Many of your will remember the anti-narcotics campaign launched in the late 1980s (If you haven’t seen it, click this link – it’s a classic). This popular ad really reminds me of how my brain seems to change when I’m under the influence of flying. Not sure how this happens, but when I fly there is…

Those dang centerlines: pilot proficiency one landing at a time One of the things that I have to constantly remind myself to do is stay on centerline during landing (and takeoff). Seems like a simple thing. In fact, in my vocation its a requirement, especially on checkrides. From my training days, my old primary instructor,…

Risk vs Reward: GO/NO GO decision-making Every single flight you take is laden with decisions. Most of them are accounted for in regulatory guidance, operating procedures, training, or just common sense. One decision that makes the rest of these decisions go away and stops the error chain is one of the hardest to make –…

Home Simulation: Part 2 IFR Student / IFR rated by Michael W. Wojcik Getting into the soup. Some of the most enjoyable experiences of using flight simulation at home is when I began working on earning my instrument rating. Most pilots agree this is the most difficult, hence most rewarding when completed. The flight school I…

Home Simulation, when you can’t fly as much as you would like (part 1). by Michael W. Wojcik Like most people, time and budget limit the amount of hours I can normally fly in any given year. For me it’s typically less than a couple dozen. So how can one help their proficiency and stay…

  Pattern Work: Touch-and-goes for increased proficiency In my days as an instructor I spent a lot of time in the traffic pattern doing dozens of touch-and-goes. Today, I still feel like this is one of the best places to refine our craft and maintain proficiency – notice I didn’t say currency, but that’s a…