Boldmethod

09/20/2026

1) Victor Airways (Low Altitude)
IFR aeronautical charts depict VOR airways (airways based on VOR or VORTAC NAVAIDs) in black, identified by a "V" (Victor) followed by the route number (e.g., V12).

Here are 10 different types of routes on enroute charts...

09/19/2026

If you're in a seat that has flight controls, you should consider yourself a crewmember. Here's how you should prepare yourself with defensive positioning, and how you should pre-brief the flight with other pilots...

If you're in a seat that has flight controls, you should consider yourself a crewmember.

09/19/2026

Like many aerodynamic concepts in flight, maneuvering speed can be a confusing topic to learn and to teach. But it doesn't have to be. In this article, we'll focus on the relationship between maneuvering speed and your aircraft's weight.

Contrary to popular belief, you can't just throw your stick and rudders back and forth below Va and expect to not bend metal.

09/19/2026

1) A private pilot without an instrument rating can log PIC time during instrument flight training with a CFII onboard, even while on an IFR flight plan or in IMC.
To act as PIC, you must meet all certification and recent currency requirements for that flight. But to log PIC time, you'll only need to be the sole operator of the controls in an airplane you're rated to fly (or if you fall under some of the other categories listed in 61.51(e).

The FARs get a little confusing at times, but here are 6 regs that you won't wonder about ever again.

09/19/2026

An obstacle departure procedure (ODP) is an instrument procedure you can fly to guarantee obstacle clearance when you're departing from an airport.

There are two types of ODPs: textual, and graphical, and we'll cover both types in this article.

Unlike a Standard Instrument Departure (SID), which optimizes traffic flow and provides obstacle clearance, an ODP is only designed to provide obstacle clearance.

An obstacle departure procedure (ODP) is an instrument procedure you can fly to guarantee obstacle clearance when you're departing from an airport.

09/19/2026

7 Visual Illusions To Be Prepared For On Your Next Flight

1) Runway Width
If you normally train at an airport with a 100-200' wide runway, flying into an airport with a 50' wide runway will cause your sight picture to look a lot different. The normal reaction to this illusion is flying a lower approach on a narrow runway, because it looks like you're above glide path. And if you go too low, you can get dangerously close to obstacles.

Read more here: https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2026/09/7-visual-illusions-that-can-quickly-cause-problems/

09/19/2026

REIL vs RAIL. What's the difference?

09/19/2026

You just climbed through an overcast layer on an IFR cross-country and broke out into smooth, clear air.

Instead of staying at your assigned IFR altitude, you want to climb another 500 feet to stay comfortably above the clouds. That's where a VFR-on-top clearance can help.

Here's how to use it:

You just climbed through an overcast layer on an IFR cross-country and broke out into smooth, clear air.

09/19/2026

While the two acronyms are often used interchangeably, there's a lot more to RNAV than just GPS.

09/18/2026

Here are the most common ways you'll join final on an instrument approach.