Air Russia

Category: Flight Training

  • The Demands of Backcountry Flying: High Mountain Passes and Short Strips

    Backcountry flying has seen an explosion of interest across the aviation community. Pilots are equipping rugged STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) airframes with oversized tundra tires to venture deep into wilderness territory.

    However, operating off unimproved gravel bars and high-density-altitude canyon strips requires zero margin for complacency. Density altitude reduces thrust while increasing true airspeed, extending landing rolls unexpectedly. Master pilots treat every canyon approach as a deliberate, committed calculation.

  • Mastering the Crosswind: Flight Clinic Techniques for Demanding Runways

    A gusty crosswind landing remains one of the most reliable tests of stick-and-rudder proficiency. In this installment of the Aviator Magazine Flight Clinic, senior flight instructors examine the mechanics and psychology of short-final control inputs.

    Whether you prefer flying the crab angle down to the flare or stabilizing in a slip along final, rudder authority must align the longitudinal axis with the centerline while ailerons counteract lateral drift. Knowing your personal minimums and never hesitating to execute an immediate go-around defines true mastery.