Training Updates

Helicopter Training  When it comes to helicopter training, safety and proficiency are not just goals; they are necessities. Whether you’re a seasoned aviator or just beginning to spread your rotor blades, recurrent training and checkrides

Helicopter Training  Flying a helicopter is exhilarating—but it’s also one of the most mentally and physically demanding forms of piloting. Whether you’re dreaming of flying for fun, firefighting, EMS, or VIP transport, becoming a helicopter

Part 135 Helicopter Operations  When most people think of Part 135 operations, they imagine business jets and air taxis, but helicopters are a critical, highly specialized corner of the Part 135 operations. From bustling cities

Online Pilot Training  For pilots and aviation companies, staying current with training requirements is a critical part of ensuring operational safety, maintaining compliance, and boosting overall performance. With the ongoing advancements in technology, online pilot

Part 135 Company Application Process  Becoming a Part 135 operator is a rigorous process that requires meeting strict FAA regulations for air charter and commuter operations. Whether you plan to operate a single-pilot charter or

Part 91 and Part 135 Background  The Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) outline different requirements for general aviation (Part 91) and commercial charter operations (Part 135). One of the key distinctions between Part 91 and 135

Part 91 and Part 135 Operations  With Part 91 and Part 135 private air travel comes freedom, flexibility, and a whole new level of convenience. But here’s something most passengers don’t realize: Not every “private”

Part 91 and Part 135 Background  Professional pilots who fly for a living have different rules and regulations than pilots who fly for fun and recreation. The differences between Part 91 and 135 operations are

Online Pilot Training  The aviation industry has always demanded precision, adaptability, and an ongoing commitment to professional development from its pilots and operators. As technology continues to advance, online pilot training has emerged as a

What Exactly are Part 91 and Part 135? To understand all the parts and pieces of the Federal Aviation Regulations, it may help to get an overall picture of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),

FAA Wants to Change Air Traffic Controller Rest Requirements  Pilot fatigue is a topic with which the aviation industry is familiar. But what about air traffic controller fatigue? The FAA is planning to revise the

Winglets on Aircraft  Winglets are nearly vertical airfoil at an airplane’s wingtip that reduces drag by inhibiting turbulence. They also call it a small wing. Both descriptions are correct and explain why winglets are becoming

CTS has completed a TSA TFSSP Training update to better align our content with the training guidance in the TFSSP and provide updates through Change 15 of the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program.   About our TSA

Pilot training courses should warn about automation dependency  Do you remember the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in 2013 that crashed into a seawall while trying to land at the San Francisco airport? That accident scared

Pilot training without checklists can have deadly consequences  This year, I have been having trouble scheduling recurrent pilot training. Most recently the scheduler gave me a date that was 10 months past my grace month.

FAA letters of authorization process optimized  The first thing I would say to someone who wants to know about the difference between Part 91 and Part 135 flying is “paperwork.” Loads and loads of paperwork.

Pilot Training for Engine-Out  The advancements in helicopter safety technology, particularly the development of the Engine Backup System (EBS) by Airbus Helicopters, mark a significant leap forward in ensuring the safety of pilots and passengers

SMS aviation program development gets a hand for helicopter operators  Quick! How do you start an SMS aviation program for your helicopter operation? I’m guessing most operators would need a little help developing a Safety

New VR Rotor Wing Pilot Training   Revolutionizing pilot training, Loft Dynamics has introduced a cutting-edge helicopter virtual reality (VR) simulator in Santa Monica, CA. This innovative technology is set to transform the way pilots train

United Offers Pilot Training for Military Pilots to Transition to Civilian Flying  Turbine engines, whether flying vertically or horizontally, are still turbine engines. That’s why United is offering a pilot training pathway for military personnel

Why Teaching Common Sense During Pilot Training Matters  Experience in professional pilot training primarily focuses on procedures, limitations, emergencies, and aircraft systems for safety purposes. However, there is a shocking example of airmanship negligence that

Upgrade Your Training with Online Aviation Training  As a professional pilot, it’s crucial to stay at the top of your game. The aviation industry is constantly changing, with new technologies and regulations requiring pilots to

Following pilot training lessons may have avoided a close call during flight  “Train like you fly and fly like you train.” By mimicking real-life scenarios in pilot training, pilots are better prepared to handle any

Pilot training for robots  Prepare for the arrival of AI technology in commercial aviation sooner than you might expect. Introducing Pibot, a robotic pilot capable of mastering flight training simply by reading a standard flight

Online Aviation Training and You  Being a professional pilot is a fulfilling career that demands constant growth and continuing education to maintain the high standards of the aviation industry. Whether it’s to learn new skills,

Crew Resource Management During Difficult Situations The recently released final report on the fatal 2021 crash of a Bombardier Challenger 605 paints a disheartening picture. Lack of crew resource management (CRM), ill-advised decisions by the

Pilot Training for Distractions in the Cockpit  The issue of distracted driving receives significant attention, with growing concern over accidents caused by drivers who are not paying attention. As the automation of airplanes continues to

Enhancements to En Route IFR Charts for Foreign Aviation Airspace  Before the introduction of electronic flight bags and apps into the cockpit, pilots faced the challenge of determining their aviation airspace without the assistance of

Specialized Pilot Training for new King Air Fire Mapping Technology  Forest fires terrify me. I used to take comfort in the fact that they were just “nature at work,” getting rid of the old and

CTS is pleased to introduce our new Walking Working Surfaces subject. This new subject aligns our content with OSHA’s final rule updating the Walking Working Surfaces and Fall Protection standards and replaces our existing Maintenance

Pilot training is helpful, but sometimes a safety device is necessary  Remember in pilot training when your instructor would slap a suction cup on those critical flight instruments, and you would struggle to maintain basic

Pilot training for veterans for aviation careers  As a young airline pilot climbing my way up the seniority list, I grew accustomed to the many threats of furloughs, mergers, and system-wide layoffs. It was just

Aviation training may be within reach thanks to scholarships  I always thought that aviation training courses were all about pilot training and flying planes, but it turns out that there’s much more to it than

Fundamentals of Instruction  We are thrilled to introduce Fundamentals of Instruction as the newest subject added to CTS’s courses. This course introduces check airmen and flight instructors to learning styles and teaching techniques and how

We are pleased to announce that we have released a new training subject: Minimum Equipment List (MEL).   Our MEL subject has been developed to satisfy training requirements listed in the 8900 and those recommended by

Initial pilot training is introduced to new students through virtual reality  I almost attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) when I decided to be a professional pilot. It has an excellent reputation, and who could

Classes of Fire and Portable Fire Extinguishers Updates We are pleased to announce an update to our Classes of Fire and Portable Fire Extinguishers basic indoc subject as well as a new Portable Fire Extinguishers

FAA regulations are on the list of topics for a new helicopter safety team  The global helicopter industry is working to step up its game. Having been a part of the EMS rotor wing community

File your next flight plan based on FBOs that offer SAF  It feels like sustainability is everywhere these days, and I’m happy that aviation is getting in on the game. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) seems

Pilot training for after an emergency can save lives too During my years as a pilot, I remember waking up several times in the middle of the night to a message that filled my heart

Pilot training may be the reason people walk away from aviation crashes  Do you remember that runaway train movie “Unstoppable”? A horse trailer gets stuck on a railroad track, and though they can get the

Winter Operations Subject Updates to Cold Temperature Airports  Part of our service at CTS is updating our current subject material when updates arise. To that end, we have updated our rotor wing and fixed wing

Pilot training in high school doesn’t need to be an anomaly  When I was in high school, I stood out like a sore thumb. I’m sure that I was the only one in my high

Ideal Safety Management Systems meet the needs of the company  Helicopter safety has been a topic since helicopters were invented. Probably the most visible safety issues have been with air ambulance operators because of their

Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Overview is the newest subject added to CTS’s arsenal of aviation subjects. This course is intended to provide users an overview of ASAP, the FAA’s voluntary reporting procedures

Join us at NBAA-BACE in Vegas  CTS is looking forward to participating in this year’s NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), October 12 – 14 in Las Vegas. This is our first expo since early 2020 and we are

CTS has added a new training program, Performance-based Communication and Surveillance (PBCS). This course is intended to provide students with an overview of the PBCS concept, with emphasis on the use of CPDLC and ADS-B

Insider Threat Awareness  We have expanded our TSA Twelve-Five Security Program training to include training on Insider Threat Awareness in order to comply with the most recent revision of the TFSSP.   Insider incidents can result in loss of

Flight plan cost surprises are not what we want when landing I suppose it could be called a form of sticker shock. You file your flight plan, have an uneventful flight, land at an unknown

New TSA training is now available! We have expanded our TSA offerings to include training on the TSA DCA Access Program (DASSP). Our new TSA DCA Access Program (DASSP) Training subject provides essential training for

The FAA is looking at another pilot shortage and the need for more pilot training and maintenance training is now 2020 was a rough year for the aviation industry. Airline after airline joined the growing

New pilot training tips  are intended to help with runway excursion accidents Runway excursions are now the most frequent type of runway accident for both large and small aircraft. It is no surprise that there

Pilot training is more than reviewing what you already know Whenever I start completing my recurrent ground school I try to have a healthy attitude about the days ahead. Pilot training is never something that

Helicopter pilot training will soon give pilots the extra edge to help ensure safer flights. Pilot training used to feel like a trap when I was young and naive. The instructors would pre-program various scenarios

FAA regulations do not cover all the bases, the NTSB wants to add more recording devices to aircraft If the FAA Regulations had required that all commercial helicopters had data and image recorders onboard, then

Pilot training extensions from the FAA don’t necessarily mean certificate expiration forgiveness from the insurance company As COVID-19 continues to spread through the United States causing business to close, and people stay away from each

Pilot training so important the FAA offers free courses In 2019 the FAA made upset and full stall recovery simulator training became a requirement for US air carrier pilots. Based on experience, I am a

Pilot training doesn’t cover everything, but should the RWSL be included? The FAA’s Runway Status Lights System (RWSL) is now operational at 20 major U.S. airports and I think it should be included in pilot

Pilot training covers a lot that will keep both your flight and your pride intact A couple of weeks ago, I began to taxi toward the active runway and quickly noticed that the steering tiller

Aviation flight planning is a bit easier with Foreflight’s traffic alert option Did you know that Foreflight offers a traffic display that complements the traffic you see on your instrument panel? The Foreflight ADS-B traffic

Talking to control may not mean clearance to enter Class C airspace Previously I confessed that I answered an online quiz question about Class B airspace incorrectly. Might as well keep the ball rolling and

Don’t let Class B Airspace rules and requirements sneak up on you Well, this is embarrassing. I just took one of those quizzes on Facebook – a simple quiz about airspace and I failed. Yup.

CFIT update is underway In addition to creating new subjects to meet our customer’s needs, the CTS production team is updating our existing material, starting with CFIT. We at CTS believe CFIT avoidance is important,

Flight planning apps can help keep flights safe Continuing from my last post, here are numbers 7 through 12 of flight planning apps designed to make flight planning, and life, easier and safer for pilots.

International Operations options are increasing, but this means less work for you We’ve read the notes, listened to the calls, and even gone through the subject ourselves; we’re happy to announce that our International Operations

Performance Based Navigation tutorial focuses on safety and efficiency in airspace We are looking forward to sharing with CTS users our new Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) course. PBN is part of the initiative to modernize and

RVSM and ADS-B updates – now with more incentive Tick tock, tick tock… The deadline is quickly approaching for ADS-B installation, but aircraft owners may get a pleasant surprise when it comes to RVSM authorization

Note the value of RVSM airspace Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) reduces the required separation between aircraft from a 2000 ft minimum to a 1000 ft minimum at flight levels between 290 and 410. Its

We know there are other online training sources you can use, so why choose us? Well, we’re glad you asked…here’s 10 reasons! 1. Not your traditional training. The aviation industry (and technology) is changing, and

How company operation manuals become lessons Have you ever wondered what happens when you send us a company specific operations manual for online pilot training lesson writing? It all starts with an email or a

Welcome to CTS: New RVSM Course! We’re celebrating an addition to the CTS catalog – our new RVSM course is now up and flying! With respect for our previous RVSM course, it was behind the

Change isn’t always a bad thing, and when it comes to training course updates (and between the couch cushions), CTS believes this to be true. We’re currently in the process of updating our RVSM course,

Imagine pilots, technical writers, and production artists with thread and thimbles. Like a tailor working on a dress or tuxedo CTS can create a subject to fit our customer’s unique needs – which we do…often!

Learning Checkpoints, Case Studies, and User-Guided Tutorials The CTS team of developers has been hard at work creating ways to add more user engagement to the tutorial experience and we’re excited to introduce three new

Time’s up! The two year transition period is over. January 1, 2019 was the end of the “phase-in” for the new marks and labels for lithium ion batteries. . Throw your old lithium ion battery

The Pilot’s View Let’s say you’re a pilot who works for an amazing company that has decided to transition to world class online pilot training. Maybe you’re not so sure about it…how it works, what

Enrolling in online pilot training in a digital world OK. You’ve made the decision to modernize your aviation training department to join the e-learning world. What now? Well, just like in the old days when

So you’re thinking about upgrading your training department and converting to computer-based….Let’s talk benefits! In my experience as both the student and the instructor, here are the top 6 benefits I’ve found for converting to

As a retired line pilot, Chief Pilot, and Check Airman I’ve witnessed and presented training in varying ways, from old schoolhouse training to online, we’ve tried them all. This is part 1 of a blog

H135 Training for Multiple Models CTS is adding a new course on the Airbus H135 (EC-135) models T3/P3 and T3H/P3H to our extensive course library. It features tutorials covering the following systems: Electrical, Fuel, Hydraulic,

CTS now offers an Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) course featuring the following tutorial: Introduction to EFBs, EFB Operation, and Abnormal and Emergency Procedures. The tutorial contains interactive slides and learning checkpoints to keep the user

A Definition and Part 135 / IS-BAO Training Requirement Crew Resource Management, more commonly referred to as CRM, is the study and application of respectful, open communication. It oftentimes examines the different barriers that crewmembers

Creating online aviation courses is what we do. Let us create your next in-house training, hassle-free. All operations have different requirements and specific training needs. While previously it may have been necessary for you to

Customizable online aviation training options users and admins love! At CTS, we understand every operation has different training goals and requirements, so we developed training courses with a modular-based learning system that can be entirely

CTS is making changes to our online aviation training offerings to create a more engaging, user-centered experience. New and exciting things are happening at CTS as we strive to provide the most technologically advanced, engaging

Is your Part 135 operation’s training admin starting to look like the image above? Then CTS is just the thing you need to drown out the decision-making blues! Not a Part 135 operator? No problem!

H130 training with the end-user in mind. CTS is adding the Airbus H130 (EC-130T2) recurrent helicopter training subject to our extensive course library. The H130 features tutorials covering the electrical, fuel, and hydraulic systems, along

Is your training department drowning in papers, lesson planning, grading, and stress over training program approval? Well, CTS has the solution for you. With over 35 years of experience, CTS, the leader and originator of

Updated PRM-SOIA and LAHSO courses: the addition your training department has been looking for. In keeping up with technology and updates to regulatory source material, CTS guarantees accuracy along with imagery excellence. Now CTS is

More benefits than just to complete a requirement. We all know whether you are a Will or Will-Not Carry Operation, you must complete HAZMAT training every 24 months. I’m also sure we’ve all asked the

Specially designed with Part 135 operations in mind. Are you looking for hassle-free, on-the-go ground training for your pilots? Are you tired of grading exams and creating testing for your operation? Let CTS take some

Attention all Part 135 Operators: As we continually strive to provide excellent online aviation training, we at CTS want to keep you informed on the many training options available through our programs. Today, we are

Extreme Makeover: CTS Edition CTS is launching a completely updated GPS training subject. The many changes included in this across-the-board revamp ranges from graphics to narration to updating material to follow the new FAA NextGen

TSA 12.5 SSP Now Available! Our revamped Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Twelve-five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) training is now available. Our new subject aligns with the recently revised TFSSP training requirements. CTS has expanded our