Behind the Prop

Links from this week's show: AOPA Nall Report: Joseph T. Nall Report - AOPA NTSB CAROL Database: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search  

If you've been flying long enough, you definitely have a story about a sketchy traffic pattern situation at a small non-towered airport.  Maybe you saw a student pilot do something crazy.  Maybe it was a pattern that was so full that it didn't feel safe.  Or perhaps you had a close call with an airplane that wasn't making proper radio calls.  Any way you look at it, traffic patterns at non-towered...

Beyond staying night current with our three full stop takeoffs and landings, what can we do as pilots to stay proficient?  That's the topic on this week's episode.  Whether you've got thousands of hours of night time like Wally, or you are very inexperienced at night, we've got some great tips to make you better.  So grab your red flashlight, turn off the lights, and crank up this week's all new e...

Check rides are the source of so much anxiety and stress for so many pilots, but with proper preparation they really don't have to be.  Bobby and Wally work to demystify the big day a bit by running through some things you can do to come prepared and ready to succeed!

Find out more about Tammie Jo Schults, her speaking engagements, and her books here -- The Official Website of Captain Tammie Jo Shults

As pilots, we see other pilots all the time.  But what about those mysterious voices on the other end of the radio... the air traffic controllers.  Sometimes they may seem like robots spitting out clearances at a million miles an hour.  Maybe they'll be the voice guiding you to safety if you encounter bad weather or an engine failure in flight.  Possibly you've even been lectured by one for failin...

As pilots, we see other pilots all the time.  But what about those mysterious voices on the other end of the radio... the air traffic controllers.  Sometimes they may seem like robots spitting out clearances at a million miles an hour.  Maybe they'll be the voice guiding you to safety if you encounter bad weather or an engine failure in flight.  Possibly you've even been lectured by one for failin...

Check out more about Charlie Venema at CheckedAndSet.net!  CheckedAndSet is ready to provide you with access to professional insight and advice on how to best represent yourself, your accomplishments, and your ambitions in this very competitive aviation marketplace.  Our thanks to Charlie for stopping by to share some of his years of knowledge and experience with the Behind The Prop audience!

Preflight actions are often overlooked, but they really are so important.  We plan so much for our training cross country flights, but when we get our certificate, how many of us are really sitting down and planning each flight in depth?  On this week's episode of Behind The Prop, Bobby and Wally give us some great practical real world tips for preparing for your cross country flights.

Bobby@BehindTheProp.com

Emergencies come in so many shapes and sizes that it's impossible to prepare for them all.  From sick passengers to engine difficulties.  From flight control issues to smoke in the cockpit.  There's a million different situations that could pop up that require your immediate attention.  But with a ton of practice, a cool head, and the proper checklist in hand... hopefully you'll have what it takes...

So many pilots have let their currency lapse, and are really intimidated about what is takes to get current (and proficient) again.  Many pilots who have been on the ground for a long time may find themselves faced with new technology that was not even around when they got their certificate (GPS, ADSB... etc).  This podcast is a great place to start if you're looking to get back in the air.  Pleas...

So many pilots have let their currency lapse, and are really intimidated about what is takes to get current (and proficient) again.  Many pilots who have been on the ground for a long time may find themselves faced with new technology that was not even around when they got their certificate (GPS, ADSB... etc).  This podcast is a great place to start if you're looking to get back in the air.  Pleas...

Whether you're a 45 hour newly minted private pilot, or a 5,000 hour veteran, the weather can humble any of us at any moment!  Good pilots never stop learning.  This week Bobby and Wally share some of what they've learned about the weather in their years of flying, and they give us some tips on what we can do to stay safe when we're in the air and the weather goes south on us!

Our guest Brian Hough (School of Aeronautics/Liberty University) is not only an academic, but he's also an accomplished pilot.  Brian is an ATP rated pilot, as well as a certified flight instructor and a designated pilot examiner.  If you're considering going for a college degree in the field of aviation, don't miss this week's episode of Behind The Prop!

Got a random topic idea for our next episode??  Shoot us a message on the Behind The Prop Facebook page and we'll give you a shout out on the show if we use your topic!

If you're going to be ready for a checkride soon, check out our amazing local DPE's here: Wally Mulhearn - WallyMulhearnDPE.com Wanda Collins - WandaCollinsDPE.com Pat Brown - HoustonDPE.com  

When it comes to aircraft engines, we really all just have one goal.  Keep the fan turning!!  As pilots we're taught volumes about how to FLY the airplane... but how often do we pause to think about what's really going on with our ENGINE.  Whether you're a seasoned aircraft owner, or a newly minted private pilot, this week's episode of Behind the Prop provides a plethora of knowledge about your ai...

As a pilot you've probably flown hundreds, even thousands of hours in the air without an issue.  But when something goes wrong and the chips are down, will you be able to get your airplane on the ground safely?  We have so many resources at our disposal today, from our avionics to ATC... to even our cell phones.  This week we've got some good tips for you to be prepared so you're good and ready th...

You've probably talked to  guys & gals who fly props, jets, seaplanes, helicopters...  but have you ever heard from a blimp pilot!?  This week's very special and distinguished guest gives us an incredibly unique perspective on aviation.  Get ready for some flying stories like none you've heard before!

As student pilots we learn so much in training, but it all changes when we get our private pilot certificate.  Sure everything looks the same and the airplane handles exactly as it did when we were students.  But now it's on us to make the decisions.  We are the pilot in command now.  It's an awesome responsibility and we should never take it lightly.  This week on Behind The Prop-- decision makin...

"The Killing Zone" is an absolute must-read for all new pilots.  Grab the book right here --> The Killing Zone, Second Edition: How & Why Pilots Die: Craig, Paul: 9780071798402: Amazon.com: Books

Send us your questions at Facebook.com/BehindTheProp -- We'd love to discuss  your topic on the next listener questions episode of Behind The Prop!

What's the first thing you look at when you see a new aircraft?  Definitely the paint.  Maybe the panel.  But buried under the cowling lies the airplane's most important system...  the engine!  This week Bobby & Wally delve into the basic components of the engine, as well as some basic things you can do to care for yours and keep it running smoothly.

If you haven't gotten the picture by now... fuel is pretty darn important!  Our mechanic guest Ray told us a few weeks ago if he could only check ONE system before takeoff, it would be the fuel.  Wally said the three most important things to check before every flight are: fuel, fuel, and fuel!  So we talking fuel again this week.  Then we transition into some details on aircraft renters insurance....