AviNation Magazine July 2019

2019 JULY

AT TR ACT, EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOUTH IN AVIATION

INSIDE Diversity in Aviation Follow Your Own Flightplan Glider Across the County

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C A L B A P T I S T. E D U / A V I A T I O N

July 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introducing The Experimental Aircraft Channel............................................ 6 flyGIRL Scholarship Winner 2019! Dr. Kimberly Metris................................ 8 EAA Chapter 534 Awards $10,000 Scholarship to Aviation Youth Member........................................................... 10 Here Comes the Future..........................................................................................12 What Mentoring Can Do for You.........................................................................14 Elevate Aviation.........................................................................................................18 Open Air Flight Instructor’s Corner................................................................. 20 Diversity in Aviation................................................................................................22 Follow Your Own Flightplan................................................................................24 Glider Across the Country....................................................................................26 FSANA’s Youth Voice............................................................................................ 30 The Journey to My First Solo..............................................................................32 Best SUN ‘n FUN Ever............................................................................................36 So You Want to Hire Some Younger People?............................................... 40 Soar Into STEM........................................................................................................ 44

2019 JULY

AT TR ACT, EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOUTH IN AVIATION

INSIDE Diversity in Aviation Follow Your Own Flightplan Glider Across the County

Brought to you by:

$5.00 | www.avinationusa.com

Academy Cover Photo from LIFT n pg. 22 pg. 12, Diversity in Aviatio Here Comes the Future

Supporter Index: Please support these fine organizations AB Flight, LLC.....................................................46 AeroLEDS.............................................................. 45 ALSIM..................................................................... 25 Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR)...........46 Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc............ 38 ByDanJohnson.com..........................................46 California Baptist University.............................2 Culver Props.........................................................46 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase............... 38 EAA Young Eagles................................................7 Envoy...................................................................... 48 Experimental Aircraft Channel.........................6 ExpressJet............................................................ 36 Flight Attendant Prep Academy.................. 42 Flying Legend USA............................................ 19 General Aviation News.....................................46 KievProp America............................................... 17 LIFT Academy..................................................... 43 Lightspeed...............................................................9 Lockwood Aviation........................................... 33 M-Squared Aircraft, Inc.................................... 35 MATCO mfg......................................................... 27 Midwest LSA Expo............................................44 Piedmont Airlines............................................... 34 Schweiss Doors................................................... 29 Sebring Flight Academy................................. 42 Sensenich Propeller Mfg. Co., Inc....................8 STEMPilot.................................................................3 Stewart Systems....................................................5 The American Civil Wings Society............... 21 The Ninety Nines................................................ 39 Van Bortel Aircraft............................................. 47 Van’s Aircraft......................................................... 11 Zenith Aircraft Company................................ 32

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About AviNation AviNation exists to attract, educate and empower youth in aviation.

AviNation magazine strives to give readers insight into the future of aviation by focusing on aviation students, programs, events and innovative approaches to the promotion and continued growth of the aviation industry.

Staff & Contributors Publisher: Jacob Peed Copy Editors: Sarah Waychoff

Vicky Rink Administrative & Circulation Coordinator: Jessica Peed Design & Production: Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Mankato, MN Correspondence Editorial submissions and other correspondence E-mail: jppeed@gmail.com Phone: (515) 408-3763 www.avinationusa.com Advertising Phone: (515) 408-3763 E-mail: jppeed@gmail.com www.avinationusa.com Proud Sponsor of: fe6 Gaming Organization Xbox Gamertag: fe6Clover Contributing Writers Brooke Bennett Bryan Walstrom Hayden White Jeff Jorgenson Jill Meyers John Lotte Kendra Kinkade Mike Zidziunas Natalie Kelly Rene Banglesdorf Riley Speidel Ted Luebbers Tyler Wisbar

I would first like to give a special “Thank You” to the organizations and special people who made our first annual “Gathering of the Mentors” at SUN ‘n FUN a huge success. Many people were introduced to each other that are doing similar things with our young people and these connections are priceless. Thank you, AB Flight and owner Art Tarola, for helping with fetching supplies and for financially sponsoring the food and beverages for the entire event. LIFT Academy for their promotion and generous financial dedication as a Cornerstone Supporter of AviNation. Our guests walked away with a nice goody bag full of LIFT swag put together by Lauren Guadion and her awesome team.

Thanks to everyone at the event for going above and beyond their duties that each and every one of us have in order to ensure vibrance in our great industry for generations to come.

We can all do our part right now. I have found in my journey while developing the AviNation platform, that now is a vital time to contribute to our “Youth Movement”. There seems to be a huge effort and push now, more than ever in my recent memory within our industry, at all levels and segments. Certainly magnified by a personnel shortage. There is an abundance of “Heavy Hitters” who give their time, treasure and networks to causes that help mentor our younger generation. Get involved, the returns are invaluable!

On a development note, Junior Staff have been assigned to research and execute involvement in the gaming world, starting with branding and sponsorships. We think there is tremendous value in being in front of this very interactive and technical audience. More to come...

We will be at Oshkosh and will have our magazines available for pickup at the China Pavilion tent. Bulk and individual magazines and back issues will be available for free to anyone or organization that is interested in spreading the magazine to their local youth.

Oshkosh or Bust!

Jacob Peed jppeed@gmail.com

Thank you to our Cornerstone Supporter I would like to dedicate this issue to my mentor, best friend, partner in crime and big brother, Justin Peed.

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INTRODUCING The Experimental Aircraft Channel

By Bryan Walstrom For all of you that are truly interested in aviation, at the “Builder” and “Manufacturing” level, I invite you to check out the “Experimental Aircraft Channel.”

This channel can be found on YouTube and also on a very active Facebook page highlighting Experimental, Light Sport and also Ultralight Aviation and exists in hopes of educating and encouraging others to “Just Built It” be it from plans or kits. The Experimental Aircraft Channel (owned/operated by myself “Bryan Walstrom of Walstrom Aviation” in Florida) and I produce video interviews with fellow Builders at their homes, workshops and hangars to give the world a “behind-the-scenes” look into where and how you can build kit aircraft. Often interviews are scheduled with manufacturers as well giving you a detailed “How-it’s made” tour of the manufacturing process and facilities.

I felt that there is currently a gap or disconnect with having a very personal connection with the builder of these aircraft after the kits leave the manufacturer and wanted to find a way to fix that. Years ago while traveling for work, I would look up fellow builders and ask to stop by just to see the progress of kit project and simply to “talk-shop” with another aviation enthusiast. I also would seek out the locations of aircraft manufacturers, big or

small and certified or experimental, just to see for myself “how-it’s-made. One day I thought, “I bet others would like to see this and learn about this and maybe it would be a great way to introduce new people into aviation by seeing first hand what builders workshops look like and who is “actually” building these great kit aircraft!” So began this passionate journey of starting this YouTube Channel and meeting and speaking with new people in aviation.

Very recently I met Jacob Peed of AviNation and discovered that we have the same passion for getting people involved in aviation. We spoke about ideas on getting people involved young or old and possibly seeking out schools for scholarship programs at the maintenance/engineering level of aviation. And how we might get the younger crowd distracted from gaming and social media endless scrolling and get either tools in their hand to work on aircraft or a yoke to go actually fly an airplane! The youth, of course, is the future of aviation and we all must invest together to some level if we want to see aviation not only in our future but theirs as well. I invite you to follow along and support both Experimental Aircraft Channel and AviNation by telling others about it and reading, watching, subscribing to see what happens next!

Experimental Aircraft Channel can be found on YouTube: www.youtube.com experimentalaircraftchannel Experimental Aircraft Channel can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/experimentalaircraftchannel

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Find Your Place in the Sky.

Be a part of the next generation of aviators.

Since 1992, EAA’s Young Eagles program has provided more than 2 million kids ages 8-17 a free airplane ride. You, too, can continue the tradition and share The Spirit of Aviation®. Volunteering is a chance to see a child’s aviation dreams take flight. Visit EAA.org/YE to learn more.

A flight is only the beginning.

Once back on the ground, the new Young Eagle will have access to incredible resources such as: > FREE EAA student membership > FREE access to Sporty’s Online Learn to Fly Course ($199 value) > FREE Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) student membership > FREE electronic copy of EAA Sport Aviation magazine > FREE first flight lesson* ($120 value) > Reimbursement for the FAA written exam (up to $160) > Access to flight training awards, education scholarships, and EAA Air Academy camperships

Visit EAA.org/YE to learn more. *Upon completion of the first three volumes of the Sporty’s Online Learn to Fly Course

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Scholorship Winner!

Dr. Kimberly Metris

The flyGIRL Scholarship has distributed two scholarships this year to two well-deserving applicants. After partnering with Women in Aviation International, we received over two hundred applications for the award. The scholarship made its first distribution in 2018 to flyGIRL Megan Gerding. She has since become an instructor with her CFI and CFII at Sporty’s Academy near Cincinnati, Ohio.

As the founder of flyGIRL, I’ve been very involved with the review and selection of the prizewinners. Because of the large number of submissions, it was decided to form a

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review committee. This all-female panel was completely comprised of licensed pilots. We all enjoyed reading the essays and reviewing the personal stories of all the passionate female aviators. It was tough narrowing down the options. Each person was well-deserving of the reward. However, the reality is that funds are limited. Believe me, if I won the lottery, it would all go to funding more scholarships so that more women could pursue their aviation dreams!

After speaking with the top five applicant choices, there was one whose story stood out slightly more than the others. During a video

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conference call, Dr. Kimberly Metris shared with me her love of tail-wheel flying and aerobatics. As we know, there are few female pilots. There are even fewer female aerobatic and tail-wheel pilots.

Kimberly is a former college professor and has a love for teaching others. She discovered her own flying passion by accident after graduating from college while living in South Africa. Her job as an aerial survey biologist opened her eyes to bigger dreams for herself in aviation. She shared with me her desire to combine her love of aviation with her love of teaching by instructing others in aerobatics and tail-wheel flying. She has a vision of one day running her own flight school with her husband, who is also a pilot. She would love to have a grass-strip airfield for students and visiting pilots. Some of her favorite aircraft include the Super Decathlon, Citabria, Stearman and Just Aircraft SuperSTOL, among others. If she’s flown all of these, I’ll admit that I’m jealous!

Since winning the flyGIRL scholarship, Kimberly has completed her instrument training and is currently working on her commercial rating. Her flying future is bright and I’m confident that she will do a tremendous amount for those interested in aviation, young and old, male or female!

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EAA Chapter 534 Awards $10,000 Scholarship to Aviation Youth Member

By Ted Luebbers

The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 board of directors named Mateo Colmenero the winner of a $10,000 Ray Aviation Scholarship at their May general membership meeting. This money is to be used for flight training towards a private pilot’s license.

Also, The Lightspeed Co. has teamed up with EAA and the Ray Aviation Scholarship Flight Program to award each scholarship recipient one of their high-quality noise cancelling headsets when the student successfully completes their flight training.

Mateo Colmenero has spent four years learning how to build and repair aircraft through EAA Chapter 534’s Aviation Youth Program. It has always been his dream to become a professional pilot and one day fly for an airline.

At the regular meeting of the Aviation Youth Program on June 8, Mateo described some of the experiences he has had during his first three lessons and it was clear to see that he was enjoying the experience and learning a lot. His eyes lit up and he was smiling from ear to ear as he talked about his flights learning to do 30 degree turns, slow flight and landing.

He is currently taking his dual instruction flight training and ground school at Sun Aviation Inc. located at the Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg,FL. The plane in which he is taking his lessons is the school’s Cessna 152, a single engine fixed wing aircraft.

Gretchen Crecelius, EAA Chapter 534 Scholarship Coordinator and Mateo Colmenero celebrate his scholarship award.

year to a young person who qualifies. Chapter 534 hopes to be able to grant another scholarship next year to a deserving member of their Aviation Youth Program.

EAA Chapter 534 has been very active for several years introducing kids to the wonders of flight and general aviation through their Young Eagles first flight program and Aviation Youth Program.

He has just completed his freshman year at Lake Sumter State College where he is studying General Education.

Mateo is a resident of Eustis, FL and is a graduate of Umatilla High School.

His parents, Carlos and Pamela, have been very supportive of Mateo’s dream to become a pilot.

Due to the national shortage of pilots and aircraft mechanics because of retirements and aging out, the Ray Foundation, EAA and the Lightspeed Co are doing all they can to inspire and financially help young people fill theses ranks.

EAA will give out 100 $10,000 scholarships during 2019 through their local chapters who qualify to enter young people for this award. As time moves on, these chapters will be eligible to continue to award a scholarship each

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If you have further questions about EAA you may go to the following web sites. www.eaa.org or www.534.eaachapter.org

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HERE COMES THE FUTURE THE NEW FACES OF AVIATION

With a tremendous commercial pilot shortage on the not-so-distant horizon, everyone knows that change is coming. But what will it look like?

Who will fill the void as baby boomer pilots retire, creating opportunities for a new group of aviators to pursue their dreams?

An exciting aspect of Republic Airways LIFT Academy is the opportunity it has created for a new era of diversity in the aviation industry.

Those taking control in the cockpit will be a more diverse group of pilots like the ones taking flight at LIFT. With an intentional mission of making aviation a more attainable and affordable reality than it has traditionally been, LIFT is widening and transforming the pilot pool. The days of a white male-dominated industry may not be gone yet, but they are starting to be part of the past. Meet the future of commercial airline pilots.

“AVIATION IS A BIG INDUSTRY, AND IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REPRESENT ALL COLORS AND GENDERS IN THE FIELD.” – Sean Bell

Jared Hadley As an eight-year-old boy, Jared Hadley knew the first time he flew in an airplane that he wanted to be a pilot.

The cost of attending an aviation program through a traditional four-year university was too high and became a barrier for him to begin flight training. Hearing about LIFT changed that. “LIFT is providing people like me who have just graduated high school a program that is more affordable, and it’s also geared to have students achieve their licenses in a timelier manner,” says 19-year-old Hadley.

In addition to being excited about his own future, Hadley is also pumped about more people like him becoming pilots. “I believe that with the shortage of pilots today and with schools like LIFT making a career as a commercial pilot possible for a more diverse population, the aviation industry will be able to hire from a much different pool of individuals than it has in the past. It will still include people who have a proven track record of responsibility, education, determination, leadership and professionalism, but gender, race or socio-economic status will not be a factor,” he states. “I see myself changing pilot stereotypes because I am young, and I am Asian. As society is more diverse and expects equality in all aspects of life, the aviation industry has to become open to a more diverse pool of pilots.”

Hadley plans to complete a degree while working as a pilot at Republic Airways and encourages others to pursue their goals. “I am more than thrilled in my decision to become a commercial pilot. Anyone can be a pilot if you have the passion and determination.”

Sean Bell Men and women who are looking to change their careers are also discovering this vocation as an option they had never previously considered. Sean Bell, 26, was working as a flight dispatcher for Republic when he decided to pursue what he has loved since he was a kid. “I didn’t want to sit at a desk for 10 hours a day dispatching and watching other pilots fly when I knew that could be me,” says Bell. “It took a lot to really think about doing it because of the training, and I already had a nice-paying job as a flight dispatcher. But I knew what my goal was and wanted to take action.”

Like his fellow classmates, diversity in aviation is also important to Bell, and he’s encouraged by what he’s observed. “I do see the industry leaning in that direction. I believe having pilots with the right attitude and perspective on how the industry is moving and growing will help. Aviation is a big industry, and it’s really important to represent all colors and genders in the field.”

For those who are wondering if this career could be right for them, Bell has some words of advice. “If you’re stuck in a career and want to become a pilot, make that jump. Life is full of risk but the reward of becoming a pilot is extremely great. I know that this is the best decision I have ever made.”

WHat

Tori

MENTORING CAN DO FOR

YOU!

The Cambridge mentored people Dictionary defines in the workplace the word ‘mentor’ in my roles as as “an experienced an Aerospace and trusted person Engineer, Program who gives another Manager and person advice and Business Leader. I help, esp. related to have been a Women in work or school, over a period Aviation International (WAI)

By Jill Meyers of time.” In Greek mythology, Chapter President several times Mentor was a loyal friend and adviser since 2012 (currently leading the to Odysseus, king of Ithaca. Mentor helped San Diego Chapter), which has afforded raise Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, while Odysseus me opportunity to mentor quite a few young was away fighting the Trojan War. Mentor became women. I met some very special Embry-Riddle Telemachus’ teacher, coach, counselor and protector, Aeronautical University (ERAU) students through my building a relationship based on affection and trust. support to Dreams Soar, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to inspiring youth about Science, Technology, Engineering I have been a mentor for many years, and one of the and Math (STEM) education and aviation careers. reasons I spend so much of my own time helping Some of these mentor-mentee relationships resulted others is because I never had a mentor. When I was in from specific requests for my help, and others just high school, I was already passionate about aviation happened organically through building relationships and earned my pilot’s license during my senior year. and friendships. Here are some of my success But because I never saw any women working in stories, which I hope will educate the readers to the aviation jobs, it never occurred to me that I could importance of either finding a mentor or being be a professional pilot, aircraft mechanic, air traffic a mentor. controller, or airport manager. As Dr. Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut in space, said: “You As President of the WAI San Diego Chapter, can’t be what you can’t see.” If young girls don’t see I collaborate with several flight schools in the area. One women working in a given career field, especially a of them contacted us in 2016 to offer scholarships for male-dominated one, they may never know what’s 10 high school or college age girls to experience a “Do possible. My teachers and guidance counselor were You Want to be an Airline Pilot?” introductory flight. not much help regarding career advice, despite me We selected the students to participate in this graduating near the top of my class and receiving a , age 19 program, including Victoria (Tori) Peck. full scholarship to college. And since I didn’t have any at the time, had been inspired by Amelia Earhart in mentors outside of school, I had no one to guide me or the 4th grade, dressing up like the famous aviator give advice on what my future could hold. for a school project. Tori’s uncle, an airline pilot, also encouraged her to fly. But Tori stated that it wasn’t So, I became a mentor to provide others the type until I connected with her and offered her one of of support I never had in my youth. I have

Tori

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Civil Air Patrol Cadets these scholarships that she was hooked on the idea of becoming a pilot. As soon as her intro flight was over, Tori walked up to the counter at the school and signed up for flight training. And she has never looked back!

Tori and I get together several times a year to review her progress and goals for flying. She has progressed amazingly well through flight training, obtaining her private pilot rating, instrument rating, and commercial rating, along with becoming sky-diving certified. I think it is safe to say the sky is not the limit for Tori!

The official definition of mentoring says that it happens over a period of time, but I don’t believe it needs to be long term to be successful. I have had occasions where my participation at one event has made a difference in someone’s life. I was asked to be the guest speaker at a summer graduation ceremony for a Science Olympiad program for elementary school students. I talked to the students about getting my pilot’s license as a teenager

Paris

and about some of the really cool airplanes I worked on as an Aerospace Engineer. I wasn’t sure how much impact I might have on kids this age, but the response was really positive!

Then, when I was walking towards my car to leave, came running after me to take a selfie, telling me how “awesome” I was and how much they loved hearing that girls could work on airplanes! Maybe that was a spark for their future? Another time I gave a presentation called “Aerospace Engineering as a Career” to a squadron of At the end of the presentation some of the cadets had fairly routine questions for me. But my favorite moment was when one cadet stood up at attention and announced that he thought everything I had done in my career was so fascinating that he was going to change his major to Aerospace Engineering the next day! I also helped a high school student named Gallegos walk through a series of aviation career options while she was applying to colleges. We had seen each other a few times in the past and simply met for coffee, which was all it took for me to provide her a list of recommendations to think about. It is these moments that I cherish and do, in fact, categorize as mini mentoring experiences.

two little girls

Civil Air Patrol cadets.

Kaitlyn

As an Air Force veteran, I am very proud to have helped three women enter military aviation careers.

Krula when I first moved to San Diego in I met 2014. She was trying to decide whether or not to join the Air Force, which was a lifelong dream of hers, but she also wanted to stay based in San Diego and have a family and connections to the community. Through our many talks and mentoring sessions, Paris applied to Officer’s Training School (OTS), asking me to write one

Paris

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Naia

Shea of her letters of recommendation. She was accepted and after OTS transitioned to the Air Force Reserves. I am so proud of Paris for finding the balance she always sought, as she is currently an aircraft maintenance officer in the Air Force Reserves, and also holds a civilian job as the Assistant Airport Manager for one of the General Aviation airports in San Diego.

I also mentor two incredible women who are currently in the U.S. Navy’s flight training program. I met Davis several years ago when she was an enlisted member of the Navy, working as a mechanic on H-60 helicopters. She told me that she always wanted to be a pilot, so I helped her find a local flight instructor to take private lessons. In parallel, I helped Shea with her application to Officer Candidate School (OCS), where she was accepted and is now learning to fly jets!

One year later, I helped my friend Hart apply to Navy OCS. I had selected Serena to take over as President of WAI

Shea

Serena

Serena

San Diego in the summer of 2017, to provide her the leadership experience I sensed she needed and for which she was naturally talented. Serena also was accepted into OCS and is now in flight training. Both Shea and Serena invited me to their OCS graduation ceremonies, and it was my honor to be there and to arrange for my friend and colleague, CAPT Tamara Graham, to perform their private commissioning ceremonies. Part of being a mentor is also networking to connect others, and I am so glad that CAPT Graham will be available to mentor both of these Naval aviators in the future.

One of the volunteers from Dreams Soar who I am Butler-Craig. Naia was a student mentoring is at ERAU, studying Aerospace Engineering with the goal of becoming a NASA Astronaut. Because of my technical background, Naia first asked me to review one of her class projects. I was so impressed with her that we started a very productive mentor-mentee relationship. I was able to do things like introduce Naia to a retired female astronaut, help her with graduate school decisions, and provide her career guidance.

Last fall, I recommended Naia for the first Space Engineering scholarship ever offered by WAI, and she was selected! I was so proud to be at the WAI conference in March to witness Naia being awarded the $10,000 scholarship. The funds will come in handy as Naia is heading to Georgia Institute of Technology this fall to start their Aerospace Engineering PhD program.

Naia

Sometimes, mentoring happens by accident. We were getting ready to move away from San Diego earlier this year and our house was being shown to prospective Bynum walked through buyers. A woman named the house and froze when she entered my home office.

“Are you in aviation?” she asked. “Yes, I am”, I replied.

Erin told me she wasn’t actually ready to move yet, but she said “something told me to come and look at this house.” Erin is in her mid-40s and has always wanted

Erin

“I am so honored to be one of the people helping to guide her towards achieving her dream.”

Jill Meyers

Kaitlyn to be a pilot. We have been meeting and talking ever since, and I am helping Erin carve out her path to become a commercial pilot. She is brave to be making a mid-career change, and I am so honored to be one of the people helping to guide her towards achieving her dream.

As you see through these stories, mentoring can be quite beneficial to the person being mentored. So, if you don’t have a mentor, think about finding someone to help navigate your future! For the rest of you, I believe the rewards of being a mentor are even greater.

Erin I have experienced more joy and personal fulfillment than I can express from mentoring people like you’ve been reading about in this article. The day you get that phone call, text message or email, hearing someone you’ve helped shouting from the rooftops with their big news, is a day you never forget. And remember that you can be a mentor to someone regardless of your age! Get out there and be like Mentor from Greek mythology, building relationships with others based on affection and trust. You never know how many lives you can change.

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By Kendra Kincade

towers and centres, and more.

I am writing this article on a flight with First Air to the rugged, strong, beautiful arctic tundra of Iqaluit.

I am full of excitement as I embark upon a new adventure - travelling to Nunavut. There is one reason I am on this journey, a reason that encompasses many elements, and that reason is Elevate Aviation.

Participants in the Cross-Country Tour are offered a mentor from our mentorship program. This program is called ‘Elevate Aviation’s Flight Path to Success’ and is a five-tier mentorship program that provides support to women either looking to get into aviation or already in aviation who want to connect with successful women in the field. This approach helps introduce a ‘try before you buy’ experience for those looking at aviation for the first time and also supports women who are already in the field.

Elevate Aviation was born from a desire to help women find lives they love through an avenue they most likely never considered - aviation.

Beginning with an aviation calendar, Elevate Aviation has turned into so much more. Realizing a need to bring women together in the industry, a mentorship program was formed, followed by involvement in community events, speaking engagements in schools and organizations, bursaries, the ‘Economic Security for Women through Aviation’ project (ESWA), the Elevate Aviation Learning Centre, and the Cross-Country Tour.

It is the Cross-County Tour that takes us to remote Iqaluit. In 2014, we brought a group of young women to the Edmonton Airport and created a day to take them on a tour inside the industry. When we put that day together, we had no idea that five years later we would have the Cross-Country Tour which now lands in 20 locations, including every province and territory in Canada, in a span of one week each year. This project requires a huge amount of organization and a ton of support from industry partners and volunteers, but it is totally worth all the effort when we see the results of young women looking at us and asking, ‘Why have we never heard of these careers before?’.

The annual Cross-Country Tour allows attendees to spend the day with women in the industry, hear inspirational stories of their journeys into aviation, and to visit their workplaces to see firsthand why they love their jobs. These are all-day events, beginning with a morning of inspirational and passionate speakers, followed by behind-the-scenes tours of airports, aircraft hangars, air traffic control

18 www.avinationusa.com

We now have over 90 mentors from coast to coast and over 400 mentees currently in the program, which include a number from our military mentorship program as well. Three tiers are currently active with the final two planned to launch in September, which will allow current mentors to grow their mentoring skills, as well as a 10 week masterclass.

Elevate Aviation’s bursary program is for women in Canada who show exceptional potential and need financial assistance throughout training. Since 2015 we have awarded over $15,000.

Each year we host the Inspire Gala, profiling 8-12 women in aviation across Canada, showcasing their aviation careers. These truly inspiring women, will join a network of support in the industry, characteristically by becoming speakers and mentors in our programs. Prior to the big event, we spend a weekend together filming their feature video, taking part in a photo shoot, and bonding as a group. This year’s Inspire Gala will be held in Edmonton on October 26, 2019, and the funds raised will support Elevate Aviation’s programs.

The launch of the Elevate Aviation Learning Centre is central to our mission to provide the most authentic, memorable, and life-changing aviation experience possible, and to ignite passion for the industry. The Elevate Aviation Learning Centre immerses students and the general public in rich, week-long experiences using the resources and expertise at the Edmonton International Airport and surrounding sites through collaboration with education, business, and industry partners. We are currently looking for more partners to help take this experience across Canada, including Canada’s northern communities.

Creating Economic Security for Women through Aviation (ESWA), is a nationwide project devoted to discovering why women are not pursuing aviation as a career for economic security. We connected with nearly 6,000 Canadians, inside and outside of the industry, to understand the barriers women face, so that we can create a multifaceted strategy to dismantle them.

Growing Elevate Aviation over the past few years has been equally exciting, rewarding, and challenging. It could never have happened without our team, who are fueled by the passion to make a difference. Currently, with a board of nine, a volunteer executive team of 10, and a considerable group of volunteers across the country, we have grown to the point that we have now started an ambassador program. Our ambassador program will provide opportunity to rising stars in the industry who wish to develop and showcase their skills, while also facilitating Elevate Aviation’s growth and meeting the demands of awareness activities across Canada. We are currently accepting applications for these rewarding volunteer positions, if you would like to get involved.

As I finish writing this article, we prepare to land. I look out of the aircraft window and I dream of what we will discover in this mysterious part of Canada.

I anticipate the remote community with its rugged terrain and friendly people. I envision the team of women I travel with speaking about their lives and careers, illuminating pathways in the community for those we inspire to pursue aviation.

I think of our team across Canada, as they embark upon their own journeys with our Cross-Country Tour and await their unique stories.

Above all, I am excited for this adventure we share and look forward to wherever else Elevate Aviation wants to take us.

You can read more about Elevate Aviation’s programs at: elevateaviation.ca

Tucano Replica Ignite your Passion for Flight

AirVenture 2020 #637

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OPEN AIR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR’S CORNER

By Jeff Jorgenson I’m a problem solver, at least that’s what I like to call it. Maybe ‘creative thinker’ is a better description.

Some may say I’m a dreamer (but I’m not the only one) ~ to quote the John Lennon song, Imagine. For decades I have gone to different aviation events, sat in organizational meetings and often asked the same question, “How do we get younger people involved in aviation?” Or sometimes the question is, “How do we save the rapid decline in General Aviation?”

I’m almost 47 years old and when I attend aviation meetings of various organizations, I’m still the youngest person in the room, by nearly 20 years! Plagued with these questions and demographics, I set out over the last decade to research the answers. Through travel, research, numerous discussions with industry leaders and observation, I have found many solutions. I’ve been able to categorize and summarize them and have created the ‘Open Air Flight Club!’

As an award-winning author of the book, “Open Air - How People Like Yourself Are Changing the Aviation Industry” I share part of my aviation journey and lessons learned. In the process of writing the book and doing research on a lot of current aviation trends, I figured out how I can help. Self-discovery is a wonderful development and part of the solution.

Once I published the book in 2017, I began doing book signings and speaking at organizations. I talked to schools and did aviation workshops and events.

Originally, I was using the book to inspire youth and aviation enthusiasts, and it took on a life of its own.

I started an aviation STEM program in a local school and started helping other aviation organizations with getting youth involved.

With the growth and experience I’ve gained from my endeavors, I’ve developed a program to help organizations understand the trends in aviation and what works to solve the industry challenges. Pilot shortages in various segments, how to help businesses navigate the decline in aviation, how to capitalize on the growth areas in aviation and getting youth involved in a long-term sustainable way that is changing aviation.

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In working with Jacob to grow AviNation Magazine, we’ve developed powerful, complementary business models that are making a real difference in aviation!

I have helped a lot of organizations and it has been a rewarding experience. As a flight instructor, I’ve helped a lot of people get started in aviation, get their pilot certifications and help guide them towards success.

I’ve partnered with a lot of aviation businesses to help them grow. I’ve developed a powerful presentation to inspire businesses and organizations that encourages new levels of success. Many businesses and organizations want me to come and speak for free and give them the answers they’ve been seeking for decades. Many think they’ve figured it out and ‘got this’ while others continue with the status quo, doing what they’ve always done and getting what they’ve always got. The solutions I offer are well beyond the scope of an article and require an interactive dialogue to engage the right solutions for your needs.

If you’re an aviation business looking for additional revenue streams, or alphabet organization with fundraising needs, I encourage you to consider partnering with us in the Open Air. If you have an interest in aviation and are trying to figure out how to find the time and money to achieve your dreams, Open Air Flight Club is designed to help you earn to learn. As more organizations understand and adopt a vision for a positive future for aviation, we will continue to make aviation more affordable and accessible to many, and inclusive to all who desire to participate in the joy and freedom of all aviation has to offer!

Let’s make aviation great again!

We ARE the future of Aviation!

DIVERSITY IN AVIATION PERSPECTIVE FROM A “CLOUD MAKER” When Mohamed Farag was a five-year-old boy in his native homeland of Egypt, he saw three planes in the sky leaving three contrails parallel to one another. Later in the day, he saw three long stretched clouds that were parallel and had a five-year-old “ah ha” moment: planes make clouds, and the people who fly the planes are “cloud makers.”

Mohamed announced that when he grew up, he wanted to be a cloud maker. And that’s exactly what he did.

The Farag family moved to the U.S. when Mohamed was 12 so that he could learn fluent English and pursue flight training at a U.S. university. He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and, in January 2017, was hired at Republic Airways where he works as a First Officer.

We sat down with the “cloud maker” to get his thoughts on being a pilot, specifically his firsthand perspective about diversity in aviation.

How have you experienced diversity in the aviation industry, from flight training to working as a pilot for Republic?

“During my flight training, I saw quite a bit of diversity with many international students. Only the students who have U.S. citizenship were able to work with U.S. carriers, however, which means many of them return home when their training is complete. Also, it was still very male dominated.

“While gender diversity is changing in the airlines, it’s still at a low percentage. One good sign, however, is that we have higher gender diversity compared to other regions in the world. The top three U.S. airline carriers are the top three airlines worldwide with gender diversity. Schools like LIFT Academy and airlines like Republic are now showing ads with female pilots and male flight attendants, challenging old stereotypes and changing the way they recruit.

“On the line, I usually fly with a nontraditional pilot once a month or so. I believe as the older generation of pilots age and retire, I will see more and more pilots with unique family origins and stories.”

Have you experienced any issues as a pilot due to your heritage? And what advice would you give to young people who think they can’t be a pilot because they don’t “fit in?”

“As an Arabic boy who moved to the States a few years after 9/11, my ambition of flying planes was often met with a long silent stare or an unpleasant comment. I used those opportunities to engage in conversation to help those people have a better understanding and admiration toward my goal and passion for aviation.

“I don’t face any challenges currently due to my ethnicity. I would say it is now an advantage! Airlines are striving to break conventional molds of what a crew should be. If I interviewed with an airline now, my ethnicity and religion would no longer be a deterrent—they would enjoy seeing it and analyze my skills as a pilot solely.

“To those young men and women who are told they aren’t pilot material, I would say this: ‘Don’t believe it!’ Nothing is stopping you from sitting in the cockpit and flying an aircraft in your future. There are challenges along the way, but it’s up to you to overcome them and put the work in.

“Take the concept of ‘I don’t fit in’ out of your head. Gather information on flight training and financial aid. Take a discovery flight or ask if you can go up into the cockpit on a commercial flight, where you’ll see firsthand what we call our ‘office view!’ Or ask for a tour at LIFT, see the flight simulators and planes and talk with instructors about what it truly means to ‘fit in’ as a pilot.”

What do you love most about your job, Mohamed?

“I love so much about my job! First, there’s something different every day. There’s no such thing as a routine flight, and I almost never get bored, which isn’t something you can say about most careers!

“I enjoy the chance to travel, using the flight privileges that come with my job. Going to different places and seeing different cultures is a priceless experience.

“I don’t always work with the same crew members, so every time I work with someone new I get to learn about their life and share stories. And when I see crew members I’ve worked with before, it’s like a mini reunion.

“Finally, I know this sounds nerdy, but the airplane! I love the Embraer 170/175s we fly. They make the quality of life as a pilot better because we don’t feel drained after working with a less modern, more difficult plane.”

Do you see schools like LIFT and other organizations making efforts to encourage diversity in the aviation industry?

“I had a passenger ask me if being a female pilot was possible in the States. The passenger was from a culture where aviation, medical and engineering fields are male dominated. I believe to create a more diverse culture, we must expose and educate the public to the opportunities in aviation.

“LIFT and similar organizations advertise and encourage people of different races, genders and religions to pursue aviation; they also provide assistance and guidance along the way. They are helping people understand that the job is given solely because of the applicant’s accomplishments. Being ‘diverse’ will not hinder you from a career in aviation.”

Any final thoughts to share?

“I would say to anyone pursuing aviation: follow your dream and take the risk. Everything we do in life is a risk. You can choose a ‘safe’ career and have a 9 to 5 job, but years down the road you never know what could happen.

Those jobs pose risks, too, so you might as well do what you love.

“Challenge anyone who says you can’t be a pilot. I have had that said to me countless times due to my origins and faith, but it did nothing except add determination to prove them wrong.”

“TO THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE TOLD THEY AREN’T PILOT MATERIAL, I WOULD SAY THIS: ‘DON’T BELIEVE IT!’ ” Mohamed Farag, Cloud Maker and Republic Airways Pilot

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FOLLOW YOUR OWN FLIGHTPL

By Tyler Wisbar My start in aviation was pretty early. I have vivid memories of my father taking me to the Cleveland Airshow as a kid and watching F-14 Tomcats, A-10 Warthogs fly demos as well as performances by the Blue Angels and others. Military aviation inspired me in part because it was always the cutting edge of technology. I became a member of the Military Aviation Preservation Society or MAPS museum and was able to volunteer doing cosmetic restorations of retired airplanes. After some time getting my hands dirty working on airplanes I decided that this was something I wanted to make a career out of and I began working on my private pilots license while in high school. I rode

My Dad didn’t miss an opportunity to get me in an airplane as a kid

Me at my current job flying the CRJ Regional Jet

my bike to a job at Dairy Queen for $7.40/hr and was able to pay for lessons as I went. Doing my training this way wasn’t as fast as an accelerated program but I still finished by the time I graduated college. After doing some searching I discovered my high school had a program that allowed me to attend another local high school fo r aviation classes during the first half of the day, then go back to my high school for the rest of my regular classes in the afternoon. After I graduated, these classes and the credits they gave me for having my private pilots license, became a semester worth of credits towards my bachelors degree, for free. As luck would have it, a family friend was a pilot at Fedex. I was fortunate and he was willing to guide me through my ratings at a local flight school and I eventually became a flight instructor with his help. I will be forever in debt to him for his mentorship, especially early on in my training and career.

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Along the way I towed gliders, took a flight with a friend who flew skydivers and did other odd jobs.

Of all of the jobs I had, the one I enjoyed most was instructing. The flight school I worked for had a J3 Piper Cub, so in addition to the usual flight training for students, occasionally I would be able to fly with someone looking to be signed off for tailwheel aircraft in our Cub. We would get to fly out to a grass strip and do landings on turf just like in the 1940’s when the airplane was built. I flew the family on a few weekend trips in rented airplanes which were fun. My sister and I took our dog Mitzi with us to lunch a few times too.

If you get the chance to fly into any of the Lake Erie islands during the summer I recommend it.

Flying back to San Juan from Curaçao in the Beech 99

Mitzi in the back seat of a Piper Cherokee 140 I flew

LAN Once I graduated from college I had enough time on my hands to work a regular flying job since I wasn’t attending classes anymore. My first job after instructing came as a copilot on the Citation 500 series jet. It would seem as if the stars had aligned for me because this job came purely from unintentional networking. When I began flight training I joined a Boy Scout group for older scouts that met at the airport for aviation activities like visiting museums and going to airshows. We even had a tour of the Goodyear Blimp facility at Wingfoot Lake. Rather than having car washes, we washed airplanes as our group fundraisers.

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One of our annual events was an airport open house. This eventually grew into the Props and Pistons Festival, an airshow that hosts aircraft as big as the C17, and proved a fun way to volunteer in the aviation community and get more folks involved. An adult volunteer in the group had a close friend who managed jets and coordinated maintenance for their owners.

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Flying around Seattle in the Beech 99

Flying on family trips with Mom sleeping in the back

He hired new copilots from time to time so once I was experienced enough to handle the job and insurance wasn’t going to be an issue (The FAA might make the rules, but the insurance industry has the final say) my friend connected us and I had my first jet job at age 21. That was a wonderful job. From Akron we would escape the Ohio winter and fly to Texas, the Carolinas, Florida and other warm destinations. My favorite was a trip to Key West where I went snorkeling and visited Margaritaville.

I made sure to take plenty of pictures for my folks to prove how hard I was working! I was even able to get some international experience since one of the aircraft owners we flew for had a house in Canada. After flying the Citation, I became a BE99 turboprop Captain at a Dallas based cargo company before being hired as a First Officer for a regional airline in the Midwest.

The moral of the story is don’t leave any stone unturned in your aviation journey and enjoy the ride. There will be opportunities, both good and bad. Find out what you like and don’t like. All pilots are pilots but my four different jobs as a pilot have been vastly different and now I know how I might like to spend the rest of my career. Find out what that means for you and it will set you up for an enjoyable career that lasts for decades.

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Glider Across

My name is Riley Speidel and I recently

turned 14. This allowed me to solo in a motorglider and then a week later I flew solo across the country from California, where we currently live, to Maine, where we used to live. This trip took over 18 months of preparation to be able to have the skill to complete it safely. I trained in aero tow gliders and single engine airplanes as well as the motorglider.

My Dad is my CFI-G (glider CFI) and he taught me how to fly the Pipistrel Sinus that we own. Once we had the idea for this trip we decided that we would have to start flying a lot more in order to be prepared for my solo and journey. This lead me to get 140 hours in this glider from January to June! Part of the training we did was go on a cross-country in April that was the first half of our trip over the mountains. We would fly most days after school for a few hours. We are based at Marina airport (OAR) in northern California. There always seems to be a strong crosswind there which leads to lots of strong crosswind pattern work and landings. Getting used to landing all the time in strong crosswinds was helpful on my trip across the USA. We choose the Sinus because it is one of the best touring motorgliders available. It cruises at 110 knots and has negative flaps to allow it to be that fast without damaging the wing from all the generated lift.

It has a Rotax 912 engine with 80 hp. The wings are 49 feet long making the glide ratio 27:1 with the prop feathered. It also has air brakes for landing. Finally, it has a ballistic parachute if needed.

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On my 14th birthday I left school at noon to go to the airport and solo. It was cloudy so we waited two hours for it to lift high enough for me to solo. It didn’t so me and my Dad got in the glider and flew together to a nearby airport and did some warm up landings while my family drove out. Dad got out and I did three solo landings! The glider behaved very differently without the weight of my Dad by taking off really soon and floating a lot on landing. I added the amount of airbrake I used and was able to adjust to this new performance. Once Dad cut my shirt tail, the clouds in Marina had gotten way worse so Dad and I flew into an airport slightly inland of Marina and picked up the glider the next day.

We had planned to do the trip in ten days, but thanks to some great tailwinds I arrived in Maine after only nine days. Besides my glider, we had two more airplanes on the trip; a 1981 Piper Tomahawk and a 1968 Beechcraft Baron. My dad flew the Baron with my Mom, Brother and another friend.

The Tomahawk was flown by my Dad’s friend (Trent) and his wife. We mostly flew early every morning when the air was smooth leaving near sunrise. The Tomahawk would take-off 20 minutes before us so he could report turbulence and weather back to us and also be at the destination airport first to find out where we should park the glider and its 49 foot wing. My Dad was usually behind me in the Baron and would do a race-track pattern so he wouldn’t pass me. He would have to do a turn every ten minutes or so to stay behind me. It was fun with all three of us talking on an air-to-air frequency while on the trip.

the Country

By Riley Speidel

DAY 1: My last day of school was June 7th and we left on the trip

straight from school which got out at noon. We have a lot of fog in our area so our first day was only 100 miles, flying inland to Visalia, California.

This would allow us an early morning departure the next day without worrying about fog. The first leg went great, I was so happy to finally be on the trip we had been working on for so long. I also decided that it would be fun to fly out over the Pacific coast on departure from California and the Atlantic coast before landing in Maine. The Tomahawk battery died once we had landed so we had to find a new battery and replace it.

Luckily my Dad is an A&P.

DAY 2: The next leg I flew to Apple Valley, California at an altitude of

7500ft, departing right after sunrise. I flew south over Palmdale before turning East to avoid the large restricted area near Edwards Air Force base. On the way into Apple Valley I flew over Victorville and saw all of the parked unused airliners. I have flown to Apple Valley a lot with my Dad and know the winds get really high in the afternoon, so it was great to land early. Another one of our friends flew his Cessna 182 into see me land and we all went out to breakfast. Later, the local California Pipistrel dealer flew two other Pipistrels, a Virus and an Alpha, and took me out to dinner.

They were very excited about my flight!

DAY 3: We woke up early and did what was starting to become our usually morning routine. Eat, review weather, airspace, airports and the rest of my flight plan with my Dad and Trent. My Dad would then sign off my logbook for that day’s cross country flight and we would head to the airport. I would then prepare the Sinus while everyone else packed or prepared their planes. I left early and flew to Cottonwood, Arizona. This would be one of the two highest legs due to mountains. It was the first time I flew solo out of the state of California! Cottonwood had lots of airplanes in the pattern when I arrived so I had to do a spacing 360. After we landed we fueled all of the aircraft, borrowed the old cop car courtesy car, and had an amazing Mexican lunch.

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DAY 4: Was another early morning, but I was really

excited to be flying to the first towered airport of the trip-Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have flown there a bunch with my Dad and really enjoy the city. I swung by the rocks of Sedona on the climb out of Cottonwood and climbed to 9500ft. It was a beautiful smooth flight the entire way, until I switched to tower frequency.

I heard Trent in the Tomahawk talking to tower that the Tomahawk engine had quit on roll-out after he landed and could not get it started. He was going to pull it off the runway by hand! This of course backed up the inbound traffic and tower had me extend my downwind leg. It was pretty gusty on landing, but mostly down the runway. I was thankful for training in those crosswinds at my home airport. My Dad looked at the Tomahawk later and found nothing wrong. We think since Trent landed with full mixture at the high altitude airport it just flooded after landing. The control tower did invite us to come up and take a tour, so we did! It was a great view up there and fun learning about what a tower control does during a typical shift. After we left the airport we found another great restaurant and had a fun day in Santa Fe.

DAY 5: I left in mid-afternoon on Day 5, since the winds were forecast to be too high at my destination-Liberal, Kansas until later in the day. I took off from Santa Fe and decided to climb to 11,500ft to find cooler, calmer air. It was by far the roughest flight on the trip. The glider loves thermals for soaring, but not so much to fly straight through at cross-country speeds. This turbulence required me to slow down 30kts to prevent the glider from being damaged. This was also the first time since my solo I was nervous by myself. I knew that if I flew the turbulence penetration airspeed the glider would be fine, but it was a lot of work keeping it upright with no one to give me a break.

I radioed Trent and my Dad that I needed a break, so we decided to stop at one of our contingency airports.

As part of our morning preflight planning I came up with airports that we may have to stop at for a break or weather reasons. Dalhart, Texas was one of them and it ended up being a great choice! Some old friends from Maine were flying their motorglider from Mexico and met us there! After a lunch break at the great airport cafe, we checked the forecast and the wind had calmed down enough to go to Liberal, Kanas.

The short one hour flight was mostly smooth until the descent and I used my crosswind skills to land right on the centerline of the runway. We got to the hotel and learned that the internet and cell phone coverage was down-ahhhhhh! It was like going back in time. No data to check weather and check-in with people.

DAY 6: I woke up with enough cell phone data to

check weather and make a flight plan with Dad and Trent. We went from the southwest corner of Kansas to Ottawa, Kansas on the eastern border of the state.

I had been in contact with the Aviation Explorer Post in Ottawa and if the timing worked out I was going to give a presentation to their group about my training and trip prep. The airport manager, who is one of the Explorer Post leaders, met me when I landed, got our group a car and gave us directions to his favorite restaurant-Sushi! Later that night I did my presentation to the Explorer group and showed them my motorglider.

DAY 7: The plan was to fly to Litchfield, Illinois and land at a small uncontrolled airport. At Litchfield the winds were high when we were en route but were supposed to be calmer by the time we got there. In the glider I use Foreflight with a Stratus for maps and weather. As I got closer, Trent radioed back there was a cloud layer developing and that I should probably descend to 3500ft from 7500ft. I then checked the weather on Foreflight for our destination and saw the winds were up to 24kts with a 14kt crosswind component!! As a student I’m only signed off for a 10kt direct crosswind so this was not going to work.

My contingency planning had paid off again and after talking to the other two planes we decided to land at a towered airport instead-St Louis Regional, which had lighter winds that were within my limit. After an uneventful landing I was happy to discover there was an airport restaurant on the field and we had a good lunch there. Trent also had family in the area so they joined us for lunch and I gave their kids a tour of my glider. One of the fun parts of this trip is meeting people we knew along the way.

DAY 8: Was an early departure with once again smooth and clear skies. It was amazing that I had been basically following the same high pressure system across the USA giving me near perfect conditions every day! We were going to Sporty’s Pilot Shop, the

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stop all the pilots were most excited about! The flight was slightly bumpy because we had to go down low to cut under Class B airspace. The pilot shop was huge and had all the stuff from the catalog there. I got a new kneeboard and mint oxygen. I also met the lady who runs FlyGirl and did an interview with her.

DAY 9: At 10 AM I did another talk at the Explorers Post at Sporty’s and

then left. The night before we were all looking at the weather and realized that we could make it all the way to Maine in two stops with the 40kt tailwind we were supposed to have! We also saw that Maine was supposed to get bad weather the next two days so we would be stuck otherwise. We decided we would do it in two 2.7 hour legs and make it into Maine around 5 PM. After we left we flew to Pennsylvania and met Dad and Trent’s old friend who flew out to meet us. After a quick stop we headed to Maine! It was almost as bumpy as day five and was a very tiring flight, but on descent I really got excited since I started recognizing landmarks from when I lived there. On the way in, I flew over the beach and the Atlantic ocean! I had flown coast to coast! I was the last to land out of our group in Maine and met all of our old friends at the airport for dinner and cake! Both sets of my Grandparents even flew out too see my arrival! We had dinner at the airport restaurant and then went to stay at a friends house.

In nine days I flew 29.1hrs, burned only 96 gallons of fuel and flew 2,554nm! The weather was amazing and besides some high winds we had to work around there wasn’t that much else to worry about. After we arrived in Maine the next day the ceiling went IFR for two days. We hung out in Maine for almost a week, spending time with friends and I even did some local solo flights.

If you are interested in getting into flying, glider flying is a terrific way to start. The Soaring Society of America has a lot of great scholarships for youth and there are glider clubs everywhere. The SSA website (www.ssa.org) is a good place to look if you want more information about flying gliders.

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The Journey

By Hayden White

Sunday, September 9, 2018. To most of you, this is just another day, but to me, this was a day I will never forget.

I come from a family of aviators, but it wasn’t until I was 13 that I became interested in it myself. My Great Grandpa got into aviation from the G.I. Bill, and my Grandpa and Uncle both grew up around it. My Dad got into aviation from the Aviation Merit Badge through the Boy Scouts.

For years I was happy just going to the airport whenever I could with my Dad and Grandpa and hanging out, but one day I decided I wanted to start flying. My Grandpa has two airplanes, a 1947 Piper J-3 Cub which has been in the family for 50 years, and a 1958 J-35 Bonanza. I started flying in the Cub because thousands of pilots have their primary flight training in that airplane. Both my Dad and Grandpa are CFI’s (Certified Flight Instructors), so they would take me up and have me make coordinated turns, keeping the ball in the middle while managing and maintaining airspeed. After the summer months, it started to cool down and there were not many days Border:

Building an airplane is the ultimate project for groups, individuals and clubs. Zenith Aircraft Company supplies great designs, shipped as complete kits (with advanced final hole size match drilled parts) that are easy, simple and fun to build. zenithair.com

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to My First Solo good for flying, so my training went ‘dormant’ for the winter.

Finally, Spring 2017 arrived, and I was excited to start my flight training again. After the first few weeks of refreshing and practicing what I had previously learned, we started to get into taxiing, take-off, and landing. At first, taxiing was difficult because the Cub is a tailwheel airplane, meaning I had to make lots of ‘S-turns’.

Eventually though, I caught on. My take-offs took some practice, but I improved on those as well. The most difficult part for me was the landing. I was told all my landings should be full stall landings, meaning the tail wheel should touch the ground slightly before the main gear. However, every time I made a landing, it would be a wheel landing, which was not what we wanted. All I could do was practice through the summer.

Summer came and went, and I still wasn’t doing full stall landings. Some of them would occasionally be ‘close,’ but not what we wanted. I turned 15 at the end of August. I now had just one year left before I was old enough to solo. The winter months ensued, and my hands-on training once again came to a pause. However, this winter I did something I didn’t do before; I stayed focused. I asked questions, I Googled, and I read. If I ever had a question about why we did something in the airplane, how we did it, or when we did it, I would ask it right away, or I would add it to my list of ones to ask.

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When Spring 2018 arrived, I was ready to hit the ground running. My goal was to solo for my 16th birthday and I was doing all that I could to make that happen! Unfortunately, I was still not getting the landings so we started practicing on my Great Grandpa’s grass strip. I didn’t have any better luck there and I was frustrated! I had never had this much trouble learning something in my flight experience. Months passed and I still couldn’t do tailwheel landings. Finally, on a hot July day, my Grandpa said something that just “clicked” with me. He said, “Hayden, I don’t understand.

Just make the runway disappear!” The next one I did was a full stall landing.

We were both excited! Now, all I had to do was make all of them full stall landings.

I was turning 16 in a month and had to prove to both my Grandpa and my Dad that I could fly an airplane without any problems. I had been practicing twice as much as usual because I wanted to make sure I got it all down. On August 27, 2018, I turned 16. My Dad took me to get my flight physical to get my student pilot certificate and I passed the tests my Grandpa gave me. However, it was too windy to fly, and it was also rainy. Frustratingly, the weather conditions continued to be either windy or rainy for the next two weeks until finally, we got one gorgeous day - September 9, 2018.

Much like other weekends, we went to the airport to hang out, and fly if possible. To my surprise, we skipped the FBO and went straight to the hangar. My Grandpa had me open it up and pull out the Cub. I did my preflight inspection and determined we were good to fly. We taxied to the pumps to get gas before going to the grass strip alongside runway five.

We took-off, went around the pattern, and landed three different times before my Grandpa finally asked, “Are you ready for me to get out yet?” I said, “I think so…” and he told me, “‘I think so’ isn’t good enough.” We went around again. Upon landing the fourth time, he asked me again, and with confidence, I said “YES!” He got out of the airplane and with a big smile on my face, I start my take-off roll. When my Grandpa got out, I had gotten rid of more than half the body weight, so I felt every bump in the grass and took off in nearly half the distance. After successfully making a full stall landing, my Grandpa and Dad were so proud of me! And I was, and still am, proud of myself!

Achieving your first solo flight is unforgettable. Not just to you, but to your family. Despite all the hard work, studying, and time that goes into flying, there is nothing more satisfying, to me at least, than breaking free from the chains of the earth and seeing everything from a different perspective.

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Best SUN

‘n FUN Ever

By Mike Zidziunas I have been involved with SUN ‘n FUN since 1997, volunteering in various areas. Since the formation of Lakeland Aero Club my involvement has increased.

Lakeland Aero Club has had many different roles during the fly-in, from crewing EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor to airshow performer hospitality. For SUN ‘n FUN 2019 we did something quite different… we did what we normally do on a daily basis, with some help from our friends.

In the January issue of AviNation we told the story of our little Cub and our efforts to retrieve her from Oshkosh where she had blown an engine. We worked with the guys at Don’s Dream Machines to build and install a new engine and fly her home. It seems our big Cub got a little jealous of all the attention her little sister was getting and decided to blow her engine six weeks before the fly-in. Around the same time our friends at SUN ‘n FUN managed to damage the wing on their Super Cub. Don’s Dream Machines is owned by C&D Aviation in Bessemer, Alabama. They built the sweepstakes Cub for EAA last year. Owners Don and Ron Wade were very impressed with our Vice President, Donovan Richards and made him an offer to go work for them last year. The experience he got here made him a valuable asset for their company. Donovan came down to assess the damage and saw a great opportunity and suggested that we build the engine and the wing in our hangar during the SUN ‘n FUN fly-in.

Tuesday, the first day of the fly-in saw the crankshaft bolted to the stand and the bent wing hung in the jig. Throughout the week the teams of teenagers worked on the projects under the watchful eyes of

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some of the best Cub restorers and engine builders in the country. Spectators crowded the hangar to watch the teens build the wing and engine. Most people were impressed by what they saw and made generous contributions to the cause. Several celebrities stopped by for a visit including Kevin and Mike from “Airplane Repo”, Patty Wagstaff and Greg Koontz, both long time supporters of the Club. Blue Angel #8, LCDR Adam Kerrick stopped by to check out the workmanship, pose for pictures with the students and autograph the side of the Cub. By Friday afternoon the engine was installed and running on the front of the big Cub and the wing ready to be covered.

Two of the 16-year old’s, Andrew and Kenny made a good enough impression on their mentors to get paid summer internships at C&D Aviation. I can’t wait to hear about their adventures when they return for high school in August. The Lakeland Aero Club got to show the world what we do every day and it was well received. We have a brand-new engine on our Cub, and we all had a great time!

So… for me, this was the best SUN ‘n FUN ever!

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SO YOU WANT TO Millennials (current age 24-38) make up roughly half of the current workforce, with an expectation it will be nearly 75% in 2030. Women make up 47% of the workforce in the US, with similar numbers across Europe. Yet, Millennials are not entering the aviation workplace in the record numbers we need, and women still represent less than 10% of leadership in the industry.

With pilot shortages forcing compensation sky-high and corresponding deficits with mechanics in the pipeline, companies need to think outside of the box about their labor force. Many will have to make adjustments to survive. These come in the form of leadership, culture and communication.

By Rene Banglesdorf Many aviation companies around the world are beginning to feel the sting of a skilled labor shortage— and that means aircraft owners and operators may need to rethink their practices for attracting, hiring, retaining and promoting great candidates.

Looking around conferences and industry events, the predominant representation is “pale, stale and male,” according to a female friend in the industry. In short, our talent pool is aging white men, and as retirement looms for many, that pool is shrinking.

Company leaders need to understand the benefits and promote the benefits of having a diverse workforce.

Diverse backgrounds, education, ages and genders brings more perspective to the table, often driving innovation and creative problem solving.

Candidates look for role models and potential career paths. If they don’t see anyone who looks like them in a leadership role, they may choose a company where they can better envision themselves developing.

Furthermore, investors are increasingly demanding diversity at the executive and board level as an indicator of a healthy organization. Government entities in Europe and California are pressing for better representation of women on boards, which is turning the tide toward developing and hiring diverse leaders.

Good leadership drives results and a sense of community. Employees want to enjoy their work and their workplace. This is where efforts both small and large are important.

The little things that mean a lot are celebrating personal accomplishments, like birthdays, graduations and marathon completions—or giving everyone an afternoon off after a particularly hard-fought deadline.

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HIRE SOME YOUNGER PEOPLE? Being a part of something meaningful is also important. This is where general aviation endeavors can outshine just about every other industry. GA airplanes provide relief in times of natural disaster, transport organs and life-saving medications, deliver cancer patients to treatment at no charge through volunteer organizations, and give first-responders and missionaries access to areas inaccessible otherwise.

Many of these endeavors go unrecognized largely because private aviation is, well, private. But in as much as you can share, being a part of something bigger than just revenue is important to many diverse people—Millennials, in particular.

Meaningful endeavors don’t have to be philanthropic in nature, either. The year the Fiat was relaunched in the U.S., the general manager of the Austin, Texas location rallied her team of Millennial sales professionals to break the North American sales record for single-month sales.

She did it by listening to what was important to them and creating an environment where they could sell in the way they liked to buy. Being a part of something revolutionary proved motivational.

Communication is the final key to attracting, retaining and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce. Again, the impetus for excellence comes from the top down. As leaders, we must be careful about unconscious bias, which is often defined as prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person, or group as compared to another, in a way that is usually considered unfair.

Being aware of the conundrums this can cause helps alleviate it, while not addressing it tends to limit us.

In the Fiat example, if the GM had the unconscious bias that Millennials don’t like to work hard, which is a

stereotype of that generation, she wouldn’t have broken sales records held by more established dealer groups with seasoned professionals. The same holds true for gender. When given a chance, women have proved capable of doing most everything men can do in this field.

What you say can also be overshadowed by what you don’t say. If recent harassment cases haven’t caused you to examine your communications policies regarding workplace tolerance of unacceptable practices, you might want to add that to your annual goals. Bad press hurts more than your stock value; it cripples hiring managers, especially those who have been tasked with diversifying your workforce.

In conclusion, if you want to strengthen your workforce, consider all the candidates, not just the ones who look like you, stretch your leadership skills to value the benefits of differences, and make sure your verbal and non-verbal communications back that up. And if your company is doing something great or different, be sure to celebrate that!

René Banglesdorf is the CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation, a Texas-based aircraft broker.

She is an advocate for women in aviation within several organizations. She also hosts two widely available podcasts and has just released her latest book, Stand Up: How to Flourish When the Odds are Stacked Against You, available on Amazon.

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This April, when many students were dreaming of sweet summertime, a lucky few were getting their hands dirty on a Saturday morning dismantling a Cessna 182 destined to aid the people of Paraguay. This is how students from the Jennings, Kirkwood, and Ferguson-Florissant School Districts in St. Louis, Missouri and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri chose to spend every Saturday in April. Twenty students, ranging from eighth to eleventh grade, had the opportunity to experience an innovative, hands-on aviation and STEM program through an organization called Wings of Hope (www.wingsofhope.ngo). Wings of Hope is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1963 and twice-nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize that saves and changes lives through the power of aviation.

With support from Boeing and Maritz, the organization partnered with local school districts, the Girls Scouts, Women in Aviation and other aviation-related organizations to launch the Soar into STEM program.

SOAR into

Soar into STEM is a four week, outcomes-based program that provides middle and high school students with project-based learning, connections to STEM curriculum, 21st Century skills, and insight into humanitarian services delivered through aviation.

“Service for the good of others or just thinking about helping others gives me an overwhelming feeling of gratitude,” said Amanda*, 17, a Girl Scout. ” Thinking about the things Wings of Hope is doing makes me want to cry from how powerful it is and how it has helped so many people. If I ever get my pilot’s license, I would like to do something like this.”

The Soar into STEM program was primarily held at the Wings of Hope world headquarters at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Each session included hands-on repair and modification of an airplane. Students who had never heard the word aileron were now using an inclinometer and data from the service manual to verify the travel limits of the aileron system. The sessions also included guest speakers from a wide variety of organizations to share career path information and stories and information about how students can pursue their ambition in aviation.

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STEM

By Brooke Bennett

As the Lead Teacher for Soar into STEM program, I was able to experience firsthand the development, knowledge, and relationships gained over the four sessions. Working alongside me, the program featured mentors from various aviation and STEM-related backgrounds to provide onsite guidance.

Many friendships were formed amongst the students, mentors, and speakers and I had the pleasure to witness our group grow and learn together.

It is often as an educator that students leave an impact on you, but there was one student in particular whose passion was inspiring. On a bright and early Saturday morning, as our students began to arrive for our first session, almost all walked in with big smiles and eager participation. A young student walked in behind her mother like a kindergartener on the first day of school.

Throughout our first session, Jasmine* was very timid – sat by herself at lunch, wouldn’t participate in group discussion, and even called her Mom from the bathroom to pick her up early.

remove a propeller and the engine cowling. Jasmine began to participate in group discussion and wanted to be the first person to fly left seat in the flight simulator. We had made a significant amount of progress, but I knew there was still more in her. During the third session, we took a tour of the Spirit of St. Louis Control Tower where students could see the paper strips representing the flight plan they just created. In our discussion at the end of the day, I knew the Soar into STEM program had made an impact on Jasmine’s future.

By the end of the program, this initially reluctant student was committed to a career in aviation. Jasmine stated, “I have a goal to be a control tower person when I get older because I loved sending out different codes.” It was an honor to lead a program that helps students who have never been exposed to aviation learn about the wide variety of aviation careers and support them on their journey, and Wings of Hope looks forward to an expanded, even more successful Soar into STEM program in 2020.

However, the moment Jasmine got a screwdriver in her hand, it was like she had come alive. I watched her communicate, collaborate, and problem solve to

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