Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

Public benefit flying might mean transporting a cancer patient or relocating turtles, but regardless of the mission Mark Hanson says it’s rewarding, fun, and great for keeping your pilot skills sharp. He talks about managing the pressure of these flights, how to get started with a volunteer pilot organization, and why his Eclipse is the perfect airplane. In the Ready to Copy segment, Mark talks about his most memorable passenger, tips for flying into busy airports, and a new aviation weather tool he likes.
SHOW LINKS:
* Become a volunteer pilot: https://vpoids.aircarealliance.org/join
* Air Care Alliance webinars: https://www.youtube.com/@aircarealliance6167
* IFR Mastery from PilotWorkshops: https://sportys.com/mastery

More new pilots, more flying hours, and fewer accidents—that’s the positive picture EAA’s Tom Charpentier sees when he looks at the latest FAA numbers. He shares how to be an optimist about aviation, why the 1970s are not a fair comparison, and what issues could disrupt the current growth cycle. Tom is deeply involved in EAA’s regulatory work, and he explains the importance of FAA orders and what to expect from MOSAIC. In the Ready to Copy segment, Tom talks about his favorite part of AirVenture, flying the Cessna 170, and wilderness canoeing.
SHOW LINKS:
* EAA Green Dot podcast: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/news-and-publications/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/eaa-the-green-dot-podcast
* Article: “How Safe Is It?” https://inspire.eaa.org/2017/05/11/how-safe-is-it/
* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS

Tailwheel airplanes demand excellent situational awareness and sharp manual flying skills, two things that modern pilots often lack according to taildragger expert Damian DelGaizo. The longtime flight school owner, who learned from an aviation legend, talks about the finer points of three-point landings, wheel landings, and Piper Cubs. He also explains why a touch pass is important for evaluating grass runways and why you might have to carry a garbage bag full of rocks when flying skiplanes. In the Ready to Copy segment, Damian talks about dancing on the rudder pedals, how to fly with heel brakes, and teaching Harrison Ford to fly taildraggers.
SHOW LINKS:
* Tailwheel 101 videos:https://youtu.be/4mPmculCxkA
* Andover Flight Academy: https://www.andoverflight.com/
* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS

The GA accident rate is getting better, but aviation safety researcher Douglas Boyd says there’s still plenty of work to do. He shares a fascinating array of statistics in this episode, pulled from the 300+ papers he has authored, including how many hours is enough to stay proficient, what really causes landing accidents, and the truth about older pilots’ safety record. In the Ready to Copy segment, Dr. Boyd talks about flying out of CG, whether engine TBO really matters, and the best places to visit in Scotland.
SHOW LINKS:
* Airline vs. GA pilot safety:https://commons.erau.edu/publication/1494/
* Aging pilots study: https://commons.erau.edu/publication/2419/
* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS

Too many pilots miss out on fun and rewarding flying experiences because they’re afraid of legal gray areas, according to aviation lawyer and flight instructor Mark Kolber. He shares the facts about cost sharing, ramp checks, and medical applications, with practical advice for staying out of trouble with the FAA. Mark is also a longtime CFI, so he also offers tips for learning to fly later in life and transitioning to new airplanes. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear about flying in Colorado, Carolina barbecue, and lawyer jokes.
SHOW LINKS:
* Mark’s legal webinar: https://youtu.be/sWZ5INyRhfE
* Mark’s article on IFR departures: https://ifr-magazine.com/avionics/ifr-departures/
* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS