistic as it gets. It also has many benefits over a regular, ‘real’ flight experience… Where Do I Book A Flight Simulator Experience? Search Online I suggest Google searching “flight simulator near …
The privileges of your licence determine what aircraft you are able to fly and what sort of operations you are able to undertake. You can extend the privileges of your Private Pilot Licence (PPL) by completing extra training and adding flight ratings to your licence. Building On Your Pilot’s Licence Flight Ratings are essentially …
As a pilot you’ll be flying in UK, and perhaps other nations’ airspace. Some parts of that airspace are under the jurisdiction of air traffic control units, whilst other parts aren’t. The aviation community must be aware of the procedures & principles outlined, and abide by them. These rules (or “procedures”) are there to ensure that …
As a pilot it’s imperative that have a clear perspective of your aircraft’s capabilities. It’s crucial that you know how well — or how badly — your aircraft is performing during the different phases of flight. By studying flight performance & planning during your PPL(A) you’ll learn to understand the performance potential and limitations of your aircraft. Recommended …
Private Pilots operate as the pilot in command (PIC) of a single pilot aircraft. But they must also be the navigator, too. So it’s critical that they’re able to apply the correct practices to navigational tasks — especially during cross country flights. Developing navigational skills is the very essence of single pilot flying; hence the importance of the …