The Student Pilot Cast

Eighteen years ago, I was a student pilot with a recorder plugged into my headset, learning to land in front of the world. For Episode 100, I went back to those original recordings.

You'll hear the cockpit audio from my own training landings in 2008, what I said about them on the show back then, and what I hear in them now as a CFI. There's the herky-jerky on final, the skipper, the flat landings, my first solo, a 16-knot crosswind, and my instructors saying the same few things over and over.

Then we flip it. I...

MOSAIC took effect right in the middle of Oshkosh this year. A few months later, here's what actually showed up, what it costs, and what it means if you're learning to fly.

This is my AirVenture 2026 industry report, the one I promised you back in Episode 94. I look at two big stories through one lens: what do they mean for a student pilot, for someone thinking about getting started, or for a pilot who wants a more affordable airplane?

We walk through the first MOSAIC trainers from Van's, Sling, Pipistrel and others, and how their...

How do you record your flight lessons? Nick, a listener in Houston, asked me the same question I got in 2009, so I flew with six recorders running at once, then tested five cables on the ground to find out what actually works in 2026.

We start with why it matters: in the moment you hear maybe a quarter of what your instructor says, and listening back is one of the best debrief tools there is. Then the options: a recording headset like the Lightspeed Delta Zulu, the classic splitter cable into a recorder, 32-bit float recorders like the...

Your logbook knows you flew. It has no idea what you learned. In this Briefing Room episode: five questions to ask after every flight (Surprise, Workload, Skill, Decision, and Goal), where the self-debrief came from (FITS and learner-centered grading), and a simple system to capture your goal, bridge it into your next flight, and close the loop. Leave your answer to question five at studentpilotcast.com/radiocheck.

Get the free Go or No-Go guide: https://studentpilotcast.com/three-questions

Get the Friday Flight Brief: https://studentpilotcast.com/flightbrief

Links:

Hope you enjoy...

At AirVenture 2026 I sat down with Adriana, founder of FlyORKA, expecting an app demo. I walked away with a line I haven't been able to shake: logging is not learning.

Adriana spent her career as a flight test engineer, learning to fly airplanes nobody had flown before. That path led her into gliders, tailwheel, and aerobatics, a pile of soaring records, and years of ab initio instruction. Her whole training philosophy comes down to one idea: we don't learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.

We talk about what flight test can teach...

At AirVenture this year I sat down in the Cirrus compound with Eamon Powers, the Director of Cirrus Approach — the man who owns every piece of training content Cirrus produces, for pilots and for mechanics.

Twelve or fourteen years ago the fatal accident rate in the Cirrus fleet was, being generous, unremarkable, and there was a real argument in this industry about whether the parachute was helping at all. That number has moved a long way since. I wanted to know what actually moved it, how they know what moved it, and how much of it the re...

In episode 94 of the Student Pilot Cast, Bill recounts an unplanned start to AirVenture 2026 after the engine in his Jabiru quit over far southeastern Colorado on July 18, forcing an off-airport landing in a cornfield with his son Trey; both were unhurt and the airplane remains repairable with minor gear damage and an unresolved engine issue. Rather than a debrief, Bill focuses on gratitude for the “rings” of people who helped: Trey’s calm, useful cockpit support; his wife Crystal’s steady response, prayer, and communication with worried family; airline crews relaying the mayday on guard; ATC/FAA personnel tracking him down...

It's Thursday night at Camp Scholler, day four of days not mattering, and Kent and I sat down with one goal: be smart-asses about a few things we'd seen at AirVenture.

So we get into it. Textron had us all convinced this was the year the Pipistrel Panthera would finally get certified under MOSAIC — and instead we got another two-seat trainer. The Camp Scholler bathhouse has quietly relocated the towel hooks inside the shower. The night air show is still the best thing in aviation, but somebody counted down "two minutes to hack" and then made us wa...

In Episode 92, we join Bill and Trey talking briefly about their upcoming trip to OSH in a light sport aircraft, Lil' Rue. B

Get the free Go or No-Go guide: https://studentpilotcast.com/three-questions

Get the Friday Flight Brief: https://studentpilotcast.com/flightbrief

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our...

In Episode 91, Bill teaches a simple aeronautical decision-making framework for go/no-go and continue/divert decisions built around three simple questions: can the airplane do it? Can I do it? And is it legal? He breaks each question into three lenses—aircraft performance/envelopes/condition; pilot proficiency/physiology/capability under pressure; and legal airworthiness/mission-specific regs/paperwork—highlighting how pilots can miss risks or rationalize. He adds a “three strikes” rule where three “yellow” factors stacked together mean a no-go, and recommends post-flight learning with five quick debrief questions. He shares a headwind-induced fuel stop example, offers a free two-page PDF...

In Episode 90, Beyond the Checkride, Bill and Kent reflect on the 2009 Colgan Air 3407 crash near Buffalo and how it drove regulatory changes including the 1,500-hour rule and the FAA-required ATP Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP). They discuss what ATP-CTP is, how provider and instructor quality can vary, and what Kent experienced taking it independently (about $4,000) with nearly 3,000 hours and single-engine turbine Part 135 time. They outline regulatory requirements (30 hours ground, 10 hours simulator) covering high-altitude aerodynamics, weather radar, air carrier operations, and CRM/leadership, emphasizing lessons from accidents like Air France 447, Tenerife, United 232, and American 965. Kent describes key sim takeaways such as...

In Episode 89, we join Bill as he introduces everyone to his airplane, a 2008 Jabiru J230. Come along on a flight with him and he'll tell you all about the plane, but also dive into some of the interesting things from the flight. This is part of the Cockpit Series where we go on a flight together, learn what we can, and have a little fun.

Get the free Go or No-Go guide: https://studentpilotcast.com/three-questions

Get the Friday Flight Brief: https://studentpilotcast.com/flightbrief

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode...

In Episode 88, Bill welcomes Jason Miller, two-time FAA Western Pacific CFI of the Year and founder of The Finer Points, to discuss how his platform evolved into an flight training app that models real-world lessons with briefings, flights, and debriefs across five courses. They talk about uneven student preparation, the 2015–2023 “explosive growth” period that left inexperienced CFIs training newer pilots, and signs of degraded proficiency and safety concerns, alongside the FAA’s overhaul of written tests to reduce memorization and align questions with the ACS. Jason explains the free CFI Club’s mentorship focus, monthly meetings, and “CFI Handbook” videos, and wh...

In Episode 87, we join Bill and Kent as they discuss forced induction in general aviation, contrasting normally aspirated engines with superchargers, turbochargers, and turbo-normalizers, and explaining how turbos use exhaust-driven turbines and wastegates (automatic, manual—separate or throttle-linked—and fixed) to manage boost. They cover turbocharged vs turbo-normalized manifold pressure, the role of intercoolers in cooling compressed intake air, and operational considerations like avoiding overboost on takeoff/go-arounds, critical altitude (example: Seneca around 12,000 feet), and high-altitude issues including cooling challenges, pressurized mags, and pilot oxygen needs. They recommend FAA hypoxia training (including nitrogen-based options and a spatial disorientation simulator) and...

In Episode 86, we join Bill as he relaunches the podcast. Four distinct series, a new look, and more bad puns. I do a Briefing Room episode to launch things back off, and explain how things are changing, how they're staying the same, and what we want to focus on.

Get the free Go or No-Go guide: https://studentpilotcast.com/three-questions

Get the Friday Flight Brief: https://studentpilotcast.com/flightbrief

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at ht...

In Episode 85, we join Bill and Kent as they talk about how to expand the envelope of your flying. In other words, how to fly good and not suck...or at least get better and reduce your personal minimums.

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the...

In Episode 84, we join Bill and Kent again for another Beyond the Checkride segment. In this one we talk about getting out there on the proverbial open road, and going places with GA, in whatever airplane you have access to. Hope you enjoy our discussion on cross country flying and expanding your comfort zone a bit.

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the...

In Episode 83, we go back to the days of the Pilotcast. Due to the tragic events of the past weekend, we wanted to re-release a Pilotcast Episode from 2018 where Kent, Tiffany, and Bill interview Aerobatic Champion and Airshow start Rob Holland. Rob tragically was killed this in an aviation accident a few days ago and since the Pilotcast is no longer hosted anywhere, we wanted to get this content back out and available to the world, so I'm releasing it again, in it's entirety, as a throwback SPC episode. We hope you enjoy it. Remember, fly good and don't...

Welcome back SPC listeners and Merry Christmas! In this special Christmas day episode, hosts Bill and Kent delve into the pilot's lifeline – checklists. Episode 82 of the Student Pilot Cast titled 'Making a List and Checking it Twice...or Never' brings forth a comprehensive discussion on the importance of good checklist habits beyond the checkride. They debate the utility and design of checklists, discuss personal anecdotes, and offer insight on the pros and cons of electronic versus paper checklists. This episode is a must-listen for both new and experienced pilots who want to improve their safety and efficiency in the co...

In Episode 81 Bill goes on location to interview some of the guys who started a new flight school recently. Legion Air wants to teach people to be the best aviators they can be, so let's find out what makes them tick, what their approach is, and how to turn a large fortune into a small fortune in aviation.

Links:

In Episode 80 of the Student Pilot Cast we reunite with Nick Smith from Part Time Pilot to discuss the latest developments in his online ground school platform. We explore the addition of new features, such as an IFR ground school and a mobile app, and delve into the challenges of aviation training. Host Bill shares his journey to becoming a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), offering insights and updates along the way. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of aviation education and learn how Part Time Pilot is making flight training more accessible and efficient.

...

In Episode 79, we join Bill and guest host Tiffany Wolf as they navigate the flight path of AI with an interview with Alex List of FlyShirley.com. Fly Shirley is a tech startup dedicated to using AI for aviation. While we are in the infancy of this technology as it pertains to aviation, the conversation with Alex is very interesting as we dive into the possibilities, where they are currently at with their product, and what's to come.

Links:

Hope you...

In Episode 78, we go back in time a bit. Back when Bill was a brand new pilot and was transitioning into a couple of new airplanes. The Cessna 182 has become one of my favorites and because it's coming up again for me right now, it got me thinking about my original transition into the 182 and my High Performance endorsement. I explain in the episode why, but I wanted to revisit that training during my transition for a couple of episodes.

This episode also includes a Beyond the Checkride segment where Kent and Bill dive into descent planning...

Join us in this 'Beyond the Checkride' only episode of the Student Pilot Cast with hosts Kent Shook and Bill Williams as they delve into the intricacies of logging Pilot in Command (PIC) time. They discuss the nuances of FAA regulations, personal flying experiences, and scenarios like instructor flights, safety pilot roles, and questions around cross-country time. Learn how to navigate the complex rules and ensure your logbook entries are accurate. Perfect for student pilots and seasoned aviators alike, this episode is essential for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of flight logging. See the video version of this...

In Episode 76 of The Student Pilot Cast, host Bill recounts a challenging

instrument training flight under the guidance of instructor Eddie. The flight

proved difficult due to busier-than-usual airport conditions, turbulence, and

Bill's struggle to stay ahead of the airplane. Flying under the hood, Bill

faced issues with altitude management and task saturation, emphasizing the

importance of staying current and proficient. Despite the hectic experience,

Bill reflects on the essential lessons learned about maintaining focus,

prioritizing tasks, and the constant need for practice in aviation.<...

In Episode 75, we join Bill as he does another instrument training flight, more instrument pattern flying for practice, and an all new Beyond the Checkride Segment about buttoning up the airplane when doing cross country flying, or even at home. Enjoy.

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the...

In Episode 74, we join Bill as he finishes up his first "under the hood" instrument training flight. We also include a 'Beyond the Checkride' segment on fueling your airplane which is something many new pilots were never taught before the checkride.

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle S...

In Episode 73, we join Bill as he starts his training under the hood for simulated IMC. We also introduce a new segment in this week's episode, "Beyond the Checkride". In this edition of the segment a special guest and I will talk about our first topic for actual, real-world flying that maybe weren't taught in flight school.

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the...

In Episode 72, we join Bill as he embarks on his instrument rating. This is the first flight lesson in that endeavor as he gets familiar with the airplane and a new instructor.

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".

Legal Notice: Remember...

In Episode 71, we join Bill as he as he catches up with Nexair Avionics after 15 years, and we talk about the G3 Cirrus SR-22 Turbo that they've updated and have for sale.

Links:

Video Version of the Episode: https://youtu.be/WvtUix8JLmY

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an A...

In Episode 70, sit down with Bill and talk all about some upcoming plans for Airventure, for the podcast, and this episode includes a BIG announcement, so enjoy.

This episode has a video version as well which can be found HERE.

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel"...

In Episode 69, we join Bill as he finishes up his flight review after a long hiatus from flying and is once again legal to fly. Watch out as the world's okayest pilot starts hitting altitude again. I definitely needed a lot more practice, but I knew I was headed directly into my instrument training so I would get plenty of that before I went solo, most likely.

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact formon the website or...

In Episode 68, we join Bill as he finishes flight one of his Flight Review with Ryan on his way back to being a pilot.

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".

Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me a...

In Episode 67 we join Bill as he becomes a pilot again after an 11-year break from flying. This is the first part of his first flight review flight back after the hiatus. It's full of re-learning and discovery, and we're happy to have you back along with me in the cockpit as I try to shake off the cobwebs and get back to it.

Links:

Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback c...

Today we talk about legacy, and legends of aviation. I recently found some old audio in the SPC archives from OSH 2011, and it brought me back, got me thinking about the legacy of some of the people we sometimes get to cross paths with. Some are important to the world and some are important more to us and a few others. In any case, I wanted to let you guys hear this audio, too. I hope you like it.

Some notes from the show.

Welcome back, SPC listeners.  I’m super happy to bring you a chat with Dan Justman from the airplane Owners and Pilots Association, or AOPA, about their program designed to help part 61 students and instructors with their training.

AOPA is trying to tackle what is likely part of the reason so many people quit pilot training before achieving their certificate by organizing the flight training process and making it more transparent and predictable, even in a part 61 setting.  With their AOPA Flight Training Advantage program, or AFTA, they are hoping to make flight training more enjoyable for both...

For this episode I got a chance to talk to Nick Smith from Part Time Pilot, an online private pilot ground school that packs a lot of personalized value into a rather inexpensive service. Learn about how he’s taking a more personal approach to online training and also learn how to get a discounted price on Part Time Pilot which will last a lifetime.

For the tricks on discounts check this out from Nick:

This is the audio version of the Student Pilot Cast audio Episode 63. The video version of this can be found in the video feed of this podcast, or in highest resolution on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/-GhDPNoQcj4

In this episode I get to talk to Mark Palm, the CEO and Co-Founder of Samaritan Aviation, a humanitarian organization who help people out in Papua New Guinea. Mark gives us a bit of the history or the org, the operations, and a quick tour of the aircraft they are using.

...

The state of Oklahoma has gotten serious about aviation, STEM education, and the whole aeronautics industry. I talk here briefly with Grayson Ardies, Director of the Oklahoma Aeronautical Commision, about what the state is doing to further aviation education and aeronautics in general in the state. This is the audio version of podcast episode 62, but there is a video version as well in the video feed as episode 6B.

The video can also (and at higher quality) be found on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/FhNjxBVpZU4

The State of Oklahoma...

The state of Oklahoma has gotten serious about aviation, STEM education, and the whole aeronautics industry. I caught up with a High School teacher in Oklahoma, Chris Eckler, to talk about what he’s doing in his school district with regard to Aviation Education and how he fell in love with Aviation in the process. He caught the bug and trained to be a pilot himself just ahead of his students.

More information on the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission can be found here: https://oac.ok.gov/

There is also a video edition of...