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Find a lesson plan →Trivia of the Day
Trivia rolls over daily at midnight, Mountain Standard Time.
Private Pilot Question of the Day
How does Special VFR differ from basic VFR and VFR-on-top?
Basic VFR uses ordinary VFR minima. Special VFR is an ATC-cleared VFR operation in designated surface airspace. VFR-on-top remains IFR while also requiring applicable VFR weather and cruising altitudes.
Commercial Pilot Question of the Day
What local-condition hazards should be assessed before a seaplane operation?
Water depth and surface, wind, waves, swell, current and tide, submerged or floating obstacles, shoreline and escape paths, visibility, wildlife, traffic, and local restrictions or services.
Instrument Rating Question of the Day
Why can a route over lower terrain be preferable to a direct route across a high ridge?
It may provide better terrain clearance and escape or emergency landing options with less climb demand. Evaluate the actual weather, performance, fuel, and route conditions; a shorter route is not automatically safer.
Sport Pilot Question of the Day
What is the best way for a prospective learner to evaluate compatibility with a flight instructor?
Use an introductory lesson and discussion to assess clear objectives, briefing and debriefing, specific feedback, professionalism, communication, scheduling, and willingness to adapt within a structured syllabus.
Flight Instructor Question of the Day
Why should a pilot not identify a runway at night solely from a straight line of lights?
Roads and other ground lighting can resemble approach or runway lights. Confirm the airport, runway alignment, threshold, and expected lighting pattern using available navigation and airport information.
Flight Instructor Instrument Question of the Day
If the navigator does not provide the expected LPV service level before the final approach segment, what should the pilot do?
Use only a lower line of minima that is published, supported by the annunciated service level, and safely briefed and configured; otherwise request another approach or execute the missed approach as appropriate.
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Question of the Day
What operating limitations apply to a Category 3 operation over people?
The aircraft must meet Category 3 eligibility, labeling, and declaration requirements; it may not operate over an open-air assembly, and operations above people are limited by the closed-site or no-sustained-flight conditions.
Advice of the Day
Maintain a consistent flight training schedule. Long breaks in any kind of training, but especially aviation, will cause a dramatic loss of progress.
System of the Day
Cabin Heating and Cooling Systems: Cabin Heating and cooling systems provide conditioned air for comfortable operations during various weather conditions
Maneuver of the Day
Localizer Approach: Localizer approaches provide lateral navigation during the transition from the en-route environment to the terminal area.
Emergency of the Day
Engine Failure: The total loss of power requires immediate actions which depend upon speed (life) and altitude (life insurance)
Mishap of the Day
ERA14LA450: The NTSB determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a takeoff with the airplane's center of gravity aft of its limit and led the airplane to exceed its critical angle of attack and experience an aerodynamic stall during the initial climb.
