On Centerline

Sam Tarrel, The Northwest Aeronaut

A show by aviators, for aviators. Join the discussion with real aviators as we explore the trials and tribulations of flight training from the student and flight instructor perspectives. Listen to stories from pilots in all different stages of their careers to hear the challenges they faced, and how they overcame those challenges.

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

66 episodes
Updated June 25

Support the show

Support this Podcast

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Episodes66

Newest first

Jun 21, 2025 · 36 min
Airworthiness for Commercial Pilots
Airworthiness can be a confusing and complex topic for any pilot, but it's especially important when you're the pilot in command of an aircraft for hire! Today we delve a little deeper into the intricacies of airworthiness and what you need to be familiar with to pass your commercial pilot check ride. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
May 31, 2025 · 36 min
IFR Scenario Based Training
Scenario Based Training has been really pushed to the forefront of how we teach and evaluate pilots in the past decade. Today we are going over some IFR scenarios straight from the ASA Oral Exam Guide that were chosen by YOU. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
May 24, 2025 · 17 min
Wet Vs. Dry Leases - Commercial pilot check ride
In today's episode, we delve into the world of aircraft leasing and explore the key differences between wet and dry leases, with a focus on how they pertain to commercial pilots. Whether you're preparing for your check ride, or already a working pilot, understanding these leasing options is crucial. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
May 17, 2025 · 12 min
Common Vs. Private Carriage
In this episode, we dive into the crucial differences between common carriage and private carriage as they pertain to commercial pilots. Understanding these distinctions is essential for your check ride preparation and overall flying career. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
May 10, 2025 · 46 min
Pass your Commercial Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 1 - Pilot Qualifications
We are continuing our ACS breakdown series and expanding it to your commercial oral exam! We start the commercial series today with Pilot Qualifications. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Apr 26, 2025 · 12 min
VDP vs. MAP
Today we are discussing exactly what a Visual Descent Point is and how it is different from the missed approach point. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Apr 19, 2025 · 21 min
5 Tips for STUDENT Pilots
Today we are discussing 5 tips that will make your initial pilot training more efficient, effective and will set you up for a long successful career! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Apr 12, 2025 · 19 min
5 Tips for Instrument Students
Today we are discussing 5 tips to make you a better instrument pilot and to make your instrument training easier and more effective! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Mar 15, 2025 · 16 min
Bad Regulations!
It's no secret that sometimes the FAA just gets things WRONG. Sometimes they just make things confusing. Either way, these errors and ambiguities lead to many pilots mis-interpreting certain rules and requiring lawyers to clarify the FAA's position and intentions through letters of interpretation. Today we discuss two such issues with some very prominent regulations. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Mar 1, 2025 · 47 min
Everything you wanted to know about HOLDS! (And more that you didn't.)
Holds can often be the most frustrating parts to students in instrument training. They have a certain complexity that tends to confuse and complicate when combined with all the other skills and items you need to learn in instrument training. However, the reality is they are much easier than most people initially realize, so today we are going to break down holds and holding entries from the technical side all the way to the practical side of things. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Feb 15, 2025 · 18 min
The Approaches Your CFI-I Never Taught You
Even though it's the most widely used approach in the professional flying world, the visual approach is largely overlooked in instrument training. In addition, the contact approach is so seldomly used at all, that most instructors fail to even mention it throughout a students' training. We talk about BOTH today! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Feb 8, 2025 · 39 min
How to fly on Instruments!
With everything there is to learn in instrument flight training, one of the most difficult things can be learning how to simply control the aircraft! Today we discuss instrument attitude flying and the techniques and methods such as control performance and primary and support that can be utilized to help make control of the aircraft in the instrument environment just as easy as it is in the visual environment! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Jan 4, 2025 · 27 min
Is Your CFI Failing You?
There are many ways I see subpar service and quality of training from CFIs, but today we are talking about the abuse I constantly see in one specific area of the experience requirements for the commercial pilot certificate. We will talk about the short-comings that are all too common with these training activities as well as the solutions I have personally developed for my own students. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Dec 28, 2024 · 49 min
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 6 - ATC Clearances
Talking with ATC as a student pilot is often one of the most challenging things people face in flight training. Unfortunately it tends to just get more complicated as you get into instrument training, but there are a few key things every pilot can do to make this task a lot easier. Join us today as we discuss ATC clearances and communications. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Dec 14, 2024 · 37 min
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 5 - Systems PART 2
Today we are continuing with systems related to IFR flight. In today's episode we specifically discuss navigation systems, as well as airworthiness for IFR flight. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Dec 7, 2024 · 14 min
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 4 - Systems
Today we are diving into systems related to IFR flight. In today's episode we specifically discuss Anti-icing and De-icing systems, as well as Autopilot. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Nov 30, 2024 · 57 min
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 3 - Cross-Country Planning
I will start off by saying there is SO MUCH to go over in this portion of the Instrument ACS that I can't possibly fit it all into this one podcast episode. So if there is anything specific YOU want me to cover in a future podcast, please leave a comment and let me know what you want to hear more about! But until then, we continue with our overview of the ACS breakdown with IFR cross country flight planning! Dmitry's Video: https://youtu.be/k8WY1WDudZE?si=lBSRGufeCeR1cxbK Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Nov 23, 2024 · 50 min
Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 2 - Weather
If there is one thing that really separates and instrument pilot from a VFR-only pilot, it's probably their ability to read and decipher the weather! It's often said that a pilot needs to be just as much a weatherman as they are a pilot and that is never truer than when flying IFR. Today we breakdown the things that DPEs will be looking for to gauge your understanding of and risk management in relation to WEATHER! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Nov 16, 2024 · 15 min
IMSAFE. . . and how to USE it!
IMSAFE is one of the first acronyms pilots are taught, but it often doesn't get the attention it really deserves! It's important to understand the real-life stressors and ailments we all deal with as individuals, rather than getting caught up in generalizations or hypotheticals. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte
Nov 9, 2024 · 13 min
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. . . EDUCATE?
When it comes to the priorities in the cockpit, we often use the little mnemonic "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate", but as CFIs there is a forth one that gets added into the mix and that is EDUCATE. Today we talk about educating and where in the order of priorities it should fall. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Receive early access to all episodes and support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182804/support Youtube: www.youtube.com/northwestaeronaut Instagram: @northwest_aeronaut TikTok: nw_aeronaut Website: www.northwestaeronautics.com Music - Epidemic Sound: Go Higher - FLYIN Vegas - Onda Norte

On Centerline

Support the show

Airworthiness for Commercial Pilots

IFR Scenario Based Training

Wet Vs. Dry Leases - Commercial pilot check ride

Common Vs. Private Carriage

Pass your Commercial Pilot Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 1 - Pilot Qualifications

VDP vs. MAP

5 Tips for STUDENT Pilots

5 Tips for Instrument Students

Bad Regulations!

Everything you wanted to know about HOLDS! (And more that you didn't.)

The Approaches Your CFI-I Never Taught You

How to fly on Instruments!

Is Your CFI Failing You?

Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 6 - ATC Clearances

Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 5 - Systems PART 2

Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 4 - Systems

Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 3 - Cross-Country Planning

Pass your IFR Oral Exam - ACS Breakdown Part 2 - Weather

IMSAFE. . . and how to USE it!

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. . . EDUCATE?