Michael Castellon

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#aloha Merry Christmas, from way out here https://www.instagram.com/p/DO4GdyOEvAE/ My #Maine squeeze 🦞🇺🇸 Happy birthday to the most amazing woman in my life. Your love, laughter, and kindness make every day brighter. Here’s to celebrating you and all the joy you bring to everyone around you. https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0AEGvPk0b/ After hundreds of hours in the Texas sky, I can say this: the quiet charm of small-town airports never fades. ✈️ #flying #aopa #eaa #aviation https://www.instagram.com/p/DC-lpVgtZg9/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DBXe_dsvXQ6/
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  • The One About the Award

    In June I traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept an award from the National Association of Government Communicators on behalf of dozens or more of talented people who helped produce our economic analysis of Hurricane Harvey. Chris O’Neil, chief of media relations for the NTSB, presented the award. NAGC is a fantastic organization, and I can’t…

  • IFR Oral Exam / Checkride Study Guide

    Updated November 2023 Preparing for the FAA instrument rating oral exam requires a systematic and thorough approach to ensure success. Here are some key steps to help you prepare effectively: Study the FAA Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards (PTS): Familiarize yourself with the PTS, which outlines the specific areas of knowledge that will be tested…

  • ForeFlight Acquired by Boeing

    It’s hard to measure the impact that ForeFlight has had on the general aviation community. I’m a better pilot because of it. ForeFlight is based in Texas, so I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and even flying with their staff. I’m left hoping that the acquisition by Boeing, a corporation that has relatively no interest…

  • Flying Fredericksburg

      View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Michael Castellon (@mcastellon) on Feb 24, 2019 at 3:49pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Training toward my instrument rating has been time consuming and challenging. Flying hasn’t been either fun or casual for a number of months. To remedy this, Lauren and I went to the airport…

  • Regaining Night Currency

    I’ve logged very little night flying since I earned my private pilot certificate in 2012. A few years ago I experienced a sensory illusion while returning from a local airport after sunset, and the experience startled me enough that I decided to refrain from night flying until I could log more instrument training and build…

  • Instrument Training Update #2: Holding Patterns, DME Arcs

    I’ve been spending a couple of nights each week at the airport working with my instructor in the flight school’s simulator. We’ve been practicing flying airways, identifying intersections, using VOR receivers and flying holding patterns. Holds are tricky –– I’m proficient enough while in the hold, but there are a variety of ways to enter…

  • Dispatch from Estes Park, Colorado: Part 2

    After spending Christmas Day with family and overindulging in an all-day marathon of Italian cooking, we were anxious to get out and stretch our legs. The forecast called for an afternoon snowstorm, so early this morning we ventured to Longs Peak Trailhead and set out on an easy hike to Eugenia Mine. This trail is…

  • Dispatch from Estes Park, Colorado

    We spent the morning of Christmas Eve on the Gem Lake Trail located outside of Estes Park. The hike to Gem Lake is an intermediate 1.7 miles from the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. The trail was well populated and the spirit was festive and light. Hikers encouraged each other in a variety of dialects and wished…