You’ve decided to become a pilot. You understand what the airplane does and how it flies. You’ve chosen your training path and completed or started ground school. Now comes the question that’s both exciting and nerve-wracking: What will my training actually look like? Here’s what the regulations say: earning your private pilot certificate requires a...Read More

You’ve taken your discovery flight. You’ve felt the thrill of the controls in your hands. You understand what makes the airplane fly and how its parts work together. Now comes the question every new pilot asks: “What do I need to become a pilot?” Welcome to the practical side of becoming a pilot – the...Read More

Part 61 vs. Part 141: A Practical Explanation The problem with most pilot training advice is that nobody explains the practical difference between Part 61 and Part 141 flight training – Note: Part 61 and 141 refers to the Part of U.S. Law, under Title 14, that governs these portions of aviation. This choice affects...Read More

How Does Wind Shear Put Aircraft at Risk? Imagine you’re driving down the highway at 65 mph when suddenly a massive gust of wind hits your car from the side. Your hands grip the wheel tighter as the car drifts sideways. You correct, and then just as suddenly, the wind stops completely. Now imagine that...Read More

There’s a quintessential movie scene where the aircraft enters a dive, engines screaming, pilots frantically pulling back on the yoke. “We’re going to crash!” someone yells. The pilot pulls harder on the yoke, pitches up at a 45 degree angle, and somehow—miraculously—they recover safely. Here’s the problem with Hollywood’s scenario: pulling back harder on the...Read More

Whether you’ve scheduled your discovery flight or already taken it, chances are you’re hooked. Now you’re looking at that airplane on the ramp with fresh eyes and not as a mysterious machine, but as something you’re about to learn to control. It’s smaller than you expected, simpler than you imagined, and yet somehow still seems...Read More

This article is part of the Gleim Aviation Learn to Fly Series, a 7‑part journey designed to guide new pilots from inspiration to certification and beyond.  ✈️ Learn to Fly Series : Wings of Wonder: Learning to Fly Changes Your Life Your Flying Machine: Getting to Know the Airplane The Physics of Flight Your Training...Read More

The new FAA MOSAIC rule introduces a new criteria called simplified flight controls for light-sport aircraft pilot certification. This change is a significant step toward allowing sport pilots to fly modernized airplanes.  These modernizations allow planes to be operated more like advanced cars—with more automation and less need for traditional hands-on flying. What Are “Simplified Flight Controls”?...Read More

If you’re trying to make sense of the FAA’s new MOSAIC rules—especially the way they impact “sport pilot” flying privileges—this post unpacks an interesting nuance. Even if you aren’t a certificated pilot, you’ll get value from understanding how technical limits shape which planes can be flown by a particular pilot. The Basics: What Is “Stall...Read More

Drawing from the freshly issued MOSAIC final rule, here are 10 surprising and impactful updates that stand out.   1. No Maximum Weight Limit for Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) Gone are the rigid 1,320 lb/1,430 lb weight caps that have constrained LSA designs since 2004. Now, manufacturers can build heavier aircraft as long as they meet...Read More