🛩️ Wingman Wednesday: Mastering Fixed-Wing Flight When Systems Fail—A Pilot’s Essential Guide

Real pilots aren’t defined by perfect flights. They’re shaped by how well they handle things when everything goes wrong.

When your airspeed indicator drops to zero, your flaps refuse to respond, or turbulence turns your smooth flight into chaos—it’s your knowledge of physics and preparedness that makes the difference.

In this edition of Wingman Wednesday, we’re diving into critical fixed-wing RPAS skills and fail-safe planning. Whether you’re prepping for the Advanced RPAS Certificate or gearing up for challenging BVLOS operations, this guide will equip you with essential survival tactics.

🎧 Essential Episodes: Sky Commander Academy Podcasts

Enhance your learning by tuning into these two must-hear podcast episodes:

🔧 S2E36 – Fixed-Wing Flight Control Surfaces: What Every Pilot Must Master

Do you fully understand the roles of your flight control surfaces—or how to save your aircraft during a stall? If the answer isn’t a confident “yes,” you’re not mission-ready.

You’ll learn:

📌 Pro Tip: Use a flight simulator to master coordinated turns and stall recoveries before your Flight Review—practice builds instinct.

🚨 S2E40 – RPAS Fail-Safe Systems: Beyond the Return-to-Home Button

Your drone’s automated systems are useful, but blindly relying on them can lead to disaster. Understanding fail-safe systems deeply could save your mission—and your drone.

You’ll discover:

📌 Pro Tip: Always customize and test a fail-safe checklist for each drone—one size does not fit all.

✈️ Top 5 Fixed-Wing Flying Skills Every RPAS Pilot Needs

These strategies aren’t just recommended—they’re proven tactics to fly confidently, safely, and successfully:

🧭 Your Action Items This Week:

🎯 The Pilot’s Reality Check:

You won’t rise to the occasion in a crisis—you’ll fall to the level of your training and preparation. With fixed-wing flights and fail-safe systems, second chances rarely exist.

🎧 Invest in your skills today. Dive into these episodes, master the fundamentals, and prepare for every scenario. Fly confidently—even when technology lets you down.

👉 Listen to S2E36 – Fixed-Wing Flight Control Surfaces 👉 Listen to S2E40 – RPAS Fail-Safe Systems