Using the proper publications during the flight training process will help add to your checkride success, and give you all the confidence...

If you want to separate a pilot who is just trying to survive a checkride from one who is building real professional habits, watch what happens after an engine failure in a light twin. I’ve seen it hundreds of times from the right seat as a retired Designated Pilot Examiner. The candidate gets the airplane under control, steps on the rudder, pitches for blue line, and then starts working hard to center the ball. That sounds disciplined, but in many cases it is exactly where p

Achieving an MEI certification is a significant milestone in any aviator's professional journey. It represents a transition from a pilot who can manage multiple engines to an instructor who can instill that same mastery in others. However, the Multi-Engine Instructor checkride is notoriously rigorous. One area where many candidates falter is Task E of the Airman Certification Standard (ACS): Risk Management. A Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) is not just looking for a pilot wh

You’ve already checked the boxes. You have your Commercial Single-Engine Land (CSEL) certificate. You’ve logged the hours, mastered the maneuvers, and proven you can fly to professional standards. Now, you’re standing at the threshold of the Multi-Engine Add-On. To most pilots, the multi-engine rating is seen as a "check-the-box" requirement for the airlines: a quick few days of flying and a checkride that mostly involves keeping the blue line on the airspeed indicator and no

For many pilots, the Commercial Multi-Engine Add-On is the bridge between the world of general aviation and the flight deck of a regional jet. It’s an exciting transition, often characterized by more speed, more systems, and that second throttle quadrant. But beneath the surface of the "twice the engines, twice the safety" mantra lies a sobering technical reality that catches many transitioning pilots off guard. In a single-engine aircraft, an engine failure is a fairly strai

There is a common misconception in flight schools today that "multi-engine time is multi-engine time." The logic seems sound on the surface: if the logbook says you have 50 hours of multi-engine time, an airline recruiter will check the box and move on. But there is a massive difference between a pilot who spent 50 hours babysitting an autopilot in a modern, ultra-stable trainer and a pilot who spent 25 hours wrestling with the nuances of a high-performance twin. When you sit

The transition from a routine cross-country flight to an emergency descent happens in a heartbeat. When the steady hum of the engine is replaced by a jarring silence or the rhythmic vibration of a mechanical failure, the clock starts ticking. For a pilot, these are the critical seconds where the difference between a survivable outcome and a bad one lies in the ability to manage risk and make decisions under pressure. In the real world, emergency site selection is not about re

The final signature in a student’s logbook is more than a administrative formality; it is a legal endorsement and a personal guarantee of safety. As a Flight Instructor (CFI), when you sign that recommendation for a practical test, you are telling the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) that the applicant is fully qualified, safe, and competent to exercise the privileges of the certificate or rating they are seeking. This final instal

Getting your multi-engine add-on is often the most rewarding phase of a pilot’s initial training. It’s the moment you graduate from light singles to the world of complex systems, increased speed, and the unique challenges of asymmetrical thrust. However, because many pilots approach the multi-engine add-on as a "quick" rating, they often fall into traps that can lead to a "pink slip" or, worse, an unsafe flying habit. As part of our Multi-Engine Mastery Week, we’ve spent the

The transition to the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) represented a shift toward integrated evaluation, where knowledge and risk management are tested alongside flight proficiency. For the Private Pilot-Airplane certificate, Area of Operation IX: Emergency Operations, remains one of the most critical segments of the practical test. The current standard, FAA-S-ACS-6C, dictates the specific objectives and performance metrics an applicant must meet to demonstrate competency

Technical Overview of FAA Notice NOTC4907 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued Notice NOTC4907 (April 2026) regarding reports of significant corrosion located on the forward wing spar attachments of several Piper aircraft models. This notice serves as an update to previous airworthiness concerns and emphasizes the necessity of rigorous inspection protocols for the Piper PA-28, PA-32, PA-34, and PA-44 series. Unlike previous safety communications that focused

In the world of flight training, the cockpit is often seen as the ultimate classroom. It’s where maneuvers are perfected, emergency procedures are drilled, and the visceral reality of flight takes hold. However, the true measure of a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) isn’t found solely in their ability to demonstrate a perfect power-off stall or a Greaser landing. It is found in the standard of professionalism they project long before the master switch is flipped on and long

Transitioning from single-engine aircraft to multi-engine platforms is one of the most significant milestones in a professional pilot’s career. It represents more than just a literal doubling of powerplants; it is a fundamental shift in how you manage energy, systems, and safety margins. However, many aviators approach the multi-engine add-on with the same mindset they used for their private or commercial single-engine ratings. This "more of the same" approach is a primary dr

The transition from the Practical Test Standards (PTS) to the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for Flight Instructors wasn't just a formatting update; it was a fundamental shift in how we build the next generation of professional pilots. For years, the aviation community operated under what we call the "PTS Hangover." We were conditioned to treat flight training as a series of isolated maneuvers: steep turns, stalls, and lazy eights: performed in a vacuum. You either hit

Stepping up into a multi-engine aircraft represents a significant milestone in any pilot’s career. It’s the moment where "system management" moves from a theoretical concept in a handbook to a demanding, real-time workload. In the Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, nothing exemplifies this transition better than the fuel system. While a single-engine trainer usually offers a simple "Both," "Left," or "Right" selector, the Twin Comanche demands a more nuanced approach. With four indiv

Transitioning from a single-engine aircraft to a twin is one of the most significant milestones in a pilot's career. It marks the jump from "learning to fly" to "learning to manage systems." However, many aviators treat the time-building phase between their initial Multi-Engine Rating and their airline interview as a passive exercise in burning holes in the sky. In the current 2026 hiring environment, airlines and corporate flight departments are looking for more than just a

Welcome to the final installment of Multi-Engine Mastery Week. After exploring V-speeds, the intricacies of the Twin Comanche, the pros of accelerated training, and time-building strategies, we have arrived at the ultimate objective: your Commercial Multi-Engine Add-On. Adding a multi-engine rating to your commercial certificate is a pivotal moment in any professional pilot's career. It transitions you from the world of single-engine operations to the complex, high-performanc

For the aspiring commercial pilot, the transition from single-engine operations to multi-engine proficiency is more than just a rating: it is a career-defining milestone. In the hierarchy of pilot qualifications, multi-engine flight time remains one of the most scrutinized sections of a pilot's logbook by airline recruiters and corporate flight departments. The objective of multi-engine time building is not merely to accumulate hours; it is to master the complexities of multi

For decades, the flight instructor community lived by a recurring, high-stakes deadline. Every 24 calendar months, we’d check the back of our plastic certificates, see that looming expiration date, and scramble to complete a Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic (FIRC) or sign off enough students to keep our privileges alive. It was the "CFI expiration dance": and as of late 2024, the music has finally stopped. The FAA’s transition to Advisory Circular (AC) 61.65J marks one of t

If you are training for your Commercial Multi-Engine rating, you already know that the "Engine Failure After Takeoff" maneuver is the heavyweight champion of the checkride. It is the scenario every pilot hopes never happens in the real world, but every professional pilot must be prepared to handle with surgical precision. When that simulated failure happens: usually just as the gear is coming up and you’re transitioning to your climb: the difference between a "pass" and a "pi