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• Recent Changes to Part-61 and Why They Are FANTASTIC!

  

  By Rod Machado Am I happy about the recent changes to FAR Part 61? You bet I’m happy. These changes will be helpful to general aviation in much the same way a corkscrew is to a Frenchman on Bastille Day.... read more

• FAR CHANGES THAT BENEFIT GENERAL AVIATION - BIG TIME!

  

  The FAA has just released several "final new rules" that will have a positive effect on general aviation. The FAA deserves props for these changes and I want to be the first to congratulate them. You can read the rule making... read more

• ACS Changes? Don't Celebrate Yet

  

  Flight instructors! Remove those party hats, collect the confetti and deflate those balloons because this is no time to celebrate. Celebrate what? I'm speaking of celebrating the FAA's semi-reinstatement of full-stalls in the June 2018 Commercial Airplane ACS. It turns out that... read more

• How Is Maneuvering Speed Determined?

  
  
  

  If you've ever wondered how engineers find an airplane's maneuvering speed, here's your chance to understand the concept in non-technical terms. That's right! No math here. Sit back, relax and let Rod Machado help you better understand Va and how... read more

• Why Maneuvering Speed Changes With Weight

  
  
  

  In the previous video titled, "Understanding Maneuvering Speed," I explained how maneuvering speed helps prevent structural damage to the airplane. In this video, I explain why maneuvering speed changes with a change in the airplane's weight. You must watch the... read more

• Why Vx & Vy Change With Altitude

  

  If you've ever wondered why Vx (best angle of climb speed) and Vy (best rate of climb speed) change with altitude, here's a short explanation of the concept by Rod Machado read more

• The Proper Attitude for Making a High Density Altitude Takeoff

  

  Not knowing how to select the proper attitude for departure from a high density altitude airport means you might accidentally clip the top of tall pine trees near the end of the runway (or worse). This is no way to... read more

• Teaching Students How to Think Ahead of the Airplane

  
  
  

  Here is a simple but very effective behavior modification technique I've used with my students over the years to train them to think ahead of the airplane. It's based on the principle of associative conditioning. Use it to train your... read more

• Rod Machado's Five Step Teaching Process (For Any Teacher/Instructor)

  

  Here is a 5-Step teaching strategy that I've used for decades—both in and out of an airplane cockpit—with great success. It's useful by any teacher in any training situation because it provides a strategic approach to changing a student's behavior.... read more

• Leaning the Mixture for a High Density Altitude Takeoff

  

  Here's a short video showing you several ways to lean your airplane's mixture for a high density altitude takeoff. This piece covers leaning for normally aspirated engines having fixed pitch and constant speed propellers. (www.becomeapilot.com) read more

• Evaluating Your Glidepath With Runway Geometry

  

  Take a look at this video if you’d like to improve your ability to evaluate your glidepath visually. The skill shown here is an essential component of landing any airplane safely. The best part is that it’s a relatively easy... read more

• The Runway Expansion Effect: Making the Landing Flare Easier

  

  Here's an easy method to help anyone identify when to begin the landing flare in a small airplane. The best part is that it requires no math or geometry skills. So, even if your name is not Euclid or Pythagoras,... read more