by B.J. Slater | Jan 21, 2019 | Human Factors, Sleep & Fatigue
Sleep Scientist Matthew Walker says it is time to pay better attention to how well we sleep. I agree. The Cost of Poor Sleep A truck driver is gliding down an interstate highway around 1:00 in the morning. His brain feels heavy as it is locked into a battle to stay...
by B.J. Slater | Jan 18, 2019 | Flight Training, Instruction Techniques
Sometimes in an effort to save our students money, we end up costing them something far more valuable. Learning to Fly is Expensive On Facebook a while ago I read a thread of instructors debating how much hands-on flying was appropriate for the instructor to perform. ...
by B.J. Slater | Jul 9, 2018 | Flight Training, Maneuver Demo
In this video I provide a full-length Slow Flight Demonstration from beginning to end just as I would to a student in the airplane. The airplane used is a Piper Warrior II (PA28-161), so the airspeeds referenced are specific to that aircraft make and model. Other...
by B.J. Slater | Jul 5, 2018 | Flight Training, Tips and Techniques
The time in between lessons is an often-missed opportunity to help sharpen your flight skills outside the airplane which can help you learn faster, save time, and save money. Here are seven things you can do at home to make the most of your time outside of the...
by B.J. Slater | Jun 25, 2018 | Flight Training, Tips and Techniques
Video: Slow Flight Tips and Tricks A new video this week offering tips and tricks to help you master slow flight! Have a look and tell me what you think. Enjoy! Tips and Tricks The key to this maneuver is establishing and maintaining a sight picture that corresponds...
by B.J. Slater | May 31, 2018 | Flight Training
I Had a Choice “Look, this is going to go one of two ways,” my instructor began. I will never forget the look on his face. He was disappointed – mostly with me, but partly because I could tell this was not the first time he had given this speech. He explained that I...
by B.J. Slater | May 14, 2018 | Uncategorized
The Airsick Pilot I spent some time as a bush pilot in Western Alaska. I flew small 6-passenger airplanes from village to village. Sometimes I flew all passengers, sometimes all-cargo, and sometimes a mixture of both. Many great flying stories come from this time...
by B.J. Slater | May 4, 2018 | Uncategorized
Steep Turns Flight Instructors refer to steep turns as a “performance maneuver,” meaning it is a maneuver that teaches pilots how to control the aircraft in far more demanding situations than straight and level flight. Pilots explore broader parts of the aircraft’s...
by B.J. Slater | Apr 23, 2018 | Flying Stories
Here’s one of my favorite flying stories. It was summer and the fishing lodges in Alaska were running at full steam. I had landed a sweet gig as the first officer on a Super DC-3 flying passengers from Anchorage out to some of these remote lodges. The Super...
by B.J. Slater | Apr 17, 2018 | Tips and Techniques
Common ways slow flight can go wrong and how to fix them. Slow Flight trains pilots to recognize and handle situations in which the airplane is flying at or near its minimum controllable airspeed with the wing flying at high angles of attack (AOA). It is a vital step...