Executive Flyers March 2005 Newsletter
Congratulations to:
Ryan Devitt for passing his multi-engine commercial flight test; Dean Ricci and Mark Siemens for passing their instrument flight tests and Dean Ricci and Spencer Smith for winning the monthly drawing of an hour of instruction or a month’s dues.
Pre and Post flight
During your preflight planning, make sure that your fuel is adequate for the flight. Remember the rule of thumb for maximum flight time: Calculate three quarters of the total fuel. Divide that amount by the fuel burn at 75% power. The answer is the maximum time you should fly the plane before refueling. For a 152 this is 24*3/4=18gal. 18/6gph=3 hours maximum flight. This accounts for older engines and other situations not considered in the aircraft handbook.
FAA meetings
Next aviation safety meeting coming up – “Stalls and Spins” at Alpine Aviation, 13310 Nevada City Ave., Nevada Co. Airport, Grass Valley, CA. on March 16th at 7:00 pm. You can sign up for the course at http://faasafety.gov/. When you register at this site, you can also get on the mailing list for future meetings in the area.
Instrument Ground School
We will be starting an instrument ground school as soon as we have enough people signed up. It will be taught from 6:30 to 8:30 twice a week. 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 procedures 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.
Miscellany
The office will be closed on Easter day, March 27th. 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 http://www.beapilot.com for information about learning to fly and to download an intro flight certificate.
Runway incursions and LAHSO
To prevent taxiing on or across an active runway you should always read back the “taxi to…”, “hold short of…” and “taxi into position and hold” clearances from ground control verbatim. If you’re not sure you heard a clearance correctly, ask the controller to “say again” in order to clarify it.
LAHSO or “land and hold short” clearances are given to a landing pilot when he or she is landing on a runway that intersects another active runway. Any pilot (and especially student pilots) who feel that they do not clearly understand this clearance or are not sure that they can hold short of the other runway, should tell the controller that they are unable to comply with the clearance and accept a go around or a change to another runway for landing. Remember that you are the pilot in command and responsible for the safety of the aircraft. If you are not sure that you can safely accomplish ANYTHING that air traffic control tells you to do, let them know that you are “unable” and they will issue an amended clearance.
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last modified March 16, 2005 by Ed Callaway