Patch's Flight Schools Guide

Making the most of your private pilots license.

Articles filed under the ‘Cross-Country’ Category

Using VOR Navigation Systems to Help Stay On Course

Categories: Cross-Country

Most flight schools will have you focus a huge chunk of your time learning navigation. As a pilot, it’s your duty to know exactly where you are at any given time. The latest tools being used are GPS systems, but you’ll find most of your training revolves around the old standby VOR’s.



AOPA Internet Flight Planner Review

Categories: Cross-Country, Feature, Popular

Flight schools will have you do all of your flight planning on a paper sectional and hand write your Navigation Log. Once you’ve earned your private pilot certificate, you’ll have a new set of tools you can use to plan your flight.  It’s very important you learn how to plan your flights by hand before [...]



Garmin 430/530 GPS Tutorial

Categories: Cross-Country, Gadgets, Popular

Flight schools usually won’t spend too much time going over GPS systems during your Private Pilot training.  It’s not because you won’t use them, just because knowledge of them isn’t required to pass your check-ride.  There is SO much to remember when going through the training, anything they can put off until after you’ve got [...]



Flight Service Station Speed Dial Codes

Categories: Cross-Country, General Aviation

I just ran across a nice way of speeding up your connection to FSS. If you’ve tried to use the voice prompts, it can be very difficult if you’re standing outside your local flight schools hangar with props making tons of noise. Call 1-800-WX-BRIEF (1-800-992-7433) Press “1″ to speak to a briefer. Enter your two [...]