It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed. Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including IFRFocus.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.
Maximum holding speeds in knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) have been designated for specific altitude ranges. Often pilots can avoid flying a holding pattern or reduce the length of time spent in the holding pattern, by slowing down on the way to the holding fix.
What would you do if an engine problem developed in actual IMC—but the nearest airport wasn’t necessarily your safest option? That’s the dilemma in this month’s IFR Mastery scenario from PilotWorkshops, The End Is Niagara?, featuring instructor Martin Pauly.
There is no magic number of minutes or percentage of a flight that every instrument pilot should spend hand-flying. The right balance depends on the pilot, the airplane, the conditions, and the workload. But there is an important distinction between using automation and becoming dependent on it.
Most instrument approaches are straightforward. You brief the procedure, monitor the weather, and fly the approach you’ve planned. But sometimes the weather changes just enough to make that decision a lot more complicated. That’s the challenge in this month’s IFR Mastery scenario from PilotWorkshops, The Minimums at Meadville, featuring award-winning instructor Doug Stewart. After a […]
The arrival into Fort Lauderdale (FLL) looked routine. Our FMS had the TEEKY arrival activated, the ILS approach to runway 10L was loaded, and ATC cleared us for the approach from the final arrival waypoint which coincided with the initial approach fix. Everything appeared as we’d expected. And then something unexpected happened. The vertical profile […]
Before every instrument approach, a well-executed brief is essential for staying ahead of the airplane and ensuring a safe, stable arrival. This month’s spotlight focuses on the Approach Brief, a concise but structured review of critical approach elements including navigation, altitudes, and missed approach procedures. This briefing sets the tone for precision and preparedness in IMC.
The FAA has released Change 3 to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), effective July 9, 2026. While this update includes only a handful of revisions, it’s a good reminder to make sure you’re always referencing the latest guidance—and Sporty’s makes that easy.
After an easy VFR flight to Oregon, the return trip home presents a very different picture. Marginal weather has moved in, headwinds have picked up, and every available route comes with tradeoffs. Do you fly direct over the mountains? Follow the airways? Take a longer route with better weather but more challenging terrain? Or simply wait another day?
The ACS clearly define what applicants must know and demonstrate, but they often leave students wondering how those standards are actually evaluated. To help bridge that gap, PilotWorkshops has introduced Checkride Insights: Instrument Rating, a new training resource that adds practical context and examiner perspectives directly alongside the ACS.
The missed approach was routine. What happened next wasn’t. A real-world diversion during a rainy Memorial Day weekend arrival highlights how workload, weather, and multiple acceptable options can quickly challenge even experienced IFR pilots.
