That's a really smart approach to breaking down the technique-great way to build confidence and consistency.

Glad the explanation made sense! Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback!

Thanks, Jerry! Glad you liked the shirt-and the video! Appreciate the support. Stay tuned for more!

That’s a great analogy, Mark! It really captures the resourcefulness and intuition required. Thanks for sharing-I love hearing different perspectives!

@@YoelGilman It sounds like you might have 'skippered' a sailboat before? I was lucky enough to have learned how to sail (and race) before I drove a car. Then as a new pilot in the 70's I found those skills very helpful! And, in that era, instruments were basic, crude, less accurate, and few.

That’s incredible, Mark! I haven’t skippered a sailboat, but I can imagine how those skills would come in handy in the cockpit, especially in an era when instruments were so rudimentary. It’s amazing how resourcefulness and adaptability were such key parts of flying back then. Thanks for sharing your experience-it’s inspiring!

Flying in SoCal airspace is a unique experience. The consistent VFR weather is a huge plus, though the marine layer can add some morning challenges. The busyness of the airspace, with major airports and dense GA traffic, keeps you on your toes and sharpens your skills. And the views? Absolutely stunning-whether it’s the coastline, Catalina, or the mountains meeting the desert, the variety here is unmatched.

But like isn't talent also required equally as. Money to fly?

Just curious as there might be many people who can afford flying schools but can't crack the exams to get into one like those who are weak in maths and physics

Thanks for the support and the laugh-money definitely plays its part in getting us airborne! Appreciate the kind words from Australia. Cheers!

Great questions, Christina! While having some natural talent helps, determination and hard work are what really matter. Flying is as much about mindset as it is about skills. Even if someone struggles with math or physics, with the right training and guidance, they can absolutely succeed in aviation!

I wouldn’t go that far. Task saturation is a real thing and better to learn how to deal with it in a training environment.

Thanks for your thoughtful input! It’s always great to hear different perspectives and approaches. You’re right that creating space and maintaining situational awareness are crucial. The goal here was to simulate a specific scenario, but your insights definitely highlight an alternative approach. Glad you found the lesson valuable!

@@YoelGilman Thanks Yoel...to be frank, when I watched the lesson, I thought that you were trying to teach the student that as PIC, the pilot does not need to automatically accept new requests from passengers or ATC in nearly every case when such a request presents a potential safety issue. If I sound a bit annoyed, it's because I am. Who said you could move to Denver? :)

Thanks so much! I’m glad you found it helpful-plain and simple is always the goal!

Thank you for the kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that the lessons resonate and are easy to understand. My goal is to make aviation both accessible and memorable, and it means a lot to know it's making an impact. Keep learning and flying high! ✈️

2006 Cirrus SR22

By "stepping on the fire", he's referring to applying rudder in the direction of the fire and applying opposite aileron. Right wingtip fire = step on right rudder pedal + left aileron

Absolutely, the quality of your instructor can make all the difference in how well concepts are understood and retained. A good instructor doesn’t just teach-they inspire confidence and make learning enjoyable. I’m glad I can share insights here to help fill in those gaps! ✈️

Thank you! I’m glad the explanation resonated. Your support means a lot-happy flying! ✈️

Great question! In flight level change mode (FLC), the autopilot adjusts pitch to maintain a target airspeed during climbs or descents. While excess power could theoretically increase the angle of attack, modern systems are designed to prevent reaching the critical angle of attack by prioritizing airspeed over vertical performance. However, if the autopilot is improperly set or the airspeed drops too low, a stall could occur. That’s why constant monitoring of airspeed and power settings is crucial, especially during high-performance climbs or slow-speed descents. Always stay ahead of the aircraft to avoid such scenarios! ✈️

That’s awesome! It’s always great to see concepts from videos come to life in real-world applications. Glad you’re connecting the dots-keep up the learning and enjoying the journey! 🎉✈️

Appreciate it!

Thank you! Congratulations on earning your IFR rating-that’s a huge accomplishment! Flying into French Valley is always a great experience, and I’m glad the video was valuable for you. Wishing you safe and enjoyable flights! ✈️🎉

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! ✈️🎉

Thank you for subscribing and for the great question! When you cancel IFR, you’re typically transitioned to VFR flight following automatically if you’re still in contact with ATC and in radar coverage. If ATC tells you to squawk VFR and change frequencies, it usually means they no longer need to provide services for your flight, but you can always request flight following again if needed. Just check in with them and provide your location and intentions. Safe flying! ✈️

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words and hope our paths cross in the skies someday-on a jet, of course! Safe travels and happy flying! ✈️

@ crazy thing is I happend to meet Mariya Reum in Seattle as she was waiting to board a flight to MSO. I think I was a little bit shocked and felt awkward at the moment, but it was awesome to meet her and the rest of the flight crew that were there. My class begins Jan 6, 2025. R

That sounds like an amazing encounter, Rob! It’s always inspiring to meet people in the aviation world. Best of luck with your class starting in January-excited for you to take to the skies!

Thank you so much! I’d be honored to fly with you-let’s make it happen someday. Safe skies until then! ✈️

Steep turns can definitely be tricky at first, but hitting your own wake is such a rewarding moment-it’s proof you nailed it! Keep practicing and enjoying those sweet victories in the air. ✈️🎉

Thank you so much! She truly is an incredible student, and it’s been amazing to see her progress. I’m glad the calm approach resonates-it makes teaching and learning such a rewarding experience. Appreciate you watching! ✈️

@ I come to LA on biz quite a bit. Can we fly together for fun and you show me around? DM?

I did recently move to Denver, but feel free to email me at [email protected].

You're very welcome! Congratulations on starting your journey as a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines-that’s such an exciting career path! Wishing you safe skies and incredible experiences ahead. ✈️🎉

Great observation! While it’s true that student pilots are typically encouraged to hand-fly as much as possible to build fundamental skills, this varies depending on the lesson focus or stage of training. In this case, she’s not a student pilot but rather an advanced pilot refining specific techniques. Hand-flying remains a key skill for all pilots, but incorporating automation at the right time is also important for proficiency in modern aviation. ✈️

Thank you so much for the support! It means a lot-glad you enjoyed the content! ✈️🎉

Thank you for the kind words and thoughtful question! Filing and managing your IFR clearance in complex airspace can feel intimidating at first, but it sounds like you’re already taking a great approach. Here are some tips to address your concerns: 1. **Filing Departure Airports**: It’s generally best to file your departure airport as the one you’re actually taking off from (e.g., KUDD). Filing from a fix can work in some cases, but it can complicate things for ATC and make your clearance less predictable. Filing from an airport keeps the route more straightforward for everyone involved. 2. **Using Nearby TEC Routes**: Using tools like ForeFlight to predict Tower Enroute Control (TEC) routes is a great idea. Even if you’re departing VFR, referencing a nearby airport’s TEC route can help you anticipate ATC expectations for your clearance. This makes your request more efficient when you’re ready to pick it up. 3. **Flight Plan Timeouts**: To avoid having your IFR flight plan time out: - File your plan about 30 minutes to 1 hour before you expect to depart. - If you expect delays or extended VFR operations before picking up clearance, you can update your estimated departure time in ForeFlight or call Flight Service to amend the plan. 4. **Busy Areas as a New IFR Pilot**: It’s natural to feel apprehensive in busy areas, but practice builds confidence. Here’s how to ease into it: - Start in less congested airspace to get comfortable with clearances and ATC communication. - Use ForeFlight or similar tools to monitor frequencies and traffic patterns in busier areas before jumping in. - Don’t hesitate to let ATC know you’re a new IFR pilot-they’re there to help and are usually happy to accommodate. You’re on the right track, and it sounds like you’re using excellent tools and strategies. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll feel much more confident navigating even the busiest airspace! ✈️

@ Wow. Somehow I was unable to find your concise tips anywhere on the internet after hours of research. I stumbled on your video showing how to pickup clearance in the air but your tips written here make it really clear on what exactly best practice is…. And it should be in the AIM. Thanks for your videos and your thoughtful response.

Thank you so much for your kind words, Danny! I’m really glad you found the tips helpful-it means a lot. The AIM does a great job, but I enjoy sharing insights that make things clearer for pilots.

That’s such a great analogy! “No plan survives battle” definitely applies to flying-weather changes, ATC instructions, or unexpected events can all shake up the best-laid plans. Staying ahead of the aircraft is like staying ahead of the build: it’s all about anticipating what’s next and being ready to adapt. And hey, if a virtual midlife crisis involves watching aviation videos, I’d say you’re navigating it like a pro! ✈️🎥 Thanks for sharing your perspective!

Thank you! That’s an awesome idea-I’d love to create a video like that. Breaking down IFR flying from a 30,000-foot view and connecting the dots for beginners sounds like a perfect way to make it approachable and clear. Stay tuned, and thanks for the great suggestion! ✈️🎥

That’s a really insightful point! The go-around stall/spin scenario is definitely something that deserves more attention in training. Full power with full flaps creates a high angle of attack and a lot of drag, which can quickly lead to trouble, especially if pilots aren’t staying coordinated or managing the flaps effectively. Practicing go-around scenarios, including proper rudder use and flap retraction techniques, would definitely help pilots develop muscle memory and confidence for those critical moments. Thanks for sharing this-safety discussions like these are so important! ✈️

That’s a fantastic analogy-planning and execution go hand in hand, whether it’s in architecture, engineering, or flying. It’s one thing to draw up the plans, but it’s another to ensure they hold up in practice (or in your case, under a good solid kick!). The same goes for aviation: you build a flight plan, but you also need to “kick the tires” by staying ahead of the aircraft and adapting as needed. Love the real-world perspective-thanks for sharing! ✈️⚡

and most other instructors hate doing anything on the ground since it doesn't count towards their 1500

Thank you-that means a lot! Safety and thoughtful decision-making should always be part of the conversation, and talks like these can really make a difference in how pilots approach their flights. The idea of offering WINGS credit for discussions like this is great-turning these lessons into formal safety learning opportunities could inspire more pilots to think critically before flying. Appreciate your insight and encouragement! ✈️👏

Thank you! I’m glad that resonated. Building confidence with ATC is such an important part of becoming a competent pilot, and reminders like “who cares if he yells at you” can really help pilots focus on safety and effective communication rather than intimidation. Flight following is such a valuable tool-private pilots should absolutely take advantage of it whenever they can! ✈️💬

Thank you so much! That means a lot to me. I’m thrilled to hear that the content has been helpful-it’s exactly why I do this! Keep learning, keep flying, and I’m excited to share more with you. ✈️🎉

Thank you! Busy airspace like that can definitely be overwhelming for new pilots, and ATC’s frustration is understandable at times. The key is staying calm, focused, and learning from every interaction. I’m glad the training resonates-appreciate your kind words! ✈️💬

Thank you for the kind words, and great question! When your First Class medical certificate expires as a student pilot, it doesn’t entirely lose its validity-it simply reverts to the privileges of a lower class. For example, after the First Class privileges expire, it may still function as a Second Class or Third Class medical certificate, depending on the timeframe. As long as it’s valid under those lower privileges, you can continue to carry the same certificate in your wallet for up to 60 months (if you're under 40 at time of issuance). If in doubt, always double-check with an AME or refer to FAR 61.23 for medical certificate validity periods. It’s important to ensure your medical meets the minimum requirements for the type of flying you’re doing. Great question to bring up for other students to consider! ✈️