Fuel Planning

Fuel planning can be important for three reasons:

• Do I have enough fuel to be legal for my flight?
• How much fuel do I need to upload for my flight?
• Is my fuel burn in flight consistent with my flight planning?

Let’s look at the requirements for fuel planning based on 14 CFR §91.151 (VFR) and §91.167 (IFR). Assume the VFR (visual flight rules) flight is planned for an estimated time en route (ETE) of 2 hours and 20 minutes. Assume the IFR (instrument flight rules) flight is planned for an ETE of 3 hours and 15 minutes plus 40 minutes to the alternate.

Table 2-17. Calculating the total fuel required in hours plus minutes

Once you determine the hours of fuel you need to start the flight, use the amount of fuel your aircraft uses in an hour to convert the hours to either gallons or pounds of fuel, depending on the measurement needed for your flight operations. What’s the conversion formula for pounds to gallons?

For avgas:

Total pounds avgas = (Gallons) × (6.0 lbs per gallon)
Total gallons avgas = (Pounds avgas) ÷ (6.0 lbs per gallon),

or using a mental math shortcut:

Total gallons avgas = [(Pounds avgas) × (1 2/3)] ÷ 10

For Jet A:

Total pounds Jet A = (Gallons) × (6.7 lbs per gallon)
Total gallons Jet A = (Pounds Jet A) ÷ (6.7 lbs per gallon),

or using a mental math shortcut:

Total gallons Jet A = [(Pounds Jet A) × (1 1/2)] ÷ 10

Using these conversion formulas, fill in the blanks of the following practice problems.

Table 2-18. Practice problems for converting fuel to gallons or pounds.

Keep scrolling for the answers. Mental Math for Pilots prepares a pilot for so much more than fuel planning. If you’re looking for tools to help with crunching the numbers for things like temperature conversions, reciprocal headings, turn radii, or crosswind components, this book will help you fly and navigate better and more efficiently. (These tools are also of great use if you have any airline interviews in your future.)

Answers: Table 2-18. Practice problems for converting fuel to gallons or pounds.

The post Mental Math for Pilots: Fuel Planning Made Easy first appeared on Learn To Fly.

The first in ASA’s Author Talk Series features Captain Kristofer Pierson, a pilot with a major airline who has over 13,000 hours of flight experience. During this one-hour discussion, Kris shows his passion for helping pilots become higher level professionals, pursue leadership roles, and act as mentors to the next generation. The highlights also include meeting the most recent regulatory requirements for Pilot Professional Development, and resources from his book Pilots in Command: Your Best Trip, Every Trip.

As the second in our Author Talk Series, Arlynn McMahon demonstrates her dedication to pilot instruction using scenario-based lessons. She highlights the differences between training like you fly versus training to a testing standard. Join the more than 1,000 students and CFIs Arlynn has helped fulfill their dreams of flight and learn what US Army General George Patton meant when he said, “Train like you fight and fight like you train,” as Arlynn discusses the fourth edition of Lesson Plans to Train Like You Fly that pilots at all levels can use to improve pilot skills and scenario-based education.

The third ASA Author Talk will feature Captains Barry Schiff and Brian Schiff as they discuss Barry’s new book, An Illustrated Guide to Flying. Watch live on October 12, 2023, at the ASA Presents website. We hope to see you there!

Remember that you can earn credit with the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program by watching these presentations and successfully passing the quiz.

The post The ASA Author Talk Series Takes Flight first appeared on Learn To Fly.

Finding the Right Option for You

If you choose to become a pilot, it’s important to do a little research. Flight instructors, airplanes, and curriculums vary widely, so take the time to find one that meets your specific needs. There is no “right way” to become a pilot, and multiple paths are available depending on your specific goals.

While becoming a pilot isn’t easy, finding the tools to learn is. The options available for learning are plentiful. Self-study ground schools, flight training videos, and cockpit tools are out there waiting for you to discover the right one for you. You will not need to struggle to learn, many resources are available to help (including the Learn to Fly blog). Just ask.

Stay In Control of Your Training

You should always work to be an active participant in your training. Even as a student in training you will also be considered a pilot in command, and you can start logging PIC time right from the beginning. So, practice playing that part. Don’t just learn passively, use the syllabus to gauge your own performance and have expectations for your flight instructor. It’s easy to defer to the experience of your instructor (who is also your co-pilot); instead, use their experience to your advantage by asking lots of questions and talking your way through the flight (describing what you’re doing). This way, your instructor does not need to guess your actions, and they can provide guidance on the fly. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance when you need it–this will get you in the habit of crew resource management, which is important even in single-pilot operations.

Is Aviation Your Future?

Pilots are in demand, and the right path for you to join the industry is waiting. Stay with us here on the ASA Learn to Fly blog, and we’ll help you along the way. Follow the “Becoming a Pilot” Series as we expand on the state of the industry and your place in it, the options available, finding the tools, where to ask questions, and, the big question, how much it will cost.

The post Why Now is the Right Time to Become a Pilot first appeared on Learn To Fly.

What about the Features?

The ASA Library features the ability to highlight, bookmark, and take notes. It also allows you to search the text to find exactly what you’re looking for. The table of contents is interactive allowing you to jump quickly to the specific chapters you’re studying today. Easy-to-read rendering and an intuitive user interface make the whole experience enjoyable as well as educational.

Updated in Real Time

When you’re using the ASA Library, ASA eBooks will update in real time. Any highlights and bookmarks you make one device will be there when you open it on another. Take notes and mark passages on your phone while waiting for class to start, then go over them on your laptop later.

How to Get an ASA Library Account

When you purchase an ASA eBook or redeem a voucher code at asa2fly.com, an ASA Library account is created for you. Once the order is complete, you can access the book on your desktop and mobile devices at library.asa2fly.com or with the ASA Library app available from the App Store and Google Play.

The post Introducing the ASA Library first appeared on Learn To Fly.

May be used during FAA and Canadian Knowledge Exams. The CX-3 complies with FAA Order 8080.6 and Advisory Circular (AC) 60-11, “Test Aids and Materials that May be Used by Airman Knowledge Testing Applicants”; therefore you may bring the CX-3 with you to the testing centers for all pilot, mechanic, and dispatcher FAA exams.

Numerous aviation functions. You can calculate everything from true airspeed and Mach number, fuel burn, holding patterns, to headwind/crosswind components, center of gravity (CG), and everything in between. The menu structure provides easy entry, review, and editing within each function. Multiple problems can be solved within one function.

User-friendly. The color LCD screen displays a menu of functions and the inputs and outputs of a selected function, for easy-to-read menus and data displays. The inputs and outputs of each function are separated on the display screen so it’s clear which numbers were entered and which were calculated, along with their corresponding units of measurement. The menu organization reflects how a flight is normally planned and executed. The result is a natural flow from one function to the next with a minimum of keystrokes. To plan a flight, simply work from the menus in sequential order as you fill in your flight plan form.

Non-volatile memory. All settings including aircraft profile, weight and balance data, trip plan data, values entered by the user, and calculations performed by the device will be retained until the batteries are removed or the user performs a memory reset. Aircraft profiles for multiple aircraft can be created and saved, and imported from or exported to a computer via a micro-usb port.

Ergonomic design. The CX-3 features a simple keyboard and slim design. The non-slip cover will protect your computer inside the flight bag and it fits on the backside of the unit for easy storage while in use.

Unit conversions. The CX-3 has 12 unit conversions: Distance, Speed, Duration, Temperature, Pressure, Volume, Rate, Weight, Rate of Climb/Descent, Angle of Climb/Descent, Torque, and Angle. These 12 conversion categories contain 38 different conversion units for over 100 functions. Unit conversions can be performed during any step in a calculation.

Timers and clocks. The CX-3 has two timers: a stopwatch that counts up and a countdown timer. The stopwatch can be used to keep track of elapsed time or to determine the time required to fly a known distance. The countdown timer can be used as a reminder to switch fuel tanks, or to determine the missed approach point on a non-precision instrument approach. An internal clock continues running even when the flight computer is turned off. UTC and local time can be displayed, and the time can be set with UTC, destination or local time.

Interactive functions. The CX-3 is designed so the functions can be used together. You can perform “chain” calculations where the answer to a preceding problem is automatically entered in subsequent problems. Standard mathematical calculations and conversions can be performed within each aviation function.

Up to date. Check often for new CX-3 updates online at www.asa2fly.com/CX3. Firmware updates and user-data backups are made easy with a micro-usb port to connect the CX-3 to computer.

The CX-3 will begin shipping in November. Check in with your local FBO, favorite online retailer, or ASA for availability. On Thursday, our CFI will share some sample calculations and tips on using the CX-3.

The post Introducing the New CX-3 Flight Computer first appeared on Learn To Fly.

So you want to be a pilot! You’ve come to the right place. If you haven’t already done so, go to www.beapilot.com or www.learntofly.com for a background and then visit your local airport for an introductory ride. Since the first edition of this book was published in 1985, computer use is widespread. Students and certificated pilots who do not own computers have access through schools, libraries, and community centers. You will want to get an up-to-date copy of Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), which fully details the regulatory requirements for obtaining a pilot certificate. Or go to www.faa.gov and click on “Regulations and Procedures.” This website will save you a lot of money. The following is a summary of the adventure on which you are embarking:

First, there is the Part 61/Part 141 quandary. Are there flight schools of which the FAA does not approve? Are they safe? Understandable confusion. Flight schools that operate under Part 141 of the FARs are strictly regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA or Feds), their flight and ground school courses must be FAA-approved, among many, many other requirements. Students who learn better in a structured climate will choose a Part 141 school. Instructors at a Part 61 school should operate from a syllabus, just as in a Part 141 school, but they are not required to do so. Ground school is not required at a Part 61 school. If your life and work schedule do not fit into a relatively strict training regime, Part 61 is for you. Safety? The airplanes and instructors at both types of school must meet the same standards.

Then there is the sport pilot/recreational pilot/private pilot question. If you just want to experience the joy of flight, boring holes in the sky and going to pancake breakfasts at small airpots, working toward the recreational pilot certificate will require less flight time (and money) but your privileges will be somewhat restricted. Some of the restrictions can be removed by an instructor’s endorsement in your logbook, others cannot. Still, getting a sport or recreational pilot certificate is a good first step toward the unrestricted private pilot certificate. Rest assured, your flight instructor wants you to know as much as possible, and if your ultimate goal is the private pilot certificate, will strongly urge you to start working on it right away.

You can purchase The Complete Private Pilot on our website at ASA2Fly.com, which also contains even more resources for student pilots.

Have a safe journey!

The post Learn to Fly 4: Getting Started first appeared on Learn To Fly.

A range of factors will determine your total investment in flight training. First of all, flight school costs vary based on location, overhead costs, and the capital invested in aircraft and facilities. An outfit flying new airplanes, working out of a beautiful building in an urban area, must charge more than one that is operating older airplanes out of a rural airport.

Next, there’s the issue of government minimums required to earn a pilot certificate, versus the practical realities of learning all you should know to operate proficiently as a pilot. Technically, one can earn a Private Pilot certificate in as little as 40 flight hours, but as mentioned earlier, it will likely take a bit longer than that.

When you visit flight schools and ask them to detail costs, most show costs based on the minimums, because that is what their competitors do. So, ask each flight school or instructor you interview to be totally honest about what it’s realistically going to cost.

“I see from your Private Pilot information sheet that it’s possible to earn a pilot certificate in 40 hours, but I understand that’s not realistic for most people. Based on your experience here at the flight school, how much should I budget to earn my Private Pilot certificate?” At that, the instructor will breathe a sigh of relief and give you a more accurate target. (We recommend that you budget for 50 to 60 hours, then work diligently to come in close to that.)

By now you should be realizing that you can personally impact the size of your training investment. A great deal of the cost boils down to the motivation and availability of each individual student. Of course, there can be factors outside of your control, like weather, but if you prepare well for each lesson and fly regularly, you are much more likely to achieve the lower end of that range.

You can purchase You Can Fly! on our website at ASA2Fly.com, which also contains even more resources for student pilots.

Have a safe journey!

The post Learn to Fly 3: How much will it cost? first appeared on Learn To Fly.

Flying is humankind’s wildest dream fulfilled–soaring among the birds, playing tag with the clouds and gazing down upon the wonders of the earth. Pilots really do get to do those things, and it’s as good as it sounds. Adding to the richness is the way others look at pilots–with admiration and awe.

Can flying be practical? Of course. Flying often saves time over other forms of transportation and offers access to places not easily reached in other ways. Piloting can also make a wonderful career. But these practical benefits are not the main reasons most people initially become aviators. Rather, they are ways that pilots capitalize on the skills that bring them so much joy.

Flying light aircraft for pleasure and business may mean a trip to the Bahamas for snorkeling, or to Manitoba in wintertime to witness a total solar eclipse. Perhaps you’re thinking of a flight to the Outer Banks of North Carolina or to Mackinac Island at the Confluence of the Great Lakes.

Imagine soaring over the Grand Canyon at dawn and through Monument Valley at sunset, winging north to the Canadian Rockies and south to the Baja Peninsula. Or shaving hours off your holiday driving to visit relatives and friends while you overfly jammed freeways below. In fact, everything looks different from the air; it’s freedom you can feel and a perspective like no other.

You can purchase You Can Fly! on our website at ASA2Fly.com, which also contains even more resources for student pilots.

Have a safe journey!

The post Learn to Fly 2: Why Fly? first appeared on Learn To Fly.

We are excited to start this new series, and we can’t wait to share our insights with you.

Keep following our blog in the upcoming weeks to learn more, as we’ll be adding new content on Mondays and Thursdays. In the meantime, you can also visit our website at ASA2Fly.com, which contains even more resources for student pilots.

Have a safe journey!

The post Learn to Fly 1: Introduction first appeared on Learn To Fly.