The VSL Aviation Podcast

Apr 07 2025 37 ep. 51 mins 78
The VSL Aviation Podcast artwork

A podcast on all things General Aviation from the team at VSL Aviation.

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Accidents, Digital Avionics, and Required Equipment: What Every Pilot Should Know

Apr 07 2025 73 mins  
In this episode, Seth dives into three critical areas for every pilot: what to do after an accident, how modern digital avionics like MEMS sensors work, and a practical breakdown of maintenance responsibilities and required equipment. You'll get clear, no-nonsense guidance on pilot responsibilities at the scene of an accident, how to interpret complex avionics systems, and how to s

Runway Incursions, Practical Test Tips, and Live Q&A

Apr 03 2025 79 mins  
In this episode of the VSL Aviation Podcast, Seth Lake dives into runway incursion avoidance, a critical focus area for the FAA and a common checkride discussion point. He shares insights from the FAA’s From the Flight Deck initiative and explains how this content can help applicants prepare—especially for CFI-level checkrides. The second half features a live Q&A pulled from th

Don’t Log That! FAA Time-Building Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mar 24 2025 54 mins  
In this week’s VSL Aviation Podcast, Seth dives deep into three critical topics for pilots and instructors alike. First, he breaks down how to get involved with the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) and make the most of the WINGS Program. Next, he explains the real why behind airspace design—offering a fresh approach for CFIs to improve student understanding beyond rote memorization.

ADS-B Pitfalls, Mastering Forward Slips, and What CFIs Are Missing

Mar 17 2025 49 mins  
Welcome back to the VSL Aviation Podcast! I'm your host, Seth Lake, a CFI and DPE here to help you navigate checkrides and general aviation topics. This weekly podcast is recorded live on Discord, with additional streaming on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch. In this episode, we dive into three major topics before opening the floor to listener questions: 01:04 ✈ ADS-B Compliance an

Illegal Charters, Emergency Procedures, and Checkride Prep – VSL Aviation Podcast

Mar 11 2025 74 mins  
VSL Aviation Podcast – Episode Recap In this episode of the VSL Aviation Podcast, host Seth Lake dives into key aviation topics, answers listener questions, and shares insights from real-world flying experiences. Topics Covered: Chapters: 02:30 Understanding Part 135 Operators – How to verify if an employer is legally operating under Part 135, using FAA records to check approv

Avoid These Pilot Errors! | 2025 FAR Changes, CFI Privileges & TEM Explained

Mar 04 2025 69 mins  
In this episode of the VSL Aviation Podcast, Seth Lake covers a variety of key aviation topics and answers listener questions. We kick things off with Threat and Error Management (TEM) and how to apply it in your daily flying. Then we dive into clarifying CFI responsibilities, discuss updates to the 2025 FAR/AIM, and wrap up with insights on CFI privileges. Whether you're a student

Rethinking Commercial Pilot Training

Feb 27 2025 67 mins  
In this episode, we take a deep dive into Jason Blair’s recent article, "Things I Propose We Change in Initial Commercial Pilot Certification Standards and Experience Requirements" (🔗 Read it here). I break down his key points, share my thoughts, and discuss why I completely agree with his take. From there, we opened up the conversation to our live audience—answering questio

Pilot Logbook: Insights, Emergencies, and Oddities

Jan 03 2025 60 mins  
In this episode of Pilot Logbook, we dive into essential and intriguing topics every pilot should consider. We clarify the nuances of PDPIC and explore the proper ways to log PIC and Cross-Country time as a safety pilot. Next, we tackle the psychology of flying under pressure by analyzing two real-world cases of pilots panicking during emergencies. For a unique twist, we discuss th

Fine-Tuning Your Flight: Landing Speeds, Critical Engines, and CFI Insights

Dec 10 2024 91 mins  
Join professional pilot and DPE Seth Lake as he dives deep into the questions and concerns that pilots, instructors, and aviation enthusiasts bring to the table. Each episode features honest, no-nonsense discussions covering everything from FAA guidance and training best practices to advanced techniques and real-world insights. Whether you’re working on your next certificate, pre

Kicking Off the New Weekly Format

Dec 03 2024 44 mins  
Welcome to the revamped weekly edition of the podcast! In this episode, I tackle listener questions about MEI (Multi-Engine Instructor) privileges and share tips for preparing for a multi-engine add-on rating. I also dive into a couple of engaging discussions from r/Flying Reddit threads that I’ve recently commented on. This new weekly format adds regular, bite-sized content betw