Flight Tales

What does it take to go from teaching students in a Cessna to flying a Challenger 300 business jet across the United States and internationally?

In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with Brennan Gouaux, a Challenger 300 First Officer, to discuss the realities of corporate aviation, crew resource management, international flying, and what it's really like operating a high-performance business jet.

Brennan shares what surprised him most after leaving the flight instructor world, how professional flight crews communicate, why Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) matter, and the lessons every pilot should learn before transitioning into multi-crew operations.

They also dive into international flying, including trips to Panama, working with international handlers, customs, language barriers, challenging airspace, and how flying outside the United States is very different from domestic operations.

• Transitioning from CFI to Challenger 300 pilot
• Corporate aviation vs airline flying
• Crew Resource Management (CRM) explained
• How First Officers support captains
• Why SOPs make flying safer
• Captain upgrades and Part 135 requirements
• International business jet operations
• Flying to Panama and international customs
• Flight planning outside the U.S.
• Language barriers and ATC communication
• Why handlers are essential overseas
• Life as a corporate jet pilot
• The importance of speaking up in the cockpit
• Lessons every pilot can apply to become safer

Whether you're a student pilot, flight instructor, aspiring corporate pilot, or simply fascinated by aviation, this conversation provides an inside look at professional flight operations and the teamwork that keeps every flight safe.

In this episode:

What does it take to become an air traffic controller at one of the busiest airports in the country?In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with Jake Ross, an air traffic controller who is leaving Lafayette Regional Airport for an exciting new assignment at Orlando International Airport (MCO).Jake gives an inside look at the FAA transfer process, what controller training is really like, how facilities are staffed, and the challenges of working increasingly busy airspace. The conversation also explores the nationwide controller shortage, how new technology and AI could impact air traffic control, and what pilots should know about communicating with ATC.Ryan also shares stories from flying a brand-new Cirrus SR22T and discusses the importance of preparation, weather planning, and making smart aeronautical decisions.Whether you're a student pilot, experienced aviator, or curious about becoming an air traffic controller, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of aviation's most important careers.Topics Covered:Jake Ross's transfer from Lafayette Tower to Orlando InternationalHow FAA air traffic controller transfers workATC training, certification, and Oklahoma City AcademyThe nationwide air traffic controller shortageController staffing and facility operationsAI and the future of air traffic controlPilot and controller communicationFlying a brand-new Cirrus SR22TWeather planning and preflight decision makingAdvice for becoming a safer, more knowledgeable, and more confident pilotOwens Flight Training is a flight school based in Lafayette, Louisiana.www.owensflighttraining.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/owensflighttrainingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/owensflighttraining

Buying an airplane is one of the biggest investments a pilot can make—but choosing the wrong one can cost you far more than the purchase price.

In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with A&P/IA mechanic Vernon Knowles to break down everything pilots should know before buying an aircraft. From defining your mission and setting a realistic budget to finding the right mechanic for a pre-buy inspection, this episode is packed with practical advice that could save you thousands of dollars.

Whether you're shopping for your first Cessna 172, dreaming of a Bonanza, considering a Cherokee Six, Cessna 210, TBM, King Air, or even a Pilatus PC-12, you'll learn how experienced aircraft owners and mechanics evaluate an airplane before making the purchase.

In this episode:

How to determine the right airplane for your mission

Hidden ownership costs most buyers overlook

Why a pre-buy inspection is NOT an annual inspection

How to find an aircraft-specific "guru"

Red flags when shopping for used airplanes

Engine time vs. calendar time—which matters more?

Why cheap airplanes can become expensive mistakes

Negotiating after a pre-buy inspection

Insurance, ferry flights, and first-time ownership

Maintenance costs, corrosion, parts availability, and long-term planning

If you're thinking about aircraft ownership—or simply want to become a smarter pilot—this episode is a must-watch.

What was flying like before GPS, ForeFlight, glass cockpits, and even transponders?

In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with legendary Louisiana pilot, former Designated Pilot Examiner Cliff Rice, whose aviation career spans more than 65 years and over 28,000 flight hours.

Cliff shares incredible firsthand stories from aviation's golden era, including:

• Learning to fly in 1958
• Flying Louisiana governors for decades
• Operating the original Learjet 23, King Airs, Aero Commanders, and helicopters
• Giving checkrides as a DPE beginning in 1968
• Flying before GPS, ADS-B, DME, and modern avionics
• How pilots navigated using only paper charts, wind triangles, and dead reckoning
• Funny and unforgettable passenger stories
• Lessons learned from emergency situations
• Why today's pilots have incredible technology—but still need strong fundamentals

Whether you're a student pilot, flight instructor, airline pilot, or aviation enthusiast, this episode offers a fascinating look at how aviation has evolved and the timeless lessons that never change.

If you have any questions or suggestions for future episodes of Flight Tales, leave them in the comments below or message us at [email protected]

In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with Air Traffic Controller Nick Jeffers to talk about practice approaches and IFR training flights to weather decisions, missed approaches, traffic sequencing, and pilot communication, Nick shares valuable insights that can make every pilot safer and more effective in the air.Whether you're a student pilot, instrument student, CFI, or experienced aviator, this conversation provides a rare look at what controllers are thinking when they're working your flight.In This Episode:How to properly request multiple practice approachesWhen pilots should file IFR instead of staying VFRCommon communication mistakes student pilots makeWhat ATC needs to know before your flightWhy practice approaches sometimes get delayedWeather decision-making from the controller's perspectiveMissed approaches, alternates, and fuel planningHow controllers sequence training aircraft with airline trafficWhy ATC wants you talking to them—even when you don't have toBehind-the-scenes stories from the radar roomNick also explains how controllers balance safety, efficiency, and training operations while managing everything from Cessnas to regional jets and military aircraft.If you've ever wondered what the person on the other side of the radio is thinking, this episode is for you.Flight Tales brings pilots, instructors, examiners, controllers, and aviation professionals together to share real-world lessons from the cockpit and beyond.Owens Flight Training is a flight school based in Lafayette, Louisiana.www.owensflighttraining.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/owensflighttrainingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/owensflighttraining

What is the difference between a Forward Slip to a Landing and a Power-Off 180? When should pilots go around? What are the most common mistakes Designated Pilot Examiners see during checkrides?In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with Peyton Enloe, an experienced Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), to discuss practical flying techniques, checkride expectations, and the safety habits every pilot should develop.Topics include:Forward Slip vs. Power-Off 180When a go-around is the right decisionStable approach concepts and FAA emphasis areasCommon checkride mistakes applicants makeCrosswind landing proficiency and training tipsWhy professional pilots are monitored for unstable approachesHow pilot training standards have evolved over the yearsFlying internationally, including operations in Russia and EuropeThe importance of clearing turns and collision avoidanceHabits that separate safe pilots from unsafe onesWhether you're a student pilot preparing for your first checkride, a flight instructor, or an experienced aviator looking to sharpen your skills, this episode is packed with practical knowledge from the examiner's seat.Flight Tales brings real-world aviation stories, training advice, and conversations with pilots, instructors, examiners, mechanics, and industry professionals.Like, Subscribe, and leave a comment with topics you'd like covered in future episodes.Owens Flight Training is a flight school based in Lafayette, Louisiana.www.owensflighttraining.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/owensflighttrainingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/owensflighttrainingYoutube - https://www.youtube.com/@OwensFlightTraining

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.