What’s the right way to tell your CFI you’re confused? Should student pilots buy their own headset early? And is it normal to feel like you’re getting worse before you get better? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into real student-pilot frustrations and answer top questions pulled from Reddit and listeners, including:

• Why regressing during flight training is completely normal—and how to push through it

• How to stop overthinking your landings and build true pilot instinct

• Whether to trust school-provided headsets or invest in Bose, Lightspeed, or David Clarks early

• How to confidently tell your CFI you don’t understand something (without feeling embarrassed)

• The best weekly flight-training schedule for faster progress and lower overall cost

They also share personal stories—from Brandon learning instrument scan embarrassingly late to Carson’s early headset upgrade and even a tangent about parachutes, spins, burnout, and staying healthy enough to stay current.

🚀 If you’re a student pilot, a new private pilot, or someone trying to learn smarter—not harder—this episode is packed with practical tips, relatable training struggles, and humor from the cockpit.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—follow, subscribe, and keep leveling up your aviation journey.

— Sponsored by Stratus Financial, supporting the next generation of pilots.

Keeping an airplane clean isn’t just about appearance—it’s a key part of aviation safety, professionalism, and building trust with students and passengers. ✈️✨

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into the critical but often overlooked world of aircraft cleanliness. They break down why a clean airplane matters, how it impacts safety and perception, and what every pilot, renter, CFI, and aircraft owner should expect from a well-maintained fleet.

They cover:

• Why aircraft cleanliness directly affects safety, visibility, and first impressions

• Which parts of an airplane are neglected most—and why they matter

• Proper techniques for cleaning windshields, belly panels, static ports, and leading edges

• The best products, tools, and materials for safely cleaning general aviation aircraft

• What high-quality flight schools do to maintain their airplanes

• Major red flags in aircraft care—and when it’s time to switch schools

🚀 Whether you’re a student pilot, private pilot, or aircraft owner, this episode is packed with practical, real-world insights to help you fly safer, protect your aircraft, and uphold the standards of aviation professionalism.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—learn, improve, and stay inspired with Aviation Mentors.

Flying for currency, reconnecting with your flight school roots, and keeping safety at the center of aviation growth—this episode covers it all. ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson kick things off with fresh flying stories: short-approach fun in the ICON A5, a post-office moment that turned into an impromptu A5 fanboy encounter, and getting the RV back in the air after months on the ground. From taxiing tips to hangar-shuffling adventures, the hosts share what real general aviation days look like.

Then, they dive into the featured topic: scaling a flight school without sacrificing safety standards. Drawing from years of experience running a busy training environment, they break down:

• Why a solid operational foundation matters before you scale

• What preflight, post-flight, and cleanliness standards should never be skipped

• How safety documents and clear minimums protect pilots and schools

• The role of a dedicated safety manager as student numbers grow

• Real-world examples of training deficiencies—and how to fix them early

• The hidden costs schools face, from insurance to maintenance cycles

Whether you’re a student pilot, an instructor, a flight school operator, or simply passionate about safe flying, this episode delivers practical insights on building aviation programs the right way—without cutting corners.

🚀 Perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about flight school operations, aviation safety systems, and what it truly takes to run a high-quality training environment.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.