Turbulence (Part 1)

Turbulence is one of the most unpredictable of all the weather phenomena that are of significance to pilots. Turbulence is an irregular motion of the air resulting from eddies and vertical currents. It may be as insignificant as a few annoying bumps or severe enough to momentarily throw an airplane out of control or to cause structural damage. Turbulence is associated with fronts, wind shear, thunderstorms, etc. Continue...

STALL

Stall is defined as a sudden reduction in the lift generated by an aerofoil when the critical angle of attack is reached or exceeded. Continue...

The Dirty Dozen

The Human Factors “Dirty Dozen” refers to twelve of the most common human error preconditions, or conditions that can act as precursors, to accidents or incidents. Continue...

Alcohol and Flying "A Deadly Combination"

Flying, while fun and exciting, is a precise, demanding, and an unforgiving endeavor. Any factor that impairs the pilot’s ability to perform the required tasks during the operation of an aircraft is an invitation for disaster. The use of alcohol is a significant self-imposed stress factor that should be eliminated from the cockpit. The ability to do so is strictly within the pilot’s control. Continue...

Major Components of an Airplane

Although airplanes are designed for a variety of purposes, most of them have the same major components. The overall characteristics are largely determined by the original design objectives. Most airplane structures include a fuselage, wings, an empennage, landing gear, and a powerplant. Continue...

Flight Controls

Aircraft flight controls are the means by which a pilot controls the direction and attitude of an aircraft in flight.Flight control systems are subdivided into what are referred to as primary and secondary flight controls. Continue...

Runway Numbers

How are Runway Numbers Assigned?

Plainly put, airport runways are numbered according to compass bearings. This means runway numbers are based on the compass with 360 representing north, 90 representing east, 180 representing south, and 270 representing west. Runways are numbered between 01 and 36. Continue...

DRAG

In aerodynamics, drag refers to forces that oppose the relative motion of an object through the air. Drag is generated by every part of the airplane (even the engines!). How is drag generated?...

Aircraft Lighting Systems

Aircraft lighting systems provide illumination for both exterior and interior use. Lights on the exterior provide illumination for such operations as landing at night, inspection of icing conditions, and safety from midair collision. Interior lighting provides illumination for instruments, cockpits, cabins, and other sections occupied by crew members and passengers. Certain special lights, such as indicator and warning lights, indicate the operation status of equipment. Continue...

LIFT

Lift is the force that directly opposes the weight of an airplane and holds the airplane in the air. Lift is generated by every part of the airplane, but most of the lift on a normal airliner is generated by the wings. Lift is a mechanical aerodynamic force produced by the motion of the airplane through the air. Because lift is a force, it is a vector quantity, having both a magnitude and a direction associated with it. Lift acts through the center of pressure of the object and is directed perpendicular to the flow direction. There are several factors which affect the magnitude of lift. Continue...

THE FOUR FORCES OF FLIGHT

Have you ever thrown a Frisbee? It flies because of four forces. These same four forces help an airplane fly. The four forces are lift, thrust, drag, and weight. As a Frisbee flies through the air, lift holds it up. You gave the Frisbee thrust with your arm. Drag from the air made the Frisbee slow down. Its weight brings the Frisbee back to Earth again. Continue...