Crosswind before taxi
Ask: Estimate the components and identify the side before touching the calculator.
Verify: Calculator math, then aircraft/personal limits and runway conditions.
Teach the decision, then check the math.
Use PilotDesk to build a quick scenario, make the student explain the decision first, then open the calculator or source that checks the work. Calculators, guides, and Daily work without an account. Oral practice includes free sample subjects; full interactive checkride preparation requires Pro.
FAST TEACHING TOOLS
Open the tool after the student commits to an answer.
Estimate → explain → calculate → verify.
WIND COMPONENTS
Crosswind Calculator
Change runway, wind direction, and wind speed to turn one airport into a quick teaching scenario.
Open crosswind → PERFORMANCEDensity Altitude
Compare pressure altitude, temperature, and ISA deviation before going back to the aircraft POH or AFM.
Open density altitude → LOADINGWeight & Balance
Practice weight, arm, moment, and CG work with the student's own aircraft data.
Open weight & balance → FLIGHT COMPUTEROnline E6B
Keep common wind, fuel, time, airspeed, altitude, and conversion work in one place.
Open E6B → 3 QUESTIONS · CHANGES DAILYPilotDesk Daily
A quick aviation challenge you can send to a student between lessons and talk through later.
Play today's challenge →Send the explanation with the calculator
5-MINUTE SCENARIOS
Give the problem first. Send the tool second.
Copy a prompt into a text, LMS, or preflight brief.
Hot-and-high departure
Ask: Predict the direction and magnitude before calculating.
Verify: Density altitude first, then the exact POH/AFM takeoff and climb data.
Passenger changes the loading
Ask: Predict CG movement and identify the limits that matter.
Verify: Current W&B data and the approved envelope for that airplane.
3° descent mental math
Ask: Use the GS × 5 rule first.
Verify: Exact math, then the actual procedure, restrictions, and aircraft situation.
Control is not climb performance
Ask: Separate VMC, VYSE, control, and performance.
Verify: Certificate-level ACS plus the exact airplane POH/AFM.
Teach it back to me
Ask: Plain language, example, mistake, source.
Verify: The explanation should survive a follow-up “why?” question.
LESSON FLOW
A repeatable way to use PilotDesk with a student.
- Set the scenario.Use a real route, airport, airplane, or weather condition.
- Make them estimate.The student commits to a direction, range, or decision before seeing the output.
- Make them explain.Ask why the number matters and what could make the answer unusable.
- Check the math.Use PilotDesk to verify the arithmetic or organize the information.
- Finish at the source.POH/AFM, ACS, regulation, chart, official weather, or other controlling material gets the final word.
Why I built it
I'm working on my CFI right now and recently picked up coding as a hobby. I started building PilotDesk because I wanted my own place for the calculators and training tools I kept reaching for.
I'm still learning, and I've used ChatGPT to help code quite a bit of it. If something feels too AI, awkward, unnecessary, or just not how a pilot would actually use it, please tell me. If you like something, tell me that too. I'm looking for specific feedback on what works, what doesn't, what's missing, and what should probably be removed.
One way to use it in a lesson
Give the student the scenario first. Have them estimate the answer and explain the decision. Then use the tool to check the math. If the result is aircraft-specific or operational, finish with the current POH/AFM, chart, weather source, or regulation that actually controls the decision.
Training aid only. PilotDesk does not replace current FAA publications, approved aircraft data, official weather, charts, NOTAMs, or instructor judgment.