Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit
Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 7 p.m. CST
Presenter: Catherine Cavagnaro

Even on the clearest, most beautiful flying days, pilots can find themselves in unexpected trouble soon after takeoff. Every year, accidents occur when visual flight rules (VFR) pilots rely too heavily on “see and avoid” judgment rather than sound preflight and departure planning. Terrain, obstacles, and airspace complexities don’t disappear just because the sky is blue. FAA CFI and DPE, Catherine Cavagnaro, will explore how applying elements of instrument flight rules (IFR) departure procedures can make any cross-country flight, VFR or IFR, safer and more predictable. You’ll learn how to interpret departure procedures, recognize when and how to use them, and incorporate obstacle departure concepts into your visual flight planning, including:

• Why “good weather” can sometimes encourage poor decision-making.
• How IFR departure procedures are designed, and how they can help all pilots.
• Practical ways to use departure planning tools and charts for situational awareness.
• Simple strategies for building safer habits before the wheels even leave the ground.

Whether you’re a student pilot preparing for your first long cross-country or an experienced aviator looking to sharpen your cross-country planning, this session will give you the tools to make your next flight start off safely, confidently, and smartly. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit.

Register Here