Why do many pilot seats have sheepskin covers?
Probably, most of you have seen sheepskin seat covers in almost every cockpit you have ever been to. If you are still a newbie in aviation world and haven’t tried any cockpit yet, you have surely seen those grey or white fluffy pilot seats in films. However, the reason of covering pilot seats with sheepskin is more practical than it might seem. The main function of genuine sheepskin cover is to keep pilots cool in the summer and warm in the winter – whatever the temperature in a cockpit is, sheepskin covers remain of almost the same temperature and keep a...
What are Sterile Flight Deck Procedures?
Every pilot follows a number of rules, procedures and regulations during their daily operations. One of the rules pilots follow several times during each flight is called the Sterile Flight Deck Procedures rule. Have you heard of this important rule? The term Sterile Flight Deck Procedure rule describes a period of time when the flight crew members must not be disturbed by non-flight related matters. Then pilots must entirely focus on their essential operational activities and avoid any unrelated disturbances. They are even barely allowed to talk to each other. Pilots follow this rule during the attention-requiring procedures of taking-off, landing,...
Language of the sky
The language used in the cockpit sounds technical and only aviation professionals understand it. Pilots communicate with each other and air traffic control in English, regardless of their own native language or any other languages they speak. Aviation English is in some ways a separate language compared to the one spoken on the ground. Therefore, even native English speakers have to learn it. What makes it so special? English for flight safety Aviation English has been the de facto international language of civil aviation since the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommended English to be universally used for “international aeronautical radiotelephony communications”...
Type Rating – the Holy Grail of Professional Pilot
Every aspiring pilot needs to know about type rating. Simply put, you will need to get type rated on the aircraft you are going to operate for your future employer. Probably, you already know, that training and obtaining a licence by accumulating flying hours is necessary to become a pilot. After taking these steps you can operate a single engine aircraft. However, a type rating is a must in order to operate any aircraft over 5,700 kg. So, what is a type rating? Type Rating is just like a Driving Licence for a Very Specific Car Imagine getting a driving licence for...
BAA Training Adopts Competency-based Pilot Training
BAA Training, one of the TOP 3 biggest independent aviation training centres in Europe, becomes one of the first training providers to add a new non-technical module into its training syllabus – NTS training. With this module pilot training moves away from factual knowledge training toward competency-based training. The academy prepared this program according to a new requirement from EASA to implement a new training course Area 100 KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes), which will be mandatory for every training provider from 2022. The need for non-technical training was born when a strong relationship between pilots and accidents was discovered. According to...
Did You Know: What is Area 100 KSA?
If you are planning to become a pilot, we want to introduce you to a significant implementation to future pilot training. Meet Area 100 KSA - the subject, where K stands for Knowledge, S for Skills and A for Attitudes. With this subject, pilot training moves away from factual knowledge training toward competency-based training. Let’s start from the beginning. The need of non-technical training was born when a strong link between pilots and accidents was discovered. Following the analysis of fatal aircraft accidents worldwide (2010-2011), more than half of these accidents were primary caused by the flight crew actions. Italso showed...
Did You Know: What Is The Spiral On The Aircraft Engine?
If you are travelling frequently or if you are interested in aircraft design, you may have noticed a spiral painted on the center of the aircraft engine. Have you ever wondered what is it for? Although this spiral looks like a decorative aircraft detail, it is more than just a design element. This spiral was painted as an important safety measure. Ground Crew warning The primary function of the spiral is to warn the ground crew working around the aircraft that the engine is on and to ensure nobody comes up too close to the running engine. Working near a running jet...
How to Prepare for Your First Solo Flight?
If you have ever wanted to become a pilot, you probably have heard about the most exciting part of this process – the first solo flight. It consists of the pilot successfully completing a take-off, a circuit pattern and a safe landing, without anyone else in the aircraft (not even a flight instructor). Importance of Your First Solo Flight Probably, a solo flight is one of the most important and memorable days for a pilot. It is quite natural that all the pilots feel some panic when this moment arrives. In fact, a first solo flight is a proof your instructor is...
Different Type for Different Region?
Most probably there won’t be any better time to become a pilot than it is now. “Global air transport network doubles in size at least once every 15 years, and it’s expected to do so again by 2030” says The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). To cater to this meteoric rise in commercial aviation, the industry needs more and more aircraft. Airlines, operating around the globe, order and add new aircraft to meet the growing air traffic demand. Naturally with this growth, the demand for pilots grows too. Are you about to become a pilot and trying to decide where...
Can airplanes land with none engine?
Have you ever realised that the aircraft was gliding almost every flight you have ever been on? Let’s start with the technical part - the lower the power of the engine, the less fuel is burnt. When the aircraft lands, the thrust is set at its minimum, which means that the aircraft is effectively gliding with one engine shut down to save more fuel. In fact, most aircraft can fly a long distance with no engine at all. All fixed-wing aircraft have some capability to glide with no engine power. They continue to glide horizontally while landing, instead of sinking straight down...