Darren Smith, Flight Instructor
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About Me

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Welcome to the largest freely available Flight Instructor website devoted to all levels of pilot certification.  If you're a beginner, learning to fly is one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences you can ever have.  Less than 1% of the US population has ever earned a private certificate.  The list of active pilots (current medical) brings that to less than a tenth of one percent of the US population.  Even fewer are helicopter pilots.  Your choice puts you in the most exclusive club in the world.  Want a career?  Read why It's a good time to become a pilot.
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Your future flying career...Flight training is a very intense and personal experience. With good instruction, you can easily achieve your dream.  Your flight training begins with a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI).  This person is vital resource to you as you achieve your goal.  Start your information search in the Reading section and Private Pilot and Learn to Fly resource page.

The goal of this web site is three-fold: 1)  to help people get information about becoming pilots,  2) help current pilots get information on additional certificates and ratings, and 3) provide helpful aviation links and resources (reading library)


Thank you for visiting my websiteIt literally costs thousands of dollars a year to keep this free resource online.  My site receives an enormous amount of traffic, and I'm handling about 140 requests for information weekly, all as a public service. Consider supporting this website by purchasing materials from the Pilot StoreIn its 6th year of operation, this website gets between 29,000 to 35,744 hits per month.  March 2008 was our highest traffic month to date at 35,744 unique visitors.  It took 4 years to hit our quarter-millionth viewer in October 2006 It only took nine months to reach a half-million visitors in July 2007.  I constantly add content depending on requests & questions I receive, search terms used to find this website, and student experiences.  Content is updated & added weekly, so check this website often.  I'd love to hear your thoughts to make it better.
 
Poll:  What's the most common thing you've heard from a CFI?         (Come on, I need more space to write than this!)

 

Training Services

I work exclusively with aircraft owners for airplane flight training:

    1.  Airplane:
    2.  Helicopter:  Private - Commercial - Accelerated Instrument
    3.  Insurance Checkouts: (see Bio for aircraft quals)
    4.  Recurrent Training:  ...more info
    5.  Ground Schools:  ...more info

Need advanced flight instruction? Email meI am available on
a very limited schedule due to professional flying responsibilities.

Request for Comments

I am looking for your thoughts and ideas on these articles.  Please take time to read and post a comment: You're in the Driver's Seat! | Being a Better Aviation Consumer | Losing the EdgeBecoming a CaptainWhat are you doing over there?
    

Best Bets - Most Popular

Instrument Pilots: 
    Are you really ready for the checkride?
    Are you really ready for an IFR Rating?
    IFR Risk
   
Visi-Hold - figure out instrument holds
Helicopter Pilots:
   
Fatal Helicopter Accidents Factors
   
Precautionary Landing
Safety Articles:
   
Personal Minimums Checklist (download)
    Flying Discipline
    Making Safe Choices
   
Intro to Flight Profiles | Profiles Improve Safety
New Website Features
   
Guestbook | OnlineBFR/IPC | Online Store
    Tampa Bay Area Aircraft Rental Rates
   
Register Online Private Pilot Ground School
    Online Payment for Services & Deposits
    FAA Publications - Download Area

See the reading library for more ideas.

What's New...

06/11/2008  How to Perform a Non Precision Approach (CANPA)
05/27/2008  Non-Precision CFIT (CANPA)
05/04/2008  Red Rules
04/11/2008  Learning Modality - how do you learn?
03/15/2008  Buying an Airplane?
02/22/2008  Losing the Edge
02/04/2008  More Proof Its a Small World
01/21/2008  Money Management for First Officers
12/31/2007  New Captain Series:  The Model Captain
11/30/2007  New Captain Series:  Bag of Crap
10/31/2007  New Captain Series:  Becoming a Captain
 

What's New... 2007

12/31/2007  New Captain Series:  The Model Captain
11/30/2007  New Captain Series:  Bag of Crap
10/31/2007  New Captain Series:  Becoming a Captain
09/20/2007  Winds Aloft Practice
09/10/2007  TAF Practice
09/01/2007  METAR Practice
08/17/2007  Rotation Speed
08/01/2007  Advice to the New CFI
07/01/2007  Being a Better Aviation Consumer
06/01/2007  Guest Column: Captain Anonymous: Pressure Rising
05/16/2007  Guest Column:  America's Standing in the World - Anthony T
05/15/2007  Life Stress Events - things that affect pilots
05/13/2007  The Heinrich/Smith Safety Triangle
05/10/2007  CFI Discount for Visi-Hold
05/06/2007  Integrating Threat & Error Management
05/05/2007  New Schedule:  Private Pilot Ground School
05/01/2007  Threats to Safety - manage the threats which reduce safety
04/28/2007  Guest Column:  Captain Anonymous

04/22/2007  Flight Profiles for IFR Crosscountry
04/16/2007  I Passed the Written, Now What?
04/12/2007  Updated:  Flight Profiles Improve Safety
04/10/2007  Updated:  Introduction to Flight Profiles
04/03/2007  The Checkride Mindset - part 3 of the Checkride Series
04/01/2007  Updated: Certification Information on Famous Aviators

03/26/2007  Guest Column:  Captain Anonymous
03/20/2007  Why People Quit Flying
03/15/2007  Spreading Myths - get the facts, stop listening to the B.S.
03/01/2007  Are you in it for the long haul? - stop fooling around with
                    inexperienced CFIs & being out of practice
02/21/2007  Guest Column: Captain Anonymous
02/16/2007  All about the NASA form
02/11/2007  Are You Too Fat?
02/02/2007  What are you doing over there?
01/27/2007  How to Solo As Quickly As Possible
01/18/2007  Encouragement from the Flight Deck
01/13/2007  Staying IFR Current
01/09/2007  You're in the Driver's Seat!
01/06/2007  Will they go easy on me?
01/01/2007  Fly the Machine - an engine emergency

What's New... 2006

12/26/2006  Updated:  Certification Information on Famous Aviators
12/10/2006  Visi-Hold - the easy way to figure out instrument holds
12/01/2006  Ten Tips to Immediately Improve Your Radio Technique
11/28/2006  Schools: What's the difference between Part 61 & Part 141?
11/24/2006  Researching Flight Schools - before you call... read this...
11/14/2006  Managing Your CFI
11/12/2006  What are the long cloud streaks in the sky?
11/09/2006  NEW Release:  Getting the Most from Your Flight Instruction
11/05/2006  Performance Anxiety - the true nature of flight instruction
11/01/2006  Best Practices in Aircraft Lighting - when to use aircraft lights
11/01/2006  Helicopter Lesson Guides - a hard to find reprint
10/31/2006  IFR Cross Country Flight Planning Checklist
10/26/2006  Updated:  VFR Cross Country Flight Planning Checklist
10/20/2006  Helicopter Glossary - vocabulary of helicopter pilots
10/15/2006  New Helicopter Commercial PTS - August 1, 2006
10/10/2006  Airport Lighting: Beacons & Light Gun Signals
10/01/2006  Chasing the Dream
09/25/2006  New Schedule:  Helicopter Pilot Ground School
09/25/2006  New Schedule:  Private Pilot Ground School & Syllabus
09/25/2006  Register Online for the Private Pilot Ground School
09/15/2006  You Get What You Pay For
09/10/2006  Helicopter Flash Cards - Released - study with confidence
09/03/2006  Updated:  I'm 14, Can I get my Private Pilot Certificate?
09/01/2006  Success Stories - a page of student successes
08/23/2006  Multi-Engine Checkout - hard to find article from FAA
08/10/2006  FAA Safety Pamphlet Reprints, Online @ cfidarren.com
08/05/2006  The Phone Calls I Get
08/01/2006  Introduction to the Flight Review
08/01/2006  Common Problems - Flight Review
07/24/2006  The autorotations are back
07/15/2006  How do we rate pilots? - what makes a pilot good
07/01/2006  Annoying Students
06/10/2006  Fatal Helicopter Accidents Factors
05/31/2006  Are you really ready for the checkride?
05/25/2006  ATP Certificate Training Profile
05/21/2006  What's happening to the navaids?
05/15/2006  IFR Descent Profile Exercise
05/15/2006  Updated: IFR Lesson Guides and Basic Attitude Instruction
05/10/2006  Helicopter Instrument Rating: Doing part in an airplane?
05/04/2006  Are you really ready for an Instrument Rating?
05/01/2006  Hot Air Balloon Resources added to Links page
04/29/2006  Weather Terms (Contractions)- Includes Metar/TAF codes
04/28/2006  Private Pilot Students:  Pre-Solo Exam
04/25/2006  Yes, It does matter what you fly
04/20/2006  What it Takes to Be a CFI
04/18/2005  Flight Training for Veterans
04/15/2006  New Schedule: Helicopter Pilot Ground School
04/12/2006  New Schedule: Private Pilot Ground School & Syllabus
04/08/2006  Fatal Accident Statistics
04/05/2006  Holding(Updated)
03/31/2006  Updated:  Memorable Aviation Quotes
03/23/2006  Your comments:  see theGuestbook
03/20/2006  Answerman: Complex & High Performance Endorsements
03/15/2006  Curious about the instrument checkride? See Plan of Action
03/08/2006  Runway Incursions Tip Sheet - preventing runway incursions
03/01/2006  Radio Communications - Non-Towered Airports
02/28/2006  Knowing the Winds
02/18/2006  CFI Liability - a stark look at professionalism
02/10/2006  NOTAM Contractions - types of notams and terms used
02/02/2006  Helicopter Rules That Differ From Airplane Rules
01/20/2006  Commercial Pilot Requirements
01/13/2006  FAR Part 95, What does it mean to you?
01/10/2006  What to do after the Private Pilot Certificate
01/02/2006  Memorable Aviation Quotes

What's New... 2005

12/17/05  How Much Does it Cost to Learn to Fly Helicopters?
12/08/05  Expanded Tailwheel Syllabus (funBFR.com)
12/01/05  Privacy Policy, Fair Use, Copyright & Disclaimers
11/27/05  New FAQs for the Accelerated Instrument Rating Training
11/15/05  Online Payment for Services & Deposits
11/11/05  Bending Metal
- the most common causes of  accidents
11/03/05  Why You Should do Your Instrument Rating in a Twin
10/29/05  Updated:  Certification Information on Famous Aviators
10/10/05  CFI Academy:  Sample Budget During Training
10/07/05  Free Pilot Resources: 
IFR Flight Planning Form
10/01/05  What's Killing Pilots - what to do to save your life
09/29/05 
Working together on an instrument rating
09/12/05  Multi-Engine Resources:  Multi-Engine Ground School
09/01/05  Download Section Added - includes FAA Pubs & PTS
08/22/05  Student Training Plans
08/11/05  Helicopter Resources added to Reading and Links
08/01/05 
Single Pilot IFR - tips for managing the flight
07/21/05  Precautionary Helicopter Landing
07/01/05  Pilot Store:  Credit card through Paypal added.
06/10/05  Personal Minimums Checklist - safety checklist for trip
06/01/05 
Making Safe Choices
05/25/05
  Southeast IFR Adventure, Piper Saratoga
05/15/05  Flying Discipline
04/26/05  Weather Resources:  Graphical & Textual Weather
04/15/05  Flight Profile Flying - how to improve safety flying
04/11/05  Anatomy of an Engine Failure
04/01/05  How to Get the Instrument Flight Plan You Want
03/11/05  FREE Aviation Safety Programs Updated
03/01/05  Addition to CRM Series:  Error Management  
02/17/05  ATC's Top 9 Pet Peeves, Part 2
02/01/05 
Aircraft Datasheet (download) - Know thy aircraft
01/20/05  Getting the Most from Your Ground School
01/01/05 
Information for Foreign Students

What's New... 2004

12/19/04  General Tips for Radio Communication
12/16/04  Updated: 
About Checkrides
12/01/04  Tips for Technical Presentations
11/22/04  Questions about Clearances
10/18/04  IFR Risk Management
10/01/04  NASA rules/form available on this website
09/28/04  List of Aviation Acronyms

09/19/04  IFR Clearance Shorthand
09/09/04  Crosswind Technique
08/20/04  Addition to CRM Series:  CRM Callouts
07/11/04  Characteristics of Successful Pilots
06/25/04  IFR Lesson Guides - from Instrument Training Handbook
06/01/04  About Checkrides - basics of checkrides
05/25/04  Caribbean/South American IFR Adventure
05/02/04  Things Your Flight Instructor Worries About
04/12/04  Multi-Engine Ground School Schedule
04/01/04  Using Flaps
03/21/04  Things Your Flight Instructor Wish You Knew
03/08/04  Collision Avoidance
02/19/04  Mexican IFR Adventure
02/11/04  178 Seconds to Live (Author Unknown)
02/01/04  After the IFR Rating
01/11/04  Approaches: Power-Performance Model
01/01/04 
Crashpad in Minneapolis




"Courage is the price that life extracts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not knows no release from little things ~ Knows not the livid loneliness of fear, or mountain heights, Where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings."
- Amelia Earhart (1897-1937)
        

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  Home | Login | Schedule | Pilot Store | 7-Day IFR | IFR Adventure | Trip Reports | Blog | Fun | Reviews | Weather | Reading | Links | Helicopter | Download | Bio
All content is Copyright 2002-2007 by Darren Smith. All rights reserved. Subject to change without notice. This website is not a substitute for competent flight instruction. There are no representations or warranties of any kind made pertaining to this service/information and any warranty, express or implied, is excluded and disclaimed including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. Under no circumstances or theories of liability, including without limitation the negligence of any party, contract, warranty or strict liability in tort, shall the website creator/author or any of its affiliated or related organizations be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages as a result of the use of, or the inability to use, any information provided through this service even if advised of the possibility of such damages. For more information about this website, including the privacy policy, see about this website.
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