Alcohol & Flying
FAR 91.17 explained: the eight-hour “bottle to throttle” rule, blood-alcohol limits, and why hangovers are just as dangerous as intoxication.
Read the alcohol safety guide →Aviation Safety & Pilot Training Resources
Welcome. This site is a growing collection of information on aviation safety — practical guidance, FAR study material, written exams and accident awareness that I have gathered and written during my years as a flight instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Featured Aviation Safety Topics
Hypoxia
Oxygen starvation and its effects on judgment — the symptoms, susceptible altitudes, and the supplementary-oxygen rules every pilot should know.
Read the hypoxia guide →Collision Avoidance
The topic of the month: how to see and be seen, and the see-and-avoid fundamentals that keep general-aviation airspace safe.
Read the collision avoidance guide →Runway Incursions
Real-world cautionary stories and practical radio/read-back habits that reduce the risk on the ground and on active runways.
Read the runway incursions guide →Risking Your Certificate
A detailed look at what truly threatens a pilot certificate — from FAA enforcement to the DUI/DWI reporting responsibilities under FAR 61.15.
Read the certificate guide →FAR 91.17 — Full Text
The complete operating-rule text that limits alcohol and drug use by pilots, straight from the FAA regulation.
Read the regulation →Training & Study Resources
Pre-Solo Written Exam
Work through the FAR, aircraft-systems, airport-operations, emergency and weather questions a student must master before flying solo.
Take the pre-solo exam →Biennial Flight Review (BFR)
Refresh the Federal Aviation Regulations with review questions covering Part 61 and Part 91 — perfect preparation for your flight review.
Review for your BFR →Checkrides & Examiners
Get oriented before your practical test, including guidance on designated pilot examiners and oral-exam preparation.
Checkride preparation →FAA & NTSB Resources
A handy directory of official FAA links — regulations, NOTAMs, advisory circulars, services, reporting, and more.
See FAA & NTSB links →Recommended Reading
Hand-picked books on flight physiology and aircraft safety that belong on every serious pilot’s shelf.
View the reading list →FAA Regulations Guide
A plain-language roadmap to the relevant sections of Part 61 and Part 91, with links to the full text and study questions.
Browse the regulations guide →Why Aviation Safety Matters
Judgment is learnable
Most general-aviation incidents trace back to human factors — fatigue, alcohol, weather, and complacency. Identifying them is the first step to avoiding them.
Regulations protect pilots
FAR Part 91 rules exist for a reason. Understanding why a rule exists makes it stick far better than memorizing numbers.
Written, not copied
Every exam and topic on this site is written from real flight-instructor experience, so the questions reflect what pilots are actually asked.
From the News
Recent News & Accidents
Stay aware of recent general-aviation events and accident reports. Awareness of real-world incidents builds the healthy caution every pilot needs.
Off the Flight Line
Not everything here is cockpit talk. A quiet corner of the site keeps the things that live in a pilot’s pocket instead of the panel — including the wristwatch side of the hobby, where the Nautilus comes up more often than anyone here will admit.
Quick Answers for Pilots
How long must I wait after drinking before flying?
FAR 91.17 requires at least 8 hours from “bottle to throttle”, no operating while under the influence, and a blood-alcohol level below 0.04%. On a hangover, allow far more time.
What altitudes do VFR cruising rules apply at?
Regulatory VFR cruising altitudes apply at 3,000 feet AGL and above. Odd 500-foot altitudes (e.g. 4,500) for headings 0–179°, and even (e.g. 5,500) for headings 180–359°.
Do I need oxygen for a high-altitude flight?
Supplemental oxygen is recommended on flights above 12,500 MSL and at night above 7,000 MSL. Never gauge your need by how you feel — hypoxia can feel comfortable.