Winter flying, icing, fog, and cold-weather decision-making—how do pilots actually manage the risks when temperatures drop? ❄️✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive deep into winter flying realities, sharing real-world stories, hard lessons learned, and practical guidance every pilot should know. From scraping frost off windshields to flying IFR through icing conditions, this episode covers:

• The dangers of frost, ice, and snow on aircraft before takeoff

• Real pilot experiences with in-flight icing and how to escape it safely

• The difference between FIKI-certified aircraft and non-approved airplanes

• Deicing systems explained: boots, heated wings, fluids, and carb heat

• Why “just a little ice” can quickly become a life-threatening problem

• How cold weather affects engines, oil viscosity, and aircraft starting

• Fog types, winter METARs, ceilings, and visibility considerations

• Decision-making, get-there-itis, and winter risk management for pilots

🎯 Whether you’re a student pilot, private pilot, or instrument-rated aviator, this episode provides clear answers and actionable insights to help you fly smarter—and safer—during winter operations.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Join Aviation Mentors and stay confident, informed, and prepared for real-world flying challenges.

Navigating thunderstorms, aircraft maintenance, and in-flight decision-making—what really happens behind the controls when things get tense? ⚡✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dig into real-world scenarios that every pilot can learn from. From forecasting convective weather to navigating point-of-no-return decisions over the Rockies, the hosts break down:

• How to determine if a forecasted thunderstorm is safe to navigate around

• What really happens when you get too close to convective activity

• Brandon’s intense near-storm experience with family onboard—and what he’d do differently today

• Key external pressures that quietly influence your aeronautical decision-making

• The most overlooked pre-buy inspection items for first-time aircraft owners

• How to handle aircraft logbooks, AD compliance, and title/registration pitfalls

• Recovering from radio mistakes (and why ATC isn’t as scary as new pilots think)

Whether you’re a student pilot, a new aircraft owner, or a seasoned flyer looking to sharpen your safety mindset, this episode is packed with practical, experience-based aviation insights.

🚀 Tune in and elevate your pilot decision-making, weather awareness, and maintenance knowledge—one episode at a time.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Stay inspired, stay safe, and keep chasing your aviation dreams.

Pearl Harbor, aviation history, and real lessons for today’s pilots—how does a two-hour attack from 1941 still shape the way we fly today? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into the aviation side of the Pearl Harbor attack, exploring how 353 Japanese aircraft caught the U.S. by surprise and what modern pilots can learn from the event. From warbirds like the P-40 Warhawk, B-17 Flying Fortress, the Dauntless, and the Japanese Zero, to breakdowns in communication and readiness, the hosts connect one of history’s most significant aviation-driven moments to general aviation today.

They discuss:

• How the attack unfolded and the timeline of the first and second waves

• Why only a handful of U.S. aircraft were able to get airborne

• The roles of Zeros, Kates, and Vals—and their impact on the fleet

• Situational awareness lessons student pilots can apply today

• Communication breakdowns, ATC parallels, and traffic awareness

• Aircraft limitations, density altitude, V_NE, and pilot decision-making

• How warbirds demonstrate performance, energy management, and aircraft handling

• Personal insights, travel stories, and the importance of readiness in GA

🚀 Whether you’re a student pilot, history buff, or general aviation enthusiast, this episode blends real aviation knowledge with one of the most dramatic moments in military history—offering practical flying insights, safety takeaways, and a fascinating warbird breakdown.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired on your aviation journey.