Approach Chart Symbols - What Every IFR Pilot Must Know Cold
Master the approach plate symbols every IFR pilot must recognize instantly - from the Maltese cross FAF marker to RNAV waypoint flags and the critical T and A triangles.
ATIS
Aviation news and analysis with Tower. FAA policy changes, industry trends, safety data, and what the headlines mean for the pilots who fly every day.
Bristol Type 170 Freighter, the Plane That Carried Your Car Across the English Channel
The Bristol Type 170 Freighter - pioneer of cross-Channel car ferry aviation - has reached a landmark restoration milestone at Aerospace Bristol's historic Filton site.
The 1976 Beechcraft Bonanza V35B, the V-Tail Legacy, and What a Ready-to-Travel Classic Is Worth in 2026
Flying Magazine spotlights a 1976 Beechcraft Bonanza V35B as a top pick - here's what a well-equipped V-tail is worth and what to verify before buying.
The Eighteen Thousand Dollar Dream and What the Private Pilot Price Tag Really Tells Us About General Aviation
A PilotBound study of published flight school rates across all 50 states puts the national average cost of a private pilot certificate at $18,257.
The GAMA Midyear Numbers, Cirrus on Top, and What the 2026 Shipment Report Says About the Health of General Aviation
The GAMA midyear 2026 report shows Cirrus Aircraft and Airbus Helicopters leading shipments, pointing to cautious optimism for general aviation's near-term health.
The Green Mountain Boys, the F-35A, and the Long Way Home from CENTCOM
Eight of twelve Vermont Air National Guard F-35As have landed at RAF Lakenheath en route home from a combat deployment in the CENTCOM theater.
The Ramp Hold, the Weather Decision, and What a Clear Sky Is Actually Worth
Weather is a top-tier factor in fatal GA accidents - not because pilots lack data, but because pressure overrides judgment. Here's what the research shows.
The Supreme Court, the Eighth Amendment, and the Question of Whether the Government Can Keep Your Airplane
The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could establish a uniform constitutional standard for government aircraft seizures under the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause.
The Viper Shield, L3Harris's First Podded EW System Off the Production Line, and What Two Hundred Thirty-Three Units Means for Allied F-16 Fleets
L3Harris delivered the first production-standard Viper Shield EW pod for the F-16, with 233 units on order across eight allied nations as of September 2026.
TSA, the Closed Door, and the Security Blueprint That Will Define BVLOS at Scale
The TSA is convening closed-door industry sessions to build model security programs for beyond visual line of sight drone operations, a framework that will reshape U.S. airspace for every pilot.
GAMA First Half Twenty Twenty-Six, the Turbine Surge, and What Falling Piston Numbers Mean for the Future of General Aviation
GAMA's first-half 2026 data shows turbine sales surging while piston deliveries fall, revealing a deepening structural split in general aviation.
GE Aerospace, the Derecho Program, and the Race to Build an Air-Breathing Mach Five Test Vehicle
The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has contracted GE Aerospace to develop Derecho, an air-launched hypersonic test vehicle designed to reach Mach 5.
JetBlue BlueFirst, the No-First-Class Airline That Just Changed Its Mind, and What It Says About Where the Industry Is Headed
JetBlue's new BlueFirst enclosed first-class cabin ends the airline's 25-year no-first-class identity and signals a broader shift away from egalitarian cabin models.
Michigan Airport Landing Fees and the Growing Threat to Open GA Access
Manistee County Blacker Airport voted August 17 to impose landing fees effective October 1 - a move AOPA calls 'extremely concerning' with implications far beyond Michigan.
The Coast Guard C-37A, Secretary Mullin's Emergency Landing, and What Twenty-Five Years of Government Service Looks Like When the Crew Is Tested
A Coast Guard C-37A carrying DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin declared an emergency and landed safely, demonstrating what preparation looks like under pressure.
The GAO Report, the A&P Knowledge Test Barrier, and the High School Hangar Door the FAA Left Locked
The GAO is pushing the FAA to fix an eligibility gap that blocks high school aviation maintenance students from qualifying for A&P knowledge tests.
The Navy's Ten-Thousand-Pound Carrier Drone and the Unmanned Strike Machine Rewriting Military Aviation
The U.S. Navy has formally asked defense contractors to propose autonomous carrier-based strike aircraft capable of carrying up to 10,000 pounds of ordnance - a landmark step toward unmanned combat aviation.
The Texas GA Subcommittee, State Advocacy, and Why the Airport You Fly From Needs More Than Federal Protection
The Texas House held its first dedicated general aviation subcommittee hearing, a structural shift that could reshape how the state protects its 300+ public-use airports.
The UAS Autonomy Study, the Collegiate Pilot Shrug, and What Neutral Really Means for the Airspace We're About to Share
A new study of collegiate flight students found no shift in flying willingness based on whether nearby drones are remotely piloted or fully autonomous - but what that neutral result means is the more important question.
The Wolf Pitts Pro, the Unlimited Category, and What Aerobatics at Oshkosh Teaches Every Pilot
A Wolf Pitts Pro photo from EAA AirVenture reveals why aerobatic training sharpens every pilot, regardless of what they fly or where they fly it.