A pilot, a storyteller, a traveler

Dane Aviation isn't just another aviation blog — it's where the runway meets the rhythm of real life. From the cockpit to cobblestone streets, from flight maneuvers to food stalls in the heart of forgotten cities, this platform is a living chronicle of one man's journey through the skies and into the soul of the world.

Here, you'll follow the pursuit of flight training — not just as a technical journey, but as a personal renaissance. Every destination becomes a lens into the human experience — revealing vibrant local cultures, misunderstood regions, street food with soul, hidden shops, and stories that rarely make the headlines.

Dane Aviation blends the precision of pilot training with the poetry of the people met along the way. It's a global odyssey stitched together by raw truth, unexpected beauty, and the quiet power of shared humanity.

Our Values

• Honesty over hype — every checkride result, every mistake, published without ego.
• Depth over clicks — long-form content that respects the intelligence of the audience.
• Humanity over highlights — the people, not just the places.

The man behind the controls

Dane Aviation was born from a singular obsession: what happens when you learn to fly — not just the aircraft, but the world itself? This platform is the result of thousands of hours in the cockpit, hundreds of passport stamps, and an unrelenting curiosity about the people and places most travellers fly over rather than through.

The journey began with a simple question: could a student pilot document the entire process of earning a Private Pilot Certificate — honestly, transparently, and with no filters? The answer became a documentary series that evolved into something far larger.

The Mission

Dane Aviation exists to bridge two worlds that rarely overlap: serious flight training and immersive world travel storytelling. Most aviation content stays inside the airport. Most travel content stays at the hotel pool. This platform blows past both.

Partners who share the vision

Dane Aviation accepts sponsorships from brands that align with the values of this platform: authenticity, adventure, and honest storytelling. Every partner is one I personally use, trust, or genuinely believe in. No paid placements for products I wouldn't recommend to a fellow pilot.

Become a Sponsor

If your brand aligns with aviation, adventure, travel, or education and you'd like to explore a partnership, get in touch. All enquiries are reviewed personally and responded to within 5 business days.

The complete pilot training pathway

Becoming a pilot is one of the most rewarding journeys a person can undertake. It demands discipline, study, and a willingness to embrace failure as a teacher. Here's an honest breakdown of how the system works under FAA regulations.

The Training Pathway

What the PPL really takes

The Private Pilot Certificate is the foundation every pilot earns first. It's not the most technically demanding rating, but it sets the standard for everything that follows. Here is my complete first-hand breakdown.

Minimum Requirements (FAA)

• 40 total flight hours (most students take 55–70 to feel genuinely ready)
• 20 hours dual instruction with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
• 10 hours solo flight including a 150 nm solo cross-country
• 3 hours night flight, 3 hours simulated instrument, 3 hours checkride prep
• Pass the FAA PPL written knowledge test (70% minimum, 60 questions)
• Pass the Oral Examination and Practical Flight Test (ACS standards)

The Checkride

Split into a 2–3 hour oral exam and a 1.5–2 hour flight test. Manoeuvres tested include steep turns, slow flight, stalls, ground reference, emergency procedures, cross-country navigation, and landings. Know the ACS document — it is your exact standard.

The rating that changes everything

The Instrument Rating (IR) transforms a fair-weather pilot into an all-weather aviator. Flying through clouds on instruments alone, operating IFR in the same airspace as the airlines — it's demanding, humbling, and completely worth the effort.

FAA Requirements

• Hold a Private Pilot Certificate (or higher)
• 50 hours cross-country flight time as PIC
• 40 hours actual or simulated instrument flight time
• 15 hours instrument training from a CFII
• Pass the Instrument Rating written knowledge test
• Pass the IR Oral and Practical Checkride

Turning passion into profession

The Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL) is the licence that legally allows you to be compensated for flying. It demands a significantly higher standard of precision and professionalism than the PPL. Here's what it takes.

FAA Requirements

• 250 total flight hours (100 as PIC, 50 cross-country as PIC)
• 10 hours training in a complex aircraft
• Pass the Commercial Pilot written knowledge test
• Pass the Commercial Pilot Oral and Practical Checkride
• Hold at least a 2nd Class FAA Medical Certificate
• Minimum age: 18 years old

My training, honestly documented

Every lesson. Every failure. Every breakthrough. I've documented this process so aspiring pilots have a realistic picture of what the journey actually looks like — not glossy highlights, but the full truth.

The Logbook Summary

Key Milestones

The truth about checkride failure rates

Nobody talks about checkride failure rates. Flight schools don't advertise theirs. But the data exists — and understanding it is essential for any aspiring pilot who wants realistic expectations.

My Personal Record

I failed my PPL checkride on the first attempt — a soft-field takeoff. The examiner terminated the flight. I went home, trained three more weeks, and passed the second attempt comfortably. The failure was one of the most important experiences of my entire training.

How to Maximise Your Chances

• Study the ACS document — it is your exact test criteria, not a guideline
• Never schedule the checkride until your CFI says you consistently exceed the standards
• Do multiple mock checkrides with your CFI and another instructor
• Know your aircraft's POH cold — the oral will find every gap
• If you don't know something on the oral, say so and explain how you'd find the answer

Visiting a flight school — do it right

A discovery flight is often the first time a future pilot sits in the left seat. But choosing the right school is one of the most consequential decisions in your aviation journey. Here's how to evaluate properly before signing anything.

Questions to Ask Every School

• What is your first-attempt checkride pass rate? (Non-negotiable — demand a number)
• What aircraft types do you train in and what are their maintenance records?
• How many active CFIs do you have and what is their average experience level?
• What is the average time from enrolment to PPL for your students?
• Do you use a structured syllabus or is training ad hoc?
• What is your aircraft availability and booking policy?

The Discovery Flight

Almost every flight school offers an introductory "discovery flight" — typically $150–$250 for roughly one hour where you actually fly the aircraft. Always do one before committing. Pay attention to the instructor: Are they patient? Do they explain the why behind every action, or just demonstrate?

The student-instructor relationship is everything in flight training. If the chemistry feels wrong on the discovery flight, trust that instinct.

Wet rate vs. dry rate — explained simply

One of the first confusing terms you'll encounter when shopping for flight training or aircraft rental is the distinction between "wet" and "dry" rates. The concept is simple, but the financial impact is significant.

Which is Better for Training?

For student pilots, wet rates are almost always preferable. The simplicity of knowing your exact hourly cost makes budgeting far easier. When you're already managing airspace, checklists, weather, and radio calls, the last thing you need is fuel cost uncertainty on top of everything else.

Glass cockpits — better, or just shinier?

The debate between glass cockpits (like the Garmin G1000) and traditional "steam gauge" analogue instruments has been going for two decades. As someone who trained on both, I have a clear opinion — and it might not be what you expect.

My Honest Take

Train on steam gauges first. Students who train exclusively on glass often develop a dangerous dependency on the moving map. When the G1000 acts up — and it does — they're lost. Steam gauge pilots have a fallback hardwired into their scan from day one.

Aircraft maintenance — what every pilot should know

Most student pilots focus entirely on learning to fly. Fewer take time to understand what keeps the aircraft airworthy between flights. An informed pilot is a better preflight inspector, a more credible renter, and a far more confident aviator.

Required Inspections (FAA) — the AVIATES Acronym

• Annual Inspection — every aircraft, every calendar year, by a licensed A&P/IA
• VOR Check — every 30 days if used for IFR navigation (VOT, airborne, or ground)
• I00-Hour Inspection — aircraft used for hire must be inspected every 100 flight hours
• Airworthiness Directives — mandatory compliance with all applicable ADs
• Transponder Check — every 24 calendar months for use in controlled airspace
• ELT Inspection — battery must meet currency requirements (50% life remaining)
• Static System Check — every 24 calendar months for IFR flight

Preflight Inspection — Your Legal Responsibility

As pilot in command, you are legally responsible for the airworthiness of the aircraft before every flight. The preflight is your opportunity to catch what the last pilot missed. Use the checklist. Every time. Even in the aircraft you've flown a hundred times.

• Drain fuel sumps — check colour, clarity, and absence of water
• Oil level — check before every flight, not every other flight
• Tyre pressure and condition — check visually and by feel
• Pitot tube and static ports — unobstructed and free of insects
• Control surface condition — check trailing edges carefully for ramp damage

The full Dane Aviation camera rig

The gear matters far less than the eye behind it. But since you're asking — here's everything I actually use, why I chose it, and what I'd change if starting from scratch today.

Primary Cameras

Lenses & Support

How I make aviation videos — the full workflow

Aviation cinematography has constraints normal filmmaking doesn't. You can't ask the aircraft to do another take. The light changes in seconds at altitude and you're managing the aircraft simultaneously. Here's how I handle all of it.

Pre-Production

In-Flight Recording Settings

Post-Production Workflow

Building a home flight simulator that actually works

Done right, a home simulator supplements real flight hours, keeps your instrument scan sharp, and lets you practise emergencies without any actual risk. Here's my full build and exactly how I use it.

My Setup

Budget Starting Point

A Logitech Flight Yoke System ($200) plus Microsoft Flight Simulator ($60) on a mid-range PC is genuinely useful for procedure familiarity. Start there, upgrade as your training progresses.