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Aviation Guides

PilotDesk guides connect the formulas behind the calculators to the way pilots actually use them. Start with a topic hub, then move between the explanation, calculator, training workflow, and source that answer the same pilot question.

BY SUBJECT

Pick the subject you are working on.

Open the reference, then use the calculator or source when you need it.

WEATHERWeather & density altitudeMETAR/TAF, ceilings, wind, pressure, temperature, and performance effects.NAVIGATIONWind, heading & groundspeedCourse, heading, WCA, groundspeed, time, distance, DME arcs, and navlogs.PERFORMANCEClimb, glide, turns & loadingDensity altitude, climb gradient, stalls, turn geometry, CG, and POH charts.FLIGHT PLANNINGE6B & pilot mathWind triangle, TSD, fuel, descent, conversions, and quick cross-checks.CONVERSIONSAviation unitsSpeed, distance, pressure, temperature, volume, weight, and vertical speed.MULTI-ENGINEVMC, VYSE & single-engine performanceControl, drag, climb, service ceiling, critical engine, and checkride relationships.

Quick references

Performance calculator

Aircraft Glide Distance Calculator

Calculate still-air glide distance from usable height and glide ratio, with nautical-mile and statute-mile results.

Calculate glide distance →Glide math

Glide Distance Formula & Glide Ratio

Learn the height × glide-ratio formula, work examples and understand why wind and configuration change practical range.

Learn the glide formula →Ground-reference maneuver

Pivotal Altitude Calculator

Calculate pivotal altitude from groundspeed using the common knots-and-feet training relationship.

Calculate pivotal altitude →Ground-reference maneuver

How to Calculate Pivotal Altitude

Use groundspeed squared divided by 11.3 and understand why changing groundspeed changes pivotal altitude.

Learn pivotal altitude →Aircraft data

Using POH Glide Data

Find the appropriate aircraft chart and distinguish its published conditions from hypothetical glide math.

Read the aircraft-data section →Runway wind

Crosswind Component Calculator

Resolve runway-relative wind into crosswind and headwind or tailwind components.

Calculate crosswind →Aircraft performance

Density Altitude Calculator

Estimate density altitude from pressure altitude and temperature, then connect it back to approved performance data.

Calculate density altitude →

Flight computer

Free Online E6B Flight Computer

Wind triangle, time-speed-distance, fuel, altitude, airspeed, climb, descent and aviation conversions in one study hub.

Open E6B hub →Students & instructors

Flight Training Tools

Planning, weather, checklist practice, METAR decoding, POH chart work and shareable calculator examples.

Open training tools →

Reference hubs

Pilot Navigation Reference

Course, heading, track, wind correction, groundspeed, DME arcs, coordinates, navlogs and route math.

Explore navigation →Weather

Aviation Weather Reference

METARs, TAFs, flight categories, wind, ceilings, visibility, dew point and cloud-base concepts.

Explore weather →Performance

Aircraft Performance & W&B

Altitude, climb, turns, glide, maneuvering speed, useful load, CG, percent MAC and POH charts.

Explore performance →Conversions

Aviation Unit Conversions

Speed, distance, temperature, pressure, volume, weight and vertical-speed conversions for pilots.

Explore conversions →

Printable reference

Pilot Math Cheat Sheet

Compact PPL/CPL formulas for time, fuel, wind, altitude, climb, descent, turns and weight and balance.

Open printable sheet →Pilot math

Pilot Math Formula Reference

Wind, time, fuel, altitude, climb, descent, turns, navigation and weight-and-balance formulas with calculator links.

Open formula reference →Glossary

Aviation Math Glossary

Plain-English definitions for TAS, groundspeed, WCA, pressure altitude, density altitude, CG, MAC and gradients.

Open glossary →

Core pilot math

Crosswind component

Turn runway heading and reported wind into headwind, tailwind and crosswind components.

Wind triangle

Understand wind correction angle, corrected heading and groundspeed.

Five types of altitude

Indicated, true, absolute, pressure, and density altitude in one comparison.

Pressure altitude

Use field elevation and altimeter setting to estimate pressure altitude.

Density altitude

Why hot, high and low-pressure conditions affect aircraft performance.

Climb gradient

Convert ft/NM requirements to vertical speed using groundspeed.

3° descent rate

Understand the groundspeed × 5 shortcut and underlying geometry.

Top of descent

Estimate descent distance from altitude to lose and descent gradient.

Standard-rate turns

Why a 3°/second turn needs more bank as true airspeed increases.

Accelerated stall and load factor

How bank angle increases load factor and theoretical stall speed.

True airspeed 2% rule

Use the common training shortcut and understand its limitations.

Weight and balance basics

Weight, arm, moment and center-of-gravity fundamentals.

How to calculate pivotal altitude

Why pivotal altitude changes with groundspeed and how the GS² ÷ 11.3 rule works.

Flight fuel math

Trip fuel, reserve fuel, endurance and the limits of simple arithmetic.

Practical flight planning

Route, airports, weather, fuel, performance, procedures and final verification.

How to read METARs and TAFs

Decode observation and forecast groups in plain English.

More performance, navigation & aircraft math

Time, speed and distance

Navlog math, ETA checks and worked flight-planning examples.

Aviation fuel weight

Convert fuel volume to approximate weight for loading and planning.

Aircraft endurance and range

Connect usable fuel, fuel flow, reserve and groundspeed to time and distance.

Cloud-base estimate

Understand the temperature/dew-point spread shortcut and its limits.

Glide distance formula

Estimate theoretical no-wind distance from altitude and glide ratio.

Maneuvering speed at weight

Why Va decreases at lower weight and how the square-root estimate works.

Dynamic hydroplaning speed

The common tire-pressure rule of thumb and wet-runway limitations.

Turn radius and rate

How true airspeed and bank angle affect turn geometry.

True vs magnetic heading

Variation, east/west conventions and direction references.

Percent MAC

Convert CG arm to percent mean aerodynamic chord.

ISA temperature

Standard-atmosphere temperature, lapse rate and ISA deviation.

Wing loading

Weight per square foot of wing area and what the ratio means.

Power loading

Pounds per horsepower and its relationship to aircraft performance.

Obstacle climb gradient

Feet per nautical mile, required FPM and groundspeed relationships.

Reciprocal headings

The 180-degree relationship for headings, courses and runway directions.

Great-circle distance

How coordinates define shortest-path distance and initial bearing.

DMS and decimal coordinates

Convert aviation latitude and longitude formats correctly.

Holding leg distance

Connect timed holding legs and groundspeed to distance.

Ballast and CG

How ballast location, weight and moment move aircraft center of gravity.

Moment and center of gravity

Weight × arm, total moment and loaded CG calculations.

Mach and speed of sound

Temperature, local sound speed and Mach-number relationships.

Flight path angle vs gradient

Degrees, percent gradient and feet per nautical mile explained.

E6B & checklist training

E6B wind side

Wind correction angle, corrected heading, groundspeed and wind-triangle relationships.

E6B calculator side

Time-speed-distance, fuel, ratios, multiplication, division and conversions.

Flows vs checklists

Why cockpit flows and formal checklist verification complement one another.

Training content only. Use current approved aircraft data, regulations, official weather, procedures and operating information for actual flights.

IFR planning

IFR alternate requirements: the Part 91 1-2-3 test — how to decide when to file an alternate, check its published minima, and distinguish filing from fuel planning.