News & Resources
Where Do Accidents Come From?
When you read about an airplane accident, it's easy to say, "I would never make that mistake" but usually, those accidents aren't a result of one glaring obvious misstep, but a series of smaller decisions that culminate disastrously. This video, sent by one of our...
Summer Is Coming
As the days get longer and the weather warms up, this is when we start thinking about doing some real flying and even some cross-country trips. However, we also need to remember some of the issues with summer flying here in the Southeast- this semitropical climate...
Beechcraft Sierra Now In Fleet!
CHS Flight School is happy to announce the addition of a new airplane in our fleet, a Beech Sierra. N953ER is a spacious 4-seat airplane with a cruise of 130 knots, so it is a good cross country airplane. One of the best features though is that this is a complex...
Airplanes and Lift
When I was teaching at Comair several years ago, a couple of my well-read colleagues decided to leave the approved syllabus and explain to their students the real story of dynamic lift, that magic that makes an airplane fly. Unfortunately, the restrictions of a Part...
We Have Changed Our Name!
You may have noticed that we have changed our name from Charleston Flight School to CHS Flight School. It was pointed out that we may be confused with another flight school with a similar name and we really didn't want that. We are easily the largest and busiest...
Calculating Your Weight & Balance
We are so used to loading everything up into the SUV and driving off without a thought that it can surprise us that we can't do the same thing in an airplane, but it's true- airplanes are weight restricted and those restrictions are ignored at your great peril.And...
Kirk Bray, Distinguished CFI
We are screamingly proud of our own Kirk Bray, who the AOPA recognized as a Distinguished CFI for 2018. Kirk has been one of the mainstays of our group for several years now and has earned a solid reputation as one of the best CFIs in this part of the country....
Time Is Money
Running late for your flight lesson? it might be worth a few dollars to call your instructor and let him know. Sometimes there is no way around being late because stuff happens- a wreck on the road, lost car keys, an unscheduled train- but people who are chronically...
CHS Flight School at Summerville
Summerville area residents can attest that the drive to CHS can be challenging and then, you have to drive home again, and that's a lot of congestion in a single day. In fact, traffic can be so bad that the commute here and back can be longer than your actual flight...
Flying To Triple Tree
If you are one of those who wants to concentrate solely on a soft-field without having to consider the length, you can always go to Triple Tree (SC00)- now THERE is a grass strip you can love! This field is 7000' long and 400' wide, and its surface is reputed to be...
Your Best Soft-Field Landing Is Your Best Landing Ever
Back in the day, landing on a grass strip was a normal occurrence. Some people flew their entire lives without plopping their wheels onto concrete. Nowadays it seems that finding a soft surface can be problematic. We practice soft-field landing techniques but usually...
Accelerated Commercial Rating Is Here!
As you know, IFR6 has been a phenomenal success from the very beginning, with a success rate approaching 99%. In the last 7 years, we have received numerous requests for an accelerated commercial course, and we are now happy to announce that we have finally created a...
Don’t Like The Weather? Just Wait…
Don't Like The Weather? Just Wait...Pilots watch weather- they are trained from the very start to assess weather, both current and forecast. Wind speed and direction, cloud cover, visibility, anything that might affect the safety of flight is carefully examined and...
How To use a NASA Form
Sometime in February 2017, I was flying VFR into Beaufort Airport, a trip I have made numerous times- probably my third most visited airport over my flying career. Maybe it was over-familiarity, or I was distracted by my conversation with Beaufort MCAS, but no matter...
Runways and Radios
Runways and Radios One of the biggest fears that new pilots have is talking on the radio. I did the vast majority of my flight training at Mt. Pleasant Airport- LRO now but previously 8S5, or East Cooper Airport, a small aerodrome with an FBO and single CTAF, so I...
Flying To Nowhere Redux part 3
Flying To Nowhere Redux Part 3 My next leg on this slightly windy winter day was a turn north to Hampton-Varnville (3J0), and I decided to forego the bumps and climb above the scattered clouds where the air was smooth. This trip would be just under 23 miles so I still...
Flying To Nowhere Redux Part 2
I had figured that the short hop to Ridgeland Airport (3J1) could be done at 2000 feet. That turned out to be a choppy altitude and as I bounced around, I eyed the scattered clouds just above me. I figured 3000 would put me just over those puffs and into the glassy...
Flying To Nowhere Redux Part 1
In January of 2016, I had decided to take a VFR flight without any real destination in mind and just fly for the sheer pleasure of flight. I had flown north then west, visiting several airports I had never flown to before, and as a bonus, learning a little local...
Fuel Reimbursement For Your Rental
Charleston Flight School has probably one of the more unique fuel reimbursement programs in the country. All airplanes are rented here "wet", which means the fuel price is included in the rental price. That's easy to handle when the airplane is used for an hour or so...
Pre- and Post-Flight Inspections
If you are looking at this picture and thinking there's something wrong, you're right. This airplane has a bald spot, probably from a, shall we say, "sporty", landing. It happens. But this airplane should not be flown until the tire is looked at by an A&P. Spoiler...