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General Aviation

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Air Masses and Fronts: The Movers and Shakers of Weather

Weather has a tricky tendency to show up unannounced and throw a continent-sized wrench in a pilot’s flight plans. It’s a scenario all too common within the general aviation (GA) community and can have risky consequences for unprepared pilots. So, what can pilots do to keep weather surprises from ruining their flight? A look at air masses and fronts could offer much-needed insight.

Silver Linings, Silver Bullets, and Other Fictions: Avoiding VFR Flight Into Instrument Weather

Flying under visual flight rules (VFR) is a great way to experience general aviation (GA). VFR offers a sense of freedom that many pilots prize. So long as the weather cooperates, pilots can fly VFR from one end of the country to another. VFR flying allows a more flexible, less rigid approach than instrument flight rules (IFR). In some cases, VFR flexibility can offer advantages over IFR, even when the weather deteriorates, and air traffic control (ATC) procedures may restrict operations. While...

Steering Around the Storm: A GA Guide to Thunderstorms

Weather awareness is crucial in general aviation (GA) for several reasons, the primary being safety. Pilots must be mindful of potential hazards, such as thunderstorms, to make informed decisions that ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the aircraft.

Vertical Value

The FAA and U.S. Helicopter Safety Team provide valuable resources in a variety of media formats to help helicopter pilots fly more safely.