Executive Flyers March 2002 Newsletter
Congratulations to:
Tim Christian for passing his instrument-instructor checkride;
Hiromitsu Baisho, Michael Heindl and Renee Whitton for getting their instructor licenses;
Jim Fischer for passing his instrument rating flight test and;
James Parker and Thomas Parker for winning the monthly drawing of an hour of instruction or a month's dues.
Welcome
Welcome to Renee Whitton, our newest flight instructor. Renee has been a flight attendant on a major airline for some time and is now in the process of moving up to the cockpit. She received her CFI training with Executive Flyers. She is a friendly, knowledgeable flight instructor. We are delighted that she will be working at Executive Flyers.
Spring flying
Winds, birds and flight plans are the order of the day for spring flying. Today the winds were 20 knots gusting to above 30. Not a great day to jump in the plane after a winter of no flying and try to land on your own. Get a refresher flight with an instructor to practice those cross wind landings. Do check in the engine compartment for bird's nests on each preflight. File a flight plan for every flight away from the local area. It is free life insurance. Check weather before every flight. Be safe.
Instrument Ground School
We will be starting an instrument ground school on April 1. It will be taught from 6:30 to 8:30 each Monday and Wednesday. It will cost $200 for non-members and $150 for members, plus books and supplies. If you are trying to think of a way to make your flying safer, the instrument rating is the way to go. Even if you never fly in the clouds after you get the rating, you will be a more proficient pilot and your radio procedure will put a 747 captain to shame. If you do want to use it in actual weather, it will make leaving or returning when the fog comes in a possibility. If you already have the rating, but would like to brush up on your aeronautical knowledge, you can audit the course for half price. Please call the office to sign up for the course.
Tach times
We keep track of the 100-hour and annual inspections with the tachometer (not the Hobbs meter) on the airplane. The tachometer time depends on the engine RPM. It would help us spot the inspection times more easily if you would enter the tach time as a whole number, rounded off for the decimal value at the end. 1878.6 would be entered as 1879, for example. Keep entering the Hobbs time to the 10th place, such as 567.8. Thanks in advance for your help.
Miscellany
The office will be closed on Easter day, March 31. The new San Francisco sectional will be out on March 21. We have a very good selection of aviation books, headsets, gifts and supplies. If what you want is not in stock, talk to Deena and she may be able to order it for you.
If you know anyone who might be interested in learning to fly, have him or her check out Executive Flyers. They can also go to Be A Pilot home page for information about learning to fly and to download an intro flight certificate.
Concerning those cross wind landings, remember to keep turning the yoke into the wind AFTER you are on the ground. Most crosswind landing accidents take place after the plane is on the ground, not while it is in the air. Use the crosswind taxi position for the yoke when you are on the ground.
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last modified March 6, 2002 by
callaway@execflyers.com