American Flyers • Pompano Airpark • 801 NE 10th Street • Pompano Beach, FL 33060 • 954-785-1450
Back to School with a Bonus By Joe La Valle
This college freshman will have more than your average amount of summer stories to tell her friends. On Tuesday August 12, Keeley Jones earned her private pilot certificate, just in time for her first semester at the University of Georgia.
From childhood, aviation was just a part of her life. She would often go for rides with a family friend who owned a helicopter and was also friends with the family of Georgia aviation icon and first aviator, Ben Epps. As she grew, so to did her involvement in the field. During high school, she was employed at Epps Aviation FBO at PDK as a Customer Service Representative, and began flying at a local flight school in the summer of 2007. With more flexible scheduling offered by American Flyers, Keeley changed schools and went on to earn her certificate, saying the check ride was “wonderful.”
Currently, Keeley is a business major, but has not yet made up her mind. However, she does know what career she wants to pursue, saying, “I would love to get into corporate flying.” And while she may only be moving into college for her first term, it won’t be long before she is ready to go.
Life of a Pilot before Flight By Joe La Valle
For Dariel Padron, his flying career began January 8, 2008 when he entered the Nexus Program; he began with no accrued flight time. In June 2008, he was hired by American Flyers as a flight instructor. Dariel called the training “quick” and “productive” and he loves what he does. However, the real story begins in the years before he began training. Dariel graduated from Florida Atlantic University with degrees in history and Spanish, but couldn’t find a career that suited him. With many hours spent “looking back” at himself trying to find what it was that moved him, Dariel found himself looking at old school papers and notebooks and realized they bore a common theme; each one was dotted with drawings of airplanes. Recalling further all the aviation movies he had seen, all the air shows he had been to and all the video and computer games he played, he realized that he had been living the life of a pilot. The only thing missing was the flying itself. As Dariel would say, “I had forgotten I wanted to fly.” His first aviation job was with Silver Express FBO in Miami, and it wasn’t long before he had saved enough money to enroll in a flighttraining program. Currently, Dariel is gaining experience as a flight instructor, but longs to move on to bigger airplanes. He would like to fly for a regional carrier, “I love twin turboprops,” says Dariel, adding that his favorite is the Beech 1900. While his dream may have been forgotten, it was never lost.
Destinations By Joe La Valle
As the school year begins, students of all ages are getting ready to return to a life of learning. However, you don’t have to be a student to appreciate the exciting and informative exhibits and displays the nation’s aviation museums have to offer.
Located near Central Florida, the Florida Air Museum offers year-round educational programs and has on display aircraft and artifacts spanning the first century of aviation. The 20,000 sq.ft. facility located on Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL) is adjacent to the famous Sun ‘n Fun Convention Site. Exhibits include over fifty aircraft with both indoor and outdoor static displays. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Upon arrival, you will find yourself surrounded by a “rich variety” of aircraft including homebuilts, experimental, classics, ultra lights, war birds and antiques. Each class of aircraft holds something new and exciting for enthusiasts of all ages and interests. For a full day of aeronautical exploration, the Florida Air Museum is conveniently located, and has a lot to offer.
First Impressions Mean a Lot By David Menconi National Chief Flight Instructor
Everyone knows that you only have one chance to make a good first impression. Whether you’re interviewing for a job or trying to demonstrate to an examiner that you qualify for a certificate or rating, first impressions are important.
Everyone knows that you only have one chance to make a good first impression. Whether you’re interviewing for a job or trying to demonstrate to an examiner that you qualify for a certificate or rating, first impressions are important. Each Practical Test Standard has a checklist that applicants can use to ensure that they have all the materials required for their evaluation. It includes things like logbooks, aircraft documentation, charts, etc.
Each Practical Test Standard has a checklist that applicants can use to ensure that they have all the materials required for their evaluation. It includes things like logbooks, aircraft documentation, charts, etc.
Be on time: This shows planning, judgment and respect for the examiner’s time.
Be on time: This shows planning, judgment and respect for the examiner’s time.
Be organized: Have all the eligibility materials ready. For example, paper clip all the pilot documents together and tag all the inspections in the airplane maintenance records, as well as the endorsements in your pilot logbook.
Have the airplane ready and accessible: Complete the preflight well before the flight test and make sure that all fluids and equipment are checked. Small things like having the airplane parked as close as possible to the building and having it serviced and fueled show both professionalism and planning.
Demonstrate a "pilot-in-command attitude": From making the go/no-go decision concerning the weather, conducting of the pre-flight passenger briefing or determining any other safety of flight issue, the applicant is the pilot-in-command and that needs to be demonstrated loud and clear.
Few of us have satisfactorily completed a flight test without a couple of hiccups along the way. Demonstrating an exceptional attitude with above and beyond preparation can go a long way in helping the examiner make their final decision.
Better Sleep Hygiene is Easy*
Insomnia is often the result of poor sleep habits and making a few changes can help you get a better night’s sleep:
Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol four to six hours before
going to bed.
Exercise promotes restful sleep, but not if it’s too close
to bed time.
Try to wake up at the same time every morning, even
on weekends.
Don’t go to bed until you are sleepy; if you don’t fall asleep in
15 to 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing.
Avoid napping during the day. If you do nap, do so for not
more than thirty minutes during the mid-afternoon.
Source: UT Lifetime Health Letter
*For more information about maintaining good health on the ground and in the air, stay turned for the November issue of the American Flyers Newsletter.
Flying Without a Parachute
A man jumps out of an airplane with a parachute on his back. As he's falling, he realizes his chute is broken. He doesn't know anything about parachutes, but as the earth rapidly approaches, he realizes his options are limited; he takes off the parachute and tries to fix it himself on the way down. The wind is ripping past his face and he's dropping like a rock. At 5000 feet, another man goes shooting up past him. In desperation, the man with the chute looks up and yells, "Hey, do you know anything about parachutes?!"
another man goes shooting up past him. In desperation, the man with the chute looks up and yells, "Hey, do you know anything about parachutes?!"
Q: I have to make a flight into an airport I’ve never been to before and was wondering what I can do ahead of time to be more prepared for the flight?
A: Good question. I think there is a lot that can be done to prepare for this kind of flight. The obvious answer is to study the sectional chart, terminal chart if appropriate, the AF/D and one of the various airport guides that are available. Maybe not so obvious is to make a phone call to the airport ahead of time to obtain what boaters call local knowledge. Call an FBO or flight school and ask if there is an instructor you can speak to. Ask about entry procedures and reporting points. Ask what you can expect from the controllers. Ask where is the best place to park and where the cheapest fuel is. You might also find out where the best places to eat are found.
When thinking about where to park your airplane, decide if there is one side of the airport or other that is more convenient for access to rental cars, motels, etc. After finding yourself on the “wrong” side of the airport a few times you begin to pay more attention to the details.
The most important thing is to never be afraid to broaden your horizons. Do your homework and visit a new airport each time you fly. It will add to the fun of being a pilot.
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“You’re Invited …” Join Us Saturday, October 4th, 2008 at 12:00 Noon For a Free Pilot Seminar & Lunch
October’s Topic is Weather Theory
Something that never changes is the challenge of predicting the ever-changing weather. Join us on Oct 4 for a guided discussion on Weather Theory.
Topics Include:
What goes into making safe go/no-go decisions
How to better understand and apply weather principles
Basic atmospheric theory
Avoiding hazardous conditions
Wingless Record Setting By Joe La Valle
The HL-10 was one of five aircraft built in the Lifting Body Research Program. It was designed by NASA to evaluate the "inverted airfoil" lifting body and delta wing planform. It was flown 37 times during the lifting body research program and achieved both altitude and speed records for a lifting body aircraft. On Feb. 18, 1970, Air Force test pilot Peter Hoag piloted the HL-10 to Mach 1.86 (1,228 mph). Nine days later, NASA pilot Bill Dana flew the vehicle to 90,030 feet, which became the highest altitude reached in the program. The lifting bodies normally carried enough fuel for about 100 seconds of powered flight and routinely reached altitudes of 50,000 to 80,000 feet and speeds above Mach 1.
First published in 1944, “Stick and Rudder is the first exact analysis of the art of flying ever attempted.” It has been continuously in print for thirty-three years and has often been called the Aviation Bible. With the principles of flight largely unchanging, this book has been a staple of pilots and instructors for decades as a resource and training manual for learning what, how and why the airplane does what it does. Whether you’re new to flying or a seasoned pilot, this book will make a valuable addition to your aviation library.
Written Classes
Free Simulator
IntroFlights
There isn’t a better, more enjoyable and guaranteed class available. Plus the class includes two free hours of simulator!
… you can enjoy two hours of VFR or IFR simulator instruction, free, by attending either one of our weekend classes or taking an “IntroFlight”.
Get involved… introduce friends to flying. If you have a friend or acquaintance who might be interested in aviation send them in, or better yet, bring them! We fly 7 days a week.
