AviNation - January/Quarter 1 2018

JANUARY

AT TR ACT, EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOUTH IN AVIATION

INSIDE Teacher Flight Program Blue Skies Making an Interest in Aviation into a Business & Career Is Sharing Aviation Once Enough?

2427 Woodmans Hollow Road Otho, IA 50569

www.avinationusa.com

BE DEDICATED. Be Driven To Succeed At PSA.

Your Pathway to

CADET FIRST OFFICER MILITARY ROTOR TRANSITION 2 www.avinationusa.com

Begins At PSA.

www.psaairlines.com

January 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ad Index: Thank you to our advertisers.

Chad Barber.................................................................................................................5

AB Flight, LLC......................................46

Teacher Flight Program...........................................................................................6

AeroLEDs...............................................46

Pitts Engine Failure Recorded on Video...........................................................10

ALSIM AMERICAS...............................43

Launching An Aircraft Build Project...................................................................12

Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR)...................................47

Stewart Systems Fabric Selected by Aces Workshop.................................14 The Job Isn’t Finished Until the Paperwork Is Done....................................16 After 72 Years, “What’s New?”..............................................................................18 Inspirational & Educational World Flight Visits 25 Countries And Over 20,000 Students.............................................20

Bristell Aircraft.....................................41 EarthX, Inc..............................................11 Endeavor Air, Inc.................................35 ExpressJet Airlines.............................48

The Flying Musicians Association........................................................................22

General Aviation News......................19

Sarah Coffelt................................................................................................................23

Lockwood Aviation............................18

Blue Skies......................................................................................................................24

M-Squared Aircraft, Inc.....................33

U.S. Sport Aviation Institute &

North Star Aviation............................47

YAZ (Young Aviators Zone) Support Youth In Aviation.............................28

One-G Simulation................................41

Building A Bridge To The Aerospace Industry...............................................30

Open Air - Jeff Jorgenson...............43

Attracting The Next Generation...........................................................................34

Piedmont Airlines................................9

Making An Interest In Aviation Into A Business & Career..........................38

PSA Airlines...........................................2

Build Your Own Full Motion Flight Simulator For Less Than You Think!.......................................................42

Republic Airline....................................15

EAA Aviation Scholarships Now Available For Flight Training, College Studies, Air Academy Camps........................44

U.S. Sport Aviation Expo..................29

Is Sharing Aviation Once Enough?......................................................................45

Stewart Systems LLC.........................8

Van’s Aircraft, Inc................................14 Zenith Aircraft Company.................3

AOPA Helps Schools Establish & Grow Aviation Stem Programs..........46 JANUARY

AT TR ACT, EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOUTH IN AVIATION

24 h Bordner, Blue Skies pg.

Cover photo by Kayleig INSIDE Teacher Flight Program Blue Skies Making an Interest in Aviation into a Business & Career Is Sharing Aviation Once Enough?

2427 Woodmans Hollow Road Otho, IA 50569

www.avinationusa.com

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

www.avinationusa.com

3

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 Editor: Allison Blazek Design & Production: Megan Curtis, 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 Special Thanks There are many people and organizations I want to thank for showing support financially, emotionally and professionally.

Dan Johnson

Brian Maciej

Randee Laskewitz

Jerry Graff

Jeff Jorgenson

Francis Chao

Greg & Vicky Rink

Robert Helms

Dave Loveman

Bryan Opande

Mike Zidziunas My wife Jessica and kids Jordan and Joey and most of all, God And all the supporters that are running advertisements in this magazine. Please support them first and foremost as they are the ones who are bringing this to you.

Thank you to our guaranteed circulation partner and Cornerstone Supporter, General Aviation News.

From the Publisher: That Ah-Ha Aviation Moment Hello and welcome to the world of Youth Aviation. The term Youth Aviation can have countless meanings and there are many words that can be used to describe what I have determined to be a Movement in our industry.

From first flights to young adults piloting airliners, this movement reaches all corners and levels of the general business, commercial and military aviation segments.

I had been hearing the pilot shortage conversation ever since I took the helm at my last publishing assignment, but didn’t know how I could be any help to solving this issue. Looking back, I now know, everyone can play a role in the solution, big or small. One airplane can touch thousands of lives. It wasn’t until my good friend Mike Zidziunas (Mike Z) took the lead mentor role at the Lakeland Aero Club on the Sun n’ Fun Campus that I had the ah-ha moment.

Mike was developing outstanding aviators and mechanics, in a relatively short period of time, with high school-aged youth, most with no prior aviation exposure. He was mentoring his student members in a way that was creating responsible and respectful young men and women, that others were excited and proud to be around.

That was when I decided to create a youth aviation section in the magazine that I was running. It featured the Aero Club members’ milestones and accomplishments, as well as other organizations that wanted free publicity in a nationally distributed trade publication.

Mike’s students were flying a fleet of self-restored Cubs and Taylorcrafts, as well as LSAs, from their home base in Lakeland, FL to Airventure in Oshkosh, WI. They took it even further and performed a formation flight in the daily airshow when they were 18!

It finally clicked for me when I saw a few of these young aviators parading around with our magazine at Airventure, showing everyone their articles.

When I saw the empowerment and the support the industry provided to them through this publicity, the light bulb turned on. This is how I do my part to help the pilot shortage and make sure we have enough growth to support the industry.

Fast forward a few years, a change in professional direction and a push from good friends Mike Z and Brian Maciej, and here we are with the inaugural issue of AviNation. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors. Through their advertisements, they make it possible to produce and distribute this platform to our next generation of aviators and leaders.

I look forward to the exciting path ahead and during all of my research I am glad to report that Youth in Aviation is alive and well!

Jacob Peed Publisher

m 4 www.avinationusa.co 4 www.avinationusa.com

@AviNationUSA

@AviNationUSA

avinationusa

pany/avination/ www.linkedin.com/com

CHAD BARBER Chad is a first generation commercial aerobatic pilot and aviation entrepreneur born in Fond du Lac, WI and residing in Palm Beach, FL. At age 25, he has been an active pilot for over 6 years and owns Barber Aviation, a small company providing aircraft delivery, aerobatic training, aerial photography and aviation management services.

At an early age, Chad spent time flying with his grandfather in an Aeronca Sedan and occasionally attended airshows and aviation events, like AirVenture. This environment prepped him to become a pilot with aspirations to fly upside down. As a result, he never thought to fly for a living, but rather make it a passionate hobby. After he obtained his private pilot license and bachelor degree in marketing and sales, Chad linked the two disciplines and became an aircraft broker out of college. Why not?

It didn’t last. Chad’s passion for being in the air grew while his office space did not. From there on, he made the decision to be in the cockpit for a living and start his own company.

Fast-forward to today, he is qualified commercially to fly over 30 types of aircraft, delivers them across the USA and Caribbean, teaches aerobatics in an Extra 300L and customers’ aircraft, competes in aerobatic sports in a modified Pitts S-1C, and manages a flight department. Chad holds his airplane commercial single and multi-engine land, commercial seaplane, remote sUAS and instrument ratings.

Through his passion for flying and serving others, he is expanding his skills to perform in airshows and air races worldwide while continually seeking ways to advocate the aviation industry to connect people and his audience to it.

www.avinationusa.com www.avinationusa.com

5

TEACHER FLIGHT PROGRAM

Inspiring Educators and the Next Generation of Aerospace Professionals

By Mike Straka Among the numerous programs designed to encourage young people into aviation and aerospace careers, one stands out as innovative and exciting – the Teacher Flight Program at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver, Colorado. This article briefly recaps the history of how the program was developed and where it is today.

While family-, youth-, or child-oriented programs such as school field trips, airport days, career days, and flying club events are all popular and effective ways of getting young people out to the airport, perhaps none is more well-known nor has had as significant a nationwide impact on awakening a desire for aviation careers than the Young Eagles program, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). And as it turns out, the Teacher Flight Program is a direct outgrowth of Young Eagles. In fact, the visionary person at EAA who came up with Young Eagles is the same one who initiated Teacher Flight: Greg Anderson.

Initially hired as the EAA’s Director of Development in 1983 just as it was about to move to Oshkosh, Mr. Anderson held several positions and eventually became Executive Vice President, a post he held for 12 years. During his twenty-plus years at EAA,

6 www.avinationusa.com

Anderson helped to build its first museum and the other world-class facilities presently at Oshkosh.

Perhaps his most significant achievement, and the one he’s most proud of, is establishing in 1992 the Young Eagles, which gives youth ages 8-17 their first free ride in an airplane. As a measure of its success, it was announced during EAA AirVenture 2016 that Young Eagles surpassed two million rides given in just over 25 years – an average of about 80,000 per year!

In December 2003, Anderson was appointed president and CEO of the Aviation & Space Center of the Rockies, the governing body of the Wings Over the Rockies. He served in that role until December 2016 and continues his active involvement as executive director of the capital campaign for the Exploration of Flight, the Wings’ expansion which recently broke ground on its hangar at Centennial Airport (APA).

While leading the museum and carrying out its mission to promote aviation and education, as well as satisfying his keen interest in encouraging young people toward aviation careers, Anderson thought of a new way to have an even greater impact. Reasoning that since teachers – educators – are in continuous contact with students throughout the school year, why

not bring educators to the airport and give them free rides? They would then be able to serve as classroom ambassadors, generating excitement as they shared their flight through photos and videos. Teachers could also embed their experiences into lesson plans in science, math, and other subjects, making those subjects – and aviation – relevant in a very real way.

Wings launched this new strategy by taking aviation directly to the public through its “Spreading Wings Barnstorming Tour” in 2006. From August to October of that year, four aircraft flew together to 17 airports around Colorado, and at every one brought together community leaders, pilots, teachers, and elementary school students who participated in numerous aviation-related activities. Students and teachers alike benefited from talking directly with pilots about their flying careers and experiences, touring the aircraft, getting hands-on ground school classes, flying simulators, getting free rides, and attending airport open houses and film screenings. Young Eagles volunteers were also present to register new members on the spot. Community leaders learned first-hand about the value of their airports and the positive impact of not only aviation but also the education programs given.

More importantly, the tour was also the first step in generating a database of educators and volunteers who would then be supplied by Wings with an array of tools, resources, and training to provide supplemental aviation and aerospace education programs around the state.

Financial support for the tour and its follow-on education programs was provided

by The Boeing Corporation, Jeppesen, and the Emil Buehler Trust. Logistical support came from the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics and the Colorado Airport Operators Association, along with volunteers from the Colorado Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and EAA.

was flown on the tour. During the restoration its 200-hp Continental engine was replaced with a 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R985 Wasp Junior engine, which makes the ride much more exciting for passengers, not to mention more challenging for ground handling by pilots.

The response of educators to the pilot program was so enthusiastic that it encouraged further development of the program, and in 2012 fifty rides were given to educators. In 2013 the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Teacher Flight Program was officially launched as a stand-alone program of the Wings museum. It is funded by the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust, assuring its ongoing impact on aviation and education in Colorado.

As one of the most significant educational outreach initiatives ever undertaken, the program’s goal is to provide a free personal flight experience to one STEM teacher from every school along Colorado’s Front Range by 2020. That area encompasses 17 counties with 66 school districts and about 1,600 schools.

Flights are conducted nearly every day during June and July, when educators are free from classroom duties. During the school year, flights are limited to weekends and of course are always dependent upon the weather, as well as scheduling of pilots and teachers. The program primarily uses the Stearman for its exhilarating open-cockpit flying, but also has a 2016 Cessna 182T currently on loan at no cost from Textron.

Flights originate from a number of airports along the Front Range, including but not limited to Pueblo (PUB), Colorado Springs (COS), Centennial (APA), Fort Collins (FNL), and Greeley-Weld (GXY).

The success of the tour, which involved four aircraft from a Boeing Stearman to an Adam A-500, was so impressive that in 2011 Wings rolled out a pilot program called the Teacher Flight Experience. Free rides were given to educators in an open-cockpit Boeing PT-17 Stearman, which the museum had acquired in 2010. The Stearman, donated by Wings member Michael Baldwin, had been restored in 1991 and

www.avinationusa.com

7

Hetty Carlson, who has a degree in aviation management from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and has experience as a para-educator in public schools, has been the program manager since its inception. In a manner similar to Anderson (and mostly everyone at Wings), she is very passionate and enthusiastic about promoting aviation and education. In a recent conversation, she was very excited about the 500th Teacher Flight which occurred this past August.

Ms. Carlson coordinates all the flights, scheduling pilots, educators, and other resources required at the airports. She also developed the marketing plan including outreach, collateral, and the Teacher Envoy Resource Directory. The Teacher Flight itself is more than just a plane ride: after their flying experience, teachers become Envoys for the museum and are expected to serve as official ambassadors by making one-on-one and group presentations to their students, schools and other settings, distribute museum passes, attend periodic events and meetings, and advocate for careers in aviation/aerospace. The Directory is a hefty 3-ring binder containing a wealth of information and tools educators can use in their classrooms and presentations including curricula, aerospace organizations, careers, scholarships, and internships. It also includes the “EAA Aviation Activity Cookbook” which contains a plethora of activities intended to teach scientific principles surrounding aviation.

The Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is one of the most forward-looking organizations in the country providing educational opportunities in aviation and aerospace through its programs. These include the groundbreaking Teacher Flight, the Young Eagles, the Aerospace Academy for 6th through 10th graders, and the Air & Space Summer Camp for ages 8-12. By inspiring students to higher achievement through the motivational context of flight, these programs are making an enormous impact in fostering the next generation of aviation and space professionals.

For more information and to view videos of teacher flights, visit https://wingsmuseum.org/education-4/teacherflight/

Aircraft Finishing Products

STC’d for Certified AircraftProducts Aircraft Finishing

STC’d for Certified Aircraft

Safe Safe for for You, You, Safe Safe for the World, Safe for Your Airplane ••High HighPerformance PerformanceCatalyzed CatalyzedWaterborne Waterborne Coatings Coatings for for the the Aerospace Aerospace Industry Industry ••Durable DurableHigh HighGloss GlossFinish Finish

Safe for You, Safe for the World, Safe for Your Airplane

••FAR FAR23 23and andSTC STCApproved Approved ••EPA EPACompliant, Compliant,Non-Hazardous, Non-Hazardous,Non-Flammable, Non-Flammable, Very Very Low Low Odor Odor

••Complete CompleteSystem Systemfor forFabric, Fabric,Metal, Metal,Composite, Composite, and and Wood Wood Aircraft Aircraft • High Performance Catalyzed Waterborne Coatings for the Aerospace Industry ••Competitively CompetitivelyPriced Priced

• Durable High Gloss Finish ••All Allofofthe theProducts ProductsYou YouNeed Needto toFinish FinishYour Your Aircraft Aircraft in in One One Stop Stop • FAR Kits 23 and STC Approved ••Practice Practice KitsAvailable!

Available!

• EPA Compliant, Non-Hazardous, Non-Flammable, Very Low Odor • Complete System for Fabric, Metal, Composite, and Wood Aircraft

•• All All of of the the Products Products You Need to Finish Your Aircraft in One Stop

• Competitively Priced

1-888-356-7659 1-888-356-7659 • (1-888-EKO-POLY)

• All of the Products You Need to Finish Your Aircraft in One Stop • Practice Kits Available!

www.stewartsystems.aero

8 www.avinationusa.com

• All of the Products You Need to Finish Your Aircraft in One Stop

Learn about our Pilot Career Path Program at expressjet.com/cpp

www.avinationusa.com

9

PITTS ENGINE FAILURE Recorded on Video My name is Chad Barber and I survived an engine failure during aerobatics in a Pitts Special and it’s all on video.

Before I go into detail on how I handled the situation during my engine outage, let me briefly go over why aircraft engines typically quit from pilot error.

Pilots usually induce the problems that they incur. I’m saying this because anyone can control and prevent problems as a pilot. If an engine failure is caused by other means unattributed to pilot error, then we do our best to manage the situation at hand. That was the case I was faced with. I had to manage my plane’s attitude.

There are a number of ways a pilot can cause an engine failure. First and foremost, they forget to turn on the fuel or to switch tanks in flight. Pilots get distracted or neglect to go over their aircraft procedures checklist.

These problems are more common than you would think.

Fortunately, these were not my problems, but fuel and a negative attitude were. My fuel valve was open and I dealt with a single tank. No switching of tanks was necessary and fuel was flowing until my attitude changed.

Additionally, a pilot should know that oil is the blood of the engine and without it, the engine will seize up.

Just as fuel keeps engines quenched, oil keeps engines lubricated and the parts moving effortlessly. Always keep the proper quantity of clean oil in the engine because a serious engine failure could occur accompanied by an unsuccessful re-start and permanent engine damage.

Again, this was not my issue, but can easily be overlooked by a pilot in a hurry.

Finally, pilots can neglect basic maintenance and even overlook or extend the legal requirements of an annual, periodic, or conditional inspection. If a pilot cannot maintain an aircraft’s airworthiness then how can they expect to maintain flight? There is absolutely no reason

10 www.avinationusa.com

to neglect or put off maintenance, especially when the maintenance is related to lift, weight, thrust and drag, all critical to flight. When it comes to thrust, I learned just how important it was after losing it.

On my first flight of the day, early in the morning, I had flown the Pitts about 45 minutes. After the flight, I took a break, drank a pint of water, inspected the airplane and checked the fuel. I had consumed 6 gallons of a 19 usable gallon tank leaving me with 13 gallons for my second practice flight heading out of Pompano, FL. I calculated that it was enough fuel for another 45 minutes of practice while leaving me with about 5 gallons at the end of the flight. My calculations ended up being correct, but I had missed some important aerobatic factors that a typical pilot would not have to consider.

I usually perform aerobatics with 6-19 gallons of fuel.

Anything under 6 gallons can be dangerous because the flop-tube that scavenges fuel in the tank may find air to draw rather than fuel during aerobatic maneuvers. The flop-tube won’t draw air if the plane is right side up, but might when it is upside down, in knife-edge flight, or in an unusual attitude. Pilots know that engines need a combustible mixture of fuel and air to burn, but air alone will not get the job done. When an engine draws air, it hiccups or sputters and can cause a pilot to wet their pants, but aerobatic pilots might stain them.

About 30 minutes into my second flight of the day and nearing the end of my aerobatic sequence, a beam of reality hit me and in an instant my life flashed before my eyes.

During the documented 1 minute and 28 second video, I start with pulling through a negatively entered figure and end it with a 4-point roll to the right. Almost immediately, I begin my next figure pulling to a vertical line and holding

it for a few seconds. At this time, 22 seconds into the video, my engine hiccups while I start pushing through the figure with almost no indicated airspeed at 2,500 feet above the ground. Initially, I wasn’t concerned because it had happened before during negative maneuvers with less than a full tank of fuel. A quick unloading would get the plane back into a positive G environment helping fuel flow. This time, not only did the hiccups stop, so did my engine.

After a second or so of realizing my engine completely quit, I knew I had to gain speed and toggle my auxiliary fuel pump on at 2,000 feet to attempt a re-start. I have seen flat rocks that fly better than a Pitts without power. I dove and picked up speed trying to get the prop to turn over aerodynamically and re-start the engine. This was no hope with the short, three blade, wooden prop. It would not swing!

While diving and reciting my ABC’s, I had spotted a gravel path below to land on and started praying. I had no doubt that even if I couldn’t get the engine started, I would live, but the Pitts would not. The thought of a ruined Pitts and a hold on my aerobatic career shattered my dreams.

Making my way toward the gravel path where I was planning to crash land, thought after thought ran through my mind. At this point about 500 feet off the ground, God spoke to me and said, “This is your life, this is what you do, this is why I created you, control it.”

I attempted my last re-start with my Sky-Tec electric starter and after three cranks, no luck. I was persistent though and on the sixth stroke she fired about 30 feet off the ground! I let out a huge sigh of relief.

Just after re-start, a drone operator radioed to let me know I had infiltrated his zone at a low altitude, but shortly after he quickly bit his tongue. I had lost over 2,400 feet of altitude in about 45 seconds from the time my engine quit to the time of restart. This was no walk in the park.

The bottom line is that the flop-tube was unable to pick up fuel while the Pitts was in a negative attitude with 7 gallons left in the tank leading to fuel starvation. I will no longer fly negatively loaded maneuvers with less than 10 gallons in my tank. The risk is not worth avoiding 50 extra pounds of fuel or saving a 5-minute trip to the pump.

Today, I know my life is in the hands of God and there is no denying it. I can’t thank Sky-Tec enough for their electric starter, without it the Pitts and I would be a mess. It’s a small investment but a big benefit down the runway to be able to re-start an engine during failure.

I leave this experience a humbled pilot, even hungrier to fly, but to do so with reverence, passion and with a commitment to safety. All is well that ends well so go fly! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByDDocn19gnCdnltYmx6X2xOT3c/view

www.avinationusa.com

11

Launching AN

AIRCRAFT BUILD PROJECT

12 www.avinationusa.com

By Sebastien Heintz I’ve just recently returned from a trip to Junction City, Kansas. On this trip I helped members of Flint Hills EAA Chapter 1364 launch an aircraft build project for their Wing Nuts Kids Youth Aviation Education Program. This is a free program where middle and high school age young people learn about all aspects of aviation while building a new Zenith CH 750 Cruzer airplane kit with their own hands! There is no cost for kids to participate. All expenses are covered by EAA Chapter volunteers with financial help from an area community foundation. The program launched on

Saturday morning, September 16, 2017 in the Flint Hills EAA Chapter 1364 Hangar at Freeman Field, Junction City, Kansas. I flew in for the launch with a Zenith CH 750 Cruzer airplane from the Zenith Aircraft factory in Mexico, Missouri, and with the help of my son, Calvin, we started construction of the kit with the middle-schoolers and teens. The local EAA Chapter members will continue to mentor the youths on a regular schedule as they continue building and finish construction of the Zenith CH 750 Cruzer.

Time-lapse video of the project launch:Â https://youtu.be/Ikg0N3vXoss

www.avinationusa.com

13

Stewart Systems Fabric

SELECTED BY ACES WORKSHOP

ACES Workshop, a registered club at Sandpoint High School, builds airplanes. These middle and high school students have devoted uncountable hours, sacrificing Saturdays to complete construction of their first airplane. The Zenith CH601XL-B passed the Federal Aviation Administration inspection and is flying now.

Not to be slowed down, these students are now restoring a classic 1945 Taylorcraft BC12-D aircraft from the frame up. Unlike the aluminum Zodiac, the T-Craft is a steel frame with fabric cover. When the donated plane was received, the students stripped the old, worn-out fabric off the entire plane. For a few months, they have done the tedious work of cleaning, inspecting and repairing the frame, the wings and the control surfaces.

It now is time for a new fabric skin and the club, and mentors, have decided to use nothing other than the Stewart System for all of their projects. For the T-Craft,

14 www.avinationusa.com

this includes everything needed including tools from the metal cleaner, the base primer, the fabric and associated materials.

In addition to the lighter weight, a big reason for the exclusive use of Stewart Systems is that the process is non-toxic, water-borne and environmentally safe. Yet, the history of Stewart Systems finishes shows superb results and longevity.

Glenn Smith, the ACES Workshop mentor (A&P, IA) and co-owner of Coeur d’Alene Seaplanes, says, “I will never use another system.”

Follow the students’ progress on Instagram at n.idaho.highschool.aerospace and at www.highschoolaerospace.org

www.avinationusa.com

15

THE JOB ISN’T FINISHED

UNTIL THE PAPERWORK IS DONE

By Mike Zidziunas One of the toughest aspects of running any flying club, especially a club that specializes in youth aviation, is record keeping. The Lakeland Aero Club has four flying airplanes and four project airplanes with two dozen members flying, maintaining, restoring and building at any time. All under the supervision of qualified FAA certified mechanics. The challenge is to develop a system that meets the requirements of 14 CFR parts 43 and 91 while being user friendly in our training environment.

43.9 (a) states that “each person that maintains, performs preventive maintenance, rebuilds, or alters an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part shall make an entry in the maintenance record of that equipment.” It goes on to describe what information needs to be included. If you are performing maintenance other than preventative maintenance, the work may be done by people under the supervision of an A&P mechanic.

The names of each of those people should be included in the entry for the maintenance record for the work performed. Our typical logbook entry ends with “all described tasks have been completed by the following apprentice mechanics IAW CFR part 43.3 & 43.9c, under the direct supervision of A&P, IA (name cert. number),” which follows with the list of names either printed or typed. The A&P’s signature constitutes approval for return to service.

Many of our members are private pilots and, as owner operators, the club members jointly own the airplanes through the club, may perform preventative maintenance IAW appendix A (c) of part 43 and must make an entry in the maintenance record in order to be in compliance with the regulations. Our typical logbook entry says, “The following preventative maintenance was performed by (name, certificate number) then the list of maintenance items and signature. As a club we discourage members taking it upon themselves to perform maintenance on their own, so we have developed a club policy that requires supervision while accomplishing any maintenance on Club aircraft.

16 www.avinationusa.com

Lakeland Aero Club has an aircraft discrepancy report form so that anyone noticing a problem with an airplane can fill out the form to report the discrepancy.

The form asks for aircraft N number, date, tach time and the nature of the discrepancy. It is most commonly used as part of our REQUIRED post flight inspection.

We have found that the post flight inspection can be very helpful in eliminating surprises during preflight inspections, which can delay or cause cancellations of flights. The forms are placed in an inbox and reviewed by the director of maintenance who then delegates who is qualified to accomplish the tasks. Corrective actions are described in detail as well as the persons performing the work are written on the back of the form. The appropriate person then signs off the form. Club policy requires two signatures from qualified persons. The second signature is usually the director of maintenance. The discrepancy report with the corrective actions is then made part of the aircraft record.

Major repairs and alterations must be supervised by an A&P with an Inspection Authorization; the names of all persons performing that work also must be included in the aircraft records. Additionally, an FAA form 337 must be completed with one copy going to the FAA Registration Branch, PO box 25504, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0504 and the other copy must be included in the aircraft records.

One of our club’s projects is a Xenos motor glider.

It is being built from a kit and will be registered as an Amateur Built Experimental aircraft. It does not become an aircraft in the eyes of the FAA until it is issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate. Legally anyone may work on an experimental aircraft without any certification at all, however it must be signed off by an A&P prior to getting its Airworthiness Certificate and by an A&P or a person with a repairman certificate for that aircraft (the original builder) for the annual condition inspection. At Lakeland Aero Club we do not allow progress on the experimental kit without supervision. The students are utilizing the “Aircraft Builder” app for iPad to document their progress.

The app allows them to add photos to the build book entries. We require the same record keeping for that project as we do for our certified aircraft. One of the missions of Lakeland Aero Club is to teach proper procedures in the hangar as well as hands on working on flying, or soon to be flying aircraft. A large part of that is proper record keeping.

www.avinationusa.com

17

AFTER 72 YEARS, “What’s New?”

By Louis Mancuso

a commercial pilots license with an instrument rating and be in a position to be hired by a corporate flight department. BFA trains in low cost, brand new Bristell aircraft that are equipped with the latest Garmin G3X touch avionics and autopilots.

Mid Island Air Flying School on Long Island, NY has taught over 3,000 pilots to fly since opening its doors 72 years ago in 1946. Over the years, the school’s president, Our three-part training program consists of: Louis Mancuso, has observed 1. The PLC, Personal Limitations Checklist Lou Mancuso poor landings again and again 2. GPA, Ground Proximity Awareness Training “The Landing Doctor” by many pilots, especially during 3. DFGAP, The Defined Go Around Point crosswinds. Lou has developed techniques to assist pilots in making soft landings during crosswinds. Lou is passionate about safety and has labeled himself “The Landing Doctor” to bring attention to the FLIGHT ACADEMY three-part training curriculum he has developed.

Because he would love to see his techniques used by as many pilots as possible, he has launched the Bristell Flight Academy (BFA).

An enrollee in the Bristell Flight Academy can work as a Certified Flight Instructor after receiving BRISTELL CHALLENGE COIN instruction using the earned by all BFA students.

“The Landing Doctor” techniques. It only takes a few months to earn your CFI rating. In less than a year, enrollees should have

18 www.avinationusa.com

Bristell NG5 Aircraft

Smart Birds like...

Flying, Flying, Flying Learning to fly better Reading about flying

21, 2017 $2.95 • SEPTEMBER 69TH YEAR. NO. 18

PERIODICALS - TIME-SENSITIVE

DATED MATERIALS

Totally eclipsed P. 6 engine P. 14 Tips to break in a new P. 22 ht flig A dangerous na cost? P. 11 How much is this gon

7, 2017 $2.95 • DECEMBER 69TH YEAR. NO. 23

The Year in Pictures

2, 2017 $2.95 • NOVEMBER 69TH YEAR. NO. 21

Pikes Peak Airshow

PERIODICALS - TIME-SENSITIVE

DATED MATERIALS

sh P. 18 Air Racing’s Royal Flu P. 10 n’ sio ‘Flying is my pas drop P. 8 nts ide acc ilt ebu Hom hout fear P. 14 Flying taildraggers wit

5, 2017 $2.95 • OCTOBER 69TH YEAR. NO. 19

PERIODICALS - TIME-SENSITIVE

DATED MATERIALS

26 The triumph of LSA P. s times two P. 24 Bücker Jungmeister raft P. 16 The art of naming airc record P. 10 ed spe Setting a world

FREE 6-month subscription at GeneralAviationNews.com/AviNation PERIODICALS - TIME-SENSITIVE

DATED MATERIALS

chapter P. 20 Air Racing: The final will come P. 6 Invite them and they nebeck P. 16 Rhi Old at An old friend ef efforts P. 8 reli ng flyi for tips 12

www.avinationusa.com

19

nal

& EDUCATIONAL

WORLD FLIGHT VISITS 25 COUNTRIES AND OVER 20,000 STUDENTS

By Captain Judy Rice “Where did it all start…? When did you first discover you wanted to…?”

It was a hot summer night. I lay in my bed trying to sleep. I was the middle child of six. The younger of our brood were already tucked in and my two sisters were already asleep. I was staring up at the sky and setting sun. I always had my bed up against the windows so I could say good night to the sky.

Dozing off, I suddenly heard a loud, WHOOSH – WHOOSH – WHOOSH!!! I fled from my bed and ran down the stairs as fast as my tiny legs would carry me. Once outside I looked up and saw a huge balloon with a wicker basket hanging below. I could see the man in the basket as it passed just over my rooftop.

I was so amazed I could not speak. The man hollered down, “What’s wrong little girl, cat got your tongue?”

Amazed, it was as though he was standing right beside me!

The house I grew up in had a huge living room with bookshelves along one wall. After that evening’s experience, I would park myself in the corner each day paging through the encyclopedia looking for the balloon and basket contraption. To my delight, as I searched, I found all sorts of flying machines. Once I found a lady standing on top of the wing of a small airplane and I remember saying to myself, ‘Someday, someday I will do that!’

20 www.avinationusa.com

Shortly after, ‘Around the World in 80 days’ became a popular hit and this is when I discovered hot air balloons. I would drag the record player into the closet playing the song over and over again so as to not disturb my family.

In first grade I discovered I was the only one in my class that dreamt about flying. One day my teacher smiled and nodded telling me, “Honey, you are a girl.

Good girls do not fly.” Horrified, I ran home and asked my parents if this were true. My parents told me that in fact, good girls do not fly. Crushed, I decided to keep my dream all to myself.

One day walking home from school I was looking up at the sky instead of watching where I was going. I ran right into a telephone pole. The huge bump in the middle of my forehead would surely give me away!

I was relieved when the only outcome was my older sister being scolded for not watching me closely and I was reminded to pay closer attention.

During high school I became a student aid and this is when I discovered that I loved teaching. I graduated, had a family, and became a teacher. However, every once in a while when an airplane went overhead, that little voice reminded me that I wanted to fly.

Work toward your dream! It took a lot of work gaining the confidence that I could fly. After all, I had been told all my life that it wasn’t for me. Flying gave me confidence, changing my life forever more. Once I

learned to fly, my life changed even more after noticing the power of aviation with my special education students.

Burbank, California USA – the Day Finally Arrived!

On June 13th Think Global Flight (TGF) began it’s around the world flight of adventure, promoting education and inspiring more than 20,000 students in 25 countries across the globe.

Among those expressing their support were TGF Ambassadors Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin and Voyager pilot Dick Rutan. Buzz Aldrin joined the crew on most of our journey. I was now known as Captain Judy Rice.

I shared my dream by flying the donated Citation Mustang with students across the globe and media during scheduled stops along the route.

I called my world flight Think Global Flight because it served as a global, inaugural experience for the exploration of career options and pathways in the aviation and aerospace industries growing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) awareness. TGF was recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for real-world applications to S.T.E.A.M. Augmenting Think Global Flight’s educational message is the greater message conveyed by my gender in a predominantly male career field. I upheld the honor as a model career-mentor, enriching the lives of diverse youth through educational and career-mentoring initiatives.

Dr. Aldrin shared his support, saying, “Back when I was privileged to be a part of the Apollo program the USA was number one in the science and technology fields. No one had ever heard of S.T.E.A.M. because we

were at the top. Today, America is falling behind other countries. S.T.E.A.M. is the precise focus of Think Global Flight, reaching more than 20,000 students, and why I strongly support Captain Judy and the flight. I am looking forward to joining the crew for many of their global adventures.”

Think Global Flight was an around the world flight promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) through aviation and aerospace education, inspiring students to succeed and excel in these critical areas. The flight will encourage and foster the international exchange of information among industry, professional associations, government agencies, and the educational community, thus growing a greater awareness of the capabilities for S.T.E.A.M. education, especially as related to the aviation and aerospace disciplines. See the web site: www.thinkglobalflight.com and www.captainjudy.com

www.avinationusa.com

21

The

FlyingASSOCIATION Musicians

By Perry Chinn, D.C. As a general aviation pilot and flight instructor I am always dismayed when I read yet another article bemoaning the dismal statistics regarding the current pilot population. Many causes and possible cures are kicked around, some more reasonable and workable than others.

I think we can all agree that the best remedy is the continuing inspiration and support of the next flying generation. Many quality aviation programs, the Young Eagles included, have taken tremendous strides in encouraging the younger crowd to take to the skies.

And there are some programs that are specifically designed to produce the desired result, a certified, young pilot.

The Flying Musicians Association is a non-profit organization that identifies, selects and provides the financial and mentoring environment necessary to certify our flying youth. A national organization with regional ambassadors, the FMA works hand-in-hand with local music directors to select qualified high school age students for compensated flight training.

Sarah Coffelt is a perfect example. When Sarah was in the fifth grade she and her mom witnessed a Life Flight Helicopter performing a rescue while on their way to a soccer game. She developed a passion for someday flying helicopters, feeling that this would fulfill her dream of flying and also help people in need. This dream was recently supported by receiving the FMA scholarship in 2016. She soon soloed and is continuing her training under the watchful eyes of three different instructors. Sarah’s motivation to complete her training is assisted by her work environment at Tullahoma

22 www.avinationusa.com

Regional Airport. Fueling, parking and hangaring planes for the FBO gave her a hands-on connection with aircraft of many types and size. Sarah says she is looking forward to flying her friends and family, possibly even using her certificate to commute to school!

Your community has music directors who may have never heard of the Flying Musicians Association.

Perhaps the organization is new to you as well.

Take a few minutes and explore the web site www.FlyingMusicians.org to familiarize yourself with this opportunity to nurture aviations future. Seek out your musical friends at the next fly-in or aviation event.

Dust off that old saxophone in the closet and form a band! What better way to express yourself and give others a reason to fly over and listen! (I suppose there is the potential that they would quickly fly the other direction‌but life is all about a bit of risk - right?)

Music inspires. Flying inspires. This association welds the two into an almost irresistible combination! Talk to your community music director today! They will likely know the perfect student to encourage in the direction of the FMA scholarship.

FMA, founded in 2009, is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization (EIN #80-0433326) of over 500 pilots who are also musicians that welcomes all proficiency levels and musical genres. It is the passion for aviation and music that counts!

The skills required to play an instrument and fly an aircraft have marked similarities, from precision and multitasking to listening and fine motor skills. By educating others about these common attributes, we hope to further interest in both. We strive to share our passions in order to inspire, educate, and encourage others by creating enthusiasm and promoting personal growth through presentations, performances, networking and scholarships. More info at www.FlyingMusicians.org

Sarah Coffelt

Although my experience learning to fly might not be common, I think it has made all the difference in my approach to flight and made me a safer pilot overall. After I received the Flying Musicians Association Solo Scholarship in the Spring of 2016, I immediately wanted to begin my flight training.

However, being from a small town I faced many difficulties getting a flight instructor who had the time to work around my already busy schedule.

Despite many trial and error, it wasn’t until the next summer that I found the right instructor for me.

Though this experience was not what I would have expected and took more time than expected, it was one of the best experiences of my life. Because I had three very different, qualified flight instructors, I received a very unique, diversified flight education.

My first flight instructor was a commercial pilot who flew business executives on their smaller jets; his strict style of teaching focused on being as close to perfect as possible. As a new pilot this proved very difficult, but I learned to be accurate and consistent while flying which has stuck with me today. My second flight instructor was a commercial pilot who flew for SouthWest airlines. His relaxed personality and reasonable teaching style helped me grasp the responsibility that I as a pilot needed to fly. Often times he would use personal experience as a commercial pilot to portray the reality of flying and the precautions needed to ensure safety. My most recent flight instructor, who helped me solo, was strictly a flight instructor, and his teaching style focused more on putting the responsibility of major decisions into my own hands. I think this method worked best for me because for the first time in my flight training the decision where to fly, whether or not to fly, and if it was safe to fly was my decision. Whether or not I made the best decision at that time was not our main concern; making the decision and being confident in why I made my decision was the main lesson that has stuck with me even today, in areas outside of flight.

While flying with Certified Flight Instructors was my main form of training, I was able to learn the same or even more flying with other young pilots in my community. I am very thankful that a former co-worker of mine who was attending college to become a commercial pilot was able to take me flying in his own plane on multiple occasions.

Flying with someone closer to my age was a great way to gain hours, stay active between lessons, and to hear a different perspective on difficult topics in a very relaxed and fun setting.

I am thankful for my unique experience learning to fly because I think it has made me a better pilot and more confident in my abilities as a pilot. I am excited to use my experience in the future as I train for my private license and throughout my life!

www.avinationusa.com

23

B S 24 www.avinationusa.com

“If you have flown, perhaps you can understand the love a pilot develops for flight. It is much the same emotion a man feels for a woman, or a wife for her husband.” ~Louise Thaden.

BLUE SKIES

By Kayleigh Bordner

For many of the pilots in the world, our love affair with the wild blue yonder is the one thing that we all have in common. How that love came to be though varies greatly. It may have started simply because a child grew up living next to an airport, or maybe the individual loves the challenges that are presented while trying to master the skills of an aviator. For me, it was a subtle fascination with the sky ever since I was a child that eventually grew into a passion so great that all I can think about is aviation.

I grew up on a small farm in the middle of nowhere Indiana, as a few people would put it. I loved being outside; whether that was playing with friends, helping bale hay, riding horses…really just anything a normal farm kid would love doing. But I also loved lying in the grass and looking up at the clouds. I would spend hours watching the clouds dance across the sky, trying to guess with my cousins what shapes they resembled. If we were lucky, we also got to watch a plane or two buzz by.

I loved watching those fascinating flying machines, and any time I heard one I would look up at the sky and try to find it. On top of playing my game of “find the airplane,” my father also started to tell me about his time in the Navy. He had served as a green jacket on the USS Independence, an aircraft carrier that has since been decommissioned. From what he has told me, his days were spent hooking up F-14 Tomcats, A-6 Intruders, and other assorted aircraft to the catapults and recovering them with the arresting cables. He would speak passionately about the sheer power and maneuverability that the fighter jets had, and any time we watched Top Gun he had to turn the volume all the way up on the surround sound while yelling “THIS ISN’T EVEN HALF AS LOUD AS IT WAS ON THE FLIGHT DECK!!” These stories helped to spark my interest in airplanes even more and, unbeknownst to me, these were the first signs of what would soon become my life-long love.

I eventually decided I wanted to become a pilot during my freshman year of high school, but it wasn’t until my junior year that I took my first flight lesson. After that first lesson in a little yellow Piper

www.avinationusa.com

25

Cub at Glenndale airport, I was hooked!

I can still remember my first solo in the Cub. My instructor told me to pull up to the gas tank near the FBO; I was a little suspicious that I would be soloing since I knew I had been getting close. Laura went into the FBO, signed all the endorsements required for me to solo, and walked back out telling me the plane was mine until the end of the flight slot. So there I went, taxiing down to the end of the runway! I did a quiet run-up and lined up on the pristine grass, applied power and when the wheels lifted off I thought to myself “that’s it, there’s no turning back, I’m flying an airplane all by myself!” I went on to obtain my private at 18; just a few days before going to college. I can remember being terrified on the check ride. I was so nervous that I could barely think straight! Eventually I settled down and did halfway decent…. I mean I must have done all right since the examiner gave me my license! After that, I went to Indiana State University for Professional Aviation Flight Technology and Aviation Management. By coming in with my private, I was able to jump into sophomore level flight classes, which gave me the option of graduating early. I decided, however, to set up my schedule so I could take a light load of online classes my last semester and complete an internship. While attending ISU, I earned my instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, multi-engine rating, and CFI. It was difficult, and I considered quitting more than once.

But my love of flying and the desire to become a professional pilot always won out. I also had the honor of being a part of the ISU Air Race Classic team for three years. The Air Race Classic (or ARC) is an all-women’s transcontinental air race that has a rich history dating back to 1929 with Louise Thaden being the very first champion. During the 2016 ARC, my team and I flew our way to a second place out of 55 teams. The Air Race was an amazing way to apply what I had learned in the classroom to a real life flight. It’s not very often that you get the opportunity to fly from coast to coast in four days unless you have your own airplane and the finances for it. It’s one thing to fly in a practice area or around locally, but when flying cross-country there are other elements to consider.

The biggest element is weather. Instead of looking at the weather in a local area, you have to look at weather covering a vast amount of land. Because of this, I realized how much I had actually learned in weather class and how important it really was to understand. That understanding of weather and working as a team during the 2016 race is what helped us win!

26 www.avinationusa.com

I recently graduate from college and completed an internship with UPS Airlines. Being a part of

this internship was a fantastic way to learn about the Part 121 Airline world. While I was at UPS, I worked as the Boeing 757/767 Flight Training Department Intern.

Auditing manuals, analyzing data, assisting on large projects (like taking the UPS 767 to Oshkosh 2017), and giving simulator tours to important customers or certificate winners were just a few of my duties. Upon completion of this internship, I was hired by Ameriflight as First Officer on the Embraer 120 Brasilia based out of Kalispell, Montana. I am currently in aircraft specific training, and it’s been hectic. Type rating school is like drinking from a fire hose, but in the end you know the aircraft like the back of your hand! The key to being successful in this environment is working together with your classmates! Studying in a group is more efficient than studying on your own. In the end though, the stresses of ground school fades away when you see your progress.

While I sit here reflecting back on the past five years, I know that I have been blessed with so many different opportunities and experiences. But I wouldn’t have

gotten where I am today without the help of so many others. My flight instructors over the years have been a huge influence on my career and me. I have so much to thank them for: my training, the techniques I have picked up along the way, and their encouragement when I felt like quitting. I have also had so many mentors who have assisted in my career development.

If there is one thing that you take away from this article, I hope it is that you learn to establish good connections and relationships that will help you with your career. Connections are extremely important in any career field. I will leave one last tip as well. On a hiking trip a friend had asked everyone what their key to success was. I thought about it for a while and finally decided that, to be successful, you must have three things: hard work, determination, and the will to never give up. You have to work hard in aviation and be determined to achieve your goals. There have been multiple times where I wanted to give up, but I never did! Everyone has the ability to achieve their dreams.

www.avinationusa.com

27

U.S. Sport Aviation Institute & YAZ (Young Aviators Zone)

SUPPORT YOUTH IN AVIATION

Sebring Airport Authority formed a nonprofit organization called U.S. Sport Aviation Institute in 2016 to facilitate tax-free contributions and thereby promote further growth, and education for youth and minorities in the world of aviation or in general aviation. Businesses looking for tax write-offs are able to donate and sponsor Sebring’s Expo and receive a tax benefit.

Mike Willingham, Executive Director of Sebring Regional Airport, had this to say about the Institute, “This nonprofit organization will open many doors for Expo growth, which will in turn help the community and region prosper.”

The goals for this nonprofit organization are to: • Operate, manage, administer, and provide general oversight for the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo.

• Sponsor world-class forums and speakers K-12 students, pilots and the general public to educate people to the benefits of utilizing aircraft in business.

• Support the creation and operation of aviation related fabrication laboratories.

• Support the creation and operation of an aviation related Education Center specifically encouraging youth participation.

• Support economic development efforts related to these aviation activities and efforts.

• Support the construction and renovation of physical structures to implement these aviation efforts.

• Encourage and support partnerships between the public and private sector.

• Encourage and support partnerships with South Florida State College, school boards and related organizations across the U.S. • Encourage and support appropriate partnerships with industry groups.

• Encourage and support partnerships with all local, regional, federal and international economic development organizations.

YAZ (Young Aviators Zone) The YAZ program is specifically designed to promote education, empowerment, and safety in aviation for

28 www.avinationusa.com

youth, especially minorities and women (ages 16-21), with an emphasis on economically underserved areas. The proportion of women and minority pilots and aviation professionals is staggeringly low when compared to other professions.

YAZ is designed to encourage the population of youth, minorities, and women pilots by providing a forum for aviation communication and education as well as scholarships that will enable participants to learn to fly, become advocates in their communities for aviation and inspire others. Scholarships are funded through the Sport Aviation Institute.

Melissa Finger, U.S. Sport Aviation Expo Executive Director, stated, “We are excited about the Institute and the ability to provide education and career options to the local community through the nonprofit Institute for the YAZ program. Donations received through the Institute will further promote aviation and aviation related business through education, training, partnerships and economic development on a local, regional and federal level.”

Sebring’s Expo is again collaborating with the local school system to bring groups of students in daily for the 2018 YAZ program. During the 2017 four-day event, approximately 700 high school students from Highlands County, ranging from ROTC, STEM, AVID, and other programs participated.

One of the confirmed YAZ speakers for 2018 is Captain Niloofer Rahmani, the first female fixed wing Air Force aviator in Afghanistan’s history, and the first female pilot in the Afghan military, since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

About U.S. Sport Aviation Expo The 14th annual Sport Aviation Show features sport aircraft, and includes conventional aircraft, kit planes, powered parachutes, trikes, gyros, amphibians, drones and innovative designs such as electrically powered aircraft—over 150 aircraft on display.

The 2018 U.S. Sport Aviation Expo is scheduled for January 24-27. To learn more, visit www.sportaviationexpo.com, For more information about the nonprofit Institute visit: www.ussportaviationinstitute.org

Four jam packed days of the coolest stuff sure to spark your engines!

See acres of sport aircraft, conventional aircraft, kit planes, powered parachutes, trikes, gyros, amphibians, and drones!

You can demo exciting simulators, and take workshops to learn amazing stuff like how to build your own plane. Don’t worry there will be food trucks for re-fueling so you can keep going.

Believe us… you’re going to want to!

Buy tickets online today: sportaviationexpo.com/tickets

www.avinationusa.com

29

A G N I D L I U B TO

30 www.avinationusa.com

E C A P S O R E A THE

E G D I R B Y R T S INDU

Photo by MARY MALONE In this photo from December 2016, Ron Korn, left, a Sandpoint High School student in the North Idaho High School Aerospace program, and Glen Smith, right, an airplane mechanic, work on the Zenith Zodiak CH601XL the students in the program built over the course of about two years. The plane took its first flight in August of this year.

www.avinationusa.com

31

By Mary Malone SANDPOINT — The North Idaho High School Aerospace Program has several new faces bringing a wealth of knowledge to the board of directors.

“Each of the new board members brings a special skill that we need,” said program co-founder Ken Larson.

Larson describes the program as a “bridge between school and industry,” teaching students every aspect of aviation, from ground school to flying, even building airplanes.

For the new board, Larson will continue to serve along with new members Ryan Turner, Jennifer Brandenberger, Al Leavitt, and Ray King.

Turner is a pilot with advanced ground instructor certification through the Federal Aviation Administration, so his strength is in education and has been doing a “great” job in tutoring students, Larson said. Brandenberger is a pilot working on her instrument rating. She is a retired accountant, so she brings a strength of handling finances to board.

Leavitt is a pilot, airplane owner and retired businessman, so he brings a strength of business planning and business operations. King is the city administrator for Newport, Wash., and brings a range of skills, including organization, management, grant writing and more, as well as being a pilot.

“When I was selecting people for the board, I wanted to get people who could bring a particular history that could benefit us,” Larson said.

While the board will manage the program and make decisions, an advisory panel has been established as well to provide advice and information to the board members.

Serving on the panel is Jack Jones, a retired vice president of Boeing and owner of JLJ Consulting, bringing knowledge of business and industry to the panel. Dr. Sundaram Nataraja, director of aviation at Central Washington University, is serving on the panel as well. Larson said some of the local graduates are now in his program. Some of the things he brings to the panel include knowledge of postsecondary education and scholarships. Jamie Slippy is an aeronautical engineer at Quest Aircraft, bringing knowledge of local industry. Hal Gates is an aeronautical engineer at Tamarack Aerospace Group, also representing local industry.

Program co-founder Barney Ballard is resigning from the board of directors, but will continue to serve on the advisory panel. As an advisor, Ballard will focus on community relations and local fundraising.

32 www.avinationusa.com

While the program is expanding with volunteer support from the community, raising funds to keep the program alive is no easy feat.

“We are not sure we can continue doing this without sustainable, long-term funding,” Larson said, adding that the board may begin a campaign to help find funding for some of the fixed costs.

The fixed costs include hangar rent for ACES Aviation Workshop, liability insurance, utilities and other expenses at approximately $1,500 per month, Larson said.

The program is in part supported by organizations like Rotary and the Community Assistance League through grants. While grants are “really hard to come by,” Larson said the support is greatly appreciated and plans to expand on grant writing. Other support comes from individual donations, including Patti Rechnitzer, who makes regular donations to the program in the name of her late husband, Paul Rechnitzer.

A local businessman has donated large scholarships making it possible for three flight students to pursue private pilot licenses and aviation careers. Winter Ridge Natural Foods donates toward the hangar rent. While every donation helps tremendously, the funds coming in will not be enough to support the program long-term.

Because the program is a bridge for high school students into the aerospace industry — proven by the many success stories Larson can recite of students moving on and the feedback he has received — he said he would like to get pledges from the aerospace industry to cover some of the basic minimum expenses, but any help from the community is appreciated.

Although funds are limited, interest in the program continues to grow with nearly 50 students signed up. The academic classes are currently going through a reorganization. The classes are offered at Sandpoint High School, which includes career pathways in aerospace and FAA ground school. The two classes are being combined in the second semester, Larson said.

Several students have received, or are working on, their pilot licenses. Through the program, students can earn a sport pilot license or a private pilot license.

One thing Larson said he would like to add to the program is “unmanned aerial systems,” better known as drones. The objective would be for the students to design, build, program and fly fixed-wing drones.

Students 13 and up would have the opportunity to get a remote pilot license as well.

The ACES Aviation Workshop continues as a successful part of NIHSA with the students rebuilding a 1945

Students in the North Idaho High School Aerospace program hold up the windshield as Ken Larson, the programs co-founder, pilot training and academic instructor, prepares to take the Zenith Zodiak CH601XL on its first flight in August. The plane was built by the students in the program over the course of about two years.

The Ultimate STOL! CH 750 & Cruiser Now Available as a Quick Built Kit in the USA

Wide Range of Aircraft!

• • • • • •

Taylorcraft, which was stripped down to a skeleton. Old planes like the Taylorcraft are fabric covered, so Larson said covering it is a “system.” The one the group is using is called a “Stewart System,” where everything is eco friendly, water-based with no toxic chemicals, Larson said.

M-

M

“And because of our program, they are giving us a 50 percent discount,” Larson said, adding how valuable such discounts are to QUA R D the program. “It will allow us to do a lot more- Sthan Ewe ever thought we could do.

A FT

Wide Range of Aircraft - Sales Training • Repair

2

RED

AIR

St. Elmo Airport • St. Elmo, AL 36568 251-957-1533 office • 251-422-7350 cell paul@msquaredaircraft.com www.msquaredaircraft.com

OM .C

FT

A

CR

ED

A

T

R UA

U

RAF

M

Q

IRC

M-SQUARED AIRCRAFT, INC.

Another small plane was donated to the program as well, which was sold to fund the Taylorcraft project. And the Taylorcraft did not come with an engine, so a farmer in Nebraska donated one.

Republished with permission from the Bonner County Daily Bee.

D

A

IRCRA

Monetary donations are accepted through the program’s website at highschoolaerospace.org/donate or PayPal highschoolaerospace@gmail.com. In-kind donations of tools, M well. equipment, airplanes and labor/mentoring are welcome as S

S QUA R E

Q -S

m m

2

Special Light Sport Aircraft Ultralight Aircraft Sales Training Repair DAR Services for Amateur, Light Sport, S-LSA & E-LSA

A I R C A FT www.avinationusa.com R 33

ATTRACTING THE

NEXT GENERATION Central Florida Aerospace Academy takes off with help from Gulf Coast Avionics founder

By Dale Smith When Rick Garcia was growing up in Miami, Florida, he never dreamed he’d become president of Gulf Coast Avionics – one of the most successful avionics repair shops in the industry. In fact, he didn’t have much interest in aviation until he had the opportunity to enroll in South Florida’s original aviation high school, the legendary George T. Baker Aviation School.

“I started attending In 2007, Rick Garcia George T. Baker in the approached the administrators ninth grade, and that of the Polk County Public Schools with an idea for was my first exposure creating an aviation-oriented to aviation of any kind,” high school.

Garcia said. “I took regular classes at South Miami Senior High and then went to Baker for my afternoon classes.” While Garcia didn’t finish the A&P portion of the curriculum – he didn’t like getting his hands dirty – he had just enough exposure to the world of aviation electronics to get hooked.

“Right after graduation, I joined the U.S. Air Force and was trained to work on avionics aboard the F-4s and F-16s at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa,” he said.

“After I finished my tour in the Air Force, I went to work for a small avionics shop in Tampa. I stayed there until I started Gulf Coast Avionics in 1984.”

While building a successful business may have been enough for most entrepreneurs, the growth of Gulf Coast Avionics and its 16 subsidiary companies further fueled Garcia’s commitment to doing something that would offer the next generation the same opportunities he enjoyed during his formative years.

A DREAM FULFILLED

Being involved in the day-to-day operations of an active avionics shop, Garcia – like most of us – has a front-row seat to the overwhelming need to attract a new generation of pilots and technicians into

34 www.avinationusa.com

the aviation industry. But unlike most of us, instead of lamenting the problem, he decided to do something about it.

“After moving Gulf Coast Avionics to Lakeland in 1999, one of my personal goals was to get behind the creation of an aviation high school that mirrored George T. Baker,” Garcia said. “That school certainly gave me the focus and career direction at a young age that I never would have had without it. I think today’s young people need the same type of opportunity.”

In 2007, Garcia and other forward-thinking business leaders approached the administrators of the Polk County Public Schools with his idea for creating an aviation-oriented high school.

“I was already on the board with the Sun‘n Fun Fly-In, and my plan was to include the new high school as part of the Sun ‘n Fun campus at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport,” he said. “Actually, the school board was very receptive to the idea.”

So with the blessings of the school board, the Central Florida Aerospace Academy was born. One of the few challenges the group faced was the decision as to which local high school the new aviation academy would be linked.

“By making it an academy, you can attach it to a high school that is already operating in the area,” explained Keith Smith, assistant principal at Central Florida Aerospace Academy. “It gives you an established base and shortens the startup cycle. Several area schools were interested, but it ended up being attached to Kathleen High School in Polk County.”

Smith said the only remaining hurdle was to get the school board’s approval to locate the CFAA campus at the airport.

“No other academy had ever been separated from its host school before, but Rick was insistent the school be at the airport to get the kids immersed in aviation,” he said. “He wanted them to feel like they were part of aviation and not just going to school near an airport.”

After about a year of planning and completing a list of details, everything was finalized and the first 40 students started classes at the new Central Florida Aerospace Academy in 2008.

#IFLYEDV

Your future in aviation looks BRIGHT. As you contemplate your pathway to the sky, learn as much about the airline industry as possible, reach out and start conversations, and make an informed decision about where you want to fly.

Endeavor Air offers aspiring aviators: The richest combined compensation package Rapid fast upgrade times for qualifying pilots The only defined pathway to Delta Air Lines An amazing workplace culture

Visit EndeavorAir.com/Pilots to learn more.

www.avinationusa.com

35

“Our first aviation program obviously was avionics, and then we added aerospace, engineering and most recently, an airframe and power plant program,” Smith said. “For the first couple of years, we had classes in a couple of portables and a hangar that Sun ‘n Fun allowed us to use.”

Like most successful programs, it didn’t take long before the number of students wanting to attend the new aviation academy outstripped the school’s space.

But as luck would have it, Garcia knew someone who could possibly help.

“I contacted Mr. James C. Ray and invited him to tour the CFAA campus and preview our plans for the expansion of the school,” Garcia said. “Afterward, he agreed to donate nearly $7.5 million for the construction of a new building that could eventually hold 550 students.”

Current enrollment at CFAA is 325 students. That new building opened in 2011, just three years after the academy welcomed its first students.

“Mr. Ray is still very involved with the academy,” Smith said. “Among other things, he funds our student flight training scholarships. As long as they keep a 2.75 GPA and perform 100 hours of service during the annual Sun‘n Fun Fly-In event, they are eligible for the James C. Ray Flight Scholarship, which pays about 95 percent of their flight instruction costs to earn a private pilot’s certificate.

“To date, we’ve had about 80 students solo. Of those, 45 have gone on to earn their private certificates.

Every student that solos gets a brick with their name on it placed in front of the school. It’s something the students are quite proud of.”

Another notable donation came the school’s way in 2013 when FedEx donated a 727-200 to the Polk County education program. The aircraft is now used as an interactive aviation classroom.

While flight training is an extra cost option, Garcia pointed out that like other high schools in Florida, there is no cost for students attending the academy.

He also added that he sits on the Polk State College Board of Trustees, and as part of the overall plan for the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, graduates also have access to an affordable path to a college degree at the PSC campus.

“Polk State College is the only public college in Florida that currently offers bachelor’s degree programs in aerospace administration, aerospace science and an associate degree in professional pilot science,” Garcia said. “We’ve tried to create an affordable an attainable path for CFAA graduates to continue their aviation education close to home.”

JUST LIKE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT BETTER

Smith stressed that while theirs is an aviation academy in the truest sense, the school does not require students to have any interest in aviation as a prerequisite to attend.

“We hope to foster interest so that aviation will rub off on them and they will continue in the industry in one form or another,” he said. “But that being said, more than half of our students come here because of an interest in an aviation career.”

Smith explained that CFAA has four tracks in place for the students to choose: the pilot track, the avionics track, the engineering track and the A&P track.

“The students have to declare a track of study, but they are not limited to just classes in that track,” he said. “An engineering student can take some pilot track classes

CFAA has four tracks in place for the students to choose: the pilot track, the avionics track, the engineering track and the A&P track.

36 www.avinationusa.com

or A&P classes if they want. We try to keep it flexible to match their interests.”

Aside from the aforementioned four aviation tracks offered, the CFAA has all the grade nine though 12 classes on-site that Polk County students need to graduate.

“All of our courses are at least honors courses, and we also have a number of advanced placement (AP) courses,” Smith said. “If there’s a program or extracurricular activity that we don’t have here, our students can go to the main campus at Kathleen.

“We have about 30 students that get on the bus each afternoon to go to the main campus for things like band. We also have a few CFAA students on the football and baseball teams. Our students have the opportunity to be fully involved with all the activities at the main campus.”

UP, UP AND AWAY

Smith said that even though the school is still gaining momentum, everyone is very excited about the way its working and the number of students furthering their aviation education and future careers.

“We have one student who is on a fast-track program with JetBlue Airways – they’re one of our bigger partners here,” he said. “This student started a program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona with one airline, but then switched to a program that would prepare him to fly international routes.

“We also have five of our engineering track students currently enrolled at the Florida Institute of Technology.

Another few are at Polk State College attending its aviation program. We have another student at Embry-Riddle in the ROTC program. He wants to be a military pilot.”

Garcia said that one CFAA graduate who had gone through the avionics track was working in the Gulf Coast Avionics shop when he was offered a job with the Breitling Jet Team for avionics support.

“I would have taken that job too,” he said. “We had two other CFAA students work in our shop part time while they were still in school. One is currently flying for an airline, and the other is a flight instructor.”

Smith stated that although not every student was chasing a career in aviation, the CFAA program is working as Garcia and other founders imagined.

“We’ve had very good success providing the inspiration, guidance and training to help our students further their futures in aviation or whichever career path they choose,” he said. “We’re young, but we’re truly going in a great direction.”

Smith stressed that the school would not have achieved the level of success it has enjoyed without the ongoing guidance of Garcia and other members of the curriculum board.

“I am not an aviator; I am an educator,” Smith said. “I know how to run a school, but not an aviation school. We could not have done any of this without Rick’s leadership. I depend on him and other members of our board to show me where we need to go to stay up with the current industry needs.”

“We have an excellent avionics program, and I keep involved in it since that’s where I can help,” Garcia said.

“I keep them up to date on the latest technologies, and they learn real-life avionics processes that they can use in the field today.”

GIVING BACK

Garcia’s industry service does not stop with the Central Florida Aerospace Academy. He also serves as a member of the Aircraft Electronics Association’s board of directors. As a strong industry leader, he also encourages other avionics shop owners to do their part in helping solidify aviation’s future.

“It is necessary for all AEA members to help the next generation of technicians and pilots,” Garcia stated.

“Introducing them to the wonders of aviation is the first step in getting them hooked like I was, along with so many others.”

“If there is anyone out there interested in helping, I strongly urge them to contact their local aviation school or a high school with an aviation program or your local school board about starting a program,” Smith said. “Offer up your expertise.

“Even if you don’t have the time to commit to creating a new program, just volunteering a few hours a month or semester can be an invaluable help to a school’s administration. It’s a small investment with the opportunity for a really big return.”

Republished with permission from the April 2016 issue of Avionics News magazine, a monthly publication of the Aircraft Electronics Association.

www.avinationusa.com

37

MAKING

AN INTEREST

IN AVIATION INTO A BUSINESS & CAREER

By Sarah Rovner

38 www.avinationusa.com

www.avinationusa.com

39

The path to success often varies greatly from person to person. Often times people find their own route to success with varying life situations. The path that I took consisted of having many different career paths until I got settled in aviation. When deciding a career field, people often get caught up with taking the traditional path. I would argue that aviation is one of the only career fields out there that is often best approached from a different angle.

When I was 17 years old I got my first job that paid $5.15/hr, which was minimum wage at the time. I started working at the Starbucks inside my local grocery store, living day to day without any grand plan for my future. STEM career fields were something I had always been interested in. I was a self-proclaimed computer nerd that gave up having a social life to start programming and building websites when I was 10 years old. Although I enjoyed the work, I never had a mentor or anyone to teach me how to pursue my goals.

After a short time in college, I joined the U.S. Army and went on active duty. In the military, I became an information technology specialist, working on computers and learning valuable skillsets that transferred over to the civilian job market. After getting off active duty, I became a Network Engineer and began working in the oil and gas industry. At the time, network engineering was a growing career field where the jobs were endless and the supply was short.

After obtaining additional certification and working diligently to expand my skillset, I progressed up the ranks, gaining the title of Senior Network Engineer fairly quickly.

The aviation side of my life was never the plan.

Aviation was always something I was interested in, but nobody in my family was in the industry so it wasn’t

encouraged. In fact, I discovered aviation

40 www.avinationusa.com

on accident. While trying to charter a small plane for last minute travel to a neighboring city, I ended up on a discovery flight. My first time in a Cessna 172 was in the left seat with an instructor in the right seat. As soon as I performed my first takeoff with his gentle guidance, I knew it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I started taking lessons immediately. After 7 months, I obtained my private pilot certificate. I then pursued aviation as a hobby, working my way through the ratings with the idea that I would like to flight instruct on the weekends.

I did whatever I could to fly as many airplanes as I could. I would clean planes, hang out at the local FBO, and bum rides from other members of EAA and Women in Aviation chapters. I discovered my passion for old, vintage taildraggers and soon got a reputation for flying these uncommon kinds of aircraft. It took me a while to get all my ratings and therefore didn’t pursue my CFI until I had been flying for a while.

Shortly after obtaining my CFI, I was asked to ferry a Citabria taildragger aircraft from Houston to Las Vegas. Although I had experience flying long cross countries, it was my first time flying across the country for hire. Shortly after that ferry was completed, I was recommended by a friend to take a crop duster aircraft from Canada to the Central American country of Belize.

The Belize trip was my second ferry, and it completely jumpstarted my career as a ferry pilot.

I was having a lot of fun ferrying and decided to start FullThrottle Aviation, which is the aircraft delivery company that I currently own. I started ferrying vintage taildraggers on the weekends, occasionally taking Monday or Friday off for the longer jobs. FullThrottle Aviation continued to grow, now having 10 ferry pilots.

We have branched into international markets and have become established as a leading company for aircraft delivery. As that business started to grow, my day job started down the opposite direction. The oil

and fracking industry crashed in 2014, causing my employer to start closing down plants and laying off employees. Layoffs were happening every Friday, and it was a constant reminder that I could be next at any minute. As the downturn continued with no near end in sight, I decided it was a sign to follow my childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot. After preparing my finances and life situation for the radial lifestyle and pay scale change, I made the jump to airline pilot in 2015, becoming a captain in 2017.

Aviation is a multifaceted industry that allows many different people and life situations to pursue. Although I decided to make a full-time career change, there is a large array of pilots and flight instructors who maintain employment as engineers, IT specialists, and doctors.

The pilot career field and hobby interests people who have a technical mindset and enjoy the challenges of quick decision making based on technical data. Although many people argue that a pilot career is merely a blue-collar job disguised as a white-collar job, it still requires a high level of technical challenge that many people enjoy passionately. The earnings prospective in the aviation career field is also very high, with many senior pilots making over a quarter million dollars per year. Many pilots also have businesses on the side that they are passionate about because being a pilot allows pilots to have the off time from work to pursue other interests.

If I could give any advice, it would be to take a look at yourself and your goals. There are many different paths within both aviation and STEM that could provide for a meaningful and enjoyable career.

Aviation promotes entrepreneurship, and with the right strategy a person can be successful in both. Current market forecasts show a growing need for pilots, and experts agree that now is a very good time to be a pilot. Someone once gave me great advice, saying that the only way you can make it in aviation is if you can’t see yourself doing anything else. It’s an amazing career field but it is full of ups and downs. If aviation is your passion, then there is always a way to make it work. It’s one of the most rewarding and satisfying career fields in the world, and every day I’m proud to be living my wildest childhood dreams.

PILOT SHORTAGE FLIGHT ACADEMY Become a LSA CFI in 3 months and be on your way to earning $125,000 as a Corporate Pilot while working 20 hours per week Why spend over $300,000 on college when we can train you for an aviation career for about $30,000 if you have your private pilots license We have made over 3000 pilots since 1946

www.bristellflightacademy.com www.bristellaircraft.com • www.nyj.com www.midislandair.com www.thelandingdoctor.com

LEARN TO FLY IN A BRAND NEW BRISTELL 516-658-1847

www.avinationusa.com

41

BUILD YOUR OWN FULL MOTION FLIGHT SIMULATOR

FOR LESS THAN YOU THINK!

By Jerry Graf Want to build a full motion flight simulator for your Youth Aviation Program for around $500?

You can and here is how!

I recently was at the Flint Hills EAA Chapter 1364 meeting. They had just taken possession of a Zenith Cruzer from Zenith Aircraft Co, Mexico, MO as their new kit build project. Sebastien Heinz who owns the company and his son Calvin flew over in their own Zenith Cruzer to give a helping hand and get the kids started. The kids built all 4 sides of the fuselage in one day – Great Job! What I saw when I was there was this full motion flight simulator which seemed too simple to be true but it was. I learned that they have had it for several years and built it for around $500 out of PVC pipe and they use Microsoft Flight Simulator (which no longer exists). They have had great results with it in their training.

All you need to do is google Joyrider Flight Sim or go to www.acesim.com for your plans for $15, which is

42 www.avinationusa.com

pretty cheap for a full, motion Flight Simulator. Check out on their web site what some people have done to customize their own set up – neat stuff!

I plan to use X-Plane Flight Simulator because we have a Zenith CH STOL 750 installed in it and we can add our engine, which is the UL Power 350iS and our own custom panel that we are building. Once I do that, the kids can learn to fly their airplane with their engine and their panel in X-Plane. Now, attach that to this Full Motion Flight Simulator and you can get hours of realistic training for free.

I plan to couple this with the new Gleim ground school that uses X-Plane, and then I’ll have a unique training tool that will teach the kids about their plane even before they set foot in it. It is a fabulous training tool that also teaches safety.

I tell the kids that they can crash it all they want while they are on the ground but not when they go flying – they will be well trained by then.

Blue Skies!

GIVE THE

GIFT OF FLIGHT Give Open Air to that loved one and let their career

SOAR

www.OpenAirForEveryone.com

THE ENGINEERING PACK HOW ALSIM HELPS TO

EDUCATE FUTURE ENGINEERS MATLAB SIMULINK ®

®

A FLIGHT SIMULATION SANDBOX REAL TIME TWO WAY COMMUNICATION (READ & WRITE) ACCESS TO ALSIM SDK (SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT) ADJUST SIMULATION PARAMETERS IN REAL TIME REPLACE AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

QUALIFICATION-READY SIMULATORS

FITS PERFECTLY WITH

al250

270 SIMS, ALL CERTIFIED, IN +48 COUNTRIES, SINCE 1994

WANT A DEMO?

YOUR SEP / MEP IN A COMPACT SIM

ALSIM AMERICAS +1 843 742 2723 contact@alsim.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ALSIM.COM www.avinationusa.com

43

EAA Aviation Scholarships NOW AVAILABLE

For Flight Training, College Studies, Air Academy Camps January 31 deadline for many college scholarships EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (November 28, 2017) — More than $135,000 in financial aid opportunities for flight training, college aviation studies, and EAA residence camps are now open for applications through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s scholarship programs. Many of the scholarships, especially those for college studies, have a deadline of January 31, 2018.

EAA scholarships are supported by aviation-minded donors who are helping to build the next generation of flight. The awards vary from $500 grants to fouryear, renewable $10,000 college scholarships for those interested in pursuing more within aviation. Categories include flight training scholarships, where aid is applied directly to instruction and flight time required to become a pilot; college scholarships that cover a wide range of aviation-related college and university studies; internships for positions that introduce young people to the aviation business world; and “camperships” that provide financial support for young people age 12-18 who want to attend the EAA Air Academy each summer.

“As with many aspects of higher education, finding the funding to make aviation dreams come true can be a challenge,” said Bret Steffen, EAA’s director of education. “EAA is fortunate to have dozens of

44 www.avinationusa.com

members and benefactors who want to give back to the world of flight through our scholarships. As with many scholarships nationwide, we encourage all qualified applicants, who in turn help us encourage more support from the aviation world. We want to ensure that young people who want to pursue flight get the support they need to make it happen.”

While many of the awards have varying deadline dates, most of the college scholarships must receive applications by January 31, 2018. More information on all of EAA’s scholarship and financial support programs is available at www.EAA.org/scholarships.

About EAA EAA embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 200,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.

Is Sharing Aviation Once Enough?

By Jeff Jorgenson I started a tradition of sharing aviation with my daughter’s class every year, starting with Preschool. Now she’s in third grade, this will be my fifth year. My family has moved a couple of times with subsequent changes in schools, in fact towns. Will I ever know if any of the kids from the previous schools will pursue an interest in aviation? This is the premise of the driving force behind AviNation, to build a community of youth interested in aviation, to connect them and provide the mechanism to stay in touch after the initial contact. We work with various people and organizations to communicate aviation programs and activities. More importantly, we provide the tools to answer questions about aviation, to educate, encourage and inspire youth to pursue aviation.

Many aviation companies have long promoted the value of aviation as a S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) platform, at least from a marketing perspective. The fly-ins that offer airplane rides provide a great initial experience to introduce the joys of flight and share an amazing, memorable experience, as do many of the aviation workshops.

Nurturing interest in aviation requires more than an initial contact. Parents’ time is so diluted and divided between work, school, homemaking, and other daily life responsibilities that families that do not have connections in aviation are not equipped to inform and encourage aviation on a consistent basis. AviNation is the perfect supplement to continue to help families encourage and inspire their children in aviation.

When a child views the world they experience wonder and form an impression of what is possible. When a child watches an airplane fly it brings their imagination

to life. They wonder about where they might go. They can relate to their favorite superheroes that fly and it adds another dimension to playtime activities that expands their view of what is possible. They can go anywhere and it transcends the boundaries of time and space. They can apply their own interests. The aromas, sights and sounds of aviation make an imprint in their mind in such a way that when they encounter an element of aviation they will often recall a vivid, fond memory.

In school, most kids in the USA aren’t exposed to aviation other than a brief history lesson about the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart or Charles Lindberg.

As they get older, they may relate to some of the war statistics that are often conveyed, but documented facts don’t stimulate the five senses to impact experiential learning like an airshow or aircraft museum. Much can be done to incorporate the two for the benefit of both industries. Education can take on a new, deeper and more impactful meaning and aviation gains a new enthusiast who forms a new liking for subjects that may often be perceived as ‘boring’ if it weren’t for the incorporation of the other senses that spark the imagination and make an imprint for foundational learning.

For these, among other reasons, aviation events are important hallmarks of our society and culture that, if not embraced, may fall further from the forefront.

Aviation touches nearly everyone’s lives in one form or another. For that reason, it is imperative that more people are informed so that the direction of aviation can be swayed in the majority’s best interest. Another tool I have derived to be a primer for basic aviation knowledge is the new book, “Open Air - How People Like yourself are Changing the Aviation Industry.” It provides a basic overview of nearly every aspect of aviation and combines stories and practical examples to inspire the beginning novice or expert pilot alike. It is available on Amazon in digital and in print. And then the desire is to have AviNation as a compliment to that tool to continue reach our audience with timely and pertinent information and events.

www.avinationusa.com

45

AOPA Helps Schools Establish & Grow AVIATION STEM PROGRAMS

By Cindy Hasselbring By 2036, Boeing predicts 117,000 new pilots and 118,000 new aviation technicians will be needed in North America. This future workforce need presents a great opportunity for students in a fast-moving, exciting STEM area, yet, 65% less private pilot certificates currently are being issued than in years’ past. To help address this deficit, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest community of aviators in the United States, is dedicated to helping high school students discover rewarding aviation careers. AOPA helps schools establish and grow aviation STEM programs by sharing best practices

and building curricula that follow career and technical education pathways in piloting, aerospace engineering, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). These new courses are being field-tested in 29 high schools across the country and will be available to interested high schools starting in the fall of 2018.

This program is part of a larger High School Aviation initiative that offers high school students flight training scholarships as well. For educators, AOPA hosts an annual aviation STEM symposium in November each year. More information about the curriculum, scholarships, and symposium can be found at https://youcanfly.aopa.org/high-school.

LEADING THE WAY IN LIGHT SPORT AVIATION

Upper SunBeacon II (Red)

Pulsar NSP (sold as a pair) NAV/ACS

SunTail ACS/POS

SunSpot 36LX landing light

AB Flight is always striving to improve the quality of the flight training experience and is a proud supporter of youth in aviation!

AB Flight utilizes the Evektor line of Light Sport Aircraft for its unsurpassed strength, reputation, and comfort.

LESS DRAG

•

LESS DRAW

www.AeroLEDS.com

46 www.avinationusa.com

www.abflight.com

Subscribe Contribute Comment Become part of the Youth in Aviation movement with AviNation!

AviNation is always looking for quality content and photos, as well as your feedback.

Story ideas? Content suggestions?

Join the movement. Contact us today!

E-mail: jppeed@gmail.com Subscription information: avinationusa.com

Your Aviation Career Starts with Minnesota State University, Mankato!

Four-Year Aviation Degree • Exceptional Flight Training • Experienced Flight Instructors • Quality Aircraft & State-of-the-Art Simulators • Reduced ATP Minimums • Minnesota State University, Mankato Aviation Program Visit flymankato.com | Call (507) 625-6006 North Star Aviation | Mankato, MN www.avinationusa.com

47

The engine is the heart of an airplane, but the pilot is its soul.

Piedmont is committed to the next generation of aviation professionals.

Join the conversation on social media or visit piedmont-airlines.com

/Work for Piedmont

@PiedmontAir

/Piedmont Airlines