Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

A critical shortage of A&Ps means airplane owners have no choice but to get involved in maintenance. Mechanic, pilot, and writer Jeff Simon explains how to get started, how to find the right shop, and what the impact could be from proposed FAA rules on remote maintenance. Jeff is also the founder of SocialFlight, so he shares his tips for keeping flying fun and involving family in the adventure—including his “no magenta line” trip. In the Ready to Copy segment, Jeff talks about why you should never jump start a dead battery, why the compass is no longer needed, and his lessons learned from building an airplane in his living room. Remote maintenance rules: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2024/october/17/faa-puts-disruptive-determination-on-hold Five rules of engine monitoring: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/november/07/aircraft-maintenance-the-five-pillars-of-engine-health-monitoring SocialFlight on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialFlight Sporty’s 2025 Pilot Training Courses: https://www.sportys.com/learntofly

The success of BasicMed proves the third class medical is obsolete—that’s according to senior AME Brent Blue. He covers a wide range of medical topics in this episode, including how to fill out the FAA medical application, what the latest rules are on mental health treatment, and whether new drugs like Ozempic are safe for pilots. Dr. Blue is also a leading advocate for pulse oximeters and carbon monoxide detectors, and he shares his rules of thumb for using both in the cockpit. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear why patients need to occasionally say no, a simple habit for healthy living, and what it’s like to fly a Canadian bushplane. LINKS: Brent’s AOPA articles: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/articles-by-author/brent-blue Video on pulse oximeters: https://youtu.be/pOEBoeuyR0U Sporty’s 2025 Pilot Training Courses: https://www.sportys.com/learntofly

Experimental airplanes make up an increasingly large share of the general aviation market, and Marc Cook knows that world better than anyone. He traces the history of homebuilts, from the radical plans of the 1980s to the refined kits of today, and describes the current state of the industry. He also talks about the causes of Van’s recent bankruptcy ordeal, and shares why he’s very optimistic about the upcoming MOSAIC rule—but also why it won’t lead to $20,000 airplanes. In the Ready to Copy segment, Marc names the biggest mistake homebuilders make, chooses the most underrated experimental airplane, and explains why riding motorcycles and flying airplanes requires the same approach to risk.  LINKS: Kitplanes magazine: https://www.kitplanes.com/ MOSAIC update video: https://youtu.be/9FfylxAuK3c Sporty’s 2025 Pilot Training Courses: https://www.sportys.com/learntofly

Home flight simulators can be valuable training tools, and they don’t necessarily teach bad flying habits. Evan Reiter, co-founder of the Flight Simulator Association, shares the data to back up those statements in this sim-centric episode. He also explains why virtual ATC services are so important for simulator pilots, and he offers a preview of the highly anticipated Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. In the Ready to Copy segment, Evan (who is also an airline pilot) talks about his favorite flight sim hardware, how to sound better on the radio, and the surprising way flying helps him on the ski slopes. LINKS: Flight Sim Association research: https://flightsimassociation.com/report Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: https://www.flightsimulator.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024/ Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html