Hey AeroCast fans...
If your airplane could talk, it would say that it misses centerline and desperately wants to go back. When left uncorrected, bad habits and techniques can lead to serious directional control issues during takeoffs and landings.  Poor adherence to the runway centerline can many times lead to an unfortunate and prompt departure off the side of a runway which can snap a runway light, break your airplane or much worse.  Use this latest AeroCast episode with your instructor to supplement your training and to gain a more solid foundation for proper techniques required to maintain centerline and directional control during takeoff and landing.  Leave us some comments on YouTube and iTunes and let us know what you think of this episode and chime in if you have suggestions for future AeroCast content.  Have Fun and Fly Safe!

On Centerline: Where an Airplane Belongs (1080p)

After a hiatus, the UND AeroCast is back!  Capping the Commercial Maneuvers series of videos, Master CFI Mike Lents is back at it again.  The Lazy Eights maneuver is anything but lazy.  It's designed to teach the pilot how to keep the controls constantly moving while learning all about control precision and smooth pilot input.  Understanding the anatomy of the maneuver is key, by planning ahead to hit certain values at different accuracy points.  Wow, that's sounds like a lot of stuff.  Watch the video to see the details of the Lazy Eight unfold.  Let us know what you think in the comments.  Have Fun and Fly Safe!

Commercial Lazy Eights (1080p)

The massive, complex flight training operation conducted daily at UND Aerospace exists only because of many people working towards the common goal of achieving the highest standard of aviation safety. At UND, we understand that human flight, inherently, is a very dangerous undertaking - the mere notion is a bit absurd. But through decades of experience, we also know how to make it safe. This movie outlines the layered process of making every flight safe at UND Aerospace.

Aviation Safety: A Layered Approach (720p)

UND CFI's Mike Lents and Anthony Bottini take a deep dive into the Eights On Pylons maneuver in the Cessna 172SP and explore the various planning elements and pilot techniques that are necessary to make this maneuver work just right. Mastering this commercial maneuver is all about learning how to constantly divide your attention and control the aircraft smoothly and predictably.

Commercial Eights On Pylons (720p)

UND Aerospace helicopter instructor, Wes Van Dell, talks about helicopters, student training and shows off some sweet maneuvers in the Bell 206 turbine helicopter.  For more information about the UND Aerospace Helicopter Department, visit www.fly.und.edu or www.aero.und.edu

Helicopters! (720p)

UND student Chris Brauckman lets UND CFI Mike Lents wring him out. Aerobatics is awesome!

UND Aerobatics: You're Next! (Large/720p)

UND Aerobatics: You're Next! (small/iPhone)

UND CFI's Mike Lents and Anthony Bottini take you, the pilot, through the necessary steps to complete the Chandelle maneuver at the Commercial Pilot level in the Cessna-172. This performance maneuver plays a vital role in the pilot's training repertoire as it builds the skills necessary to smoothly and accurately control the aircraft, as well as teaches the pilot all about maneuvering at very high Angles of Attack, close to the stall margin.  Enjoy this latest UND AeroCast episode and a huge thanks to Kevin and Brenda for another great batch of fan photos. Keep 'em coming!

Commercial Chandelles (Large/720p)

Commercial Chandelles (small/iPhone)

UND CFIs Mike Lents and Anthony Bottini team up again to bring our viewers the Cessna 172 UND Standardization lesson that's all about turning the airplane, well, steeply.  This video hits all the important points that are necessary to review before attempting the Steep Turn maneuver in the C172 at the Commercial Pilot level. Thanks to Ammar from Amman, Jordan and to Justin from Grand Forks, ND for submitting some great photos.  Have Fun and Fly Safe!

Commercial Steep Turns (Large/720p)

Commercial Steep Turns (Small/iPhone)

UND CFIs Mike Lents and Anthony Bottini round off the last part of the four part series: "Faulty Approaches and Landings."  This final episode discusses numerous hazards that can threaten an otherwise solid approach when a crosswind condition is present.  Since most approaches and landings are executed during some kind of crosswind situation, it is advised that each pilot use this episode to review crosswind landing techniques to really hone their crosswind skills and hopefully avoid crosswind hazards such as touching down in a crab, the dreaded ground-loop and/or experiencing a wing rise after touchdown.  We hope you've enjoyed this four part series.  Let us know what you thought by sending our UND AeroCast staff an email at undaerocast@aero.und.edu and stay tuned for a bunch of future episodes.  By the way, as usual, a huge thanks goes out this time to Timothy and Bret for sending us some truly stunning fan photos.  Thanks fellas!

Faulty Approaches Episode 4: Crosswind Considerations (Large/720P)

Faulty Approaches Episode 4: Crosswind Considerations (Small/iPhone Size)

UND Students and Instructors get together and talk about aviation, their passion for flying and all that is UND Aerospace.

We'll See You Up Here! (Large/720P)

We'll See You Up Here! (Small/iPhone Size)

UND CFI's Mike Lents and Anthony Bottini team up again to bring to you the third episode of the four part series, "Faulty Approaches and Landings."  Learn all about the hazards of landing in precarious attitudes that can threaten directional control and the structural of your nose-wheel.  This episode highlights three situations where a pilot should exercise caution in regards to his or her nose-wheel to include Hard Landings, Porpoising and Wheelbarrowing.  Enjoy this latest AeroCast episode and stay tuned for episode 4 of the Faulty Approach series.  A huge thanks to Sam Wagener for submitting some fan photos of some random and picturesque northern-midwest flying.

Faulty Approaches Episode 3: Nose-wheel Hazards (Large/720P)

Faulty Approaches Episode 3: Nose-wheel Hazards (iPhone Size)

UND CFI's Mike Lents and Anthony Bottini team up again to bring to you the second episode of the four part series, "Faulty Approaches and Landings."  This episode focuses on timing considerations that could impact you and your aircraft during any phase of the approach and landing.  This episode will describe different timing errors, how to make small corrections for a safe landing and when to perform a go-around should the errors cause the approach to depart from a normal, stabilized approach.  The specific errors covered include the High Roundout, the Late or Rapid Roundout, Ballooning and Bouncing.  Enjoy this latest AeroCast episode and stay tuned for episode 3 of the Faulty Approach series.  Thanks goes out this time to Shane Petersen for sharing some amazing photos from the his trip to the far east.

Faulty Approaches Episode 2: Timing (Large/720P)

Faulty Approaches Episode 2: Timing (Small/iPhone)

As a recent addition to the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, UND Aerospace has decided to tackle the Faulty Approach and Landing on this episode of the UND AeroCast.  This episode is meant to shed some light on that grey area during many approaches when the pilot has to decide, based on the airplane's current state, if the approach can safely continue with minor corrections or if its time to call an unstable approach and go around.  UND Aerospace CFI, Anthony Bottini uses an in-depth script written by UND CFI Mike Lents to outline various factors that could cause any approach to be considered Faulty.  As the first episode in a four part series, the instruction will be geared towards faulty approach concepts that involve the pilot's Energy Management skills.  As always the UND AeroCast staff would like to thank our latest Fan Photo contributor, Rachel Fish, for her photos of the UND Piper Cub with floats.  Stay tuned for episode number two!

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