Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

A critical shortage of A&Ps means airplane owners have no choice but to get involved in maintenance. Mechanic, pilot, and writer Jeff Simon explains how to get started, how to find the right shop, and what the impact could be from proposed FAA rules on remote maintenance. Jeff is also the founder of SocialFlight, so he

The success of BasicMed proves the third class medical is obsolete—that’s according to senior AME Brent Blue. He covers a wide range of medical topics in this episode, including how to fill out the FAA medical application, what the latest rules are on mental health treatment, and whether new drugs like Ozempic are safe

Experimental airplanes make up an increasingly large share of the general aviation market, and Marc Cook knows that world better than anyone. He traces the history of homebuilts, from the radical plans of the 1980s to the refined kits of today, and describes the current state of the industry. He also talks about the ca

Home flight simulators can be valuable training tools, and they don’t necessarily teach bad flying habits. Evan Reiter, co-founder of the Flight Simulator Association, shares the data to back up those statements in this sim-centric episode. He also explains why virtual ATC services are so important for simulator pilots

New technology has made flying safer over the last two decades, but it hasn’t done much to prevent loss of control accidents. These are still the number one cause of fatalities in aviation, and according to upset prevention instructor Randy Brooks the only answer is better pilot training. He explains why upset training

Is the post-pandemic boom over for the airlines? Industry analyst and former airline pilot Courtney Miller says the answer is both yes and no. He talks about which airlines are winning and losing in 2024, whether pilot salaries have overshot, and what to make of Boeing’s latest struggles. In the Ready to Copy segment,