The IMSAFE Checklist: Assessing Pilot Fitness

The IMSAFE Checklist: Assessing Pilot Fitness

Airplanes are only as safe as the pilot flying them. At KCAK, where Cirrus training flights mix with business trips and weekend getaways, it’s easy to forget the most important pre-flight inspection: yourself. That’s where IMSAFE comes in.Imagine a pilot launching...
Understanding Density Altitude and Its Dangers

Understanding Density Altitude and Its Dangers

On paper, Akron–Canton (KCAK) isn’t a “high-altitude” airport. Field elevation is 1,237 feet and Runway 5/23 stretches a generous 8,200 feet. Yet on a July afternoon with temperatures in the 90s, density altitude (DA) can climb beyond 3,000 feet. That single number...
Every Safe Flight at KCAK Starts on the Ramp

Every Safe Flight at KCAK Starts on the Ramp

A pre-flight inspection isn’t a formality—it’s your chance to stop problems before they ever leave the ground. On a hot, stormy Ohio day, the airplane can look fine from ten feet away yet hide issues that matter at 70 knots. A Stormy-Night Scenario After a summer...