2020 SPRING
AT TR ACT, EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOUTH IN AVIATION
INSIDE Industry Partnerships a Key to Success EAA Young Eagles Program Reaches Milestone of 2.2 Million Kids Flown Going for the Trifecta!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
AIRBUS...........................................................................2
Chair Flying.................................................................................................................. 4 A Challenge Led Me to Aviation......................................................................6-9 Industry Partnerships a Key to Success.....................................................10-13
Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR).................43 Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc................... 31 ByDanJohnson.com................................................43 California Baptist University................................48 Cloud-Flyer................................................................. 35 CommutAir................................................................. 38
Living the Dream................................................................................................. 14-15
Culver Props...............................................................43
Auburn University’s Business Aviation Showcase.................................16-20
Endeavor Air.............................................................. 39
EAA Young Eagles Program Reaches Milestone.................................. 22-26 of 2.2 Million Kids Flown
Experimental Aircraft Channel............................ 38
Open Air Flight Instructor’s Corner........................................................... 28-29
Lockwood Aviation................................................. 38
How ePathways Reignited my Passion For Aviation................................. 30 Going for the Trifecta!..................................................................................... 32-36 My College Experiences as a Pilot and Musician.................................. 40-41 Join the New Space Era................................................................................ 44-45
DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase..................... 27 Envoy............................................................................ 37 General Aviation News...........................................43 KievProp America..................................................... 21 M-Squared Aircraft, Inc........................................... 17 MATCO mfg............................................................... 25 Republic Airways...................................................... 42 Schweiss Doors.........................................................43 Sebring Flight Academy.......................................43 Sensenich Propeller.................................................. 31 STEM Pilot......................................................................3 Stewart Systems..........................................................5 Swift Fuels..................................................................46 The American Civil Wings Society.................... 39 Triple Tree Aerodrome........................................... 47
2020 SPRING
Van’s Aircraft............................................................... 11
AT TR ACT, EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOUTH IN AVIATION
Will Leveille Cover Photo Courtesy of
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About AviNation AviNation exists to attract, educate and empower youth in aviation. AviNation magazine strives to give readers insight into the future of aviation by focusing on aviation students, programs, events and innovative approaches to the promotion and continued growth of the aviation industry. Staff & Contributors Publisher: Jacob Peed Copy Editor: Vicky Rink Administrative & Circulation Coordinator: Jessica Peed Design & Production: Barb Betts, 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
Contributing Writers Alex Marino Dick Knapinski, EAA Doug Adomatis Dylan Mardoian Jeff Jorgenson Jim Fremont Nicholas Poucher Republic Airways Scott Firsing Varian Dass Will Leveille
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Chair Flying STUDENTS... CHECK CURRICULUM… CHECK
TEACHER… CHECK CLASSROOM… CLASSROOM?
COVID-19 has put life on hold, including traditional classroom instruction. I never imagined having to teach aviation classes without a classroom. Then again, I had never heard of “chair flying.” Chair flying is merely pretending to fly an aircraft while seated in a chair. Chair flying helps pilots memorize procedures. Chair flying includes the physical movements, like reaching for the flight controls, to build muscle memory. It is often done with eyes closed or in front of a cockpit poster. Chair flying is beneficial because it occurs in a relaxed, safe environment without the stress or expense associated with training in the actual aircraft. Teaching from home is a bit like chair flying. It occurs in a relaxed and safe environment. We close our eyes to the distractions around us to focus on the needs of our students. The difference is that we are not just going through the motions. We are teaching the same content, but we have had to adapt our means of delivering instruction. The global pandemic has reinforced the need for us all to be flexible, whether you are a student pilot without an aircraft or a teacher without a traditional classroom. The way I usually teach students includes hands-on activities. My aviation students love to demonstrate what they have learned using flight simulators in our classroom. Without access to these simulators, we have had to be creative. For example, students would typically fly the simulator and explain to me the cockpit instrument readings. Now, I give the student a scenario, and then they draw for me what the instruments would look like. For the summative assessment, students will draw a cockpit poster, illustrating all of the primary flight instruments. The students will then be able to use their poster for… you guessed it: chair flying. Written by Doug Adomatis who teaches courses in science and aviation at Greenville Technical Charter High School. He recently received an Association of American Educators scholarship to attend Ground School Instructor training.
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A CHALLENGE LED
There has been so much chatter recently on the looming pilot shortage and the effects that it would have on the Aviation Industry, however the industry is seeking ways to recruit and prepare young future pilots to meet the demand. Although the discussion was probably happening at the time, it wasn’t what led me to Aviation or my goal to become an Air Force fighter pilot. My journey was set into motion by a complete accident. Growing up I’ve always had direction but not an absolute destination. Like most children I was obsessed with dinosaurs, so much so that I attempted to release a dinosaur, that I thought was still in my grandmother’s antique egg. Needless to say, I destroyed it. But that never stopped my natural curiosity of things every child is gifted with, in fact it only ignited it more. My interest continued to shift around from paleontology, zoology, and marine biology. I was always the science guy. And I was expected to stay in that field and follow through with one of those careers. That all changed when I started middle school, when my mother embarrassed me in front of a room full of students who were signed up for a unique class called Aeronautics. I am sure that everyone has that story where their parents embarrass them in front of all their classmates, and it forever ruins their lives. My story is what changed my direction and it continues to influence the path I choose to take. Here’s how it went: I had
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gotten a class on my schedule called Aeronautics. Not exactly the class I was hoping for since I wanted to get into the pre-veterinary program and continue to work with animals. My mom wanted me to change it because it entailed a lot of reading, and I’m not the most enthusiastic reader. Her words were “I will not set you up for failure.” The reasoning was my older sister had taken the class and is an avid reader. Victoria was always one of the only girls in the class and she worked hard to complete all three courses. I think my mom believed that since it was out of my element, I wouldn’t do too well in it. Even so, my mother allowed me to make my own decision on what to do about the schedule mishap, but as always, my natural curiosity prevailed. As you might have guessed, I decided to continue with the class and take off into the experience that would be the aeronautics class. Our teacher, Mr. Griffith was a retired Air Force, B-52 navigator who taught at Sanford Middle School. He instructed us on first the basics of flight, then slowly we worked our way to learning to apply our skills to simulator training. The class itself was very competitive, having many different opportunities that you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. That included taking a free introductory flight courtesy of the Young Eagles program. After my first intro-flight my sense of competition in the class grew, leading me to want to do as best as I can to secure more opportunities to advance me farther into the field.
ME TO AVIATION
By Varian Dass
To say it was hard is an understatement. Between the tests for that class and learning to balance a heavy school schedule, things got overwhelming really fast. Luckily, I made the decision to take the classes I didn’t really care too much about, online, through FLVS (Florida Virtual School) enabling me to free up space on my schedule to focus on the things I loved.
Ever since I entered aviation, I’ve had my hands full. Currently I’m a sophomore in Seminole High School. My many engagements include being dual enrolled at Seminole State to earn my AA degree when I graduate, being a respectful and dedicated
As my passion grew, I started to get more involved, joining an Aviation Explorers club based out of Embry-Riddle that created fun volunteer opportunities for students while fueling my love for aviation. I was the student secretary of the club and the responsibility of the job helped me to better my work ethic and sharpen my skills even more. Aviation explorers provided many opportunities to fly, meet real pilots and explore the various career paths offered in the aviation industry. One of my favorite experiences with the club was entering the copilot seat of an RV-8, to experience the thrills of aerobatic flying. The best part of this club was giving back to our community. We took part in the yearly Puppies and Planes event, which was all about helping raise money for animal shelters to help them find families to take care of them. What’s not fun about helping kittens and puppies find their forever homes, while learning about the diverse history of the glorious combat fighter and bomber planes? Goes to show that aviation is much more than flying.
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A CHALLENGE LED ME TO AVIATION
AFJROTC member, learning health sciences through the school’s “Health Academy” and being an aviation ambassador for my school’s relatively new aviation program. My Aviation teacher, Mr. Johnson is a former Marine mechanic who worked on an aircraft carrier to fix planes. He is possibly the nicest Marine you will ever meet and challenges me every day to work hard in everything I do. Every day in his class we get to work on a Cessna 150 and a Robinson 22. It’s really a hands on and interactive class. There is so much to learn and students from all over Seminole County can participate in this program. The end goal being
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for students to earn their private pilot’s license by endorsing the student to take the FAA written exam once they are ready. This year, I have been spending more time assisting in recruiting and teaching with Mr. Johnson by exposing young students to the aviation program with the hope to inspire people with a passion in aviation, just as I was. On top of that, studying for the private pilot’s exam that I will take, come my 16th birthday in June. Did I complete my challenge? That would be a no. That’s because it’s an ongoing process. My goal is
to get accepted into the Air Force Academy. More specifically I’m striving to be the first in my family to go to the military and fly their amazing aircraft. The plane that I’m most excited to learn to fly would have to be the F-22 Raptor because of its speed and maneuvering capabilities. This as far as I know will be my biggest challenge yet. I’ve always pushed myself to do my absolute best, but that’s not to say I’m in it alone. I’ve been given the pleasure to meet many of the most influential people in aviation. Including the youngest woman to fly around the world solo; Shaesta Waiz. Another would have to be my aviation teacher’s daughter, Jasmine Johnson. She is an instructor in the Air Force and
teaches cadets to fly fighter planes. I met her recently while I was helping to teach young girls how to fly simulators and complete a pre-flight check on our Cessna. She told me that I reminded her of one of her students, telling me she believes I have what it takes to reach my goal. Personality and all. Those kind words of motivation have helped me to continue to chase after my dreams and aspire to do big. Some words of advice to anyone unsure of trying something - You never know if the thing you’re trying is what you were born to do, so do yourself a favor and just jump right in and do your best.
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Industry Partnerships a Key to Success by Nicholas Poucher
Back in 2017, two of our Lakeland Aero Club members flew to the Redbird Flight Simulation headquarters in Texas to learn how to build and disassemble a Redbird FMX flight simulator. After two long days, our members returned home and managed the assembly of our new full motion flight simulator. Just a few months ago when we had to move our FMX simulator into
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INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS A KEY TO SUCCESS
our newly built sim room. One of the members that originally received his Redbird installation certificate and Kenyon Odell who works for Redbird, taught five of our younger members how to disassemble and rebuild the simulator. Those members also received their Redbird installation certificates in February. Since the FMX was built, our members have accumulated over 2,000 hours of training which can be logged simulator time towards instrument and commercial flight training requirements. Earlier this year, in addition to our full motion Redbird simulator, and thanks to the support of Piedmont Airlines,
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the Lakeland Aero Club was able to acquire three Redbird Jay desktop simulators to give more of our members access to realistic flight simulators. We are also working with TakeFlight to implement their virtual flight instructor software into the Redbird Jay simulators so that members can begin practicing private pilot maneuvers before their first flight lesson. In addition, we are now able to have members grasp an understanding of what is required as a private pilot and then transition them into the Redbird FMX with an instructor to better prepare them for flight training. This approach is making our members more prepared
when they get into the cockpit and saves them money during flight training. Furthermore, we are implementing scenario based training by utilizing scenarios provided by EAA’s VMC program. Rather than just having a discussion about how to solve a problem in the airplane we are able to put pilots into the FMX and find out if they are able to effectively manage an emergency situation. The Lakeland Aero Club would like to thank Piedmont Airlines for helping our members become safer and more prepared pilots.
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Living the Dream
If there’s one thing that many pilots have in common, it’s that they knew they wanted to fly planes from the time they were kids. For Jessica Ortega, First Officer at Republic Airways, she had a first-hand experience of growing up the daughter of an airline pilot. “I got bit by the travel bug growing up—I liked my dad’s pilot lifestyle and wanted to give it a shot of my own.”
who says you can’t be a pilot,” Mohammed advises. “I have had that said to me countless times due to my origins and faith, but it did nothing except add determination to prove them wrong.”
A Caring Spirit Whether you work in the corporate headquarters, at a maintenance base or in an airplane, there’s a feeling of family everywhere at Republic. “I don’t always work with the same crewmembers,” Mohammed says, “so every time I work with someone new I get to learn about their life and share stories. And when I see crew members I’ve worked with before, it’s like a mini reunion.”
For Republic First Officer Mohammed Farag, his dream started as a five-year-old boy in his native homeland of Egypt. “I remember seeing three planes in the sky leaving three contrails parallel to one another. Later, I saw three long stretched clouds that were parallel and thought, ‘Planes make clouds, and the people who fly the planes are cloud makers—I want to be a cloud maker when I grow up!”
In both her previous job as Assistant Chief Pilot and her current position as General Manager and Director of Academic Programs at Republic’s LIFT Academy, Dana Donati got to put that Republic caring spirit to work. “When I became an Assistant Chief Pilot, my passion became helping people. And now I’m incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of a flight academy that helps people achieve their dreams of becoming a pilot.”
Republic First Officer Sunny Naik’s realization came during his junior year in high school as he pondered his future. “I was enrolled in the Aerospace Academy associated with Embry-Riddle, so that helped me make my decision, as well as a teacher who motivated my desire to fly,” says Sunny. “Also, knowing that being a pilot would let me go anywhere in the world helped me make my final decision.”
Republic also lives out that spirit through service to the community in a variety of ways. On a trip to Haiti where Republic is working to improve the lives of families living in the village of Barriere Battant. First Officer Ethan Hawes literally experienced a whole new perspective. “We spend a lot of time in the air, and you look out the window and you don’t really think much of it,” Ethan shares. “Really understanding the struggles that other people are facing around the world is such a magical thing. On this trip, pretty much every area of the company is represented—from technology to engineering to execs, everyone. We’re utilizing the teamwork that we learn in training and rehearse over and over and over. Everyone’s working together on the front line. It’s a truly life-changing experience.”
Jessica, Mohammed and Sunny all share another thing in common: they are living their dreams at Republic Airways, an airline they all say feels like home for several reasons.
Diversity Welcome Republic Airways embraces a culture of diversity and actively seeks to train and hire pilots who represent all walks of life. It’s a practice that Mohammed recognizes and appreciates. “While gender diversity is changing in the airlines, it’s still at a low percentage,” Mohammed notes. “Airlines like Republic are now showing ads with female pilots and male flight attendants, challenging old stereotypes and changing the way they recruit.”
The cockpit doors are wide open at Republic for anyone who wants to be a pilot. “Challenge anyone
Learn more about this fast-growing, innovative company at rjet.com.
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Hiring more female pilots means that every now and then, Jessica is part of an all-female crew—an opportunity that she truly enjoys. “The times I’ve flown with all-female crews have been some of my best trips! There’s a refreshing energy to the trip, being able to have some ‘girl talk’ and relax.”
It’s Just a Cool Place to Work! Whether it’s working in a diverse, welcoming, caring environment or flying state-of-the-art Embraer jets or having 12 days off every month to spend with family or friends (or flying somewhere awesome!), Republic pilots have some of the best jobs in the industry.
Auburn University’s Business What career can I have in aviation? This is the biggest question troubling many young, bright individuals at the start of 2020. We’ve all heard it before: ‘this is the best time to enter the profession of aviation’. There are thousands upon thousands of different pathways, both flying and non-flying, that are becoming available to young professionals considering a career in this exciting industry and Auburn University’s Aviation Program is coming to the rescue. While Auburn has joined forces with Delta Air Lines and many other Regional partners, they are also
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opening the door for careers in the Business Aviation sect of the industry. In November 2019, Auburn University’s Aviation Centerwas the first collegiate program to host an event promoting solely business aviation to its students. This first of its kind event was rallied together by alumni and other industry leaders who saw that business aviation as a whole is often overlooked and underrated amongst today’s professionals. $220 million worth of aircraft descended upon the ‘Loveliest Village on the Plains’ for the 2-day showcase to be opened for static display. Over 100 business aviation professionals of all backgrounds travelled to Auburn to share their knowledge and
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experiences with the students. These industry leaders represented companies such as Cox Enterprises, The Home Depot, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, AirMed, Textron Aviation, and many, many more. Along with the astounding number of static aircraft on display, the event also included a networking fair, a speaker panel, a Women in Business Aviation luncheon, and various class speakers. It seems like a very busy schedule for a two-day event (and it was), but the overall goal was simply to make students aware of the opportunities they previously did not know existed. These opportunities range anywhere from dispatcher to chief pilot to salesman to marketing specialist. As stated by attendee and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Vice President of Education Jo Damato, “I fell accidentally into business aviation,’ and because of events like this, that will soon be replaced with, ‘I intentionally planned a career in business aviation.’’
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Auburn University’s Business Aviation Showcase
Bill Hutto, Auburn Aviation Center Director, was very pleased with the event saying that “this is a unique opportunity for our students to engage and connect directly with the operators of major flight departments and bizav companies.”
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Aviation is a special industry because it is filled with people who are truly passionate about their work and it could not be more evident in the turnout of this event. For many Auburn alumni, this was their first time returning to the “Plains” in over two decades and they chose to spend it giving back to the next generation. Over the years, Auburn Aviation Alumni have played a major role in the revitalization of the flight school and have assisted in its growth from 90 students in 2012 to upwards of 500 in 2020. The aviation programs have countless alumni across
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Auburn University’s Business Aviation Showcase
the world that have a desire to give of their time and experience to help students, but with limited avenues to do so. The 2020 Auburn Business Aviation Conference is the perfect solution to increase aviation alumni engagement and to strengthen the network of graduates.
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The team that organized the 2019 Business Aviation Day expects this year to be even bigger and with the help of organizations like NBAA, it’s sure to be a success. For more information on Business Aviation Conference, please contact Will Leveille at will.leveille@auburn.edu
EAA YOUNG EAGLES PROGRAM REACHES MILESTONE OF
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2.2 MILLION KIDS FLOWN
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EAA YOUNG EAGLES PROGRAM REACHES MILESTONE OF
2.2 MILLION
Flights have been conducted in aircraft ranging from hot air balloons to corporate jets EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – (January 31, 2020) – The biggest youth aviation education program ever created reached another milestone this week, as the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program surpassed 2.2 million kids flown since the first program’s flights took place at the 1992 EAA Fly-In Convention at Oshkosh. “As we reach each of these milestones, it’s a further credit to the dedication of the EAA-member pilots
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and volunteers who have committed their time and aircraft to bringing young people into aviation,” said Jack Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board. “The success of Young Eagles means thousands of today’s under-40 pilots can trace their personal journeys back to that first flight with a Young Eagles pilot.” More than 50,000 EAA-member pilots have donated their time, aircraft, and fuel to fly kids over the past 27 years, with an equal number of ground volunteers assisting the program. Flights have taken place on every continent except Antarctica, and in aircraft
KIDS FLOWN
ranging from hot air balloons to corporate jets. Young Eagles began in 1992 in response to a survey of EAA members who overwhelmingly replied that getting young people involved in aviation was the most important issue to ensure the future of recreational flight. Young Eagles has also been the foundation of EAA’s more recent efforts to encourage and engage young people in aviation. That includes the Sporty’s online Learn to Fly course, available to all Young Eagles and now approaching 75,000 enrollees. It also set the stage for last year’s inaugural group of Ray Aviation Scholarship recipients, as more than 100 young people earned full flight training scholarships in conjunction with local EAA chapters.
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EAA YOUNG EAGLES PROGRAM REACHES MILESTONE OF
2.2 MILLION KIDS FLOWN
Dozens of aviation companies also support Young Eagles, including Phillips 66, the program’s presenting sponsor. Other supporting sponsors include Garmin, Lightspeed, WACO Aircraft, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and Global Aerospace, as well as Young Eagles Flight Plan sponsors Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sporty’s Pilot Shop. “To every pilot and ground volunteer who has been part of Young Eagles, the aviation community thanks you,” Pelton said. “If you haven’t flown a Young Eagle yet, we enthusiastically invite you to do so. You will have a more impactful influence on the future of flight than you’ll ever know.” More information for pilots, parents, and young people is available at EAA.org/YoungEagles.
ABOUT EAA EAA embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 240,000 members and 900 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.
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OPEN AIR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR’S by Jeff Jorgenson There is an old quote that has long portrayed this concept.
OPEN AIR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR’S
“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous, but to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, CORNER incapacity or neglect.”
By Jeff Jorgenson I’m a problem solver, at least that’s what I like to call it. Maybe ‘creative thinker’ is a better description. Some may say I’m a dreamer (but I’m not the only safe? The answer surprise you! one)Is~ flying to quote the John Lennonmay song, Imagine. For You may have heard the cliché “flying is safer than decades I have gone to different aviation events, sat driving.” Well, it turns out it's a bit more complicated in organizational meetings and often asked the same than that. It do is true thatyounger the impeccable safety record question, “How we get people involved in of the airlines is statistically far safer than aviation?” Or sometimes the question is, “Howdriving. do we (GA) has a statistically less saveHowever, the rapidgeneral declineaviation in General Aviation?” appealing track record. It's very difficult to compare I’m almost 47 years old andbecause when I attend aviation GA to driving statistics they are tracked and meetings of various organizations, I’m still the youngest reported in multiple different measurements. Driving person in the room, by nearly 20per years! Plagued with is measured in deaths (12.0) 100,000 miles driven these questions and demographics, I set out overper the and GA is measured in fatal accidents (1.09) last 100,000 decade to research the answers. hours flown. It gets moreThrough difficulttravel, to compare research, numerous discussions with industry when you consider that nearly every adultleaders drives and nearly observation, I have found solutions. I’ve every day, while lessmany that 1% of the population been able to categorize and summarize them and have are pilots and many don’t fly every day. created the ‘Open Air Flight Club!’ While I have done the math As an award-winning and explained thisauthor in the of the book, “Open Air How People Like book, “Open Air - How Yourself Are Changing the Aviation People Like Yourself Are Industry” I share part of my Changing the Aviation aviation journey and lessons In the Industry” what’s learned. more process of writing the book and important to note here is that doing research on a correlation lot of current there is a direct aviation trends, I figured out how between training, proficiency I canand help. Self-discovery is a safety. Quality matters. wonderful development and part of the solution. Once I published the book in 2017, I began doing book signings and speaking at organizations. I talked to schools and did aviation workshops and events. Originally, I was using the book to inspire youth and aviation enthusiasts, and it took on a life of its own. 28 www.avinationusa.com I started an aviation STEM program in a local school and started helping other aviation organizations with
Captain A.G. Lamplugh In working with Jacob to grow ~AviNation Magazine, we’veSo developed powerful, complementary business the answer, in General Aviation is that flying is, in models that are making a real difference in aviation! fact, not safer than driving. However, here is the good news, it can be! FAA has become taskbeen saturated. I have helped a lot ofThe organizations and it has a They have had budget cuts, are restrained by their rewarding experience. As a flight instructor, I’ve helped rules and procedures and inhibited bypilot the a lot own of people get started in aviation, get their bureaucracy. That’s not to say towards the FAAsuccess. is doing a bad certifications and help guide them job, but that they are goodbusinesses at doing what they’re I’ve partnered with a lot ofvery aviation to help already doing and very slow to change to meet them grow. I’ve developed a powerful presentation new challenges. With and thatorganizations in mind, the great to inspire businesses that news is that there are many people, like myself, who are going encourages new levels of success. Many businesses out of their way to teach new, better practices, at and organizations want me to come and speak for free a grassroots level, to instill knowledge of observed and give them the answers they’ve been seeking for trends andthink to offer solutions that lead‘got to much decades. Many they’ve figured it can out and this’ flying. whilesafer others continue with the status quo, doing what they’ve always done and getting what they’ve always I got to meet renowned aviation educators John got. The solutions I offer are well beyond the scope of and Martha King at Sun N Fun last year, and they an article and require an interactive dialogue to engage put on a great presentation about having this very the right solutions for your needs. conversation about safety with prospective students. Another Flight Instructor, Russ Still, puts on If you’re an aviation business looking for also additional a great presentation and organization training seminar revenue streams, or alphabet withas an extension of his Gold Seal you online training. fundraising needs, I encourage to flight consider He says, partnering with us in the Open Air. If you have an interest in aviation and are trying to figure out how to “The takeoff one of your the most dangerous find the time and segment money toisachieve dreams, Open periods of any VFR flight. Unfortunately, this is As Air Flight Club is designed to help you earn to learn. overlooked and unrecognized by pilots. morefrequently organizations understand and adopt a vision for Roughly 28% of accidents occur during this seemingly a positive future for aviation, we will continue to make benign span of time.and The accessible reason for to themany, increased aviation more affordable and risk is simple. The aircraft is relatively low and slow and inclusive to all who desire to participate in the joy and the pilot has few options should a problem occur.” freedom of all aviation has to offer! RussLet’s suggests that the takeoff profile should be make aviation great again! divided into four distinct segments: the takeoff roll,
We ARE the future of Aviation!
CORNER the climb with runway remaining, the low-altitude climb and the high altitude climb. The point that separates the low-altitude climb and the high-altitude climb is a calculated altitude AGL called the “decision height”. Each of the four takeoff segments has different risks.
A key consideration for possible emergencies is the turnback maneuver, frequently known as the “impossible turn”. Pilots must recognize that it really is impossible in some scenarios, improbable in others and possible under the right conditions. Although the FAA recently suggested that instructors should teach the turnback maneuver, very little useful guidance is available. The turnback is a high-performance maneuver that requires extensive training and practice. The biggest problem is that most pilots don’t realize how many factors are involved. Russ recommends that the turnback maneuver never be attempted by pilots who have not been properly trained.
days in GA. Many, if not all, of these accidents are preventable with proper training and awareness. Dan has done a lot of research and has experimented with various ways to simulate these pilot errors and find ways to address them. One of his discoveries was the DMMS line, he jocularly refers to as the ‘Dumbass Line.’ The idea is to maintain an airspeed that is at or above 1.404 the stall speed of an aircraft until established on a stabilized approach. A stabilized approach is characterized by 4 conditions, 1) Proper Airspeed, 2) Proper Altitude/descent rate 3) Established on centerline and 4) ability to make the touchdown zone, which is the first 1/4 of the runway or less as determined by the runway and aircraft landing requirements for the environmental conditions. Dan has been featured in safety videos and has authored tips on GA safety. Some of the best, most comprehensive examples of his recent work can be found on the FlightChops.com website under the heading “Grassroots - Prevention is NO Accident”. He also provides recommendations on his AQP Flight Review, which is a new spin on the part 135 Advanced Qualifications Program. It's certainly worth the time. as great pilots are always trying to improve their skills. Flight Chops has a great series that is entertaining. Dan is also working with Josh Flowers at Aviation101.com and has just released some great new content which details some great information for safety of flight! Thank you for reading and hope to see YOU in the Open Air!
Another CFI who has taken the reins to change the GA safety record is retired Airline Pilot and longtime GA Flight Instructor, Dan Gryder. Mr. Gryder had a friend and accomplished pilot involved in a fatal aircraft accident over a decade ago and has been on a mission to learn what happened and to help prevent it from happening to others. Dan discovered that loss of control accidents happen about once every four
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How ePathways Reignited My Passion For Aviation
by Alex Marino
My name is Alex Marino and I am a Junior at Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Florida. I have been on an Aviation Journey of sorts for the past couple of years exploring the field of aviation and reassuring myself that this is what I want to do with my life as nothing has hooked me as fast and as surely as the idea of being a pilot. This journey started all the way back in 6th grade, I was touring different magnet schools in my county and I stumbled upon Sanford Middle. More importantly, the aviation classroom at Sanford. I knew that Sanford was a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) school, and that was generally the field I was interested in. But I had no idea that aviation was a possibility for me. I went into the tour with the mindset of, “I want to see all of the interesting electives they have, maybe they have a robotics or engineering class” but this all changed the moment I sat down in the simulator. I walked into the aviation classroom and the teacher, Mr. Griffith, who I credit with inspiring me to look at aviation as a career, sat me down first at the helicopter simulator, then at the airplane simulator and I loved it. I had the touch and understood that gentle corrections were the way to go. There was really nothing more to it than a spark that lit up inside me. Over the years this would grow and expand into a fully planned out future in aviation. I proceeded to enroll at Sanford Middle, committing to the hour long bus ride each way for three years. I took Aeronautics every year as it was easily my favorite class. I continued to discover my passion and simply put, my love for flying and aviation in general. Leaving Sanford I was a little lost. The hour bus ride each way had started to take a toll on me and with high school starting two hours earlier than middle school, I knew that Seminole High just wasn’t an option for me. This was very unfortunate as Seminole High is “the school” for aviation. It was a match made in heaven, I just wasn’t willing to commit to four years of sleepless nights and being miserable for a middle school dream. I enrolled at Hagerty with a sad heart, thinking that this dream of being a pilot and travelling the world from 40,000 ft in the air was going to merely fizzle out.
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I went through freshman year continually asking myself if I had made the right choice. I joined an Aviation Club that met every other week at Embry Riddle in Daytona, which was amazing. There were plenty of opportunities for me to meet people and get more involved with the aviation industry. However, similar to Seminole High, it just wasn’t very accessible to me. Begging my dad for a ride to Daytona at 8 PM every other Friday eventually got old. Sophomore year was much of the same, me wanting to get more involved but lacking opportunities to. However, there was a glimmer of hope waiting for me once I finished my AP tests and finals where I learned about the ePathways programs in Seminole County. More specifically, the ePathways Aviation Program at, wait for it, Seminole High School. Looking into it more over the summer, I learned that it was an afterschool program that met every Tuesday and Thursday and would provide me a path to completing my FAA Knowledge Test, which is one of the two requirements for my private pilot’s license. Not only would they provide the knowledge to pass the test, but if they determined I was ready, they would sponsor my test with the FAA, saving me the funds that I would have to put in to acquire this knowledge myself but more importantly, this was the perfect program for me and reignited that spark to commit myself fully to a career in aviation. Knowing that as a junior I would be able to drive myself there after school two days a week, greatly reducing the time commitment compared to enrolling full time at Seminole High School, I talked to my guidance counselor and figured out how to enroll and did so immediately. Now that I have been in this program for almost a year, I could not be happier. It not only provides me with a path to pass the FAA Knowledge Exam, but also gives me volunteer opportunities and networking opportunities to get my name out in the world as well as give back as much or more than I have gotten out of the aviation community. This has been an amazing opportunity and has reignited my passion of flying and I am extremely thankful to have had this chance to get back into aviation and on a path to the skies.
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Trifect
Going for the
by Jim Fremont
Like so many young children, Frankie was enamored with airplanes from the very beginning. In fact, he had a couple large plastic airplane models as toys that were played with and repaired so many times that there was an unmistakable amount of scotch tape holding the bodies of these aircraft together. He would also fly his small fleet of die-cast airliners throughout the house, with a seriousness that just couldn’t be overlooked. As a result, various family members would eventually cater to his natural love of aviation by taking him to watch planes at either the North Las Vegas Airport or McCarran International Airport. Before long, somehow Frankie’s routine even included following the planes on the Flight Radar app and listening with the Live ATC app. In one instance, he even chose plane-watching at LAX over going to Disneyland! In addition to his love for aviation, Frankie also spent a considerable amount of time playing baseball and at one point, he was even receiving invitations to attend events with USA Baseball. On a couple of occasions, this even turned into the ideal combination – which for Frankie, involved getting on an airplane to go play baseball. Frankie was definitely living a dream, until at 14 years-old, he broke his elbow while throwing. Once things were healed up enough for everyday activities it was time to put that same drive and determination that had brought him success in baseball into another sort of activity. Aviation seemed like the obvious outlet, so Frankie and his parents began visiting local flight schools to see what opportunities might be
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available for someone his age. Thanks to some much appreciated advice Frankie learned that he was old enough to work towards soloing in a glider, so a new mission had been found. Unfortunately, the only glider club near Las Vegas was booked up and wasn’t taking new students. The best option became a glider port in Southern California, which involved a drive of nearly four hours each way. The family decided to give it a try and when Frankie immediately showed some natural stick and rudder skills, the decision was quickly made to continue. The travel involved certainly made the situation a challenge, but on 11/24/18, Frankie made his first solo glider flight—meaning he was on his own, with no instructor – while he was still 14 years old. For his Christmas gift that year, his parents got Frankie an orientation flight in a helicopter with a local business that offered helicopter tours as well as flight training in both rotary and fixed wing. Once again the
ta!
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going for the trifecta
flight instructor expressed that a certain amount of airmanship seemed to be coming naturally and some kidding started about the idea that if he could take to this variety of aircraft so easily, maybe Frankie should try to solo a helicopter, solo a Cessna and get his private pilot license in the glider as soon as it was allowed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) on his 16th birthday. Although those jokes were easily dismissed, there was a legitimate need to find a good private pilot ground school. During that search Frankie learned about the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Dual Enrollment Program. The idea of getting started on some college-level aviation coursework that could also satisfy high school credits sounded too good to be true. As a result, although it was a whole lot more than just ground school, Frankie dove in with both feet and has loved the program and its format. In fact, he was thrilled to be able to talk to a NASA engineer at the Oshkosh airshow last July about recent developments in supersonic flight – due to the fact that he had written a paper on the subject as part of an ERAU Aeronautical Sciences course. The overall Oshkosh experience had inspired Frankie and suddenly talk started in earnest about the goal of taking the next step with all three aircraft (rotary, fixed wing and gliders) on his 16th birthday. As he looked for the right training facility, Frankie encountered a great deal of skepticism. Common reactions were things like, “that’s a little too much pressure to put on a young person” or “well, don’t be disappointed if that doesn’t work out, since those are all very different aircraft”. Eventually the right location was found and wouldn’t you know it – it was the same place that Frankie had taken that very first helicopter orientation
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ride. As a result, he had found a home and the training in the two powered aircraft soon began. Scheduling was tough however. Trying to balance trips to Southern California for the glider work, with various different instructors in Las Vegas for the powered work – all while still keeping up with the first semester of his sophomore year in high school. Many times it seemed like things just weren’t going to work out, due to problems such as weather-related cancelations or scheduling conflicts with instructors, but Frankie wouldn’t hear of the word ‘quit’. Eventually, it even became clear that the staff at the glider port wasn’t necessarily in support of his goals and it took some convincing to get them on board. Once over that hurdle, it was on to the task of preparing for the glider private pilot check-ride. When his first semester finals were completed, Frankie immediately dove into his aviation subjects full-time, seven days a week. Each day involved flying in the morning, formal ground training in the afternoon and being quizzed by his parents in the evening. Thanks to some incredible instructors – who are obviously greatly appreciated – Frankie kept up this pace for the entire holiday break and even flew on Christmas Day. When his 16th birthday finally arrived, Frankie had a very serious tone about him. When asked if he was doing OK, his answer centered on the idea that so many people had done so much to help him get to this point and he didn’t want to disappoint anyone. He felt that succeeding with all three aircraft was the best ‘Thank You’ he could provide. In total, six months had been thoroughly dedicated to the preparations for this day. That included over 80 hours of total flight time, 150+ hours studying for
the glider private pilot written exam, 100+ hours preparing for the glider private pilot check ride, roughly 20 hours of helicopter ground training and roughly 20 hours of fixed wing ground training. As one would imagine, any endeavor of this magnitude necessitates finding ways to get over a multitude of obstacles and challenges. Frankie had a remarkable role model in Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the Southwest Airlines pilot who managed to land a crippled Boeing 737 in April of 2018. Frankie had the opportunity to meet Capt. Shults at the Oshkosh Airshow and one of her most impressive personal traits was how open she was about sharing her faith and her reliance on God. Capt. Shults had even sent a
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copy of her book, “Nerves of Steel”, with a personal inspirational note for Frankie. His parents held it until one of those challenging days we all have that brings self-doubt and questioning. After receiving Capt. Shults’ book and reading her messages to him, Frankie was more than just motivated again. He was seemingly limitless in his resolve and stamina – proving once again that there’s nothing more powerful than faith. And so it was – within a 24 hour span of his 16th birthday, Frankie took a helicopter through four solo patterns, a Cessna through three solo patterns and a glider through his first check-ride – all successfully. As far as we can tell, there doesn’t seem to be a record of this combination of events being done before on a 16th birthday. As a result, until proven differently, we’re going with the idea that this all marked a first in aviation history. When asked about the future, Frankie isn’t exactly sure what challenges he’ll attempt to conquer next, but he’s hoping his aviation journey includes participating in the new Aviation program starting next year at his high school. In fact, as luck would have it, the organization that’s recently been chosen to provide training for this new program, 702 Helicopters, is the same group that’s already been providing Frankie with his flight training in the two powered aircraft. Frankie gives 702 Helicopters a great deal of credit in helping him to achieve these latest goals. Long term, Frankie hopes to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus, where he would like to study Aeronautical Sciences and become a professional pilot.
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My College Experiences as
My name is Dylan Mardoian and I am a sophomore at Western Michigan University and working on my Instrument rating and also actively participating in the band program at WMU. Throughout my high school and college career, flying and music have always been my top two activities. During my high school years, I’ve actively participated in any band possible. Concert bands, jazz bands, marching bands, pep bands, you name it, I probably participated in it one way or another. For aviation, I was consistently looking at aviation programs around the country that interested me. I had my eyes glued to the music stand and to the sky. Towards the end of my senior year, I decided to go to Western Michigan University. I couldn’t wait to participate in the Bronco Marching Band and fly
the Cirrus SR20! A couple weeks before classes started, band camp started. Being a very extroverted individual, I couldn’t wait to meet others who had the same passion as I did. While meeting people, I met Nathan Nothelle, an FMA ambassador. I was aware of the Flying Musicians Association, but I did not know how to join. Nathan helped me through that process and I was able to gain a good amount of knowledge since joining. I’ve never experienced a college football game before coming to WMU. The first football game was exhilarating! Experiencing football games from the point of the band is always something I will always prefer to do. After the marching season was over, basketball band had begun. College basketball is high paced, and you must have a pep band that is very enthusiastic for the team. WMU’s pep band is no exception! With rowdy cheers to get the team going and cheers to discourage the opposing team, you can’t go wrong with joining that band. In January of 2019, I decided to earn my Private Pilot License outside of WMU’s program at a local Part 61 school, Kal-Aero Flight Instruction based in KAZO. Flying mid-sixties Cessna 172’s is an experience like no other. Learning on a six-pack, Garmin 430 system is something I’m glad to experience. Michigan weather unfortunately prevented me from gaining hours in the winter months. By the time the summer rolled around, I was flying through my lessons. I soloed on
a Pilot and Musician International Learn How to Fly Day, which I think is unique. Networking is one of my strong attributes. During my solo cross-country flights, I decided to go to Benton Harbor, where Whirlpool’s flight department is based at. I talked to their pilots there for a bit and enjoyed every second of it. That is one of my highlights from my PPL training. Later in mid-august, I passed my checkride and was officially a licensed pilot. I was so glad of what I accomplished and couldn’t wait to start flight training at WMU. While doing my flight training at Kal-Aero, I got offered a position at the WMU College of Aviation to be an Aviation Ambassador. This is a job where I would give airport tours to prospective families who were interested in WMU’s aviation program. I loved this job. One of the best I’ve had so far. Sharing my passion for aviation to other families is something I cherish! Marching band season rolled around again and it was better than before! We had a new director who really cared about the Bronco Marching Band and wanted us to be a higher caliber band. We performed show pictures on the field that moved around and interacted
by Dylan Mardoian
with the audience! We later ended the season with a trip to the First Responders Bowl in Dallas, Texas. What a way to end the season! During the middle of the marching season for 2019, I began flying at WMU. Since I obtained my PPL outside of WMU, I had to take a short, transition course of 10 lessons to get accustomed to the SR20. The SR20 is an amazing aircraft. I was shocked to see how much power that aircraft had! Once I got through those lessons, I was able to work on my instrument rating. The SR20 is a great aircraft for IMC conditions. I was amazed as to how much that aircraft can do. Even though I’m halfway through my college career, once I get my 1000 hours, I have my eyes set on flying for a corporate flight department to start out and then later transition into Southwest Airlines. Flying and music have always been a passion of mine since my childhood years. I didn’t think I’d still be playing my trumpet and fly into my college years. I am so glad I chose to keep going. I know it paid off and it will keep paying off later on in my life.
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Join the New Most pilots dream of flying an aircraft higher and higher, continuing to climb out of the Earth’s atmosphere like a Federation starship until they see the curvature of our beautiful planet. Only 566 human beings to date have left Earth’s gravity and seen our world from above 100 km or 328,000 ft. It’s a select few. To understand just how select of a group this really is, divide that number by the estimated 7.8 billion people currently living today, and you get a percentage so small that you almost need to be an astronaut or a rocket scientist to figure it out. It’s around one millionth of one percent. All of the first astronauts were pilots. In fact, in 1959, NASA screened the records of 508 military test pilots, and chose 110 candidates. They eventually weaned them down to the group known as the “Mercury Seven.” They were relatively small in height and weight in order to fit into the various spacecraft of that era. Some had engineering degrees, some did not. Two common denominators were experience and intellect. On average they had approximately 3,500 flight hours each with an IQ ranging from 135 to 147. Because the astronauts would have to both monitor the cabin environment and make necessary adjustments, piloting skills were seen as a necessity. They had to continuously know their position and altitude, read instruments, and use manual controls to perform tasks like descending from orbit. Sixty-one years later and NASA’s new 2020 candidates and application process looked a little different. First, it was a fully public search where applicants applied through something called the internet using a technological device commonly known as a computer. That process was quite different from the late 1950s and 1960s when their equipment had the computing power of a modern-day calculator. In total, more than 12,000 people applied to join what NASA calls the “Artemis Generation,” a new class of
astronauts to help the agency return humans to the moon and reach outward to Mars. Like the original astronauts, you need to work hard, and have extensive schooling, particularly in a STEM field. Being a pilot or even a military veteran is no longer a requirement, but it is definitely a plus. What is also important, similar to the early days of human spaceflight, is good old-fashioned work experience. The latest round of NASA applicants were able to substitute some of their education, if needed, for 1,000 hours or more of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Like with most newer jets, you need to know and understand the newer advanced avionics and electronic systems. New spacecraft almost entirely rely on data from sensors and electronic equipment. In the new Lockheed Martin Orion spacecraft, for example they use Honeywell’s Flight Control Modules that are similar to the Boeing 787. In fact, it’s expected computers do most of the busy work for the majority of future space programs, while humans supervise. On the plus side, and older pilots may relate to this, it relieves astronauts from the long checklists and flicking what felt like an endless number of switches. However, like in the old days and even present day, one must be prepared if something goes wrong in space. For instance, you might need to take manual control of the spacecraft, but ultimately, in space, it’s your responsibility to fix it, perhaps with assistance from another crew member or mission control. In terms of on the job training, NASA does train all of their new astronauts on spacecraft systems and robotics, but also in other ‘softer’ skills such as leadership, followership and teamwork. However, often to even be selected by NASA, you have to be passionate, physically fit, demonstrate that you can work well in a group, and be likeable. Yes, likeability is important because if you are going to be in close quarters with someone for any extended period of time, you better hope that you have a decent personality and can get along with people. If not, there could be a risk of you being ejected into the cold and darkness of space by your peers.
Beyond NASA
Regardless if you become a NASA astronaut one day or not, all of the skills previously discussed are useful in other newer ‘space’ focused institutions. This includes the U.S. Space Force. Launched in late 2019, the Space Force is a new branch of the
Space Era American military, one of eight uniformed services. Unfortunately, unlike most other branches, the Space Force is not currently hiring pilots. However, this could change in the future. Current job vacancies are in space systems, cyber operations and support, or working on various intelligence fields like geospatial where officers analyze multisenor imagery or data. Development Engineers, and those familiar with various types of materials, are also key positions that need to be filled. These jobs are vital because much of our day-to-day lives depend on operations in space, as does the national security of our nation. In the face of economic and military threats, items like GPS, certain internet services, and other crucial communication services and surveillance need protection. If your body, mind and soul belongs in the sky, and you dream of flying with Chewbacca, Finn and Rey onboard the Millennium Falcon, you might be in luck. We haven’t invented hyper drives or warp speed yet, but we have entered a new era of commercial space exploration or some call it, a space renaissance. But whatever you want to call it, the global space industry is undergoing great change with hundreds of new companies, often partnering with public institutions, investing in new spacecraft and launch systems for more frequent and cost-effective access to space. Undoubtedly, thousands of people will work and live in space in the coming decades. Companies around the world—in transportation, energy, exploration, construction or hospitality-are all looking above that 100 km line for the next growth opportunity.
by Scott Firsing
Zero G. Maybe you will work for an overseas company that hasn’t yet been created, run by a billionaire from China, Japan, Germany, France, India, Israel or Russia.
Final thoughts and advice
If you dream being one of the select few humans that get to experience space flight, be assured that the new space era is here. Not only will the rebirth of space activities accelerate scientific innovation, it will require bright, experienced pilots like you. So while we wait for NASA to officially introduce its new astronauts around the Summer of 2021, you should continue to work hard and gain flight and work experience because being able to handle unexpected situations could absolutely mean the difference between life or death in space. In addition, exercise every day because a healthy body does indeed equal a healthy mind, and continue to learn about advanced sciences and technology. And finally, make sure that you can communicate clearly, be someone who is a pleasure to be around, and perhaps most importantly-never lose that passion for reaching for the stars!
People with piloting skills and who understand avionics will undoubtedly be needed in this new space era. And they might one day fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, Lockheed’s Orion, or Boeing’s Starliner. Perhaps it will be a little closer to home and you fly one of Virgin Galactic’s spaceships and experience
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