Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

Experimental airplanes make up an increasingly large share of the general aviation market, and Marc Cook knows that world better than anyone. He traces the history of homebuilts, from the radical plans of the 1980s to the refined kits of today, and describes the current state of the industry. He also talks about the causes of Van’s recent bankruptcy ordeal, and shares why he’s very optimistic about the upcoming MOSAIC rule—but also why it won’t lead to $20,000 airplanes. In the Ready to Copy segment, Marc names the biggest mistake homebuilders make, chooses the most underrated experimental airplane, and explains why riding motorcycles and flying airplanes requires the same approach to risk.  LINKS: Kitplanes magazine: https://www.kitplanes.com/ MOSAIC update video: https://youtu.be/9FfylxAuK3c Sporty’s 2025 Pilot Training Courses: https://www.sportys.com/learntofly

Home flight simulators can be valuable training tools, and they don’t necessarily teach bad flying habits. Evan Reiter, co-founder of the Flight Simulator Association, shares the data to back up those statements in this sim-centric episode. He also explains why virtual ATC services are so important for simulator pilots, and he offers a preview of the highly anticipated Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. In the Ready to Copy segment, Evan (who is also an airline pilot) talks about his favorite flight sim hardware, how to sound better on the radio, and the surprising way flying helps him on the ski slopes. LINKS: Flight Sim Association research: https://flightsimassociation.com/report Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: https://www.flightsimulator.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024/ Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html

New technology has made flying safer over the last two decades, but it hasn’t done much to prevent loss of control accidents. These are still the number one cause of fatalities in aviation, and according to upset prevention instructor Randy Brooks the only answer is better pilot training. He explains why upset training is different from aerobatics, why your first instinct should be to push, and why simulators aren’t a replacement for pulling Gs. Randy is also a longtime airshow pilot, so in the Ready to Copy segment he talks about flying formation aerobatics, what it’s like to perform an airshow in a glider, and flying the L-39 jet trainer. APS training courses: https://apstraining.com/ Video of a UPRT flight: https://youtu.be/cVsicldklTY Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html

Is the post-pandemic boom over for the airlines? Industry analyst and former airline pilot Courtney Miller says the answer is both yes and no. He talks about which airlines are winning and losing in 2024, whether pilot salaries have overshot, and what to make of Boeing’s latest struggles. In the Ready to Copy segment, Courtney explains why oil prices don’t affect air fares, why the 737 MAX was not a mistake, and how to lie with statistics. LINKS: Visual Approach Analytics: https://visualapproach.io/ Boeing vs. Airbus safety: https://visualapproach.io/does-data-show-boeing-is-unsafe/ Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html