scenario-based decision making

Traffic Pattern Aug 23, 2026

The Cirrus Parachute Pull Over Lake Erie, Scud Running Into a Box Canyon of Weather, and the Decision Point Where Get-Home-itis Meets the Red Handle

How pilots avoid the deadly VFR-into-IMC trap using personal minimums, pre-set triggers, the 180-degree turn, and knowing when to pull the red handle.

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Traffic Pattern Apr 22, 2026

The impossible turn and the engine failure on climbout that kills more pilots than it should

Learn why the 'impossible turn' kills pilots and how a departure brief can save your life after engine failure on climbout.

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Traffic Pattern Apr 16, 2026

The Sunset Arrival: When Fuel, Weather, and Fatigue Stack Up on the Return Leg

Learn how to use the FAA's five Ps and DECIDE model to make better go/no-go calls when fuel, weather, and fatigue stack up.

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