Pilot Prepares to Start New Career There is a reason American Flyers is known as the "Finish-Up School" and Eric Goodenough of Deltona, Florida recently experienced the kind of finishing up we provide.
Eric was the kid who'd run outside every time he heard an airplane fly overhead. He'd search the blue sky for the object of his affection. In high school he studied Airspace Science in Air Force Junior ROTC. "I always had an amazement for airplanes," he said.
When the time was right, he began training at a well known flight school in Florida, but found the pace to be too slow. His uncle and mentor, Eddie Royko, suggested looking into American Flyers because he'd been their chief pilot in the '80s when they were based at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Operations Director Joe Cannizzaro met them on a weekend to show them around the Pompano school and Eric was easily convinced that this was the place for him.
He arrived in Pompano Beach in mid-February and flew nonstop. He needed 90 hours to qualify for his Commercial Certificate and within a month and a half he'd met the requirements and passed his check ride. Two days later he started working on his Multi-engine and took that check ride seven days later. From there he went right into the CFI Academy, which he finished with success.
Now he's taking a couple weeks off to see his family and he'll back as a CFI in Pompano. His long-term goal is to fly jets for a major airline someday, but for now he thinks he's going to enjoy teaching.
Aviation Destinations
As the school year begins, students of all ages are getting ready to return to a life of learning. However, you don’t have to be a student to appreciate the exciting and informative exhibits and displays the nation’s aviation museums have to offer.
Situated conveniently at Midland International (MAF) in Texas, the American Airpower Heritage Museum offers a full day of aviation, military and personnel history from all ages of aviation. Dedicated to preserving the “complete history of World War II military aviation,” the Airpower Heritage Museum showcases not just aircraft, but also weapons, artifacts, uniforms, armaments, equipment, photographs and memorabilia from Allied and Axis powers. With over 40,000 sq.ft. of permanent hands-on exhibits, this museum will appeal to aviation and history fans alike.
Also, don’t miss the American Combat Airmen Hall of Fame exhibit, as well as the Nose Art gallery. With 140 original works of art taken from actual combat aircraft, this is the largest collection of nose art in the world. The American Airpower Heritage Museum operates Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
New Pilot Has Career on Track When he was 16 years old, Alex Brewer was offered an opportunity to experience aviation first-hand and since then, he has made it into his life’s pursuit. His interest began when his grandfather, an enthusiastic pilot, decided to open up the world of flight to his grandchildren. As Alex said, it was something he “wanted to pass on.”
With this first foray into flight, Alex was enthralled and began training. This past year Alex, now 18, enrolled at American Flyers and earned his private pilot license in July with the Finish- Up program. But he’s not finished yet.
This coming fall, Alex will be attending Baylor University, where he will be an aviation science major with an emphasis on chemistry. Concurrently, he will be going through the university flight program. He hopes to have his CFI completed in his third year, allowing him to teach during his final term of school. “I wanted the degree to diversify my skills,” says Alex, but his final goal is to become a professional pilot one day.
Recalling his favorite flight experience thus far, Alex says he enjoyed the lessons on navigation. He particularly recalled learning pilotage and dead reckoning. It was great “seeing it all come together,” he says, and for right now, his future seems to have come together for him, and it is indeed bright.
When is it Time for New Shoes? During a preflight the tires are usually given a quick once over to make sure the tread is OK, but are you actually looking at all problem areas? Everyone knows that the tire should be changed before the tread actually disappears and to definitely never fly an aircraft with any cord showing. However, there are other equally important areas to be checked during a preflight. If your aircraft isn’t flown on a regular basis chances are the tires will need to be changed before the tread wears out. A condition called “dry rot” occurs when a tire is exposed to the elements. A good tire should have clean smooth rubber on the side walls. Dry rotting can be detected by small cracks in the side wall which usually run parallel to the wording or, in other words, a circular pattern running around the side wall of the tire. The second area to watch for dry rotting is the valve stem, which is the small black nipple that is used for adding air to the tire. Dry rotting in either of these areas can lead to serious problems. Dry rotting on the side wall can lead to side wall failure and/or a blown out tire. A valve stem with dry rotting can lead to loss of air pressure due to a slow leakage or a flat tire from a complete failure of the valve stem. If you pay close attention to these areas during your preflight you should be assured of many safe and happy landings.
Pioneer Aviator Wiley Post
“Wiley Post” was one of the most colorful and accomplished aviators of the so-called “Golden Age” of commercial aviation. Post was born in 1898 and was a Texas oil rig roughneck until a 1926 accident cost him his left eye. He purchased a Curtiss Jenny with the compensation from this accident. With a grand total of 2 hours of dual, Post went into the aviation business. It is a testament to his skill and single-minded determination that he was able to accomplish the almost superhuman feat of making the first around-the-world solo flight in 1933. His airplane was the “Winnie Mae”, a Lockheed Vega. In 1934 Post used the supercharged Winnie Mae, and the first pressure suit, to make a nonstop high altitude flight from California to Cleveland. Post and famed humorist Will Rogers were killed in a plane crash at Point Barrow, Alaska in 1935.
The Benefit of Practical Flight Instruction
By David Menconi, Chief Flight Instructor
You have been waiting all week for an opportunity to get with an instructor and receive some badly needed flight instruction. You may have even taken some time off from work or delayed or rescheduled a meeting in order to complete this flight training session. When you arrive at the airport you find out that there is an obstacle. Be it a thunderstorm, icing, low ceilings, low visibility, or an equipment malfunction, there always seems to be an obstacle present that can be used to prevent you from accomplishing your mission. An instructor that understands the benefits of practical flight instruction will take advantage of such situations in order to train a student in decision-making and risk management. Reviewing all available options and determining the risk associated with each will often allow the flight session to be conducted safely. Developing the student’s knowledge and skill to safely exercise the privileges of their pilot certificate comes from gaining experience in dealing with the practical realities that pilots deal with on a daily basis. If an instructor only trains in a sterile environment, they are not preparing the student for the practical, real life, situations that they will face when they encounter an obstacle after they are certified. Instead of disappointing a student, by canceling the flight training session, the student will learn and understand how to apply their knowledge to maintain a safe operation. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
Laugh Out Loud…
ATC: “N123YZ, say altitude.”
N123YZ: “ALTITUDE!”
ATC: “N123YZ, say airspeed.”
N123YZ: “AIRSPEED!”
ATC: “N123YZ, say cancel IFR.”
N123YZ: “Eight thousand feet, one hundred fifty knots indicated.”
Source: www.aviation-humour.5u.com
Don’t Leave Home Without It
Breakfast may play a role in maintaining a healthy weight. A study from the University of Massachusetts found that adults who regularly skipped breakfast over a one-year period were more likely to be obese as those who regularly ate a morning meal. And where you eat makes a difference: Study participants who frequently dined out in the morning were more likely to be obese than those who ate at home.
Source: Consumer Reports OnHealth, April 2004
How to Avoid Unintentional TFR Penetration
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are imposed for many reasons like Presidential protection, major league and college division one sports events, natural disaster areas (fires, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods, tornados), air shows, and car and air races. TFRs are often unintentionally violated by pilots depending too much on their GPSs or simply being unaware of the TFR or its location.
When you call 1-800-WX-BRIEF the NOTAM information is sometimes quickly read and tightly squeezed together and it may be hard to catch everything. When that happens be sure to ask the briefer to repeat the information. In order to get a visual image, you can follow along marking a sectional to make your own pictorial map of the airspace. Another option to supplement the information from your briefer is to visit the FAA web site, www.faa.gov. On the right side of the page, under “Top Requests” in a box entitled “Regulations and Guidelines” you will find a link for “Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).” Click on the link and you’ll arrive at a page that provides current TFRs in list form and map depictions. You can select a center, state or type of NOTAM. Please note, however, that this may not be a complete listing. Pilots should not use the information on this website for flight planning information, but should call their local Flight Service Station at 1-800-WX-BRIEF.
Another great place to look for TFRs is the Bureau of Land Management web site “http://airspace.nifc.gov/mapping/nifc/ index.cfm” that depicts TFR air space graphically on an interactive United States map.
Words of Wisdom…
Instructor quote: “After fighting a strong crosswind landing, I heard my student say, ‘Thanks God, I’ll take over now.’”
“As a pilot grows older, his stories get bigger and his facts get smaller,” teased Gil Pascal of Clarksville, Md.
Source: Herald-Mail.com 6/20/2006
From the Professor’s Desk By Dr. Michael Bliss
Q: Why is there such a great difference in performance between taking off with a headwind versus taking off with a tailwind?
A:All other factors being equal, the takeoff roll is based on the distance required to accelerate to takeoff airspeed. If takeoff airspeed is 65 knots and there is a 10 knot headwind, the takeoff roll is that distance needed to accelerate to a ground speed of 55 knots. If there is a 10 knot tailwind, the takeoff roll is that distance needed to accelerate to a ground speed of 75 knots. The Cessna 172 POH tells us to decrease takeoff distance 10% for each 9 knots of headwind and to increase takeoff distance 10% for each 2 knots of tailwind up to 10 knots of tailwind.
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“You’re Invited …” Join Us Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 Noon For a Free Pilot Seminar & Lunch
October – “Getting Prepared for Winter Operations”
Whether you fly in an area that is affected by the challenges associated with winter flying or if the coming months bring you the best flying of the year, we have some interesting and fun topics to talk about at our October BBQ. Those of us who’ll soon be bringing out parkas and boots will discuss preflight preparation, deicing, in-flight icing conditions, as well as landing procedures when dealing with icy or snow covered runways with poor braking action. For our friends in the warm and sunny locales, we’ll talk about anything from $100 hamburger joints to handling busy airspace. Bring your questions and your appetite!
November – “A New Way of Looking at Regulations” Join Us Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 12:00 Noon
Join us for an in depth discussion of the changes to Part 61 taking effect on October 20, 2009 as well as current Part 61 and Part 91 regulations. We will delve into the history and intent of particular regulations and provide guidance on how to comply with them. Don’t miss this discussion--you won’t find this information in your copy of the FARs!
END OF SUMMER SALE
*WINDSOCKS*
15" x 48" WAS $45.00 NOW $38.00
8" x 24" WAS $24.00 NOW $18.00 (Comes in Orange)
Windsocks make great gifts for Aviation Enthusiasts!
American Flyers Newsletter wants your stories! We are currently publishing readers’ submissions. We are looking for fresh, original material about any and everything to do with aviation. For details on how to submit and for submission guidelines. Click Here For More Details
… you can enjoy two hours of VFR or IFR simulator instruction, free, by attending either one of our weekend classes or taking an “IntroFlight”.
Get involved… introduce friends to flying. If you have a friend or acquaintance who might be interested in aviation send them in, or better yet, bring them! We fly 7 days a week. Click Here for more information
INTROFLIGHT $149.00
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