the finer points of flying

Jason Miller is one of the San Francisco bay area's leading certified flight instructors, the first online CFI, and the host of The Finer Points. The Finer Points is a weekly aviation podcast in which he discusses his philosophy of flying and gives his insight into situations that arise for pilots in the flight environment. On The Finer Points you'll hear interviews with a cross section of people in the aviation community, professionals from aerobatic pilots to airplane mechanics and air traffic controllers. On The Finer Points you'll hear about the latest innovations in aviation technology and get flying tips and tricks from a guy who spends a lot of time with his feet off the ground. So come on over and listen to The Finer Points podcast and enhance your flying experience!

    • Aviation Safety Session #6
    • Mountain flying can be challenging. Avoid making the mistakes I made as a young instructor. This month's Safety Session is a story from my experience that will help improve safety in the community. Enjoy The Finer Points!
    • File The Plan Stan - Aviation Podcast #28
    • Listen to in-flight audio and learn the proper techniques for filing VFR flight plans. Search and Rescue is a free service offered to pilots. Unfortunately, in VFR flying it is rarely used. Perhaps this is because pilots are not familiar with the filing procedures. Well ... worry no more! This week's podcast clears that up. Enjoy The Finer Points.
    • For The Love Of Flying - Aviation Podcast #27
    • Hello aviators! I'm back from Sun N Fun and I couldn't help posting a file about one of my favorite industry magazines, FLYING. FLYING was founded 1927 and is currently distributed to more than 1.3 million readers making it the most widely distributed aviation magazine in the world. This is a nod to aviation's oldest and most trusted source of information. Enjoy The Finer Points!
    • Don't Give Me Static, Stability - Aviation Podcast #26
    • Static Stability is what we're dealing with this week on The Finer Points. We are going to work on The aircraft's initial tendencies in longitudinal stability. Look for a podcast on dynamic stability to follow. Oh, I look up to the sky!
    • Havin' Fun In The Sun - Aviation Podcast #25
    • Hi Friends, this week the whole industry is getting ready to head off to Sun N Fun in Lakeland Florida. On this episode of the The Finer Points we talk with Max Trescott, speaker at Sun N Fun and industry expert on the G1000. Max shares some insight into the benefits of glass cockpit systems and how to learn them. Enjoy The Finer Points!

      Own Your very own G1000 Book!

      The G1000 Book is now on sale in our store.
      You can Help support The Finer Points and learn how to use the G1000!
      Our Pilot Shop is located here.
      Max Trescott's site is located at G1000book.com
       
    • Aviation Safety Session #5
    • In Safety Session #5 we discuss a night flight on which a pilot forgot to remove the pitot tube cover during the preflight. We can learn from each others mistakes by sharing stories as a community. Improve your flying safety and learn how to avoid making this mistake yourself. Thanks to Dave in Melbourne for bringing this discussion to the table!
    • A Pane In The Glass - Aviation Podcast #24
    • Hi Friends, this week we discuss the proper techniques for cleaning your aircraft windshield. Using information provided by LP Aero Plastics, we get to the bottom of which cleaners are the best to use on acrylic plastic windshields. Enjoy The Finer Points!
    • Night's Alright With Me - Aviation Podcast #23
    • Hello Aviators. Risk management and night flying! That's what we're talkin' about this week. Learn how the phase of the moon can dramatically effect your night flying safety. From near daylight conditions to 'black like ink' conditions, each night flight presents new challenges. Enjoy the Finer Points!
    • Don't Forget Your Briefs - Aviation Podcast #22
    • Hi Friends, This week we discuss preflight briefings and the importance of being ahead of the airplane. Grab a pen and take notes 'cause I'm giving it all away this week. These procedures will increase your safety. This podcast goes well with podcast #14 'Dead or Alive'. Enjoy!
    • Women In Aviation - Part I - Aviation Podcast #21
    • Hi Friends, This week we discuss the Ninety-Nine's, one of the oldest organizations dedicated to women in aviation. Amelia Earhart was the first president of the Ninety-Nines's and since then their membership has grown to more than 6000 members world-wide. Torea Rodriguez, ninety-nines member and scholarship recipient tells us a little bit about their scholarship programs. Torea teaches at West Valley Flying Club in Palo Alto. Visit the 99's online at www.ninety-nines.org Fly Your Best, Jason
    • Aviation Safety Session #4
    • Hello finer people! One of the coolest things about podcasting is that it's global ... in this month's Safety Session we answer the letter of a friend down under. When over a city ... and the engine quits ... what about the freeway option? Listen here and continue the discussion in the new TFP Forum. Cheers, Jason
    • Honorable Discharge - Aviation Podcast #20
    • Well friends it was great talking with Lou and there will be more of that to come, but it's back to work this week on The Finer Points. This week I discuss checking the electrical system prior to takeoff. Learn a system that will help you be sure that you leave the ground with a healthy electrical system. Fly Your Best!
    • Lou Fields Part II - Aviation Podcast #19
    • Hello aviators. This week on The Finer Points we talk again with Lou Fields. If you haven't heard part one with Lou ... you've got to check it out. He describes techniques used in carrier landings. It' podcast #17. Anyhow this week Lou describes basic Navy training in the late 1940's. Please enjoy. :)
    • The Problem With Precession - Aviation Podcast #18
    • Hello finer people! This week we finish our discussion on the left turning tendencies with a lecture on gyroscopic precession. If you are not reading this at our website www.thefinerpoints.net, please come by and check out our new website ... Raleigh has been working hard and I think it looks great! Feel free to write him and let him know what you think...he would love to hear from you :)Send all email about the website to Raleigh@thefinerpoints.net I am off with Jessica to Big Sur this weekend ... so I will catch up with you all next week. Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for listening and fly safely, Jason
    • Lou Fields Part 1 - Aviation Podcast #17
    • How about landing on an aircraft carrier? I am very excited to present my first interview with former navy instructor pilot and FAA examiner, Lou Fields. In this episode Lou tells us about his extraordinary flying experiences. It is my privilege to present this podcast. Enjoy!
    • Aviation Safety Session #3
    • Hi everybody ... welcome to our third aviation safety session! In this episode I tell a tale of my own, hoping that we can all learn from each others mistakes.
    • Holy High Air Work - Aviation Podcast #15
    • I am very happy to announce the release of The Finer Points first full length audio CD available here. The High Air Work is the first in a series of aviation lectures that can help save pilots time and money. If you are a student, or an experienced pilot preparing for a BFR, this CD will help you review the material before you get together with your flight instructor, saving you lots of dollars in training. Listen at home, at work, or in your car. Enjoy...enjoy...enjoy! Plus there is bonus music track too! ;)

      TO PURCHASE THE FINER POINTS: The High Airwork Lecture CD:
      Click Here: zuluworks.com
    • Dead Or Alive - Aviation Podcast #14
    • Hi friends ... I was all set this week to podcast about IFR flying BUT ... I had a situation arise on a flight this morning that I just couldn't wait to talk about. This week we discuss the importance of the pre - takeoff briefing and revisit the importance of verbal callouts.
    • The High Art Of Altimetry - Aviation Podcast #13
    • Happy New Year!! I have a great feeling about 2006. This year I'm getting married and I'm going to Oshkosh. Wow. It makes a guy feel lucky. May you all have a happy and healthy year! This week I talk about the different definitions of altitude. Itâs one of my favorite topics.
    • I Look Up In The Sky
    • Hello all you Finer People ... Merry Chritsmas! Some of you have written to ask if it's me playing the music. It's me. This year my gift to you is this song ... "I Look Up In The Sky" Jessica, Raleigh and I wish you a truly merry Christmas! -Jason
    • Aviation Safety Session #2
    • The second in the series! Pilot's write in to share experiences that we can all learn from ... Plus, we examine real NTSB accident reports in an effort to improve flying safety. Happy Holidays, Jason
    • Level Headed - Aviation Podcast #11
    • This week I'm going to give you a flying procedure that will help you capture and hold altitude when leveling off from a climb. We're going to talk about how the trim tab works and why pitch, trim, and then power is the desired order of operations.
    • Towing Banners Over Tanners - Aviation Podcast #10
    • Howdy y'all ... we're having a little fun this week and taking a peek at the world of banner towing. CFI and tow pilot, Adam Johnson, joins us to talk about the experience of towing banners.

      PilotCast Interview
      Check out the Pilotcast! I did a guest appearance on the podcast for pilots by pilots.
      Listen to the Interview

      Happy Channukah,
      Jason

    • Crazy Drunk Drivers - Aviation Podcast #9
    • Whether you are flying for fun or enrolled in flight training, this weeks lecture will give you a procedure to be sure you have checked everything during taxi. Take notes and use these call outs to enhance your flying safety.
    • To Teach Or Not To Teach - Aviation Podcast #8
    • Hi friends! This week I answer one of our listeners who emailed us and asked, "Is it realistic to make a full time living out of instructing? Is aviation coming back?" People ask me this question quite often so I thought I would give it some web time. Plus I love to talk about flying ;) Wendy O'mally, Beech 99 Pilot for the cargo company Ameriflight joins us to help answer this question and paint a picture of life in aviation.
    • 12/01/2005 07:22 PM
    • For Callin' Out Loud - Aviation Podcast #7
    • Hi friends ... Happy Thanksgiving! This year I am thankful for so many things! My beautiful fiance, Jessica, has a turkey in the oven and we are with some of our closest loves. I hope you are having a wonderful, blessed day....But when you're done with dessert get your pen out and take notes because we're going to work this week on The Finer Points. In this episode I speak to the point of using call-outs in your flying. Give yourself procedures that will make your flying safer.
    • Aviation Safety Session #1
    • In this series I analyze real NTSB accidents in an effort to improve flying safety. This month we take a look at a private pilot who accidentally flew into clouds, lost control of the airplane and lived to tell about it. We look at some of the factors leading up to the accident, and discuss some of the ways this pilot could have avoided the situation. Write to us at safety@thefinerpoints.net and tell us about situations you have learned from. We can all learn from each others mistakes.
    • Putting Your Work To The Taste - Aviation Podcast #6
    • Hi Friends ... my co-producer Raleigh, Rob from Zuluworks and myself flew down to check out the podcast expo last week and were interviewed by Macworld! I was trying to get some remote recording tips off of a guy with some really cool recording equipment and next thing I know he wants to talk to us! You can hear that interview at http://www.macworld.com/2005/11/downloads/mwpodcast14.mp3 Thanks Cyrus :) In this weeks lecture I give some tips on how to measure the quality of your work as a CFI. Tips and tricks for students to bring to their CFI and vice versa. Enjoy!
    • Dollars and Sense - Aviation Podcast#5
    • Hi everybody, In this week's aviation lecture I discuss the costs involved in flight training and suggest ways to keep it easy on the wallet. Don't be fooled by false advertising. Thanks a lot for listening and it's great to get the feedback. Marc from Virginia wrote in to say that he's thinking about learning to fly ... you know what I say about that Marc ... go for it! He also mentioned that he thought we should make the podcasts longer and we agree. There's always more room for The Finer Points:) Mark, you'll be happy to know that in a week or two, we are introducing the first Finer Point's Safety Session where we analyze real NTSB records in an attempt to improve flying safety. These episodes will come out in addition to my weekly lectures. So the podcasts aren't longer, there's just more of 'em :)
    • The Final Base Turn - Aviation Podcast #3
    • In This episode of The Finer Points I unravel the mystery of the stall / spin accidents that have occurred during the base leg as the pilot turns onto the final approach. Don't make the same mistakes hundreds of others have made. Enhance your flight training by listening to this lecture.
    • Oh My G1000 - Aviation Podcast #2
    • One of the best things about being a Certified Flight Instructor is getting to fly a Diamond Aircraft DA-40 with a Garmin G1000 across the country! We left Pittsburgh PA and Rob Honeycutt, founder of Zuluworks, and myself set out across the great divide. For 18 hours we put the G1000 to the test ... and boy does it pass. Find out what we thought about some of the coolest avionics ever produced as I review some of the aspects of the G1000.
    • Check The Do List - Aviation Podcast #1
    • My First aviation podcast ... in this episode I speak to the point of checklist usage. Here are ways to make sure that your system is as safe as it can be. Build redundancy into your flying. Enjoy! :)
    • The Finer Points of Flying - Aviation Podcast #0
    • Hi everybody! Welcome to my aviation podcast. This is an educational series about the fine details of flying. In this episode I introduce myself . In this medium I am able to blend my love of music with my love of flying. Enjoy the Finer Points!