Aviation 101
Understand how aviation works — from runway operations to air traffic control. The science and systems behind modern air travel.
15 guiasHow Airports Work: From Runway to Gate
Complete overview of airport operations. Runways, air traffic control, ground handling, baggage systems, and terminal management explained.
How Air Traffic Control Works: Keeping Skies Safe
Controller roles, traffic management procedures, radar systems, and radio communication. How ATC keeps millions of flights safe.
Why Runways Are Numbered the Way They Are
Runway numbering based on magnetic heading. How parallel runway suffixes (L/C/R) work and why numbers change over time.
How Airplanes Fly: The Basics of Aerodynamics
The four forces of flight — lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Wing mechanics, control surfaces, and the physics of flight.
How Weather Affects Your Flight: Delays, Turbulence, and More
Weather disruptions explained. Thunderstorms, crosswinds, fog, and seasonal patterns that cause delays, diversions, and turbulence.
Why Do Planes Fly at 35,000 Feet? The Science of Cruise Altitude
Physics and economics behind cruise altitude. Jet streams, fuel efficiency, air density, and how altitude affects flight performance.
Airport Runway Operations: How Planes Take Off and Land
Runway selection, ILS approaches, visual vs instrument landing, and the technology that enables safe takeoffs and landings.
What Really Happens During Turbulence
Types of turbulence — clear air, convective, wake, and mechanical. Aircraft tolerance levels, safety data, and why turbulence is not dangerous.
How Airport Baggage Handling Systems Work
Follow your luggage's journey from check-in to carousel. Sortation technology, RFID tracking, and why bags sometimes go missing.
Understanding Aircraft Types: From Regional Jets to Jumbo Jets
Aircraft categories explained. How to identify planes, why airlines choose specific aircraft for routes, and what defines each type.
How Flight Routes Are Planned: Airways, Waypoints, and Navigation
The invisible highway system in the sky. Airways, waypoints, RNAV navigation, and how flight dispatchers plan optimal routes.
Airport Lighting Explained: What All Those Lights Mean
Runway lights (PAPI, VASI), taxiway lights, approach lighting, and the color-coded system that guides pilots at night.
Hub and Spoke vs Point-to-Point: How Airlines Build Networks
Compare network models. Hub economics, route profitability, and why some airlines connect through hubs while others fly direct.
How Aircraft Fueling Works: From Refinery to Runway
Aviation fuel supply chain. Jet A-1 specifications, hydrant systems, fuel trucks, and the push toward sustainable aviation fuel.
ATC Communication: How Pilots and Controllers Talk
NATO phonetic alphabet, standard phraseology, readback procedures, and real ATC communication examples decoded.