Flight planning

Explaining the rules – Flying night VFR

Watch how to plan and fly safely at night including checks, lighting, weather, LSALT and decision-making.

Explaining the rules – Flying over water

Watch this animation to learn key safety checks for flying over water, including fuel, gear and reporting.

Explaining the rules – Fuel planning

Take a look at our animated explainer for tips on meeting fuel requirements and preparing for a safe flight.

Flight planning - Flight Safety Australia

Talking to the tower

Get expert flight planning advice straight from an air traffic controller in this Flight Safety Australia video.

Airservices pilot safety shorts

Watch Airservices Australia videos on current and emerging risks in your operating airspace.

Four aviation experts sitting around a table

AvSafety investigation video - Fuel exhaustion

Our expert panellists analyse a collision resulting from improper fuel management near Dairy Creek, WA.

Explaining the rules

Quick animations explaining the rules on topics including flying over water, flying night VFR and more.

AvSafety webinars

Webinars with aviation experts sharing practical tips to help you with flight planning.

Crash comic

Short animated stories showing real pilot experiences.

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Audio

A plane flying above the bush, the sky behind them smoky and yellow

It’s a health hazard

The smoke was so thick I lost sight of the ground and couldn’t see the horizon – I was in IMC!

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Flight planning fail

A pilot learns the hard way during a close call flying in the dark without an NVFR rating. Discover the lesson learned.

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A white plane flying through a sky with wispy clouds above it

Planning for remote possibilities

A low-hours VFR pilot skirts his own safety margin in this audio close call.

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A white plane flying across a purple sky, with orange clouds behind it.

I didn't plan on that

In this audio close call, a pilot experiences fuel exhaustion and gets a timely lesson in flight planning.

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A grassy field with a mountain behind it and a sky full of fluffy white clouds above them

Twisting the blade

If something can go wrong, it will. A pilot learns a lesson in preparation after a rare but near-fatal fault.

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A small plane with water-like blue distortions over the top of it

Water, water everywhere

Knowing the difference between fuel and water could save your life. One pilot checks the colour, smell - even taste!

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Events and resources

A blue suitcase and a parked small private jet. Quadruple plane with a propeller for an air taxi in the sunset.

Weight and balance: your first line of defence

Weight and balance limits matter because staying within them helps you fly safely and predictably.

The night I went over the edge

Night take-off in heavy rain leads a pilot to line up with runway edge lights. Learn how light checks and clear cues keep you safe at night.

Getting out of a jam

Real-world control failure incidents from the ATSB database, with practical tips to help you think ahead, respond, and regain control.

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Performance charts: believe what you see

Explore some of the myths and realities of aircraft performance charts and how to master them.

NOTAMs – not always the full story

Checking NOTAMs is essential for safe operations, but they may not tell the full story. Find out why a call can make a difference.

Sharing the air

Practical guidance on preparation, traffic management awareness, and communication when sharing the air at busy airports.

Wires – they’re out to get you

The Aerial Application Association of Australia shares tips to avoid wire strikes – one of the biggest risks of low flying.

Decoding the maintenance release

Reading and understanding your aircraft’s maintenance release is essential. Brush up on the fundamentals.

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Quizzes

Fixed-wing pilot quiz 2026

Test your flight planning knowledge with real rules on weather, fuel, documents, circuit operations and more.

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Helicopter pilot quiz 2026

Check your helicopter flight planning knowledge, from fuel and alternates to night VFR and life jackets.

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Fixed-wing pilot quiz 2025

Know when to carry an aircraft’s maintenance release and ELT? Take the quiz and aim for 100%.

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Helicopter pilot quiz 2025

Confident about VFR fuel reserves and forecast validity? Take the quiz and see how your planning knowledge stacks up.

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Fixed-wing pilot quiz 2024

When must you submit a Flight Plan or nominate a SARTIME? Challenge yourself to get 10/10.

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Helicopter pilot quiz 2024

Confident planning low-level operations? Test your knowledge of minimum height rules and procedures.

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International resources

Returning to flying

Before your first flight back, refresh your skills, check the aircraft and plan for risk.

Offshore helicopter operations

Flying helicopters offshore brings unique risks. Learn the safety systems that improve survival after ditching.

Fatigue: a saboteur of good decisions

Fatigue creates predictable risks and unpredictable outcomes. A NZ pilot shares an urgent message about its dangers.

FAA: feeling the pressure to fly

The Rotorcraft Collective shares their take on eliminating the pressure to fly – starting with self-reflection.

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Cartoon of 2 pilots in cockpit with 1 saying - unstable go around

SKYbrary: go-around

Each go-around has its own unique challenges. Explore tools from SKYbrary to help pilots make informed decisions.

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EASA: off-site landings

Helicopter pilot, instructor and technician Mona Seeberger shares a series of videos on off-site helicopter landings.

Competence or just confidence?

How to decide if your skills are good enough - a New Zealand flight instructor on flight reviews.

56 seconds to live

See VFR into IMC through a helicopter pilot’s eyes, brought to you by the US Helicopter Safety Team.

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The seat of an airplane with a four-point safety harness installed

Passenger safety briefing

Often-overlooked essentials for every preflight passenger briefing, from the AOPA Air Safety Institute.

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Resources from our store

Safety resources for purchase or free download.

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Preventing airspace infringements

Strengthen your awareness of airspace requirements with a card that highlights common infringement risks and how to avoid them.

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Aviation decision-making

Refresh your decision-making with the PILOT model, using a simple card to guide key in-flight choices.

The cover of the Visual Flight Rules Guide

VFRG and Plain English Guides

Download our Visual Flight Rules and Plain English Guides to help you understand aviation rules and regulations.

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AvSafety cards

Enhance your knowledge of crucial safety topics with our popular A5 AvSafety cards – now available for free download.

Store

Don’t fly near bushfires

A poster showing the minimum safe distance and other safety advice when flying or operating crewed aircraft near a bushfire.

A graphic image of clouds full of gears, aeroplanes, and electronics

Human factors for pilots

This kit includes workbooks, videos and case studies to help you understand all aspects of human factors principles.

Pilot wellbeing poster

You are the most important pre-flight check. Visit the online store to order informative pilot safety posters.

The cover of the Radio Procedures in Non-Controlled Aerospace booklet

Radio procedures in non-controlled airspace

Brush up on radio calls including radio frequencies and when to broadcast in non-controlled aerodromes.