by Brendan Quinn-Narkin - Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor
The Trailer
DVD 1: Flight Planning $39
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Flight Planning might not seem very exciting, but it is perhaps the most important part of flying. A large percentage of accidents in general aviation could have been prevented if the pilot had engaged in proper preflight planning.
In this video I show you through example how to plan a flight. We plan a flight from the Reid-Hillview airport (RHV) in San Jose, CA to the Half Moon Bay airport, (HAF) which is along the Pacific coast, south of San Francisco.
We examine the terminal chart to see if there are any potential hazards along the route and to determine the elevation of the terrain. We decide on the best cruising altitude and the type of navigation we will use. We take a look at what types of airspace we will encounter along the route and go over the rules for each type of airspace.
Next I show you how to use the DUATs flight planner. The DUATs flight planner makes flight planning so much easier. We use it to determine our distance, magnetic course, winds aloft, required heading, projected groundspeed, flight time and fuel burn. We then determine how much fuel we will be carrying and ensure that we have an adequate reserve.
Next we use the chart and the airport facility directory to gather information about our departure airport. This includes the identifier, field elevation, the frequencies for ATIS, ground control, tower, departure and the flight service station. We take a look at the remarks section of the airport facility directory to determine special noise abatement procedures. In order to become familiar with the airport, we then draw a picture of the runway layout and traffic patterns.
Next we go through the same process to gather important information about our arrival airport.
I then show you how to perform a weight & balance calculation.
We then calculate our takeoff and landing distance using the Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Next it's time for a weather briefing. It's important to always obtain a briefing even if you know the skies are clear. I go over the reason for this and then I put my phone on speakerphone so that you can hear the conversation as I obtain my briefing. When you call, the briefer wants specific information, in a specific order.
I then provide you with a radio communication tutorial. This flight will require us to fly through some busy, complicated airspace. I go over with you the techniques I use for clear and effective radio communication with Air Traffic Control.
Finally, we head out to the airplane. First I sit in the cockpit going over all of the controls and instruments with you and then I show you how I perform the preflight inspection.
In this video I show you through example how to plan a flight. We plan a flight from the Reid-Hillview airport (RHV) in San Jose, CA to the Half Moon Bay airport, (HAF) which is along the Pacific coast, south of San Francisco.
We examine the terminal chart to see if there are any potential hazards along the route and to determine the elevation of the terrain. We decide on the best cruising altitude and the type of navigation we will use. We take a look at what types of airspace we will encounter along the route and go over the rules for each type of airspace.
Next I show you how to use the DUATs flight planner. The DUATs flight planner makes flight planning so much easier. We use it to determine our distance, magnetic course, winds aloft, required heading, projected groundspeed, flight time and fuel burn. We then determine how much fuel we will be carrying and ensure that we have an adequate reserve.
Next we use the chart and the airport facility directory to gather information about our departure airport. This includes the identifier, field elevation, the frequencies for ATIS, ground control, tower, departure and the flight service station. We take a look at the remarks section of the airport facility directory to determine special noise abatement procedures. In order to become familiar with the airport, we then draw a picture of the runway layout and traffic patterns.
Next we go through the same process to gather important information about our arrival airport.
I then show you how to perform a weight & balance calculation.
We then calculate our takeoff and landing distance using the Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Next it's time for a weather briefing. It's important to always obtain a briefing even if you know the skies are clear. I go over the reason for this and then I put my phone on speakerphone so that you can hear the conversation as I obtain my briefing. When you call, the briefer wants specific information, in a specific order.
I then provide you with a radio communication tutorial. This flight will require us to fly through some busy, complicated airspace. I go over with you the techniques I use for clear and effective radio communication with Air Traffic Control.
Finally, we head out to the airplane. First I sit in the cockpit going over all of the controls and instruments with you and then I show you how I perform the preflight inspection.
You Will Learn:
- The regulations you need to know, related to flight planning
- Special features of aeronautical charts
- How to identify different types of airspace on a chart
- The rules regarding different types of airspace
- Different ways to identify terrain elevations on a chart
- Where to find the ground control frequency (it's not where you might expect)
- What important information you need to gather from the airport facility directory before each flight
- How to use online resources, including the DUATs flight planner to make flight planning easier
- How to perform a quick and easy weight & balance calculation
- How to perform a quick and easy takeoff and landing distance calculation
- Why obtaining a standard weather briefing can keep you out of trouble, even on a clear day
- Exactly what to say when requesting a weather briefing
- How to convert local time to Zulu time
- The significance of different Vspeeds and which ones are the most important to remember
- The phonetic alphabet
- A 4-step process for initiating radio communication with ATC
- The best way to respond to ATC instructions
- The function and use of each and every flight instrument and control in the cockpit
- Items you might be neglecting on your preflight inspection
DVDs 2 & 3: The Flight Portion $49
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The second DVD includes every minute of our flight, starting with the engine start at RHV and ending with the shut down at HAF. You see exactly how I perform all of the tasks and you hear all of the radio communication with ATC. The whole time, I'm explaining what I'm doing and providing you with helpful flying tips.
After starting the engine we complete our checklist and call Reid-Hillview Ground for taxi instructions. We are provided with a taxi clearance to runway 31R, as well as a transponder code and departure instructions.
After taxiing to runway 31R, I show you how to perform a run-up and complete the per-takeoff checklist.
We then call Reid-Hillview tower to request our takeoff clearance. We are instructed to cross runway 31R, hold short of 31L and shortly thereafter, we are cleared for takeoff on 31L. I show you how to make a flawless takeoff.
Our course takes us directly over the San Jose International airport, so soon after takeoff we are talking to San Jose Tower. They instruct us to cross midfield at or above 2000', so we continue our climb to our cruising altitude of 3000'. Because of other traffic they then issue us a set of vectors and altitude restrictions, forcing a temporary descent back down below 2000'.
After crossing San Jose, we are handed off to NorCal Approach Control. The altitude restriction is lifted and we climb to 3000'. We fly over Stanford University, which we use as a visual checkpoint.
We then cross the coastal mountain range and start our descent.
Our radar services are terminated and we switch to the advisory frequency for HAF. It's a beautiful day, so there are lots of other airplanes in the traffic pattern. We fly over the Pacific Ocean and I show you the best way to enter the traffic pattern at a non-towered airport.
You see the entire landing from the cockpit perspective. We then taxi to parking and go through the shut down checklist.
The third DVD contains every minute of our flight back to RHV from HAF. Again, you see every detail and you hear all of the radio communication.
Soon after takeoff we switch our frequency to NorCal Approach and I show you how to request flight following. The frequency used in this area is the same one used by jets landing at San Francisco. We listen to the exchange between a Japan Airlines flight and ATC.
We fly directly over SJC while communicating with San Jose tower and gaze down upon airline jets taxiing to the runway.
We enter the left downwind for runway 31L at RHV and I talk you through the 3-step process I use for smooth landings.
After starting the engine we complete our checklist and call Reid-Hillview Ground for taxi instructions. We are provided with a taxi clearance to runway 31R, as well as a transponder code and departure instructions.
After taxiing to runway 31R, I show you how to perform a run-up and complete the per-takeoff checklist.
We then call Reid-Hillview tower to request our takeoff clearance. We are instructed to cross runway 31R, hold short of 31L and shortly thereafter, we are cleared for takeoff on 31L. I show you how to make a flawless takeoff.
Our course takes us directly over the San Jose International airport, so soon after takeoff we are talking to San Jose Tower. They instruct us to cross midfield at or above 2000', so we continue our climb to our cruising altitude of 3000'. Because of other traffic they then issue us a set of vectors and altitude restrictions, forcing a temporary descent back down below 2000'.
After crossing San Jose, we are handed off to NorCal Approach Control. The altitude restriction is lifted and we climb to 3000'. We fly over Stanford University, which we use as a visual checkpoint.
We then cross the coastal mountain range and start our descent.
Our radar services are terminated and we switch to the advisory frequency for HAF. It's a beautiful day, so there are lots of other airplanes in the traffic pattern. We fly over the Pacific Ocean and I show you the best way to enter the traffic pattern at a non-towered airport.
You see the entire landing from the cockpit perspective. We then taxi to parking and go through the shut down checklist.
The third DVD contains every minute of our flight back to RHV from HAF. Again, you see every detail and you hear all of the radio communication.
Soon after takeoff we switch our frequency to NorCal Approach and I show you how to request flight following. The frequency used in this area is the same one used by jets landing at San Francisco. We listen to the exchange between a Japan Airlines flight and ATC.
We fly directly over SJC while communicating with San Jose tower and gaze down upon airline jets taxiing to the runway.
We enter the left downwind for runway 31L at RHV and I talk you through the 3-step process I use for smooth landings.
You Will Learn:
- The most important thing to check immediately after starting the engine
- Important instruments to check during taxi
- Radio communication procedures for class D airports
- How to request flight following while still on the ground
- How to request flight following while in the air
- The meaning of various ATC runway instructions
- Radio communication procedures for class C airspace
- How to request a class B clearance
- How to handle vectors and altitude restrictions from ATC
- How to handle traffic advisories from ATC and what to do if you can't see the traffic
- Communication procedures for non-towered airports
- The best way to enter the traffic pattern at a non-towered airport
- The best way to set the mixture control during various phases of flight
- A trick to quickly determine if the trim is set correctly
- A 3-step process which leads to consistently smooth landings
Sunday May 19, 2013: Order the Complete Course & Save: Just $59 with Free Shipping
The Complete Course: DVDs 1, 2 & 3 $59
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Six Month Guarantee
If unsatisfied for any reason, return the course within six months for a complete refund.
Testimonials
"I enjoyed your course very much and found it to be helpful. I especially like how you have your flight plan sequence set up. I'm incorporating that in my flight planning process as a result."
-Vannell, New York
"I was looking for something to help with the radio communication, and your DVD fills the bill."
-Ernie, Montana
"I thought the course was excellent. I like the fact that it walks through a start to finish flight. A low time student as myself gets a better understanding of what is involved once all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. Another plus is the audio is actually pretty good. I've seen other videos where the audio is not so great."
-Mike, Florida
"I'm watching your videos now and it's very informative. It's just like sitting in front of my instructor."
-Eric, Hawaii
“Hey Brendan. Got the DVDs and really like what I am seeing, lots of good info on stuff I need to learn and refreshers for what I have already learned."
-Mark, New York
"I am a new pilot with only 200 hours experience. I found your DVD was excellent and a great refresher. I have watched it several times and gotten a lot out of it. Your delivery is good and you have some excellent tips."
-Robert, Maryland
"Good job. I used it as a cross country refresher. Back into flying after 30 yrs."
-John, Virginia
"Good presentation of the various aspects of flight. Helped me get back into flying."
-Jim, Texas
"Hi Brendan, Thanks for the quick response on sending your DVD set!! I'm really enjoying the tapes, it's helping me a lot. It's been a few years since I've flown, so the additional training has been very beneficial for me."
-Kirk, Washington
"Great refresher. I haven't flown in a while and while watching the videos I felt I was flying 'right seat'. Good job. Many thanks. I've flown northern California many times, but not to Half Moon Bay; fun watching."
-Norm, Nevada
Contact
I'm available to answer any questions you might have. Send me an email or give me a call.
talkwithb@gmail.com
(408) 858-7405
(408) 858-7405
Wishing you happy, safe flying.
-Brendan Quinn-Narkin CFII
