On Centerline
A show by aviators, for aviators. Join the discussion with real aviators as we explore the trials and tribulations of flight training from the student and flight instructor perspectives. Listen to stories from pilots in all different stages of their careers to hear the challenges they faced, and how they overcame those challenges.
Episodes
Proposed Changes to the CFII Check Ride
The CFI-I check ride is designed to ensure flight instructors can safely and effectively teach instrument flying—but does the current practical test truly evaluate the skills that matter most in today's training environment?In this episode of the On Centerline Podcast, I share my personal proposals for how the CFI-I check ride could be improved. We’ll discuss areas where the current evaluatio
5 Signs of a Professional Pilot
What separates a professional pilot from everyone else? It’s often not the big things—it’s the small habits and skills that consistently show up in every phase of flight. In this episode of the On Centerline Podcast, we discuss five telltale signs of a true professional pilot: disciplined brake usage, smooth aircraft control, exceptional situational awareness, clear and concise radio communication
The Importance of Takeoff Briefings
Before every takeoff, pilots brief engine failures, abort points, runway lengths, terrain, weather, and emergency plans… or at least they should. In this episode of the On Centerline Podcast, we dive into the often-overlooked art of the takeoff briefing and why so many pilots either skip it entirely or reduce it to a rushed, meaningless routine.We discuss what actually makes a takeoff briefing eff
360s in the PATTERN!
The airport traffic pattern is one of the highest-risk environments in aviation for mid-air collisions — and non-standard maneuvering is often a major factor. In this episode of the On Centerline Podcast, we break down the dangers of performing 360° turns in the traffic pattern, especially at uncontrolled airports, and explain why these maneuvers can quickly create confusion, blind spots, and coll
Additional Pilot Training (and the endorsements you'll need)
A good pilot is always learning! These are words I live by and that's why today we will be discussing additional training you may want or NEED as you go through your aviation career! For you flight instructors out there, there will be times you will have well established and accomplished pilots come to you for additional training, and you will need to know how to best structure their training
Do you need a medical to fly?
With the passage of MOSAIC things have changed in a dramatic way in the world of aviation when it comes to medicals and the privileges of all pilots when it comes to not having a medical! Today we discuss these changes and talk about all the things you can do WITHOUT a medical!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182
Multi-Engine Ground School Part 3: Performance and Limitations
Multi-Engine flying is some of the most fun and rewarding flying you can do! As multi-engine pilots it's critical to understand the performance capabilities and limitations of our aircraft. Today we discuss the performance and limitations a multi-engine aircraft and how they can differ from single-engine aircraft!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support
Multi-Engine Ground School Part 2! - VMC
Multi-Engine flying is some of the most fun and rewarding flying you can do! As multi-engine pilots there are some key aerodynamic principles we need to understand and be proficient with handling. Today we discuss Vmc and the perils of flying on a single engine in a multi-engine aircraft!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzspro
Multi-Engine Ground School - Aerodynamics and the Critical Engine
Multi-Engine flying is some of the most fun and rewarding flying you can do! As multi-engine pilots there are some key aerodynamic principles we need to understand and be proficient with handling. Today we discuss the aerodynamics involved with the critical engine in our first installment of our multi-engine ground school!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and sup
GPS Is Making Us Dumb!
As with everything in aviation, there are no human instincts that come into play or naturally inherited traits. Flying is something that is completely foreign to human beings so everything we do in an airplane is a LEARNED trait. Unfortunately we don't always teach, or get taught the right things the right way, and these days pilots are not being taught to LOOK OUTSIDE. With the advent of GPS
Assessments - How instructors learn to teach!
Learning to be an effective flight instructor can be TOUGH. They say the best way to learn something is to TEACH it and that is what proper assessments can help us to do! Today we discuss the different kinds of assessments and how we as flight instructors can actually use our own students to teach us to be better educators!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and su
Do you know the THREE types of weather reports?
If there is one thing all pilots struggle with UNIVERSALLY, it's WEATHER! Today we discuss the THREE types of weather reports available to us, and try to gain a better understanding of how to compare and contrast these reports to one another to gain the most vivid picture of what the weather is doing for a given flight. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and
How to train a Helicopter Pilot - Advanced Endorsements
As a flight instructor not everyone you will be working with are student pilots. There will be times you will have well established and accomplished pilots come to you for additional training, and you will need to know how to best structure their training and how to properly qualify them for their check ride. Today we discuss the experience and endorsements required to train an established helicop
Endorsements for Student Pilots
Learning to be an effective flight instructor is hard enough for most people as it is. Add to that all the regulatory requirements and record keeping you have to do and it can become overwhelming for many people! Endorsements are typically one of the things new flight instructors struggle the most with when it comes to the "paperwork" side of being an instructor, and they can also have s
Certificates VS. Ratings - What's the Difference!?
In aviation, communication is critical for safety. Being sloppy with our words can have unintended consequences that can lead to accidents and incidents. So it's imperative we are always using the right words to refer to the right things at the right times. When it comes to the difference between a pilot certificate and a pilot rating, we may not be talking about life and death, but nonethele
CFI Intervention! HOW and WHEN to take control!
Knowing HOW and WHEN to intervene as a flight instructor is one of the hardest things for new CFIs to learn and even harder for any CFI to master. Today we discuss the different types of intervention we can utilize and when we should utilize them. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtub
Pass your ATP Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown - Aircraft Systems
The ATP check ride is a little different than most other check rides, yet the way we study for it is exactly the same! Join me as I do my own self-study, going through the ATP ACS one line item at a time as I prepare for my own ATP check ride!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com
I MESSED UP! - DON'T make this MISTAKE!
I did the one thing I swore to myself that I would NEVER do. . . I sent a student to a check ride who wasn't qualified and they got turned away.Anyone who knows me knows I am always extremely diligent and will go the extra mile to make sure my students are knowledgable and prepared before they go to any check ride. However, I am still human (I guess) and therefore I am susceptible to mistakes
The "5 Ts" of Instrument Flying
Staying ahead of the airplane during an instrument flight is not only one of the most critical things for a pilot to do, but can also be one of the hardest things - especially for new instrument pilots. Today we discuss a tool that can assist you with staying ahead of the plane and avoid missing critical events during an instrument flight. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to al
Passenger Vs. Crew Safety Briefings - How to brief passengers on an airplane
Proper safety briefings before flight are not only required by the regulations, but imperative for the safety of everyone on board and the general flying public. Today we discuss how we should be differentiate between briefings for passengers vs. briefings for other pilots.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/
Airworthiness for Commercial Pilots
Airworthiness can be a confusing and complex topic for any pilot, but it's especially important when you're the pilot in command of an aircraft for hire! Today we delve a little deeper into the intricacies of airworthiness and what you need to be familiar with to pass your commercial pilot check ride. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the sh
IFR Scenario Based Training
Scenario Based Training has been really pushed to the forefront of how we teach and evaluate pilots in the past decade. Today we are going over some IFR scenarios straight from the ASA Oral Exam Guide that were chosen by YOU. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronau
Wet Vs. Dry Leases - Commercial pilot check ride
In today's episode, we delve into the world of aircraft leasing and explore the key differences between wet and dry leases, with a focus on how they pertain to commercial pilots. Whether you're preparing for your check ride, or already a working pilot, understanding these leasing options is crucial.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show!
Common Vs. Private Carriage
In this episode, we dive into the crucial differences between common carriage and private carriage as they pertain to commercial pilots. Understanding these distinctions is essential for your check ride preparation and overall flying career.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/n
Pass your Commercial Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 1 - Pilot Qualifications
We are continuing our ACS breakdown series and expanding it to your commercial oral exam! We start the commercial series today with Pilot Qualifications. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautInstagram: @northwest_aeronautTikTok: nw_aeronautWebsite: www.northwest
VDP vs. MAP
Today we are discussing exactly what a Visual Descent Point is and how it is different from the missed approach point. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautInstagram: @northwest_aeronautTikTok: nw_aeronautWebsite: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic So
5 Tips for STUDENT Pilots
Today we are discussing 5 tips that will make your initial pilot training more efficient, effective and will set you up for a long successful career!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautInstagram: @northwest_aeronautTikTok: nw_aeronautWebsite: www.northwestaeron
5 Tips for Instrument Students
Today we are discussing 5 tips to make you a better instrument pilot and to make your instrument training easier and more effective! Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautInstagram: @northwest_aeronautTikTok: nw_aeronautWebsite: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music
Bad Regulations!
It's no secret that sometimes the FAA just gets things WRONG. Sometimes they just make things confusing. Either way, these errors and ambiguities lead to many pilots mis-interpreting certain rules and requiring lawyers to clarify the FAA's position and intentions through letters of interpretation. Today we discuss two such issues with some very prominent regulations. Send us Fan MailSupp
Everything you wanted to know about HOLDS! (And more that you didn't.)
Holds can often be the most frustrating parts to students in instrument training. They have a certain complexity that tends to confuse and complicate when combined with all the other skills and items you need to learn in instrument training. However, the reality is they are much easier than most people initially realize, so today we are going to break down holds and holding entries from the techni
The Approaches Your CFI-I Never Taught You
Even though it's the most widely used approach in the professional flying world, the visual approach is largely overlooked in instrument training. In addition, the contact approach is so seldomly used at all, that most instructors fail to even mention it throughout a students' training. We talk about BOTH today!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and supp
How to fly on Instruments!
With everything there is to learn in instrument flight training, one of the most difficult things can be learning how to simply control the aircraft! Today we discuss instrument attitude flying and the techniques and methods such as control performance and primary and support that can be utilized to help make control of the aircraft in the instrument environment just as easy as it is in the visual
Is Your CFI Failing You?
There are many ways I see subpar service and quality of training from CFIs, but today we are talking about the abuse I constantly see in one specific area of the experience requirements for the commercial pilot certificate. We will talk about the short-comings that are all too common with these training activities as well as the solutions I have personally developed for my own students. Send us Fa
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 6 - ATC Clearances
Talking with ATC as a student pilot is often one of the most challenging things people face in flight training. Unfortunately it tends to just get more complicated as you get into instrument training, but there are a few key things every pilot can do to make this task a lot easier. Join us today as we discuss ATC clearances and communications. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access t
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 5 - Systems PART 2
Today we are continuing with systems related to IFR flight. In today's episode we specifically discuss navigation systems, as well as airworthiness for IFR flight.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautInstagram: @northwest_aeronautTikTok: nw_aeronautWebsite:
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 4 - Systems
Today we are diving into systems related to IFR flight. In today's episode we specifically discuss Anti-icing and De-icing systems, as well as Autopilot.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautInstagram: @northwest_aeronautTikTok: nw_aeronautWebsite: www.north
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 3 - Cross-Country Planning
I will start off by saying there is SO MUCH to go over in this portion of the Instrument ACS that I can't possibly fit it all into this one podcast episode. So if there is anything specific YOU want me to cover in a future podcast, please leave a comment and let me know what you want to hear more about! But until then, we continue with our overview of the ACS breakdown with IFR cross country
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 2 - Weather
If there is one thing that really separates and instrument pilot from a VFR-only pilot, it's probably their ability to read and decipher the weather! It's often said that a pilot needs to be just as much a weatherman as they are a pilot and that is never truer than when flying IFR. Today we breakdown the things that DPEs will be looking for to gauge your understanding of and risk managem
IMSAFE. . . and how to USE it!
IMSAFE is one of the first acronyms pilots are taught, but it often doesn't get the attention it really deserves! It's important to understand the real-life stressors and ailments we all deal with as individuals, rather than getting caught up in generalizations or hypotheticals. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzspr
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. . . EDUCATE?
When it comes to the priorities in the cockpit, we often use the little mnemonic "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate", but as CFIs there is a forth one that gets added into the mix and that is EDUCATE. Today we talk about educating and where in the order of priorities it should fall.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzspro
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 1 - Pilot Qualifications
Back by popular demand and for the first time on YouTube. . . We are continuing our ACS breakdown series and expanding it to your IFR oral exam! We start the IFR series today with Pilot Qualifications. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautInstagram: @northwest_a
Can you Go Around on a Check Ride?
So many pilots get it in their mind that go-arounds on a check ride are frowned upon, when in reality it's quite the opposite! The other oversight in training is that each specific approach and landing have their own techniques that need to be adhered to. We discuss all of this in this weeks episode!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! htt
Narration Vs. Teaching
Today we talk about the differences between narration and actually teaching. Simply saying what you're doing doesn't convey all the information our learners need to know. We need to continue to incorporate the concepts of "what, why and how" into everything we do to help our learners fully embrace and understand the topics of flight training. Telling Is Not Teaching: The Flight
The Normalization of Deviance
The Normalization of Deviance is inherent to human nature, but it is something that we has CFIs and pilots need to do our best to mitigate at all times!FLYING Magazine Article: https://www.flyingmag.com/cfi-central/normalization-of-deviance-can-cause-problems-for-pilots/?MailingID=%25CAMPAIGNID%25&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=FLY-NL-Daily&
How to teach as a CFI - The "What, Why, How" Method.
The What, Why, How method is the basic structure I use for teaching almost anything! It's a great model that can be used both in the classroom and in the airplane. If you're an aspiring or current CFI, try this method out when teaching your students and let me know what you think!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsp
Taking Ownership Over Your Flight Training
A great question was brought up by one of my viewers on Youtube about how much ownership should students be taking in their own flight training. Join us today as we discuss the answer to this question and the dynamics between a student and an instructor.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.
The Intricacies of the LAZY 8
The Lazy 8 is not only one of my favorite commercial maneuvers, but is by far the HARDEST maneuver you will ever have to do on a check ride. Today we discuss the intricacies of this maneuver in an effort to help you understand and fly it better in the plane!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube:
The HARDEST Check Ride
So many people like to ask about what the HARDEST check ride is. . and there really isn't any one right answer to that question. In this episode I give you my take on what the hardest check ride is, and offer helpful tips for any upcoming check ride you may be taking.Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/s
The Best Aviation Acronym! PAVE!
I have always said that the PAVE acronym is the acronym to rule all other acronyms! It doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves, so today I breakdown how I use the PAVE acronym and show you just how useful it can be!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronautIns
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 9 - Human Factors
In our final edition of our ACS breakdown for your private pilot oral exam, we are discussing task H, Human Factors. Human factors are one of the most overlooked subjects in training, yet there is a lot to know and consider when evaluating our own airworthiness and fitness to fly. Hopefully after listening to this episode, you'll have a much greater understanding of what we truly need to be a
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 8 - Operation of Systems
Today we're discussing aircraft SYSTEMS! This is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood subjects in pilot training, but with a little explanation, I think you'll find it's a lot simpler than you might have initially thought. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 7 - Performance and Limitations
Performance and limitations is one of the hardest things student pilots tend to struggle with in their initial training. Reading the charts themselves can be challenging enough, but today we are going to dive in to the details that all too often get overlooked completely in this portion of private pilot training. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 6 - National Airspace System
NOTE: I misspoke when I made mention of a “minimum elevation figure”. I meant to say “maximum elevation figure”. The National Airspace System (NAS) is one of the most complex systems a pilot needs to learn and be aware of. Both student pilots and seasoned pilots alike often find confusion when it comes to keeping track of all the different types of airspace and the limitations associated with thos
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 5 - Cross-Country Flight Planning
This week we have a little bit longer of an episode but that's simply because there is SO much to cover in VFR Cross country flight planning! Join me as we talk through the Private Pilot ACS Section 1, task D. Cross-Country Flight Planning. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 4 - Weather Part 2
Weather is by far the one subject that all pilots tend to be delinquent in with their knowledge and understanding. Everyone from Private pilots to ATPs have trouble truly grasping weather theory and application to your flight planning. While there is certainly a lot more to talk about, we will start here to today by breaking down the things you need to know for your private pilot check ride when i
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 3 - Weather Part 1
Weather is by far the one subject that all pilots tend to be delinquent in with their knowledge and understanding. Everyone from Private pilots to ATPs have trouble truly grasping weather theory and application to your flight planning. While there is certainly a lot more to talk about, we will start here to today by breaking down the things you need to know for your private pilot check ride when i
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 2 - Airworthiness
In this series we are going to go through the private pilot ACS with a fine-tooth comb. In each episode we will break down one section of the ACS in detail, so that when your check ride comes around, there won't be a single thing you don't know. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: ww
Pass Your Private Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 1 - Pilot Qualifications
In this series we are going to go through the private pilot ACS with a fine-tooth comb. In each episode we will break down one section of the ACS in detail, so that when your check ride comes around, there won't be a single thing you don't know. Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: ww
What Every Student Pilot should know before their FIRST SOLO
This has been a busy Summer and I've done A LOT of pre-solo checks for student pilots lately. Throughout all these flights, I've seen some patterns developing in the deficiencies these pilots have which really shouldn't be the case for pilots getting ready to fly solo. Join me today as we discuss the things students should know and be able to do prior to their first solo.Send us Fan
From Student - to Sport Pilot - to Aircraft Owner. Pilot Interview
Today we are talking with a former student of mine - Ted. Ted was my first Sport pilot student and never thought that aviation would have as large of an impact on his life as it has ended up having. We talk with Ted about his journey as a Sport pilot, and the challenges he's faced along the way. Ted's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@flysport_tedder Send us Fan MailSupport the s
The 70/50 rule. . .what's all the fuss? Proper Pre-takeoff briefings.
There has been a lot of talk about the 70/50 rule lately and people questioning it's merit. While I do think there is a place for the 70/50 rule in our pre-takeoff briefings, it is not a situation which should arise often and there are many other factors that need to be considered when doing a proper briefing. Today we dive into the departure and abort plan briefings and all the things YOU ne
Aviation ACRONYMS! Do you know all of these?
I was recently debriefing some pre-solo and mock check ride flights with students and many of them expressed that they had never heard of these acronyms. So I thought it would be helpful to talk about these commonly used acronyms and hopefully they can be incorporated into your own flight training procedures!Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show!
When and HOW to teach a student how to land?
Learning to land is one of the hardest things in flight training. This process is often made more difficult when flight instructors rush into it without establishing the proper baseline fundamentals beforehand. Today I discuss the steps I take BEFORE I ever get to teaching a student how to land, and how I go about the process once a student does get there in their training. Send us Fan MailSupport
Flight Instructor Pet Peeves!
In this episode we're back with Brian discussing some of our pet peeves! Everyone has them, and everyone thinks theirs are legitimate, but lets see if any of our pet peeves carry more merit than others. What do you think?Send us Fan MailSupport the showReceive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/supportYoutube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronau
The Hardest Thing to Teach a Student
Today we are discussing the hardest things to teach a student in aviation and we are privileged to have Brian Musson join us for the first of many guest appearances he'll be making. Brian has many years of experience and great insights into the flight training process. He is one of my personal mentors and I'm excited for him to become one of yours as well! Send us Fan MailSupport the sho
Flight Training for $40,000?
Welcome to the new "On Centerline" podcast! Today I wanted to introduce myself and give you a little history on my background. I also wanted to talk about how I did all my flight training from private to MEI for $40,000 and how YOU can help overcome the financial burdens of flight training. This podcast is going focus on flight training and the challenges involved by talking to students
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