Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing

The latest updates to help you prep for FAA exams and enjoy the world of aviation!

Part 91 Series — Alcohol, Oxygen, Seatbelts & Lights: The Human Side of Legal Flying

Most pilots spend a lot of time thinking about the airplane. Fuel.Weather.Runway length.Performance charts. But Part 91 doesn’t just regulate the machine — it regulates you. Can you fly the morning after a late-night party?When are passengers required to wear seatbelts?At what altitude is supplem...

May 24, 2026

Part 91 Series — Right-of-Way, Speed Limits & Minimum Altitudes: The “Rules of the Road” in the Sky

Driving has traffic laws.Boating has navigation rules. And aviation? Aviation has Part 91. Once you’re airborne in a small aircraft — whether it’s a Cessna practicing touch-and-goes or a Piper cruising cross-country — you’re sharing the sky with other airplanes, helicopters, gliders, balloons, an...

May 17, 2026

Part 91 Series — VFR Weather Minimums & Airspace Operations: Staying Legal in the Sky

You’ve planned carefully.You’ve fueled generously.The airplane is legal and airworthy. But once you lift off, a new question takes center stage: Are the conditions legal for the airspace you’re flying in? For small-aircraft pilots, few areas of Part 91 are more important — or more commonly misund...

May 10, 2026

Part 91 Series — Required Documents & Equipment: What Must Be in the Airplane (and Working)

You’ve planned the flight.You’ve checked the weather.You’ve calculated fuel. But before you taxi, there’s another critical question: Is the airplane itself legal to fly? Under FAR Part 91, legality isn’t just about pilot certificates and fuel reserves. The aircraft must carry specific documents —...

May 03, 2026

Part 91 Series — Preflight Planning & Fuel: The Rules Before You Start the Engine

There’s a moment before every flight — right before the checklist begins — when a quiet question should cross your mind: “Have I done everything the FAA requires before takeoff?” Not what’s recommended.Not what’s convenient.What’s required. Under FAR Part 91, preflight planning isn’t just good ai...

Apr 26, 2026

Part 91 Series — Authority, Responsibility & The Rules That Follow You Into the Cockpit

When you climb into the left seat of a small aircraft — whether it’s a Cessna 172, a Piper Archer, or your own weekend cross-country machine — something important happens the moment that engine starts: You become legally responsible for everything that follows. Not your instructor.Not the FBO.Not...

Apr 19, 2026

FAA Regulations Part 91: The Everyday Rulebook for Small-Aircraft Pilots

If Part 61 is the rulebook that turns you into a pilot, Part 91 is the rulebook that follows you into the cockpit every single flight. Whether you’re flying a Cessna 172 on a sunny Saturday, taking your family on a cross-country in a Piper Archer, or practicing landings in a Diamond DA40, 14 CFR ...

Apr 12, 2026

Part 61 Series — Staying Legal: Currency, Flight Reviews, and Logbooks

You earned your Private Pilot Certificate. The temporary certificate arrived.The plastic one showed up in the mail.You took friends flying.You logged a few cross-countries. Then life got busy. Here’s a question every private pilot eventually faces: Am I still legal to fly? Unlike your student pil...

Apr 05, 2026

Part 61 Series — Private Pilot Privileges & Limitations: What You Can (and Can’t) Do

You passed the checkride.You shook hands with the examiner.You’re officially a Private Pilot. Now what? Can you take friends flying and split the cost?Can you fly yourself to a business meeting?Can someone “tip” you for the flight?Can you post seats for sale online? This is where many new private...

Mar 29, 2026

Part 61 Series — Earning Your Private Pilot Certificate: The Regulatory Roadmap

At some point in every student pilot’s journey, the question shifts from: “Can I solo?” to “What exactly do I need to do to earn my Private Pilot Certificate?” The answer isn’t “about 40 hours and a checkride.”It’s far more structured — and far more intentional — than that. Buried inside FAR Part...

Mar 22, 2026

Part 61 Series — Medical Certificates, BasicMed, and Knowing When to Ground Yourself

You’ve got your endorsements.You’ve logged the hours.The airplane is fueled and ready. But here’s a question many pilots don’t think about until checkride week: Are you medically legal to fly today? Under Part 61, being qualified to act as pilot in command isn’t just about certificates and rating...

Mar 15, 2026

Part 61 Series — Student to Solo: The Rules That Let You Fly Alone

There are few moments in aviation more unforgettable than your first solo. Your instructor steps out.The door closes.The airplane suddenly feels lighter.And it’s just you. But that magical moment doesn’t happen just because your instructor “thinks you’re ready.” It happens because FAR Part 61 say...

Mar 08, 2026

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