Bret Koebbe

What happens when the spark plugs in your engine aren't working properly? Some pretty bad stuff. In our latest video tip, we explain what detonation and pre-ignition are all about, how they happen, and what you can do to prevent them from happening.

During your training, you'll practice a variety of simulated emergencies so that you're prepared in the event the real thing develops in flight. One of the common training scenarios is a simulated engine failure, which will teach you important memory items and how to use the emergency checklist. This week's tip demonstrates best-practices for dealing with this rare situation to help you get safely back on the ground.

Welcome to our newest addition to Student Pilot News, the Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. Here we'll highlight the various maneuvers you'll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your private pilot checkride. We're going to kick things off with Steep Turns this week.

The takeoff is one of the exhilarating parts of flying, but requires some basic knowledge of aircraft control and the airport environment. Here we'll look at a series of tips to help ensure each of your takeoffs are executed both smoothly and safely.

During your flight training you will practice stalling the airplane to better learn the low-speed handling characteristics of the airplane, and how to recover if an unintentional stall occurs. In this video tip we'll look at how the airflow changes over the wing as it nears the critical angle of attack and eventually stalls.

Adding an instrument rating will greatly expand the utility of your Private certificate and allow you to fly on days when the visibility is low and the cloud layers are close to the ground. This week's tip explains the steps you'll need to follow to earn your instrument rating and the new procedures and knowledge you'll learn along the way.

The winter flying season is officially here, which means we have a new set of challenges to deal with while flying in sub-freezing temperatures. Flight training doesn't need to stop in the winter though; in fact the colder months provide some great opportunities to expand your knowledge on weather and aircraft operations in less than ideal conditions.

Special use airspace includes military operations area, prohibited areas, alert areas, warning areas, restricted areas and controlled firing areas. This week's video tip explains how to identify their location and best practices for making sure you don't accidentally fly into one.

Standard traffic patterns are established at nontowered airports to provide a smooth flow of traffic from the arrival phase of flight through approach and landing. Here are the steps to follow to safely and efficiently join the pattern and get established on the final approach leg for landing.

Steep turns are one of those core pilot skills - whether you're a new student pilot or an experienced pro, being able to complete this maneuver safely and smoothly requires coordination and good "seat of the pants" flying. Learn some helpful tips for making better steep turns in our latest video tip.