What’s Wrong? Flying the RNAV 24 at Toledo in a Bonanza

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Welcome back to What’s Wrong?—our interactive aviation challenge where the clues are in plain sight, just like in real flying. This time, you’re about to cross FISUS for the Hold in Lieu of Procedure Turn on the RNAV (GPS) Runway 24 approach at Toledo. The GPS annunciates a teardrop entry for the hold, so that’s what you’ll do. Watch the video and try to see what’s wrong.

When Automation Surprises You

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The arrival into Fort Lauderdale (FLL) looked routine. Our…

Into the Clouds: Hazards in Your Head

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The ability to take off into the clouds is a great use of instrument privileges. As with any phase of flight, departures are made safer by knowing the risks. Those include spatial disorientation, which can be managed well with the knowledge and skills you need for "logging actual."

Managing IFR Workload and Flight Deck Discipline: Staying Ahead of the Airplane

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Professional pilots don't simply react to events—they anticipate them. Learn how effective preparation, consistent cockpit flows, and disciplined decision-making can help you manage IFR workload with confidence.

The Missed Approach Was the Easy Part

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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.

A New Take on Alternates

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Thunderstorms don’t always follow the forecast, and a traditional IFR alternate may not be enough when plans change quickly. In this article, Elaine Kauh introduces the concept of “safe havens”—a more flexible way to think about diversions that prioritizes options, fuel, and reduced stress in the cockpit.

How to Choose the Best Alternate Airport for Your IFR Flight: A Pilot’s Guide

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Keep an eye on the weather as you approach the destination, using both ADS-B datalink weather, and by tuning in the local ATIS/AWOS on the radio. If it looks like the weather will be near the minimums for the approach, it is time to start thinking about what the best alternate airport will be based on the current weather. If it still looks like the planned alternate is the best option, go for it.

The IFR Emergency You Didn’t Train For

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When most pilots think about IFR emergencies, the mind immediately jumps to the big ones: engine failures, engine fires, pressurization issues—high-consequence events that dominate simulator sessions and recurrent training. We rehearse these scenarios repeatedly, building muscle memory and confidence that if something catastrophic happens, we’ll respond correctly. But in the real world, not every emergency announces itself with sirens and smoke.

The Go/No-Go Decision Isn’t Binary

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“Do I fly or not?” It’s a question that may seem simple in the comfort of your living room couch, but in truth, it’s rarely a single, definitive moment. Weather changes. Equipment issues appear. Fatigue creeps in. By the time you reach your destination, you’ve already made dozens of go/no-go decisions. Some of those may have been conscious decisions, but some are instinctive.

IFR Decision-Making Under Pressure: When “Go” Becomes the Wrong Answer

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We often talk about IFR decision-making and go/no-go calls in comfortable environments, classrooms, safety seminars, or sitting in an FBO with a cup of coffee. In those settings, the decisions are clean. Detached. The weather is hypothetical. The passengers are imaginary. There is no fatigue, no operational pressure, no schedule waiting in the background. From that distance, the “right” answer is usually obvious.
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