Eric Radtke

Ready to trade the runway for the water? Sporty’s is proud to announce the launch of its all-new Seaplane Rating Course, a visually stunning, experience-driven training program designed to prepare pilots for the unique challenges and rewards of seaplane flying. From first taxi to advanced water operations, this course blends expert instruction, real-world scenarios, and breathtaking on-location footage to deliver a truly immersive learning experience.

Early in flight training, checklists are everything. You’re unfamiliar with the airplane, unfamiliar with the flow of a flight, and still figuring out what needs to happen and when. In that phase, using the checklist as a step-by-step to-do list isn’t just acceptable, it’s exactly what you should be doing. But as you gain familiarity, many of the required actions become second nature. You know where things are, you understand the sequence, and you’re able to anticipate what comes next. Yet many students continue using the checklist the same way they did on day one—reading, doing, then reading again—often with their head down and their attention divided.

Starlink Mini has quickly become a must-have connectivity tool for pilots—but finding a secure, flexible mounting location in the cockpit hasn’t always been easy. Flight Gear’s new Starlink Mini Suction Cup Mount solves that problem with a purpose-built design, engineered for real-world flying.

Air Facts is now accepting entries for the eighth annual Richard L. Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots, an annual writing contest designed to encourage the next generation of aviators to share their stories.

The Richard Collins family again has partnered with Sporty’s to present this prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding aviation writing by pilots age 24 and younger, including student pilots. Eligible submissions must be original, unpublished, and no longer than 1,500 words. This year’s theme remains a favorite: “My Most Memorable Flight.”

Sporty’s has announced its 2025 Gear of the Year award winners, recognizing the standout aviation products that pilots selected most and liked best this year. Among hundreds of new products introduced in 2025, the winners reflect a combination of customer feedback and evaluations by Sporty’s staff of experienced pilots and instructors.

Whether it’s a student pilot or a seasoned pilot accomplishing a flight review, the pattern of getting behind the airplane is remarkably consistent. Things are going fine until multiple small tasks pile up at once. By the time the pilot notices, they’re already chasing airspeed, altitude, or a clearance.

Aviation has long been a part of Gabriel Kesler’s life, from the time he attended airshows as a child in northern Iowa to his teaching future pilots in RV–12s at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.  Now, as a newly certificated flight instructor and single father of two, Gabriel is the latest recipient of Sporty’s $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship, which he will use to obtain his Multiengine and Multiengine Instructor ratings.

Let’s be honest—these days, the only reason most of us would get lost in the air is if our iPad died (and we forgot the charger) or it overheated halfway through the flight. Even with GPS and moving maps, it can happen. And when it does, it’s surprisingly easy to feel a little helpless.

The key is to stay calm, rely on your remaining tools, and follow a logical plan.

Operating a piston aircraft engine is all about compromise: maximizing speed often means burning more fuel, while prioritizing efficiency or simplicity can cost a bit in performance. When it comes to climb power or engine longevity, the balance becomes even more critical. That’s why PilotWorkshops has created Airplane Engine Operations. This goal-oriented, pilot-focused, online engine management course is designed to help you get the most out of your engine—safely, efficiently, and confidently.

Every pilot hits one at some point—a training plateau. You’re taking lessons regularly, but your progress suddenly stalls. Maneuvers that felt solid last week all of the sudden aren’t, and frustration starts to build. Don’t worry—this is a normal part of learning to fly, and there are ways to get past it.