Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing
The latest updates to help you prep for FAA exams and enjoy the world of aviation!
The Two Rules That Decide If Your Airplane Flies Today
Here's a rule most private pilots have never even heard by name, but violate the exact spirit of constantly: there's a whole category of federal directive that doesn't even live in the same rulebook as the FARs we've been covering, and ignoring it isn't a one-time violation, it's a fresh violatio...
Aug 23, 2026
Part 43 Series — Major Repairs, Major Alterations & Form 337: When Maintenance Gets Serious
Changing oil? That’s preventive maintenance.
Replacing a landing light? Still preventive maintenance.
Installing a brand-new GPS navigator with structural panel changes and wiring modifications?
Now we’re in different territory.
Under FAR Part 43, not all maintenance is created equal. Some work i...
Aug 16, 2026
Part 43 Series — What Really Happens During an Annual? Appendix D Explained
Every year, your airplane disappears into the maintenance hangar for its annual inspection.
A few days (or weeks) later, you get the call.
Sometimes it’s:“Everything looks great.”
Other times it’s:“We need to talk…”
But what exactly is the mechanic required to inspect during that annual? Is it ju...
Aug 09, 2026
Part 43 Series — Maintenance Records & Performance Rules: If It’s Not Logged, It Didn’t Happen
You changed the oil.You replaced the spark plugs.The airplane runs beautifully.
But here’s the uncomfortable question:
Did you log it correctly?
Under FAR Part 43, maintenance isn’t just about turning wrenches — it’s about how the work is performed and how it is documented. In aviation, the logbo...
Aug 02, 2026
Part 43 Series — Preventive Maintenance: What Private Pilots Can Legally Do
Every pilot has had the thought at some point:
“It’s just an oil change… why can’t I do that myself?”
Under most circumstances in aviation, the answer to “Can I do this?” is buried somewhere in the FARs. When it comes to maintenance, that answer lives in FAR Part 43.
Here’s the good news for priv...
Jul 26, 2026
Part 43 Series — What Part 43 Actually Governs: Who Can Work on Your Airplane?
Most private pilots know they can’t just grab a wrench and start “improving” their airplane.
But where exactly is that rule written?
That authority — and its limits — live in FAR Part 43.
If Part 91 governs how you operate your aircraft, Part 43 governs how it’s maintained. And for small-aircraft...
Jul 19, 2026
The Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing - Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Cockpit Voice Recorder
Half of general aviation is about to aim itself at one 8,000-foot strip of pavement in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and call it a good time. EAA AirVenture kicks off July 20, and this year's "Celebrating the Freedom of Flight" theme has more teeth than usual — the Red Arrows are cros...
Jul 14, 2026
Part 67 Series — Special Issuance, Deferrals & Staying Legal: Navigating the FAA Medical System
For many private pilots, the most stressful part of the FAA medical process isn’t the exam itself.
It’s the what if.
What if the AME defers my application?What if I’ve had a past diagnosis?What if I develop a new condition after my medical is issued?What happens if the FAA wants more information?...
Jul 12, 2026
Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing — July 7, 2026
🎙️ 01 — COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER
This week, aviation didn't make headlines with an accident or a flashy new aircraft. It made headlines with paperwork: a milestone, a grant program, and a decommissioning notice.
None of that sounds exciting until you realize what each one actually touches. One chan...
Jul 08, 2026
Part 67 Series — Substance Use, Diabetes & “Established Medical History”: What the FAA Is Really Looking For
When most private pilots think about FAA medical certification, they picture dramatic conditions:
Heart attacks.Seizures.Major psychiatric diagnoses.
But in reality, many medical deferrals don’t start with dramatic events.
They start with everyday health issues:
High blood pressure
Type 2 dia...
Jul 05, 2026
Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing — June 30, 2026
🎙️ 01 — COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER
Congress held aviation hearings this week. A JetBlue Airbus got clipped by a drone at 3,000 feet on approach to JFK. The FAA opened a runway incursion investigation in Miami. And somewhere in all of it, a Senate subcommittee asked witnesses why we mandated ADS-B Out...
Jul 01, 2026
Part 67 Series — Your Heart, Brain & Mental Health: The FAA’s Medical Standards Explained
If the eye chart feels straightforward, this is where things get serious.
When you sit down with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), the vision test is usually quick. The deeper questions come next:
Have you ever had chest pain?
Any history of seizures?
Ever been treated for depression or a...
Jun 28, 2026
Flight Nerd Weekly Briefing
