Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

The power of the aviation community, with Justin Siems

Professional pilot and podcast host Justin Siems says aviation is “a welcoming community that feels like it's not.” He explains why, based on his experience interviewing

What an airline pilot job is worth, with Kit Darby

As a former airline pilot and industry analyst for more than four decades, Kit Darby has seen a lot of job market cycles. In this episode he shares his wisdom, with plent

The GA maintenance crisis, with Paul New

The pilot shortage gets a lot of headlines, but longtime A&P/IA Paul New says the shortage of mechanics is much more serious. He explains the causes, what owners can do t

Seaplane adventures and challenges, with Steve McCaughey

Learning to fly seaplanes is a ton of fun, but Steve McCaughey from the Seaplane Pilots Association says it also improves your stick and rudder skills dramatically. He ex

Understanding the pilot-controller relationship, with John Krug

The key to working collaboratively with ATC is to remember that humans are on both sides of the mic, says longtime pilot and air traffic controller John Krug. He offers t

How to be a thinking pilot, with Rick Durden

Pilots should aspire to a higher standard than just passing the checkride, according to author and instructor Rick Durden. He explains how to be one of these “thinking pi

Stick and rudder skills for modern pilots, with Rich Stowell

Master flight instructor Rich Stowell says manual flying skills and decision-making skills are complementary, but they’re often presented as an either/or choice. The spin

Using an Eclipse for charitable flights, with Mark Hanson

Public benefit flying might mean transporting a cancer patient or relocating turtles, but regardless of the mission Mark Hanson says it’s rewarding, fun, and great for ke

Is GA dying or thriving, with Tom Charpentier

More new pilots, more flying hours, and fewer accidents—that’s the positive picture EAA’s Tom Charpentier sees when he looks at the latest FAA numbers. He shares how to b

The challenges and rewards of taildraggers, with Damian DelGaizo

Tailwheel airplanes demand excellent situational awareness and sharp manual flying skills, two things that modern pilots often lack according to taildragger expert Damian

Hard truths about aviation safety, with Douglas Boyd

The GA accident rate is getting better, but aviation safety researcher Douglas Boyd says there’s still plenty of work to do. He shares a fascinating array of statistics i

Legal gray areas for pilots, with Mark Kolber

Too many pilots miss out on fun and rewarding flying experiences because they’re afraid of legal gray areas, according to aviation lawyer and flight instructor Mark Kolbe

What pilots should know about ATC, with Marcus Miller

Air traffic controllers and pilots are on the same team, they just have different perspectives. Marcus Miller, a center controller and the creator of the PropHatCat TikTo

Crossing the Atlantic at age 89, with Ed Galkin

Ed Galkin has flown his Cessna 210 around the world in both directions, and last year he flew a circle around the Atlantic Ocean at age 89. In his uniquely energetic way,

Space Shuttle lessons for private pilots, with Charlie Precourt

From the Space Shuttle to F-15 fighter jets to his homebuilt VariEze, Charlie Precourt approaches every flight with the same discipline. In this episode he shares some of

The killing zone for pilots, with Paul Craig

Pilots with 50-350 hours are involved in more fatal accidents than anyone else, according to research from flight instructor Paul Craig. In this safety-focused episode, h

Promoting conservation from a Cessna 210, with Bruce Gordon

Bruce Gordon learned to fly in Aspen over 40 years ago and has been flying in the Rockies ever since. He uses that experience to share tips for flying piston airplanes ou

Learning from other pilots' mistakes, with JJ Madison

Plenty of pilots read accident reports, but airline pilot and author JJ Madison says NASA reports are even better—because you’re hearing directly from the pilot. He share

The life of a corporate pilot, with Mark McIntyre

Pro pilot doesn’t have to mean airline pilot. Longtime corporate pilot and safety advocate Mark McIntyre explains the appeal of business aviation, why safety has to be th

Rethinking flight instruction, with Doug Stewart

Legendary instructor Doug Stewart has a lot of strong opinions about flight training, from inadvertent IMC maneuvers to instrument procedures to engine failures. In this