Short answer: If you fail a pilot checkride, the examiner issues a Notice of Disapproval (FAA Form 8060-5) listing exactly which task or tasks you didn’t meet the standard on; you get credit for everything you passed for 60 days, and you go back to your instructor for targeted retraining and a logbook endorsement before
What Happens If You Fail a Pilot Checkride? A 2026 Guide Read More »
There’s an old saying in flying that every new pilot learns on day one: “It’s much better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground.” There’s a particular shade of green-black that shows up on a Nexrad display, or out the windscreen
The Wall of Weather: Why We Don’t Fly Into Thunderstorms Read More »
Watch this exciting stall recovery video recorded by Aerocadet using Extra 330XL aircraft – a required training segment for CPL pilots pursuing flight instructor ratings, and recommended training segment for bi-annual flight review (BFR): For commercial and general aviation pilots, the Flight Review required under FAR 61.56 every 24 calendar months is often viewed as
Stall Recognition and Recovery Practice – Watch Aerocadet Video Read More »
Looking out the window and seeing nothing but a thick grey wall of clouds, yet the pilot lands that plane perfectly, without hesitation? It almost feels like he’s a magician. You wonder: how does anyone fly through that with zero visibility and still know exactly where they are going? This is the exact moment where
What Is IFR in Aviation and When Do Pilots Use It? Read More »
Exploring how to become a skilled pilot and wondering how fast aeroplanes fly. Here’s a blog explaining the typical flight altitude and speed during pilot training. Have you ever found yourself gazing into the sky and dreaming about how it feels to be up there, right next to the clouds, and what is the altitude
What Is the Usual Flying Altitude During Pilot Training? Read More »
For pilots, the traffic pattern is where precision meets patience, discipline meets dynamism, and situational awareness becomes practical. It’s where many flights are made or remade—and where a simple mental habit can spell the difference between a smooth sequence of touch-and-gos and a near-miss with another aircraft. A recent Training and Safety Tip from the
Mastering the Traffic Pattern: Use Mental Mapping Techniques Read More »
From the ramp to the runway, better airmanship begins with your feet! By Mike RosenfieldJanuary 2026, Aerocadet Aviation Safety Desk There is a persistent illusion in aviation that “real flying” begins at the takeoff roll and ends at touchdown. Taxiing, by comparison, is often treated as an administrative chore—something to be endured between checklist items
Easy on the Brakes: How Ground Discipline Defines Real Airmanship Read More »
We have all felt the moment when an approach that seemed routine suddenly demands judgment. The radio work is complete, traffic has been scanned and cleared, the GUMPS check recited almost by muscle memory. The runway numbers slide into view off the wing, base turns to final, and then—quietly but unmistakably—the sight picture changes. You
Mastering the Forward Slip and the Discipline of Controlled Descent Read More »