Sporty's PIREPs

As a student pilot, your checkride is essentially your graduation day. You put in loads of time, both studying and flying. You come prepared with all your documentation, know all of your checklists, and acronyms. It is your big day to show off to your designated pilot examiner (DPE) exactly what you know and understand. This is your time to shine. Until it’s not.

Knowing when to cancel or delay a flight is a skill every pilot develops over time and with experience.

Weather—usually the first factor to consider:

• Visibility and ceilings: Are they above your personal minimums?
• Wind: Are crosswinds within your comfort zone?
• Thunderstorms: they can escalate quickly especially in the spring and summer.

Even if you’re legal to fly, think about whether you’re comfortable handling unexpected changes.

Having joined the Garmin aviation watch trend years ago, I've consistently been impressed. Every new release introduces additional features and capabilities to an already robust set. The Garmin D2 Mach 2 upholds this tradition, offering even more advanced functionalities to enhance your flying experience.

Smartwatches are one of the hottest categories in the consumer electronics business, with over 150 million sold in 2024 alone. The latest model from Garmin is the D2 Air X15, which replaces the best-selling D2 Air X10. It retains the vivid touchscreen and pulse oximeter from its predecessor, but adds a longer battery life, new color option (slate), larger display, brighter screen, and a built-in flashlight. After testing it for the last week, we think it’s one of the best pilot watches yet.

Flying is a fun-filled adventure—and your training should be just as exciting. The 2026 edition of Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course takes everything you loved from 2025 and cranks it up with more immersive videos, smarter study tools, and revolutionary Aviation Intelligence℠ features. Whether you’re prepping for your first solo, studying for the written test, or polishing up for your checkride, this is the course that keeps you in the know.

Should drones have the right of way over airplanes? The FAA has proposed just that (under certain conditions) in its recent Part 108 rule, but Christian Ramsey says it doesn’t have to be bad news for GA pilots. The UAS expert and private pilot explains how drones and GA aircraft can share airspace below 400 feet, including the potential use of new electronic conspicuity devices. Christian also worked on the ADS-B network roll-out, so he shares his thoughts on datalink traffic and why it’s essential for safety. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll learn about unique drone applications, ADS-B tips, and whether angle of attack indicators matter.

Let’s face it, flight instructors are some of the bravest and most patient individuals on the planet. You try to kill them, and they keep coming back for more. I know for a fact that I would not be a pilot without the non-stop help and support of my flight instructors along the way for my private pilot certificate. You spend countless hours together with these individuals in the cockpit, classroom, and on the ramp—before long, they start to feel like a second family.

The new Flight Gear Tailwind Backpack was built by pilots, with smart pockets and a roomy interior that makes storing gear easy. A water-resistant base, upright headset storage, and rugged construction keep it ready for any mission. It’s tough, practical for the cockpit, or just for your everyday needs. Could it be the best flight bag of 2025?

PilotWorkshops, a leader in aviation training, has released a groundbreaking resource for demystifying the Private Pilot checkride and to help applicants prepare with confidence. Checkride Insights: Private Pilot is a fully annotated version of the FAA’s Airman Certification Standards (ACS), enhanced with plain-language explanations, real-world examples, and examiner insights.

David Gagliardi has spent many summers flying big airplanes at low altitude, dropping fire retardant on wildfires all over North America. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes, explaining how pilots maintain situational awareness, what it’s like managing 60-year old airliners, and what the future of the industry looks like. David is also a longtime flight instructor and pilot examiner, so he shares invaluable tips for anyone preparing for a checkride, including how to avoid “failing yourself.” In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear about flying warbirds, the best airport in British Columbia, and decision-making lessons learned in the navy.