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.
The FAA has announced plans to roll out a new post-checkride survey for pilots, designed to collect feedback on checkride experiences with Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs). Before the survey becomes official, the agency is asking for public comment, and pilots have a chance to shape how this works.
In this sample VFR Mastery Scenario, MOA or Marathon puts you in the cockpit of a VFR pilot flying with his son to a weekend baseball tournament in Wisconsin. En route, an active MOA sits directly on the planned course, and ATC appears reluctant to allow non-participating VFR traffic through the hot MOA. Going around would add significant time and distance.
In this webinar, Ryan Koch—Director of Product Development at Pilot Workshops and instructor for the Airplane Engine Operations course—explores what effective engine management really looks like in day-to-day flying. Rather than promoting a single “right” technique, Ryan walks through the real-world tradeoffs pilots make between efficiency, economy, performance, and workload.
You’ve just shut down, tied down, and are grabbing your flight bag when a neatly dressed individual flashes a badge and says, “Hi, I’m with the FAA.” That sound you just heard? It’s your stomach dropping. But before panic sets in, take a breath. Ramp inspections—yes, those dreaded “ramp checks”—are a normal part of the FAA’s safety oversight system. They’re not necessarily a sign that you’ve done anything wrong.
Sporty’s has released its all-new 2026 Learn to Fly Course, packed with major upgrades that make pilot training more immersive, efficient, and personalized than ever before. The latest edition introduces new 4K flight maneuver videos, a powerful aviation-specific AI study tool, and expanded resources for Sport Pilot training under the new MOSAIC rules.
Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course generates thousands of simulated Private Pilot exams every month, giving us a clear picture of where students struggle most. The same problem areas keep surfacing: detailed regulations, subtle planning considerations, and complex weather scenarios. By spotlighting these questions, you’ll see exactly where others are making mistakes.
The pilot hiring landscape continues to evolve, and staying informed is essential for every career-minded aviator. Join us for a free webinar with James Onieal, a familiar name to Flight Training Central and IFR Focus readers, as he breaks down the latest trends in pilot recruitment.
A new revision to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) is now in effect, and it includes an important clarification for pilots operating at towered airports. The FAA has updated paragraph 4-3-3 to realign the definition and depiction of the upwind leg with how it’s used by air traffic control (ATC) in practice.
Most pilots learn to fly a go-around early in training, usually in calm conditions with a CFI ready to coach them through the steps. Power up, pitch up, clean up, go-around. It’s one of the standard maneuvers on the checkride, and it’s often treated like just that—a maneuver.
Flight bags are like logbooks—every pilot has one, and every pilot has opinions about them. After years of using the original Flight Gear bags, I was curious (and a little skeptical) when I heard Sporty’s had completely redesigned the line. But after flying with a few of the new models over the past month, I can confidently say this is more than a refresh—it’s a total reimagination.
