It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed. Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including FlightTrainingCentral.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.
Sporty’s continues to add new lessons, test-prep questions, and training features to its Learn to Fly Course. Here’s a look at what’s new in 2026—and why lifetime access means your course keeps getting better.
How would you prepare for a high-density-altitude takeoff when you know your engine tends to run hot? That’s the dilemma in this month’s VFR Mastery scenario from PilotWorkshops, Keeping Your Cool at Hot Springs, featuring A&P mechanic, IA, instructor, and pilot Colleen Sterling.
While complete engine failures are not common, the stakes are high which is why pilots train extensively for such occurrences and why they get evaluated as part of a checkride. If faced with an engine failure, or training for your next engine failure with your instructor, act quick and decisively by remembering what you learned in kindergarten – your ABCs.
Master the commercial pilot chandelle with a simple step-by-step walkthrough, practical CFI tips, and advice for avoiding the most common checkride mistakes.
When you’re trying to visit multiple destinations over several days, one thunderstorm complex can unravel the entire trip. The challenge isn’t simply deciding whether to launch—it’s deciding where to go first to give yourself the best chance of success. That’s the dilemma in this month’s VFR Mastery scenario from PilotWorkshops, “Hat Trick.”
A new training resource from PilotWorkshops aims to make some expert insights more accessible. The Checkride Insights series takes the FAA’s ACS and adds practical commentary, examiner observations, and real-world examples directly alongside the standards themselves.
Preparing for an FAA knowledge test isn’t just about memorizing answers—it’s about staying current with how the FAA develops, reviews, and delivers exam content. To help students stay ready, Sporty’s has released its latest written test question update in the Learn to Fly Course test preparation module. While the FAA does not publish active test […]
Real-world flying is full of unexpected complications. This month’s VFR Mastery scenario explores how pilots can manage time pressure, regulations, and risk when the original plan falls apart.
Flight training has never offered more ways to learn. Student pilots today can watch video lessons, take online courses, use AI study tools, and carry entire aviation libraries on a tablet. Yet one of the most effective learning tools remains surprisingly simple: the flashcard.
One of the biggest challenges pilots face after earning a certificate is maintaining proficiency. Flying regularly helps, of course, but meaningful practice isn’t always easy to fit into a busy schedule. And while a flight review every two years satisfies the FAA requirement, true proficiency comes from consistently exercising your decision-making skills. That’s where VFR Mastery from PilotWorkshops comes in.
