78. Young pilots and ditching tips, with Amy Laboda

78. Young pilots and ditching tips, with Amy Laboda

Author: Sporty's Pilot Shop May 21, 2024 Duration: 39:39

A new generation of kids is entering the aviation industry right now, and that’s exciting for Amy Laboda. The longtime flight instructor and writer explains why today’s student pilots are different, how writing can make you a better pilot, and what new flight instructors need to succeed. Amy also shares the lessons learned from ditching a Cessna 210 off Key West, including the critical skill to practice and what survival gear matters. In the Ready to Copy segment, Amy describes a good passenger briefing, picks her favorite Van’s airplane, and shares what it’s like to live on an airpark.






There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens in the cockpit or after a flight, where the real stories and honest opinions come out. Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's captures that feeling, sitting down for genuine talks with some of the most compelling people in aviation. You’ll hear from flight instructors breaking down the real challenges of training, alongside airshow performers sharing the moments that truly tested their skill. Each episode goes deeper than the usual hangar talk, aiming to connect with anyone who feels that pull to the sky. Wrapping up every conversation is a favorite segment, “ready to copy,” a rapid-fire round that cuts past the cliches to reveal what each guest truly believes. This podcast, presented by Sporty's Pilot Shop, is built for those who live and breathe flying, offering a mix of grounded advice and unforgettable stories from the people who know aviation best. It’s about the shared language and passion that defines the flying life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's
Podcast Episodes
77. Airport kids and CRM lessons, with Kevin Garrison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:06
Kevin Garrison grew up riding his bike to the local airport, then built time flying freight before enjoying a 30-year career as an airline pilot. In this honest (and hilarious) episode, he shares what he experienced alon…
75. Bush flying in Alaska, with Patrick Carter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:24
Having flown everything from aerobatic airplanes to airliners to seaplanes, Patrick Carter loves to apply the lessons from one part of aviation to another. In this episode, he takes us inside the world of Alaskan bush pi…
73. Flying a vintage airplane across the country, with David Tulis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
A spur-of-the-moment airplane purchase presented David Tulis with the adventure of a lifetime: flying a 1953 Tri-Pacer across the country. He tells the story of this fun and challenging trip in this episode, including wh…
72. Why most airports are poorly managed, with Mike Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:41
Airports are missing out on $35 billion in economic impact because they're not well run - that's according to pilot and airport management expert Michael Jones. He explains the cause of this underperformance and why the…
71. IFR proficiency and remote flight instruction, with Ryan Koch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
Earning an instrument rating can unlock new flying adventures, but only if you keep your skills sharp. In this episode, CFII Ryan Koch offers some tips for doing that, including: staying mentally engaged when you can’t f…
70. How musicians and pilots are similar, with Randy Waldman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
When you go on tour with Frank Sinatra at age 21, it’s hard to be intimidated—so it’s no surprise Randy Waldman jumped into the exciting world of helicopters with both feet. In this episode he shares his unique aviation…
68. Business aviation trends and new technology, with Brian Foley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:23
How much of the recent boom in private aviation will last now that the pandemic is over? Aviation analyst Brian Foley says about 10%, which is good for the industry but not enough to sustain some overly optimistic busine…