Advanced skills

Articles to help increase your flying knowledge and practical skills.


WHAT CAN WE LEARN: Doubled-up dipsticks

Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts from official CAA Accident Reports from his own homeland of South Africa and analyses why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN: VFR into IMC

Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts from official CAA Accident Reports from his own homeland of South Africa and analyses why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

Vne and flutter explained

What does the red line on your ASI mean? It seems to say bad things might happen if the pointer goes past that mark. Jim Davis disagrees. Here he explains why things can sometimes go seriously wrong way before the needle gets near the red.

Navigation tips for the outback

(Shelley Ross)

Not all that comfortable with a long flight over strange territory? Jim Davis has some tips that will turn this potentially scary flight into one that is not only safe, but also a whole lot of fun.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN: Prop swinging for dummies

Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts from official CAA Accident Reports from his own homeland of South Africa and analyses why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN: Night flying nightmare

Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts from official CAA Accident Reports from his own homeland of South Africa and analyses why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

Dragons of the downwind turn

(John Absolon)

Want to see the club greybeard twitch and foam? Just mention a low level turn after take-off. Jim Davis looks at the dragons that lurk around this seemingly benign manoeuvre.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN: Beating around the Bushbaby

(Vivian A. Watts)

Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts from official CAA Accident Reports from his own homeland of South Africa and analyses why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN: Planes don’t bounce

Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts from official CAA Accident Reports from his own homeland of South Africa and analyses why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN: Son of a Beech

Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts from official CAA Accident Reports from his own homeland of South Africa and analyses why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

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Circuit Suicide at YSBK

(Bill Wardle)

For all the budding and eager student pilots out there looking forward to their first solos, we hope this story will give you a revived respect for circuit emergencies.