Executive Flyers January 2002 Newsletter
Congratulations to:
Richard Heninger for passing his private pilot checkride;
Jonathan Kozycz
for soloing;Scott Malandrone for passing his instrument instructor written exam and Neal Davis and Al Forbes, Jr. for winning the monthly drawing of an hour of instruction or a month's dues.
Happy New Year
All of us at Executive Flyers wish you and yours a very happy and healthy New Year. I am looking forward to another year of student solos; private, instrument, commercial, multiengine and instructor checkrides passed; safe and pleasant cross country flights and all the other events that make running a flight school worthwhile.
Ground Schools
We will start the private pilot ground school on Thursday, January 17. We still need more people signed up to start the instrument ground school. Call the office to sign up for either course. Costs for the courses are $150 for members and $200 for non-members, plus books and supplies. If you have the license or rating and would like to audit the course, you may do so at half price.
When a porpoise isn't cute
We have had a number of landing accidents over the years. Most of them have been because the aircraft "porpoised" on touchdown and the pilot did not know the correct procedures to recover. The cause of the porpoise is touching down on the nose wheel before the mains tires are on the ground. This usually results from the pilot either not flaring enough or coming in too fast and trying to push the aircraft onto the ground. The result of hitting the nosewheell first is to pitch the nose up. The mains hit the ground about that time and the aircraft bounces into the air with the nose high. The instinctive (AND WRONG) reaction is to push the nose down. Since the aircraft is close to a stall, the nose starts down on its own just as the pilot pushes forward on the yoke. The second porpoise is even more dramatic. If the pilot pushes the nose down again, the third bounce will be severe enough to hit the propeller and possibly damage the firewall where the fire wall attaches. The correct recovery technique for a porpoise is to add power and go around. An experienced pilot can flare the plane to a successful landing rather than going around. Have an instructor demonstrate a porpoise and the recovery technique to you. If you flare to a full stall landing each time, you will never porpoise.
Tie down and Secure!
Please make sure that you align the aircraft struts with the ground "T", pull the chains tight, set the chocks and insert the control lock in these high wind months.
Wet winter
We have had our share of rain and fog this winter and the flying has decreased because of it. Since our bills do not stop due to fog, we need help from our members to keep our cash flowing. Please pay your statements promptly. If you are flying quite a bit, remember that we will give you a five percent bonus for any amount you put on your account in advance that is over one thousand dollars. Do not forget the sixty-dollar bonus for recommending a new member.
Winter flying
Time to brush up on your weather checking skills. Use 1-800-WXBRIEF or DUAT to get current AND forecast weather for each flight. Always have a "Plan B".
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last modified January 8, 2002 by Ed Callaway