Keeping up: Managing Busy Airspace

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Busy airspace doesn’t have to be intimidating. Elaine Kaugh shares practical strategies for managing routing, workload, communications, and preparation when flying IFR into busy airports.

New IFR Mastery Scenario:The End Is Niagara?

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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.

Before the Frequency Gets Busy

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In Part 121 operations, complex environments are managed through standardization, preparation, defined procedures, and shared cockpit responsibilities. A single pilot does not have another crewmember available to catch an error or absorb part of the workload, but many of the same professional habits can be adapted to the Part 91 cockpit. The objective is to anticipate workload before it arrives.

Ask the IFR Expert: How Often Should I Hand Fly?

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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.

Quiz: Automation

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Modern avionics and autopilots have transformed IFR flying, reducing workload and improving situational awareness when used correctly. But automation is only as effective as the pilot managing it. Misunderstanding system capabilities, relying on automation at the wrong time, or failing to monitor what it's doing can quickly turn a helpful tool into a source of confusion.

New IFR Mastery Scenario: Which Approach Would You Request?

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Most instrument approaches are straightforward. You brief the…
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