Executive Flyers November 2006 Newsletter
Congratulations to:
Mike Fedoryk 
and Adam White 
for soloing and Evan Campbell and Bryan DeVincenzi for winning the monthly drawing of a month's dues or an hour of instruction. Congratulations to the winners of the drawing at our open house: Chuck Senk and "Hamid" each win a cup of their choice; Michael Fedoryk and Jeffrey Lee win a hat of their choice and John Woodhouse is the grand prize winner of any book in the shop.
Rental rates continue to decrease
Due to the continuing drop in fuel prices, rental rates this month will be lower than they were in October of 2005! With fall and winter weather coming, it's time to get in some VFR flying while you still can. Check you medical to make sure that it's current and your logbook to see that you have a current BFR or have completed a stage in the WINGS program within the last two years. If you are instrument rated, check to see that you meet the recency of experience requirements and if not, schedule a plane and instructor to get current. If you are not instrument rated, this is an excellent time to get started on the rating. Flying yesterday morning with an instrument student, we shot two approaches to minimums in a low stratus layer and had to do the missed approach on the first one because we couldn't see the airport at the missed approach point (directly over the approach end of the runway at 500 feet!). This kind of experience is invaluable in instrument training, as you get to see what it's really going to look like in Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Call the office at (916) 427-1888 or email me at callaway@execflyers.com if you have questions on getting the instrument rating or becoming instrument current again.
Instrument refresher course including the G1000
Ed will teach an instrument flying refresher course on Saturday, November 18, from 9-1 in the upstairs conference room at Executive Airport. It will include a review of procedures for instrument flying from the flight planning to the landing after an approach. Weather factors, radio out procedures, chart interpretation, attitude flying techniques and systems use will be among the topics covered. The use of the G1000 system, as well as the standard "steam" gauges will be covered. Bring your charts, flight computer and plotter as the course will be based on a flight from Sacramento Executive Airport to Arcata, California. The cost of the course will be $25 and you will need to call the office to sign up as space is limited.
N585AM C182 Fuel Rebate Extended
The owner of N585AM will be giving a fuel rebate of $200 for every 10 hours you fly in November or December in the Cessna 182. Once you have flown the time, get a rebate form at the office, fill it out and give it to Ed. He'll forward it to the owner who will write you a check for $200. The form must be completed within 30 days of finishing the 10 hours. This current offer is only good until the end of 2006. Save some money and fly the G1000 system at the same time. Contact the office or email Ed about the checkout procedure in the 182.
Changing weather
Low fog conditions have arrived. The fog can materialize suddenly in the early morning, or blow in as a fog bank from the delta during the day. Whether you are a VFR or instrument rated pilot, be sure to check the weather before any flight on DUAT(S) or with the FSS at 1-800-WXBRIEF.If you are instrument rated, check your logbook to make sure that you have the MINIMUM six approaches, holding pattern and radial intercept and flying required in the last six months for you to be current. If not, this is a good time to get an instructor or safety pilot and fly until you are current. Remember that the requirements are a minimum, and you should fly with an instructor or safety pilot until you are proficient and can handle actual instrument conditions. Watch out for ducks and geese as the migration has started. They will fly at the top of a fog bank, so have your safety pilot stay alert as you descend toward the fog as the birds cannot judge your closing speed well enough to maneuver out of your way all the time. Try not to fly at night any more than necessary, as the birds do fly at night and can't see you either.
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