Entries by Eric Radtke

Upcoming Webinar: Instrument Approach Decision-Making—IFR Mastery Live

In this live PilotWorkshops IFR Mastery webinar, the PilotWorkshops team will walk pilots through a realistic, thought-provoking scenario from the IFR Mastery series. You’ll be placed in the cockpit of a Beechcraft Bonanza and faced with a critical decision: how to enter and execute an instrument approach into Wichita Falls, Texas, with low ceilings and strong winds complicating the picture.

Ask an IFR Expert: What actually counts towards IFR currency?

IFR currency seems simple on paper—six approaches every six months—but in real flying, what seems black and white can turn gray in a hurry. Do approaches in mostly visual conditions count? What about simulators, vectors to final, or breaking out early? IFR currency isn’t hard to maintain, but it is easy to misunderstand. The biggest […]

Winter IFR: Practical Strategies for Cold-Weather Flying

Winter brings some of the most challenging — and rewarding — IFR flying of the year. Cold, dense air offers excellent aircraft performance and crisp climb rates, and many days feature crystal-clear ceilings above a thin cloud layer. But the season also introduces hazards that demand a more disciplined approach: icing, contaminated runways, sluggish engines, and unpredictable low-level weather.

Ask the IFR Expert: What do I do when the avionics glitch?

Modern IFR panels are incredibly capable, but they’re still computers—and sometimes they glitch at the worst possible moment. When automation stumbles in IMC or during a high-workload phase, I fall back on a simple sequence: stabilize, simplify, and strategize.

Departure Planning for IFR Pilots: Risk Management Tips

Departures can be one of the riskiest phases of flight, especially in instrument conditions (IMC) or mountainous terrain. Even experienced pilots benefit from a structured approach to departure planning that accounts for terrain, obstacles, aircraft performance, and weather.