Flight School Archives

Captain Judy’s Corner: Aeromedical & Hypoxia

Captain Judy Rice and Navigator Fred by their Cirrus SR22T during the National Tour “Are my lips blue…?” Hypoxia aeromedical awareness matters. The Cirrus SR22T effortlessly reached the altitude of 8,500 MSL. The turbocharged airplane had a built-in oxygen system for higher altitudes. The maximum altitudes along our 3-month national tour would not exceed 10,000 MSL. It seemed unlikely we would be using the Cirrus oxygen system according to oxygen requirements when flying 12,500 MSL for over 30 minutes as stated in FAR 91.211. We had reached our crossing altitude before approaching the Arizona mountain ridges. I focused on clearing the ridges with ample altitude if encountering turbulence. We were safely on the leeward side of the ridge when I … Read more

Captain Judy’s Corner: Aeromedical & Motion Sickness

“I alerted my aerobatic instructor…” My earliest memory of riding in a car was leaning out the window for fresh air and positioning my head carefully into a brown paper bag while my stomach was churning. My parents reassured that eventually I would outgrow these queasy moments. At a very young age, I learned to avoid looking down, such as looking at picture books, if I were inside a moving vehicle. I also always had water, sat next to a window, and if all of these precautions did not work, then the brown paper bag was nearby. Can flying a plane cause motion sickness? My first experiences as a student pilot produced similar airsick results. I would do my best … Read more

Captain Judy’s Corner: Pilot Technology and Problem-Solving

Madrid, Spain: Captain Judy Rice with Madrid students “Our fuel stop was forecasting ceilings (clouds) at the lowest landing minimums and a slow moving line of thunderstorms…” Pilots rely on technology and problem-solving skills. My crew met me in the lobby for a quick cup of coffee before checking weather and then pre-flighting the Citation. We had our flight plan on file from our departure: Regina, Canada (CYQR) to Churchill, Canada (CYYQ) for a fuel stop, and then to Iqaluit, Canada (CYFB). This would be our final destination on our second night of this world flight voyage. Our fuel stop was forecasting ceilings (clouds) at the lowest landing minimums. There was a slow-moving line of thunderstorms while our destination was … Read more

IACRA Made Simple: How It Helps Streamline FAA Applications

What is IACRA, and why is it important to pilots? IACRA stands for: Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in in charge of pilot license applications and oversees the process. This is to make sure pilots meet all requirements. It is a web-based system where pilots can apply, monitor, and obtain their certifications and ratings. Pilot training is more than flying. Pilots also have to learn the rules, regulations, and procedures that govern flight and pilot credentials. How does IACRA work? IACRA FAA offers a progression of pilot certificates or licenses. They begin with the student pilot and including subsequent licenses and ratings. For example, they include private pilot license and commercial pilot license. Each … Read more

International Flight and Mechanic Students Can Earn College Degrees

International Flight Student College Transfer

Our collaboration with several colleges and universities allows allows your flight training hours to transfer as college credit. International students want to know whether this program is available to them. The answer is “yes,” which brings us to the “how” and “why” of it. Why would international flight students want to earn a college degree in the U.S.? Although a college degree is not required by many airlines, some flight students choose to earn a college degree because it can help boost opportunities and salary. There are many personal reasons for choosing to earn a degree. One reason foreign flight students choose to earn a college degree is the requirement of a Class 1 medical certificate by the FAA. Many … Read more

Shared Goals, Shared Knowledge, and Mutual Respect

“Citation N178SF, do you need assistance?” The Sakhalinsk air traffic controller gave us a straight-out departure on Runway 19. I was flying left seat, and my first officer, Edwin, was busy with communications. I had almost thawed from the biting Russian cold. The Citation climbed effortlessly at 3,000 feet per minute. As we climbed through solid gray clouds, the advanced avionics technology displayed on our glass cockpit went blank! Both displays were totally dark, leaving us with no instruments or navigation aids. We were in the ‘soup,’ surrounded by clouds, and with total instrument failure. I looked at the back-up steam gauges. Edwin and I looked at each other for a moment in disbelief. Then he alerted air traffic controllers of … Read more

Epic Spotlight on Our Indian Flight Students

Saluting Epic Students from India Epic Flight Academy has trained thousands of pilots from around the world. This month, we’d like to feature some of our success stories from students who came all the way from India to train at Epic. Our Indian Pilot Program has proven successful for hundreds of Indian students. With 50,000 pilots needed in India by 2020, this is the perfect time to pursue a career in aviation. If you live in India and are looking for the right flight training program for you, read on. These success stories are inspiring, and you can contact us with questions. The aviation industry in India has never before offered such career opportunities. Mayank Goyal Meet Mayank Goyal who … Read more

Aviation Movies: Can Watching Films Help You Learn to Fly?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could sit down and watch a long list of entertaining aviation movies starring your favorite actors, and, as a bonus, you would learn how to fly? Well, we can’t say that will happen, but if you’re a flight student who is learning English, you just might want to check out this list of aviation movies. Although the movies were not made to teach you how to fly, they can definitely help you improve your English listening and comprehension skills, especially if you watch the film in English with English captions. (That way, you can hear a word and see it on the screen, which can be a great help in building your English comprehension.) … Read more

The Essentials of Aviation Safety: What Every Pilot Should Know

Aviation safety is the most important topic in pilot training. In 2019, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that 925.5 million passengers flew on U.S. flights. Globally, 4.5 billion passengers took to the skies in 2019. In terms of aircraft, the FAA handled more than 16 million flights in 2019, more than 44,000 each day. These statistics represent a lot of happy landings in an industry whose primary focus is safety. Flight training is no different. Safety remains the number one priority for flight schools, and Epic Flight Academy is proud to be at the forefront with its “Safety First” policies, procedures, equipment, and maintenance. Pilots who train at Epic learn on Day One that the emphasis of all flight … Read more

Tuition Reimbursement to Address Pilot Shortage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 31, 2017 Contact for more information Return to Media Addressing Pilot Shortage Through Innovative Collaborations:Education and Career without Student Loan Debt New Smyrna Beach, FL – While airline professionals and legislators continue the debate on how to resolve the growing pilot shortage, Epic Flight Academy and Ameriflight have proactively established commercial pilot career pathways. The Professional Pilot Pathway Program, launched by Epic in 2015, now includes $60,000 tuition-reimbursement through its partnership with Ameriflight. This means student pilots entering the program with no previous aviation experience have the opportunity to qualify to work as a captain of a turbine aircraft in just 2.5 years. At the end of 5.5 years, these pilots could have the qualifications to … Read more