From one-way departures in Aspen to island-hopping across the Virgin Islands, this episode of Flight Tales is packed with real-world corporate jet stories, mountain flying challenges, and unforgettable charter trips.

We dive into what it’s really like flying a Bombardier Challenger 600 series into high terrain, including the infamous Aspen/Pitkin County Airport approach — 3,000 feet above the runway, terrain warnings blaring, and zero room for error. One-way in, one-way out.

We also talk about:
✈️ Flying to Saint Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, Nassau, and Saint Lucia
✈️ The chaos (and comedy) of arguing airport identifiers at a beach bar
✈️ Caribbean ATC without radar
✈️ Mountain departures with traffic passing just below you
✈️ Flying college football charters (including Michigan’s staff)
✈️ Getting “thank you for your service” while wearing a pilot uniform
✈️ The light-switch system that helps prevent approach clearance mistakes
✈️ When flying jets becomes “just a job”… and how to keep the excitement alive

If you're a student pilot, corporate pilot, or just love behind-the-scenes aviation stories, this episode gives you the real, unfiltered look at life in the right seat — and what it takes to level up to Captain.

In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with A&P/IA mechanic and seaplane pilot Vernon Knowles to talk about what really keeps your airplane safe, legal, and running strong. From backcountry-style seaplane flying on the Red River to the gritty reality of annuals, 100-hour inspections, and burnt valves, this one is pure gold for owners, students, and working pilots.

Vernon breaks down:

• How to become an A&P mechanic (school vs. on-the-job experience) and what an IA actually does

• The real difference between annuals and 100-hour inspections—and why sitting airplanes often cost more to maintain than hard-working flight school birds

• Engine health 101: compression tests vs. borescope, oil analysis, leaning, and why turbocharged engines love to burn valves

• Why owners should show up for their annuals, learn what they’re looking at, and stop fighting their mechanic

• Corrosion, ADs, lav service horror stories, airline vs. GA maintenance culture, and what “treat it like it’s your airplane” really means

If you own an airplane, want to buy one, or are thinking about becoming a mechanic, this conversation will change how you look at maintenance forever.

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Drop a comment below and we might cover it on a future Flight Tales!

What does it really take to get a student pilot ready for a checkride?In this episode of Flight Tales, we sit down with Chaun to talk candidly about preparing students for FAA checkrides—from private and commercial training to instrument fundamentals.We cover what separates students who pass from those who struggle, why you can’t cram a checkride, and how preparation, immersion, and attitude play a massive role in success. From simulator use and chair flying to managing nerves and avoiding over-control, this episode dives into the realities CFIs see every day.If you’re a student pilot, CFI, or someone thinking about flight training, this episode is packed with real-world lessons you won’t find in a textbook.✈️ In this episode, we discuss:How CFIs know when a student isn’t preparedWhy checkrides are about learning, not memorizingThe role simulators play in building confidence and controlCommon mistakes students make before checkridesWhy immersion in aviation speeds up trainingHelping students break mental blocks and training plateausThe mindset shift from “studying” to truly learningWhether you’re working toward your first solo, prepping for a checkride, or learning how to teach others, this episode reinforces one key takeaway:Don’t just study—learn.

What’s it really like to take a CFII (Instrument Instructor) checkride?

In this episode of Flight Tales, we sit down with Chaun Kraus fresh off passing his CFII checkride to break down the full experience — from the oral exam to the flight, the mistakes, the nerves, and the lessons learned along the way.

We talk about:

• The big gap between an instrument rating and a CFII checkride

• Why teaching instrument flying forces you to truly understand it

• IFR holds, wind correction, and why they trip up so many pilots

• How examiners catch teaching errors — and why wording matters

• Managing checkride nerves, snowballing mistakes, and self-doubt

• Explaining complex IFR concepts in a simple, student-friendly way

• Common regulation traps (alternates, approaches, and scenario questions)

• Why thinking out loud can save you on a checkride

• Lessons CFII candidates can apply before their own checkride

This episode is packed with real-world CFII advice, honest reflections, and practical teaching insights for:

• Instrument students

• CFII applicants

• Flight instructors

• Anyone preparing for an FAA checkride

If you’re working toward your CFII, struggling with holds, or wondering how to teach IFR more effectively, this one’s for you.

On this episode of Flight Tales, we get real about weather planning and aeronautical decision-making (ADM)—from using AviationWeather.gov and understanding winds aloft, to why TAFs can flip fast, and how personal minimums keep new pilots out of trouble. We talk about the stuff that actually matters when you stop flying local training blocks and start doing real cross-countries:✈️ How to plan weather days ahead (trend watching) vs. just checking the departure METAR🌫️ Fog season, temperature/dew point spread, and why forecasts can change overnight💨 Cold fronts, “clear sky = windy day” traps, and seasonal patterns that catch new pilots🧭 Commercial long cross-country planning: different terrain, different systems, different risks🟣 Using in-flight tools (ADS-B/ForeFlight/ATC/ASOS) to re-evaluate and divert early🧠 “Wild West Part 91” decisions (just because you can doesn’t mean you should)🎯 Why actual IMC feels nothing like hood time—and how that affects proficiency🤖 Autopilot: helpful safety tool… until it becomes a crutch

Bottom line: Plan on the ground, build margins, have a Plan B (and C), and don’t let external pressure make the decision for you.👇 Drop your questions or episode ideas in the comments—we’ll answer what we can.

Owens Flight Training is a flight school based in Lafayette, Louisiana.www.owensflighttraining.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/owensflighttrainingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/owensflighttraining

In this episode of Flight Tales, we dive deep into one of the most overlooked skills in private pilot training—mastering the paper navigation log.

New pilots often jump straight into ForeFlight and other advanced EFBs, but without understanding how those numbers are calculated, you’re setting yourself up for trouble on cross-countries, diversions, and your private pilot checkride.

🎙 What we cover in this episode:

Why every student pilot should learn paper nav logs before relying on automation

How understanding wind correction, dead reckoning, and pilotage builds real situational awareness

Why ForeFlight can help you—but also cripple you if it’s all you know

How to prepare for scenario-based private pilot checkrides

Weight & balance calculations during multi-leg cross-country scenarios

Why paper sectionals still matter (and what happens when technology fails)

Real-world stories and examples from training without GPS or ForeFlight

The importance of preflight planning, aviationweather.gov, and 1800wxbrief

Tips for navigating at night and avoiding common student pilot mistakes

✈️ Key takeaway:

Automation is an amazing tool—but it should be a luxury, not a crutch. Understanding the fundamentals makes you safer, more confident, and better prepared for anything a flight throws at you.

On this episode of Flight Tales, we sit down with newly-minted CFI Alex Foreman to talk about his unconventional path into aviation. Alex grew up in Crowley, Louisiana, took his very first helicopter ride at the Rice Festival, and still never imagined flying could be a real career. That changed years later after a simple conversation about discovery flights flipped a switch and sent him down the path to becoming a pilot.Alex shares how he dropped out of college, joined the National Guard as a 25H (IT and communications), and seriously considered a 10-year Guard contract to fly helicopters before deciding it was not the right move for his future. Instead, he found Owens Flight Training, took a discovery flight in an airplane, and instantly knew he had found his thing. From there, he pushed through private, instrument, and commercial in about a year while balancing work, Guard duties, and an IT internship.Now a CFI, Alex talks about getting his first students, including one who skipped the discovery flight and went straight into training, how different it feels flying from the right seat, why landings are so hard to teach, and how instructing exposes both your strengths and your bad habits as a pilot. If you are a student pilot, thinking about becoming a CFI, or wondering whether to go the military route or civilian flight school, this episode is packed with real-world insight.For more aviation stories, training tips, and behind-the-scenes flight school life, explore the rest of the Flight Tales episodes on the Owens Flight Training YouTube channel. To learn more about becoming a safe, knowledgeable, and confident pilot, visit our website at OwensFlightTraining.com.Owens Flight Training is a flight school based in Lafayette, Louisiana.www.owensflighttraining.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/owensflighttrainingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/owensflighttraining

In this episode of Flight Tales, we break down one of the most misunderstood topics in aviation: density altitude what it is, why it matters, and how it can turn your “plenty of runway” into “we might not make it over that mountain.”We talk through real-world examples from Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and even hot Louisiana days where the air gets thin enough to ruin your takeoff distance, climb performance, and yes even your grandma’s chances of riding along.What we cover in this episode:• Why density altitude affects everything: engine power, lift, and climb rate• How temperature, humidity, and elevation combine to wreck aircraft performance• Why your takeoff roll doubles at airports like Centennial or Driggs• The checkride trick: sea-level vs. high-elevation takeoff distance comparison• True airspeed vs. indicated airspeed and why mountain approaches feel terrifyingly fast• Weight & balance decisions including whether grandma makes the cut• Turbochargers, fuel management, and safe departure planning• Emergency briefing considerations for mountainous terrain• Multi-engine performance traps at high elevations• Why fields are better than trees. Always.If you’ve ever wondered why your plane climbs like a champ at sea level but turns into a tired lawnmower in Denver, this episode will make everything click.Owens Flight Training is a flight school based in Lafayette, Louisiana.www.owensflighttraining.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/owensflighttrainingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/owensflighttraining

Ever flown “under the shelf” to avoid talking to ATC? In this Flight Tales episode, we sit down with a Lafayette controller to unpack why flight following is your best friend from faster SAR response and easier handoffs to smoother sequencing around weather. We also nerd out on ADS-B coverage, VFR flight plans vs. flight following, digital/remote towers, RNAV vs. old VOR procedures, and swap stories about C-130s, KC-135s, F/A-18s, the B-17 walkthrough, Airwolf, and Wings Over Houston.What you’ll learn:How flight following actually works and why it’s safer and simpler than you thinkWhen centers say “unable” (workload realities) and what to do nextWhy filing a VFR flight plan + getting radar services is a power comboADS-B coverage improvements (even over water) & remaining radar gapsRNAV approaches, runway flips, and how ATC sequences during stormsThe future: digital/remote towers and datalink clearancesChapters:0:00 Intro & local fly-ins1:20 Airwolf, airshows & Blue Angels3:48 Heavies at regional fields (C-130s, KC-135s, F/A-18s)6:40 Vietnam-style UH-1 ride story9:41 Pyro, Pearl Harbor reenactments, B-17 walk-through12:50 Flight following—why ATC wants you talking17:05 “Under the shelf” vs. calling approach21:22 VFR flight plans + SAR timeline explained24:10 Radar gaps, center workload, “unable” moments27:10 Flight service stations today (what they still do)30:55 Call sign/code “stealing” & timing tricks33:20 When/why ATC helps file or amend36:05 Sequencing around storms—real-world case41:45 Digital/remote towers & camera grids44:40 RNAV beats legacy VORs (and why)46:50 Runway switch & long-runway ops49:35 Datalink vs. “paper strips” (the tech gap)50:54 Wrap: “Why wouldn’t you get flight following?”Owens Flight Training is a flight school based in Lafayette, Louisiana.www.owensflighttraining.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/owensflighttrainingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/owensflighttraining

Corporate aviation isn’t all champagne and leather seats—sometimes it’s customs phone calls, international ATC accents, and learning to love uncertainty. In this episode of Flight Tales, Trey (back on a Gulfstream V/G5) breaks down real life in corporate flying: why owners move, how that can flip a pilot’s world, what it’s like hopping to Bonaire and across Europe, and his #1 tip for new pilots who freeze on the radio—just ask.

Key takeaways:

• Corporate flying = incredible access & variety, but owners’ lives = your schedule.

• International ATC is workable—expect different accents, cadence, and procedures.

• Don’t be shy on the mic. Controllers can’t help with the question you didn’t ask.

If you enjoyed this, hit Like and Subscribe. Drop your questions below for Trey or suggest where we should take Flight Tales next.