Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

The key to working collaboratively with ATC is to remember that humans are on both sides of the mic, says longtime pilot and air traffic controller John Krug. He offers tips for when to cancel IFR at non-towered airports, how to get that shortcut you want, and what his biggest pet peeve was as a controller. John also talks about how to practice decision-making once you’ve learned basic flying skills and why the checkride isn’t enough. In the Ready to Copy segment, John shares his opinion on when to declare an emergency, landing at St. Barth’s, and building an RV-9A.
SHOW LINKS:
* What you should never say to ATC: https://pilotworkshop.com/tips/3-things-never-say-atc/
* John’s RV-9A build story: https://www.vansaircraft.com/first-flights/john-krugs-rv-9a/
* IFR Mastery from PilotWorkshops: https://sportys.com/mastery

Pilots should aspire to a higher standard than just passing the checkride, according to author and instructor Rick Durden. He explains how to be one of these “thinking pilots,” pursuing excellence while still having fun in the air, with tips for new pilots and pro pilots alike. Rick is unafraid to tackle any subject, so he also weighs in on why shock cooling is a myth and why talking about “real pilots” is foolish. In the Ready to Copy segment, Rick shares tips for landing on taxiways, his least favorite FAR, and the best handling airplane he’s ever flown.
SHOW LINKS:
* The Thinking Pilot’s Manual: http://www.rickdurden.com/book.html
* Screw the Aviation Caste System: https://avbrief.com/the-pilots-lounge-157-screw-the-aviation-caste-system/
* IFR Mastery from PilotWorkshops: https://sportys.com/mastery

Master flight instructor Rich Stowell says manual flying skills and decision-making skills are complementary, but they’re often presented as an either/or choice. The spin master explains why that’s wrong and illustrates it with his “power-push-roll” recovery for spiral dives, an overlooked threat in aviation. He also shares a new way to train pilots, which he calls “learn-do-fly,” emphasizing the importance of teaching at the correlation level. In the Ready to Copy segment, Rich talks about the biggest mistake CFIs make during stall training, tips for hand-propping vintage airplanes, and what martial arts taught him about flying.
SHOW LINKS:
* Learn-Do-Fly Training Standard: https://www.communityaviation.com/standard
* Standardizing Roll Recovery: https://www.richstowell.com/standardizing-roll-recovery-in-general-aviation/
* Learn to Turn: https://www.richstowell.com/learn-to-turn/
* IFR Mastery from PilotWorkshops: https://sportys.com/mastery

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