I Learned About Flying From That

Flying Magazine
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  • Aviation
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Tune in for the rest of the story—with exclusive interviews with pilots who have shared their emergencies, crises, and mistakes over 950-plus installments of Flying's iconic series, "I Learned About Flying From That." Host Carl Valeri relates the tale as told by the author, then catches up with that pilot to ask the questions we know have been on your mind.

  1. 1d ago

    139. When the Magenta Line Disappears

    What happens when your avionics panel suddenly doesn’t believe your destination exists In Episode 139 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with flight instructor and CSIP TJ Shembekar to discuss an unforgettable flight heading north toward Churchill, Canada. While descending through solid IMC into Winnipeg to clear customs, TJ encountered an unexpected crisis: although his iPad and ForeFlight subscriptions were fully current, the aircraft’s onboard Garmin database had not been updated for Canadian airspace Without warning, the magenta line vanished. The GPS didn’t recognize Winnipeg Airport, forcing TJ to fall back on skills many modern glass-cockpit pilots rarely practice: tuning raw-data VORs, centering green needles, and hand-flying an ILS approach down to minimums. To make matters worse, as they neared the runway, the panel triggered a startling alert—"TERRAIN! PULL UP!"—because the system believed the aircraft was descending into open terrain rather than an active runway In this episode, TJ unpacks: The critical difference between having current charts on an EFB and maintaining current aircraft panel databases. Overcoming automation dependency and managing the cognitive friction of switching back to conventional navigation under pressure. Nuances of Garmin avionics, including CDI course selection, synthetic vision terrain alerts, and advisory glidepaths (+V). Why every instrument pilot should incorporate raw-data, green-needle tracking and non-precision VOR work into recurrent training and IPCs. Sponsored by AVEMCO Insurance. Have an aviation story or lesson of your own to share? Contact Carl at ILAFFT@FlyingMag.com.

  2. Oct 14

    138. Vacuum Down, Backup On

    In Episode 138 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri is joined by flight instructor Gary Palmer to share a harrowing story of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flying. While en route with his wife as a passenger, Gary experienced a vacuum system failure in solid cloud cover. As his primary attitude indicator failed and spatial disorientation set in, Gary had to transition to backup equipment, rely on his training, and communicate directly with Air Traffic Control (ATC) to safely navigate out of a life-threatening situation. This episode breaks down crucial lessons on instrument scan, emergency decision-making, passenger safety, and knowing when to ask ATC for help.

  3. Sep 30

    137. Electrical Failure Above the Clouds

    In this episode, host Carl Valeri is joined by Eric Crump, Vice President of the Aerospace Center for Excellence, as he recounts a critical situation during a commercial pilot training flight. While flying at night in a Cessna 172RG high above a cloud deck, Eric and his crew smell electrical smoke in the cockpit. With no visible horizon and freezing temperatures threatening rapid ice accumulation in the cloud layer, they are forced to shut down the master switch, leaving them completely without electrical power or navigation equipment Faced with a total electrical failure, degraded weather conditions below, and a thick icing environment during descent, Eric shares the crucial decision-making process, teamwork, and flight instructor instincts that allowed them to manage multiple compounding emergencies and land safely.

  4. Sep 17

    136. Engine Failure in the Pattern

    When an explosive engine failure at 900 feet AGL completely covers the windscreen in oil and cuts all electrical power, routine checkride prep suddenly becomes a low-altitude emergency. Flight instructor Mike Pavlik and student pilot Nicolas Kirchner join host Carl Valeri to recount their harrowing Piper PA-28 flight out of Lakeland, Florida. They break down the split-second decisions required to manage a violent mechanical failure, lost communications, cockpit smoke, and pattern traffic—delivering vital lessons on airmanship, resource management, and keeping your cool when everything goes wrong without warning.

    136. Engine Failure in the Pattern

  5. Aug 26

    135. Should We Cross?

    In this episode of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri is joined by Boeing 777 pilot and aviation attorney Chris Pezalla to recount a challenging flight during the COVID era. After diverting to a Central Florida airport to wait out a storm, Chris faced an unexpected runway incursion while taxiing for departure in wet weather with obscured airport markings. Chris shares how communicating with Air Traffic Control restored safety, how he handled a follow-up inquiry from the FSDO, and why filing an Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS/NASA) report is crucial for every pilot. Sponsored by Avemco Insurance.

  6. Aug 12

    134. Right Airplane, Wrong Airport

    What happens when a well-intentioned Flight Instructor lets a rusty student "dig a hole" during a cross-country flight? In this episode, host Carl Valeri is joined by flight instructor, mechanic, and aviation writer Jamie Beckett, who recounts a humbling 1992 New England flight where inadequate planning, misplaced confidence, and misidentified landmarks led to a surprise landing on a U.S. Army helicopter field. Join Carl and Jamie as they break down the critical lessons learned about pre-flight briefing, overcoming complacency, and why owned mistakes make everyone a safer pilot.

  7. Jul 22

    133. When the Elevator Freezes

    In Episode 133 of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri welcomes back airline pilot and aviation attorney Chris Pezalla to discuss a harrowing mechanical failure during a tailwheel checkout flight. What started as a routine practice session in a Cessna 140 quickly turned into a critical emergency. During climbout in the traffic pattern, Chris and his instructor discovered that the elevator flight controls were jammed. When forcing the controls freed the elevator with a loud bang, the aircraft pitched nose-down toward traffic on a nearby highway—only for the elevator to jam again.

    133. When the Elevator Freezes

  8. Jul 1

    132. The Surprise Investigation

    Imagine landing your aircraft after a seemingly routine flight, only to find the FAA waiting for you on the ramp. In this special episode of I Learned About Flying From That, host Carl Valeri sits down with commercial pilot Elliot Mintzer to discuss a harrowing experience from early in his PC-12 career. What started as a standard Part 91 contract flight from the Mid-Atlantic to Texas quickly unraveled into a multi-year legal battle that threatened to end Elliot's aviation career before it truly took off.

    132. The Surprise Investigation
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Tune in for the rest of the story—with exclusive interviews with pilots who have shared their emergencies, crises, and mistakes over 950-plus installments of Flying's iconic series, "I Learned About Flying From That." Host Carl Valeri relates the tale as told by the author, then catches up with that pilot to ask the questions we know have been on your mind.

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