Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing
The latest updates to help you prep for FAA exams and enjoy the world of aviation!
FAA Regulations Part 61: The Rulebook That Turns You Into a Pilot
If you’re working toward your Private Pilot Certificate—or even just thinking about it—you’ve already met one of the most important sections of FAA regulations: 14 CFR Part 61. This is the part of the rulebook that answers the big questions every pilot asks early on:
Who can be a pilot?
What ...
Feb 22, 2026
Introduction to FAA Regulations for Small Aircraft Pilots: Your Friendly Guide to the FARs, the AIM, and the Wonderful World of Staying Legal in the Skies
Let’s be honest: when most student pilots first hear the words “FAA regulations,” their eyes glaze over just a little. Regulations don’t quite have the thrill of your first takeoff, the excitement of learning steep turns, or the joy of greasing a landing.
But here's the thing—understanding FAA re...
Feb 15, 2026
The Magnetic Compass: Old-School, Low-Tech, and Still in Every Cockpit for a Reason
Nestled quietly at the top of your windshield or on the glareshield, often bouncing slightly with the engine’s rhythm, the magnetic compass might seem like a relic from another era. No power source. No fancy screen. Just a floating card in a bowl of liquid.
But don’t let its simplicity fool you—t...
Feb 08, 2026
Flight Directors in Small Aircraft: Your Invisible Co-Pilot with a Bright Idea
If you've flown a small aircraft equipped with a glass cockpit or even a slightly more advanced autopilot system, chances are you've seen some mysterious symbols show up on the attitude indicator—maybe a set of command bars, a “vee” shape, or a set of magenta cues telling you to pitch up or bank ...
Feb 01, 2026
Heading Indicators in Small Aircraft: Your Trusty Guide to Flying Straight (Even When the Compass Can’t Be Trusted)
When you’re flying a small aircraft, knowing which direction you’re heading is more than just a good idea—it’s essential for navigation, traffic pattern entries, ATC instructions, and just about everything else you do once you leave the ground. While the magnetic compass might seem like the obvio...
Jan 25, 2026
The Attitude Indicator: Your Artificial Horizon and Best Friend When the View Gets Tricky
If there’s one flight instrument that pilots learn to trust early—and never stop relying on—it’s the attitude indicator. Often called the artificial horizon, this instrument gives you instant information about how your airplane is oriented relative to the Earth. Are the wings level? Is the nose c...
Jan 18, 2026
Turn-and-Slip Indicators in Small Aircraft: The Ball, the Needle, and the Art of the Coordinated Turn
When you're learning to fly, one of the first things you'll hear from your instructor is:“Keep the ball centered!”
No, you're not playing soccer in the sky—but you are learning to master one of the most fundamental skills in aviation: coordinated flight. To help with that, we turn to the turn-and...
Jan 11, 2026
Introduction to Gyroscopic Instruments in Small Aircraft
Step into the cockpit of a small airplane, and you’ll see a collection of round dials that seem to hold the keys to safe flight. Among the most important are three flight instruments that rely on a fascinating bit of physics: the gyroscope. These are known as the gyroscopic instruments, and they ...
Jan 04, 2026
Vertical Speed Indicators: Climbing, Descending, and Everything In Between
Of all the instruments in a small aircraft’s six-pack, the Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) might be the most underappreciated. It doesn’t flash, beep, or buzz. It doesn’t have color-coded arcs or exciting acronyms like V(NE) or V(FE). It just quietly sits there, telling you whether you’re going up...
Dec 28, 2025
Aircraft Altimeters: Pressure, Needles, and a Little Bit of Math
Among the instruments that make up the classic “six-pack” in small aircraft, the altimeter may not be the flashiest, but it certainly earns its place. Whether you’re dodging terrain, leveling off at pattern altitude, or trying to avoid a visit from the friendly folks at ATC, knowing your altitude...
Dec 21, 2025
Angle of Attack Indicators: The Unsung Heroes of Stall Awareness
In the world of small aircraft, most pilots keep a watchful eye on their airspeed indicator, especially when flying close to the stall. But there’s another, often underappreciated instrument that tells you more directly and more accurately when you're getting too slow or too steep—the angle of at...
Dec 14, 2025
Airspeed Indicators and Their Colorful Secrets: What the Arcs Really Mean
The airspeed indicator is one of the most eye-catching—and eye-critical—instruments in a small aircraft’s cockpit. With its spinning needle and rainbow of colored arcs, it does more than just tell you how fast you’re flying. It quietly delivers safety margins, flap limits, stall speeds, and even ...
Dec 07, 2025
Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing
