Pilot Skills

A practical reference to individual flying skills pilots train, practice, and revisit throughout their flying.

This library is organized around individual skills rather than complete flights. It includes aircraft handling, takeoffs and landings, emergency procedures, navigation, instrument flying, and other areas where pilots may want to maintain familiarity and proficiency.

Takeoffs and landings

• Go-around
• Crosswind landing
• Crosswind takeoff
• Short-field takeoff
• Short-field landing
• Soft-field takeoff
• Soft-field landing
• Rejected landing

Airwork

• Slow flight
• Steep turns
• Unusual attitude recovery

Stalls

• Stall recovery
• Power-on stall
• Power-off stall
• Approach to stall

Emergency procedures

• Forced landing
• Emergency descent
• Engine failure after takeoff

Navigation

• Pilotage and dead reckoning

Instrument flying

• Holding pattern

Glider skills

• Glider rope break

About this library

The library is being expanded gradually. Individual pages are intended to provide useful background, practice considerations, related skills, and links to authoritative aviation references.

Aircraft procedures, limitations, speeds, and checklists vary. Always use the approved information and procedures applicable to the aircraft you are flying and the rules under which you operate.

Track your own practice

Last Practiced is an iPhone app for recording when you practiced individual flying skills and setting personal Practice Targets for skills you want to revisit.

Practice Targets are personal reminders and do not establish regulatory currency, proficiency, or legal eligibility to fly.

Practice and proficiency

Browse Pilot Proficiency or build a personal plan with the Pilot Practice Planner. Last Practiced keeps a personal history of the skills you actually practice.