Free Resources for Pilots

In addition to our signature Mastery series, PilotWorkshops also produces a range of free resources for pilots, from quick tips to in-depth webinars. All are produced by our team of expert instructors and designed to make you a safer, more confident pilot. Below we’ve selected some of our most popular tips, articles, and videos.

Pilot's Tip of the Week

Our signature weekly email brings you a quick, practical tip every Wednesday. Here are five of the most popular tips from 2025.

Slip Left or Right?

When slipping to lose altitude on short final, which is safer: slipping left or right?

Get the Answer

Three Different Mag Checks

What often-overlooked magneto checks are needed to completely verify the mags are working properly?

Get the Answer

Better Than an ELT?

What’s one valuable piece of survival gear you should always carry on you?

Get the Answer

Unexpected and Deadly

Is there a potentially deadly issue around the airplane that’s rarely addressed in flight training?

Get the Answer

Best Glide Simplified

What’s a foolproof way to get best glide speed without heads-down time or memorization?

Get the Answer

Subscribe to the Tip of the Week for more

Practical IFR

This series is a cross between a blog and an in-depth article, delving into a specific IFR topic each time from a pilot’s perspective and written by PilotWorkshops’ own Jeff Van West. Relaunched this year, here are three favorites from Jeff.

Don’t Disable. Revert!

What should you do when the autopilot fails to capture the glideslope or turns right when you expected left? You should disengage the autopilot and hand-fly, right? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Read the Article

Our Faith in NEXRAD

Now, I feel naked without in-cockpit weather, and will ask for deviations around denser precip just to keep from spilling my coffee. But such confidence can get a harsh reality check now and then. Let me share a story.

Read the Article

Cleared to Intercept?

A common IFR dilemma. You’re on a base-leg vector to the localizer or inbound course. A kickin’ tailwind has you screaming over the ground. The needle comes alive, and you know you need to start the turn now or you’ll overshoot. However, ATC seems to have forgotten you. Do you start the turn?

Read the Article

Subscribe to IFR Focus for more

Webinars

PilotWorkshops webinars, hosted by Ryan Koch, bring together some of aviation’s most knowledgeable experts to explore a topic in detail. Watch the video recordings below for our three most recent webinars.

IFR Procedures

Practical tips for safer instrument flying, covering Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA), vectors to final, and advisory +V glideslope.

Watch the Webinar

Ask ATC

Go behind the scenes with three air traffic controllers and get answers to the questions pilots ask most.

Watch the Webinar

GA Pilots’ Legal Playbook

Learn how to handle ramp checks, cost-sharing, and FAA investigations.

Watch the Webinar

Airplane Engine Operations

Pilot-proven techniques to get more out of your engine.

Watch the Webinar

Subscribe to the PilotWorkshops YouTube channel for more

NEW: What’s Wrong?

Our newest series is a new twist on aviation challenge quizzes. “What’s Wrong?” works just like a real flight: You’re in an airplane, flying along and there are clues to a potential problem right there in front of you—but it’s still on you to notice them and take action before it’s too late.

IFR Approach into Nashua – Too High, Too Fast, and…?

You’re established on the approach, but something feels a little off. Can you spot what the problem is?

Can you find what’s wrong?

Cessna 172 G1000 – Cross-Country Mystery

You recenter the CDI with a Direct-To, turn on course, and level off at 6,500 feet. Can you identify the problem?

Can you find what’s wrong?