https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/05160916/10379a-w-stuff-3-2.jpg560560John Zimmermanhttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngJohn Zimmerman2015-01-12 17:00:442021-08-19 15:11:54What pilot supplies do I need for flight training?
Twas the day after Christmas and snow covered the land.
We needed to put our toes in some water, our butts in some sand.
We drove to the airport, the plane was pre-heated,
Our luggage was light, no heavy clothes would be needed.
We shoveled the drift from in front of the hangar door
Pulled out the Skylane, then shoveled some more.
We made three paths to the taxiway through the accumulated snows.
Two for the main gear, and one for the nose.
We closed the hangar door and put our coats in the back seat.
We wouldn’t need them where we’re going, trading cold for some heat.
Gave the engine a little extra prime on this cold winter’s morning.
Opened my window and yelled “Clear!” the familiar pre-start warning.
The starter engaged the engine started to turn,
Had I primed it enough? I was eager to learn.
After a few revolutions the engine came to life
We had oil pressure and I nodded to my wife.
The cabin still cold, you could see the breath from our mouth.
But soon we would be warm ‘cause we were heading south.
The packed snow on the taxiway made the brakes ineffective so
The pre-takeoff checks were completed on the go.
The winds were variable in the dawn’s early light
No one was in the pattern everything looked alright.
Yes the temperature was cold but the sky, well, sky blue
We made the radio call “This is 67Lima departing runway two two.”
Mixture rich, throttle forward, flaps 20, yoke back here we go
Soft field technique is needed when the runway has snow.
One good thing about the cold? The airplane’s performance is more
Soon we were flying on a heading of two one four.
“Departure” I radioed out of the pattern area was my timing
“Skylane 6167 Lima is with you, on course, 3,000 and climbing.”
The controller acknowledged my radio call with this beseech
“Radar Contact five south of the airport you are cleared as filed to Panama Beach.”
The auto pilot held the Nav needle steady to KECP
Soon the white land below gave way to brown and then green.
In just three and a half hours blue water came into the mix
“67 Lima this is Northwest Florida Beaches Tower, you’re cleared to land runway one six.”
We just traded white snow for white sand in our Cessna time machine
No TSA, no orange barrels, no cramped seat in row 17.
On the trip I got a whole pack of peanuts and a ham sandwich, this is the life
Served up by the world’s best flight attendant, my beautiful wife.
So a half day from freezing we sit in the sand,
And gaze at the waves breaking, a cold drink in our hand.
I ponder the miracle that is modern GA
I take the time to count my blessings, which are many this day.
From all of us at Sporty’s we wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May it be prosperous to all, filled with happiness not fear
As I ponder my flight plan and wish our friends all the best,
Now do I head north back to Cincy – or south to Key West?
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/05182610/g1000-182.jpg225300studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2014-12-26 09:00:242021-06-08 19:23:47Ode to General Aviation
As Christmas approaches once again, I can’t help but think back to an earlier holiday and a flying experience that I had with two of my favorite passengers; my two daughters. They were a bit younger when this occurred but it is still a great flying memory and one that I’m excited to retell.
On that Christmas holiday, my wife, the girls, and I drove to see family as I am sure that many of you did and will do again as well. When my wife and I departed for home on December 26th, we left our girls to stay for a few extra days with their granny.
It wasn’t long until it was time to retrieve the kids. Decision time, just under four hours roundtrip on the road or just over an hour in a Cessna 172…since I am writing about it now, I am sure your can guess the choice that I made.
I took an afternoon vacation from work to get the girls. Sporty’s Academy’s G1000 equipped Cessna 172 Skyhawk was my airplane of choice for the trip.
The weather forecasts had been calling for greater than 6 miles visibility with an overcast layer of clouds at around 2000 feet above the ground. The temperatures looked like they would be warm enough to climb through the clouds if necessary but my plan was to enjoy the view afforded by a visual flight rules trip.
As the time for my departure approached, the forecasts were amended to show a later development of the overcast clouds.
As I performed my preflight inspection of N12064, the visibility looked great and only a few high cirrus clouds were visible. Winds were relatively light and it was shaping up to be a great day to fly.
After departing runway 22 at Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport and climbing clear of the traffic pattern, I turned the 172 to the north-northwest. The G1000 told me it would take 25 minutes to reach the Municipal Airport in Richmond, Indiana, where I would meet my mother and my girls.
Snow covered the ground and I knew from my preflight that Richmond’s north-south oriented runway was closed. As I approached the airport and had some trouble seeing the landmark runway, I realized that the closure was due to it being covered in snow. As I entered a left downwind for runway 24, Richmond’s other big runway, I surveyed the airport’s plowing status. Runway 6-24 was clean as were the taxiways at each end of the runway that led to the nicely plowed main ramp. The midfield taxiway had not been plowed.
After clearing the runway at the end, I started the longer than normal taxi to the ramp and the reasons for my trip.
As I climbed out of the airplane and started walking toward the fence, I could see the excitement on the faces of my waiting passengers.
Through the Eyes of a Child
After a short break to visit with Mom, the girls said their goodbyes and climbed into the airplane. They had decided amongst themselves that the younger would join Dad up front for the flight home.
After our departure on runway 24, the intercom chatter about the sights began.
“Wow, look at all of the snow! It is everywhere!” came the exclamations shortly after takeoff.
“There is a ‘V’ in the snow over there,” indicated the younger. “It looks more like a ‘Y’,” corrected the older (2 years age difference makes her the teacher).
We leveled off at 2,500 feet for the trip back to Batavia. This put us about 1,500 feet above the ground and around 500 feet below the clouds that had decided to show up.
“The roads are shaped like rectangles.” “Look at how small that car is.” “That house is in the middle of nowhere. So is that one, and that one,” the commentary continued.
This wasn’t their first flight in an airplane and not even their first flight out of Richmond’s farm field surrounded airport but the snow did change the landscape on this beautiful December day.
As we proceeded toward our destination, the discussion of the sights on the ground began to dissipate. The older daughter pulled out her new Nintendo DS as MP3 player supplied music filtered through the intercom system. The younger daughter started asking questions about the G1000 and wondered why I wasn’t touching the controls. I explained some of the features found on the map and pointed out the KAP 140 autopilot that was currently maintaining our altitude.
“How soon until we get there?” came the query. I pointed out the estimated time en route to her on the multifunction display.
I looked at my watch and commented, “If I had driven up to get you, I would just be getting to Granny’s house. Now, we are almost home.”
Our landing back at the Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport was uneventful after we joined 4 other airplanes in the traffic pattern. We exited the runway at midfield (all of our taxiways were clear of snow though wet from nearby melting snow banks). We taxied to the maintenance hangar; N12064 was due for an oil change. I helped our maintenance crew pull the airplane into the hangar as the girls giggled about the extra ride.
A little while later, we arrived at the older daughter’s basketball practice, which she likely would have missed if we had been ground bound that day.
As we sat and watched the dribbling and the shooting, my younger daughter noted, “I am glad that you are a pilot, Dad. If you weren’t a pilot, we wouldn’t have gotten to fly today.”
I am glad that I am a pilot, too, K-bear!
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/05182611/C182-G1000-Medium.jpg10101280studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2014-12-15 10:00:492021-06-08 19:23:47The Joy of a Personal Flight
For a pilot, working at Sporty’s can be compared to a daily Christmas morning. With all the pilot toys, trinkets and gear, it’s easy to get lost in the myriad of cool and interesting new things to play with. I often get asked by pilot and non-pilots alike for gift ideas for their pilot friends. Rest assured, you don’t have to break the bank to get something meaningful that’s sure to please even the most difficult to shop for.
Flashlight. A pilot can never have too many options for a flashlight. My two favorite: the Smith & Wesson Captain’s Flashlight and the Flight Outfitters Headlamp. They have both red and white light with independent buttons so you don’t have to scroll through the colors and ruin your night vision. I use the headlamp in the cockpit and around the house.
Flight Bag. A pilot may change his flight bag more often than they change their underwear. They’re always in search of something perfect. While these might not fit in a stocking, check out the new Flight Outfitters Thrust bag, or the Flight Gear Navigator Bag. I use the Thrust as an everyday bag for work.
Ornament. Nothing says Christmas quite like an ornament. Sporty’s 2015 Christmas Ornament features a Bonanza this year. Also check out the Wright Bros Catalog for aviation specific Christmas ornaments.
Pilot Wings Gear. When in doubt, get something with pilot wings on it. The Pilot Wings Wallet, Knife, or Water Bottle are great options for the pilot on your list. I really like the wallet. It has a ramp pass insert for my pilot license, medical, and driver’s license.
As the season transitions from fall to winter and the temperature is consistently below freezing, unique challenges are presented to pilots. Flight training doesn’t need to stop in the winter though; in fact the colder months provide some great opportunities to expand your knowledge on weather and aircraft operations in less than ideal conditions. There are other benefits too, including improved aircraft performance and nearly unlimited visibility on clear days.
Here are some winter weather tips to consider as the temperature gets colder:
Always carry winter weather gear – This first tip may seem like common sense, but I can’t stress enough the importance of carrying cold weather gear when the temperature gets below freezing. Most modern training airplanes provide a comfortable, warm cabin up in the air, even as the temperature approaches 0° F outside. This can cause a false sense of security and lead you into thinking that you may not need the extra clothing layers, gloves, hats, etc. But you have to always be prepared for an emergency landing, which could leave you in cold conditions for hours or even days. And the most important piece of cold weather gear? A cell phone of course.
Don’t rule out frost after you land – Most flight schools and aircraft owners are very conscious about frost forming on the airplane when left out on clear nights when the temperature is close to or below freezing. If your flight needs to get out early in the morning, the airplane should be hangared overnight and pulled out just before departure. There’s another time when frost can sneak up on you though, causing a delay if you’re not prepared. Let’s say you takeoff just before sunrise and head to another airport not too far away to visit the airport diner. When you come back to your airplane 30 – 60 minutes later, there’s a good chance you’ll find a fresh layer of frost on the wings and tail.
Practice takeoffs and landings on contaminated runways – Just because the runway at your airport has residual snow or slick spots doesn’t mean you have to cancel your flight lesson. In fact, ask any Alaskan bush pilot and they’ll probably tell you that landing on snow-covered runways is the norm rather than the exception in the winter. After a winter storm passes you’ll want to wait for the airport maintenance crew to clear the majority of snow from the runway. Then determine the braking action from the published NOTAM or from airport officials, which will be described as Good, Fair, Poor or Nil. If you and your instructor determine runway and braking conditions are suitable, continue on with your lesson. You’ll quickly learn the importance of speed control on final approach and how to make real-world use of the soft-field takeoff and landing techniques. Just be sure to taxi at slower than normal speeds and keep an eye on the wings when maneuvering near tall snow banks.
Review cold weather procedures for your aircraft – There’s probably a good chance you haven’t reviewed your aircraft’s cold weather normal and emergency procedures since last year (unless you had an FAA pilot checkride over the summer). I like to make it a habit each fall to pull out the POH for each aircraft I fly and review cold weather starting limitations, normal procedures and emergency checklists pertinent to cold weather ops. You should commit to memory temperature and battery limitations, starter duty cycle limits and the first few items in the checklist for an engine fire during start.
Recognize aircraft and engine limitations in cold weather – When the temperature is below freezing you’ll want to be more cautious about how you operate the aircraft engine. A good procedure is to avoid making sudden power changes as temperatures drop below 20°F and below. This means staying away from maneuvers like touch-n-gos, simulated engine failures and stall recoveries when the temperature is that cold.
Call ahead for cold-weather airport services – This last tip is one to remember during your entire flying career. If you’re making a cross-country to another airport in the winter months and need some type of service from the FBO, call ahead first to verify it will be available. Don’t assume that because a particular FBO is at a large airport that they will have hangar space, engine pre-heat or other cold-weather service instantly available to you.
Make reports about the conditions you experience – In my flying experience the best weather reports don’t come from the National Weather Service, but rather from the pilots currently in the air and reporting the weather conditions they’re experiencing. These pilot reports (PIREPs) will provide you with actual temperatures aloft, cloud coverage and tops, and turbulence and icing reports, all packed into just a few lines of data. As an instrument pilot in the winter, I pay close attention to the icing reports (or lack thereof) to help determine cruise altitudes and where there might be moisture-free air between cloud layers. Make it a point to contribute to the system and relay your flight conditions to ATC when time permits. And don’t get in the habit of only making PIREPs when you experience unfavorable conditions — some of the most useful PIREPs are the ones describing flight above the cloud layers in smooth air.
I was on the return leg of a two-day trip to Texas last month on a late Tuesday evening. I had spent the entire week prior attending an industry conference in Florida. I’ll confess that like a lot of people, I don’t sleep well while traveling. The combination of a foreign environment, stress of the trip’s mission, and the seemingly impossible task of achieving a comfortable temperature in a hotel room, make adequate rest a futile effort in most cases.
I was fortunate enough to have only traveled across one time zone on this trip, in addition to getting what I would consider a normal night’s rest over the weekend in between. But the tell tale signs of fatigue were blatantly obvious in 20-20 hindsight which makes fatigue especially treacherous in that it may not be apparent until errors are made. I was flying a two-crew airplane with required “call-outs” and of course, checklist items to be completed along the way.
In addition to simply feeling tired, the next cue was a missed call-out. And then another missed call-out. And then a checklist item was overlooked that should have been part of my standard flight deck flow. Thankfully, in this case, an able and proficient pilot flying with me quickly picked up the omissions and pointed them out in a professional and courteous manner – an exemplary demonstration of good crew resource management principles. But had I not had the support of a second crew member, would I eventually have picked up on the oversight or would the mistakes grown in severity until it was unrecoverable?
The fact is that in our modern, information-overloaded lifestyles, everyone struggles with a general feeling of weariness or lack of energy and focus from time to time. And relief is nowhere in sight. According to the Center for Disease Control, 70 million Americans suffer from sleep deprivation which qualifies it as a certified public health epidemic.
Temporary bouts with fatigue (acute) generally have an identifiable cause and likely short-term solution. In my case, it was returning to my normal environment, free from the additional stress of an upcoming flight and fortunately, I visited the rehabs close to Tampa to help me get the detox I needed. The more dangerous scenario is the issue of chronic fatigue that develops gradually and diminishes not only your energy, but your mental capacity as well.
How fatigue effects the brain
Exacerbating the temporary fatigue induced by lack of adequate rest, traveling back to the Eastern Time zone as the sun began to set also led to a disruption in my circadian rhythm (internal clock). Circadian rhythms are produced by natural factors within the body with its main cue coming from light. As night fell, my clock was naturally telling me it was time to rest. Not an ideal scenario if you happen to be flying solo, single-pilot in preparation for the high stress, high-demand terminal environment at the conclusion of a long trip. You can see how the cards can quickly stack up against you.
While the effects of fatigue are different from person to person, and dependent on such factors as age and health, we’re essentially all hard-wired for eight hours of sleep per day. When you begin to dip in or borrow from those eight hours rest, it can’t be remedied by simply getting eight hours of sleep the next day. Fatigue effects are compounded by consecutive days of borrowing time from the vital sleep bank. In either scenario, you’re likely to experience some decrease in mental capacity. While the severity of fatigue impacts on the brain are difficult to predict, some of the alarming effects include lost memories, lack of focus and a higher propensity for risky decisions.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is renewing its focus on the dangers of fatigue and its potential role in numerous aviation accidents. Fatigue is frequently associated with pilot error and seriously influences the ability to make effective decisions. Still, not enough is known about the dangers and research is being conducted to assist pilots in understanding the causes and effects which will, in turn, allow the aviation community to offer more defined guidance.
In the meantime, it would be easy to offer the recommendation for all pilots to simply achieve the recommended eight hours of rest and only fly during periods so as not to disrupt your own circadian rhythm. But that’s not necessarily realistic, so there are some things you can do to help stay alert.
Consume alcohol or caffeine 3-4 hours before going to bed
Eat a heavy meal just before bedtime
Take work to bed
Exercise 2-3 hours before bedtime. While working out promotes a healthy lifestyle, it shouldn’t be done too close to bedtime.
Use sleeping pills (prescription or otherwise).
Do…
Be mindful of the side effect of certain medications, even over-the-counter medications – drowsiness or impaired alertness is a concern.
Consult a physician to diagnose and treat any medical conditions causing sleep problems.
Create a comfortable sleep environment at home. Adjust heating and cooling as needed. Get a comfortable mattress.
When traveling, select hotels that provide a comfortable environment.
Get into the habit of sleeping eight hours per night. When needed, and if possible, nap during the day, but limit the nap to less than 30 minutes. Longer naps produce sleep intertia, which is counterproductive.
Try to turn in at the same time each day. This establishes a routine and helps you fall asleep quicker.
If you can’t fall asleep within 30 minutes of going to bed, get up and try an activity that helps induce sleep (watch non-violent TV, read, listen to relaxing music, etc).
Get plenty of rest and minimize stress before a flight. If problems preclude a good night’s sleep, rethink the flight and postpone it accordingly.
Some additional strategies for the flight deck to help stay alert…
lights on – consider, if your circadian rhythm dictates and flight conditions allow, keeping flight deck lighting turned up during cruise portions of flight with lights turned down at least 30 minutes prior to landing to allow the eyes time to adjust
human interaction – take a co-pilot or companion with you for conversation and to serve as a safety pilot
talk – consider filing IFR or taking advantage of VFR flight following so there is radio communication taking place and the additional task of switching frequencies
regular tasks to complete – assign regular tasks to be accomplished such as updating a flight log, rehearsing abnormal procedures or offering a pilot report
checklists, checklists, checklists – use a checklist and double check your checklist
conservative personal minimums – consider elevating personal weather minimums during periods of likely fatigues to reduce stress and workloads
caffeinate – caffeinated drinks can help alertness temporarily but take care to remain hydrated and remember the effects of caffeine can linger beyond the flight and disrupt rest
If you’re constantly battling fatigue, understand it’s a war you can’t win. There are some short term strategies to remain alert, but at some point a change in lifestyle, schedule or postponing a flight must be considered. There may also by underlying health issues leaving you more susceptible to fatigue including heart disease, obesity, sleep apnea and even mental health issues which will require a visit to a medical professional.
Regardless of the root cause, the effects of fatigue are real and the consequences too severe to ignore.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/05182635/04373_163F.jpg6821024studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2014-11-26 12:00:342021-06-08 19:23:47Fatigue – you may win the battle, but you can’t win the war
What pilot supplies do I need for flight training?
/in Getting Started/by John ZimmermanWhile the list can of things a pilot can buy seems endless, we recommend the following as the basics to get going:
Home Training Materials
Preflight
Cockpit
Visit Sporty’s Student Pilot Store for more
Ode to General Aviation
/in Having fun, Personal stories/by studentpltnewsTwas the day after Christmas and snow covered the land.
We needed to put our toes in some water, our butts in some sand.
We drove to the airport, the plane was pre-heated,
Our luggage was light, no heavy clothes would be needed.
We shoveled the drift from in front of the hangar door
Pulled out the Skylane, then shoveled some more.
We made three paths to the taxiway through the accumulated snows.
Two for the main gear, and one for the nose.
We closed the hangar door and put our coats in the back seat.
We wouldn’t need them where we’re going, trading cold for some heat.
Gave the engine a little extra prime on this cold winter’s morning.
Opened my window and yelled “Clear!” the familiar pre-start warning.
The starter engaged the engine started to turn,
Had I primed it enough? I was eager to learn.
After a few revolutions the engine came to life
We had oil pressure and I nodded to my wife.
The cabin still cold, you could see the breath from our mouth.
But soon we would be warm ‘cause we were heading south.
The packed snow on the taxiway made the brakes ineffective so
The pre-takeoff checks were completed on the go.
The winds were variable in the dawn’s early light
No one was in the pattern everything looked alright.
Yes the temperature was cold but the sky, well, sky blue
We made the radio call “This is 67Lima departing runway two two.”
Mixture rich, throttle forward, flaps 20, yoke back here we go
Soft field technique is needed when the runway has snow.
One good thing about the cold? The airplane’s performance is more
Soon we were flying on a heading of two one four.
“Departure” I radioed out of the pattern area was my timing
“Skylane 6167 Lima is with you, on course, 3,000 and climbing.”
The controller acknowledged my radio call with this beseech
“Radar Contact five south of the airport you are cleared as filed to Panama Beach.”
The auto pilot held the Nav needle steady to KECP
Soon the white land below gave way to brown and then green.
In just three and a half hours blue water came into the mix
“67 Lima this is Northwest Florida Beaches Tower, you’re cleared to land runway one six.”
We just traded white snow for white sand in our Cessna time machine
No TSA, no orange barrels, no cramped seat in row 17.
On the trip I got a whole pack of peanuts and a ham sandwich, this is the life
Served up by the world’s best flight attendant, my beautiful wife.
So a half day from freezing we sit in the sand,
And gaze at the waves breaking, a cold drink in our hand.
I ponder the miracle that is modern GA
I take the time to count my blessings, which are many this day.
From all of us at Sporty’s we wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May it be prosperous to all, filled with happiness not fear
As I ponder my flight plan and wish our friends all the best,
Now do I head north back to Cincy – or south to Key West?
The Joy of a Personal Flight
/in Personal stories/by studentpltnewsAs Christmas approaches once again, I can’t help but think back to an earlier holiday and a flying experience that I had with two of my favorite passengers; my two daughters. They were a bit younger when this occurred but it is still a great flying memory and one that I’m excited to retell.
On that Christmas holiday, my wife, the girls, and I drove to see family as I am sure that many of you did and will do again as well. When my wife and I departed for home on December 26th, we left our girls to stay for a few extra days with their granny.
It wasn’t long until it was time to retrieve the kids. Decision time, just under four hours roundtrip on the road or just over an hour in a Cessna 172…since I am writing about it now, I am sure your can guess the choice that I made.
The weather forecasts had been calling for greater than 6 miles visibility with an overcast layer of clouds at around 2000 feet above the ground. The temperatures looked like they would be warm enough to climb through the clouds if necessary but my plan was to enjoy the view afforded by a visual flight rules trip.
As the time for my departure approached, the forecasts were amended to show a later development of the overcast clouds.
As I performed my preflight inspection of N12064, the visibility looked great and only a few high cirrus clouds were visible. Winds were relatively light and it was shaping up to be a great day to fly.
After departing runway 22 at Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport and climbing clear of the traffic pattern, I turned the 172 to the north-northwest. The G1000 told me it would take 25 minutes to reach the Municipal Airport in Richmond, Indiana, where I would meet my mother and my girls.
Snow covered the ground and I knew from my preflight that Richmond’s north-south oriented runway was closed. As I approached the airport and had some trouble seeing the landmark runway, I realized that the closure was due to it being covered in snow. As I entered a left downwind for runway 24, Richmond’s other big runway, I surveyed the airport’s plowing status. Runway 6-24 was clean as were the taxiways at each end of the runway that led to the nicely plowed main ramp. The midfield taxiway had not been plowed.
After clearing the runway at the end, I started the longer than normal taxi to the ramp and the reasons for my trip.
As I climbed out of the airplane and started walking toward the fence, I could see the excitement on the faces of my waiting passengers.
Through the Eyes of a Child
After a short break to visit with Mom, the girls said their goodbyes and climbed into the airplane. They had decided amongst themselves that the younger would join Dad up front for the flight home.
Perched up on their booster cushions, they put on their child-size Sigtronics headsets as I put on my similar adult size set.
After our departure on runway 24, the intercom chatter about the sights began.
“Wow, look at all of the snow! It is everywhere!” came the exclamations shortly after takeoff.
“There is a ‘V’ in the snow over there,” indicated the younger. “It looks more like a ‘Y’,” corrected the older (2 years age difference makes her the teacher).
We leveled off at 2,500 feet for the trip back to Batavia. This put us about 1,500 feet above the ground and around 500 feet below the clouds that had decided to show up.
“The roads are shaped like rectangles.” “Look at how small that car is.” “That house is in the middle of nowhere. So is that one, and that one,” the commentary continued.
This wasn’t their first flight in an airplane and not even their first flight out of Richmond’s farm field surrounded airport but the snow did change the landscape on this beautiful December day.
“How soon until we get there?” came the query. I pointed out the estimated time en route to her on the multifunction display.
I looked at my watch and commented, “If I had driven up to get you, I would just be getting to Granny’s house. Now, we are almost home.”
Our landing back at the Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport was uneventful after we joined 4 other airplanes in the traffic pattern. We exited the runway at midfield (all of our taxiways were clear of snow though wet from nearby melting snow banks). We taxied to the maintenance hangar; N12064 was due for an oil change. I helped our maintenance crew pull the airplane into the hangar as the girls giggled about the extra ride.
A little while later, we arrived at the older daughter’s basketball practice, which she likely would have missed if we had been ground bound that day.
As we sat and watched the dribbling and the shooting, my younger daughter noted, “I am glad that you are a pilot, Dad. If you weren’t a pilot, we wouldn’t have gotten to fly today.”
I am glad that I am a pilot, too, K-bear!
5 can’t miss stocking stuffers
/in Having fun/by studentpltnewsFor a pilot, working at Sporty’s can be compared to a daily Christmas morning. With all the pilot toys, trinkets and gear, it’s easy to get lost in the myriad of cool and interesting new things to play with. I often get asked by pilot and non-pilots alike for gift ideas for their pilot friends. Rest assured, you don’t have to break the bank to get something meaningful that’s sure to please even the most difficult to shop for.
Flashlight. A pilot can never have too many options for a flashlight. My two favorite: the Smith & Wesson Captain’s Flashlight and the Flight Outfitters Headlamp. They have both red and white light with independent buttons so you don’t have to scroll through the colors and ruin your night vision. I use the headlamp in the cockpit and around the house.
T-Shirt. Pilot’s love making sure everyone else knows that they’re a pilot. Humorous T-shirts are a great way of doing that. Check out the “Pilot’s Looking Down on People Since 1903” t-shirt, or the “I’m a Pilot, Frightening Isn’t It?” t-shirt.
Flight Bag. A pilot may change his flight bag more often than they change their underwear. They’re always in search of something perfect. While these might not fit in a stocking, check out the new Flight Outfitters Thrust bag, or the Flight Gear Navigator Bag. I use the Thrust as an everyday bag for work.
Ornament. Nothing says Christmas quite like an ornament. Sporty’s 2015 Christmas Ornament features a Bonanza this year. Also check out the Wright Bros Catalog for aviation specific Christmas ornaments.
Pilot Wings Gear. When in doubt, get something with pilot wings on it. The Pilot Wings Wallet, Knife, or Water Bottle are great options for the pilot on your list. I really like the wallet. It has a ramp pass insert for my pilot license, medical, and driver’s license.
Still not satisfied? Explore the Sporty’s holiday gift guide where you can shop by categories and price.
Seven winter weather flying tips
/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnewsHere are some winter weather tips to consider as the temperature gets colder:
Fatigue – you may win the battle, but you can’t win the war
/in Personal stories, Tips and technique/by studentpltnewsI was on the return leg of a two-day trip to Texas last month on a late Tuesday evening. I had spent the entire week prior attending an industry conference in Florida. I’ll confess that like a lot of people, I don’t sleep well while traveling. The combination of a foreign environment, stress of the trip’s mission, and the seemingly impossible task of achieving a comfortable temperature in a hotel room, make adequate rest a futile effort in most cases.
In addition to simply feeling tired, the next cue was a missed call-out. And then another missed call-out. And then a checklist item was overlooked that should have been part of my standard flight deck flow. Thankfully, in this case, an able and proficient pilot flying with me quickly picked up the omissions and pointed them out in a professional and courteous manner – an exemplary demonstration of good crew resource management principles. But had I not had the support of a second crew member, would I eventually have picked up on the oversight or would the mistakes grown in severity until it was unrecoverable?
The fact is that in our modern, information-overloaded lifestyles, everyone struggles with a general feeling of weariness or lack of energy and focus from time to time. And relief is nowhere in sight. According to the Center for Disease Control, 70 million Americans suffer from sleep deprivation which qualifies it as a certified public health epidemic.
Temporary bouts with fatigue (acute) generally have an identifiable cause and likely short-term solution. In my case, it was returning to my normal environment, free from the additional stress of an upcoming flight and fortunately, I visited the rehabs close to Tampa to help me get the detox I needed. The more dangerous scenario is the issue of chronic fatigue that develops gradually and diminishes not only your energy, but your mental capacity as well.
How fatigue effects the brain
Exacerbating the temporary fatigue induced by lack of adequate rest, traveling back to the Eastern Time zone as the sun began to set also led to a disruption in my circadian rhythm (internal clock). Circadian rhythms are produced by natural factors within the body with its main cue coming from light. As night fell, my clock was naturally telling me it was time to rest. Not an ideal scenario if you happen to be flying solo, single-pilot in preparation for the high stress, high-demand terminal environment at the conclusion of a long trip. You can see how the cards can quickly stack up against you.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is renewing its focus on the dangers of fatigue and its potential role in numerous aviation accidents. Fatigue is frequently associated with pilot error and seriously influences the ability to make effective decisions. Still, not enough is known about the dangers and research is being conducted to assist pilots in understanding the causes and effects which will, in turn, allow the aviation community to offer more defined guidance.
In the meantime, it would be easy to offer the recommendation for all pilots to simply achieve the recommended eight hours of rest and only fly during periods so as not to disrupt your own circadian rhythm. But that’s not necessarily realistic, so there are some things you can do to help stay alert.
From FAA’s Fatigue in Aviation, lifestyle recommendations:
Don’t…
Do…
Some additional strategies for the flight deck to help stay alert…
If you’re constantly battling fatigue, understand it’s a war you can’t win. There are some short term strategies to remain alert, but at some point a change in lifestyle, schedule or postponing a flight must be considered. There may also by underlying health issues leaving you more susceptible to fatigue including heart disease, obesity, sleep apnea and even mental health issues which will require a visit to a medical professional.
Regardless of the root cause, the effects of fatigue are real and the consequences too severe to ignore.