Please join me in congratulating U.S. Private Pilot Marlon C., who earned his wings in Cessna 1ES with DPE Tom Hamm!
Nice work, Marlon!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Saturday, June 30, 2007
A great day to fly
Pilots,
Please join me in congratulating U.S. Private Pilot Marlon C., who earned his wings in Cessna 1ES with DPE Tom Hamm!
Nice work, Marlon!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Please join me in congratulating U.S. Private Pilot Marlon C., who earned his wings in Cessna 1ES with DPE Tom Hamm!
Nice work, Marlon!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Friday, June 29, 2007
Flying Blind...
Pilots!
Those of you not crunching down on PPL written exams, steep turns, and short-field landings, and instead just lazing away, puttering off to Catalina for a buffalo burger, San Diego for some nightlife, or Camarillo for shopping... are you feeling bored? Letting the autopilot fly while you catch up on Reader's Digest? Pish tosh!
We at Fly Corona! have put together just the thing to stimulate your sleepy brain, and let your Student Pilot comrades feel like someone is sharing the toil -- that's right, we present to you the...
Departing Corona as normal, one of our devious CFIIs will throw you under the hood at 200' AGL, daring you to dodge rocks using only The Force(tm) (and an instrument departures book), and will then make you fly blind to Lake Matthews, call SoCal Approach Control, and will request an ILS Precision Approach into Chino Airport -- dunking you into a maddening blind descent to 200' AGL once more, and lined up for a landing -- and all while missing the cows.
Sounds hectic? It's not -- in fact, it's one of the more tranquil things you can do, where the controllers deliver you every assistance on silver platters and with honeyed tongues.. (wait, SoCal who?) -- SoCal Approach was designed for IFR traffic, and now you can stop mooching on the system and play with the big boys! And when you lift the hood and see a Red-over-white VASI waiting for you, and the big letters 26R welcoming you to tarmac once more -- it clicks, and you get it -- you've just completed a safe precision approach, without peeking out the window once. Nice Job!
==
As always, Demo Flights will be credited towards any Instrument Training Package. Inquire with the Office for more details.
A 45-60 minute Demo in a C172 will be $99, in the PA30 $149. Every FlyC instructor is CFII rated, and you will receive full credit usable towards your 35 hour training requirement for the Instrument rating. Our 35-hour training packages start at $4,459.
Grab the rating while it's nice, then own the skies when they are dreary in Winter!
==
Some other news around the FlyC ranch...
Cessna 17J has a new starter and battery.
Cessna 1ES has a new starter.
(remember, for fuel injected planes, priming with the fuel pump should be short, and will not be necessary if the plane is warm!)
Cessna 04H has loaned 08V a radio for the week. It will return ASAP. Please inform the office if this is an inconvenience, and we can install a temporary radio into 04H.
Cessna 20U has been diagnosed with a slow flap motor. She is expected to be down until tomorrow.
Cessna 68U should be emerging from her 100hr tonight, after a gruelling week.
Cessna 08V has sneak-thieved 04H's COM2 temporarily. Cheeky!
Piper 85Y has a new prop governor on the RH engine, and is back in service after a 5-day delay. Apologies to those affected.
==
The office has new Air Conditioning units. Office, CFI, and Students alike were threatening assorted tortures for operating a toaster oven as an office.
==
Checkrides are in the air -- while your CFI will generally schedule your ride with the Examiner, it is helpful to let the office know in advance so that we may coordinate maintenance windows and prepare the aircraft. We have had some slipshod planning of checkrides in the office lately, and we aim to improve this -- please keep us in the loop, and we will do our best to make these happen.
On that note, Students, the checkride is a big deal, involving coordinating multiple schedules, maintenance windows, and a stack of paperwork -- we may be forced to commandeer your flight in order to make room for a student in the home stretch. This is the only time we will forcefully bump you from the schedule, and when it is your turn for a checkride, you will receive the same priority. Please inform the office if being bumped is an undue burden, or has led to unexpected disappointment -- and we will try to make it right. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
==
Have a great weekend!
- Mike
Those of you not crunching down on PPL written exams, steep turns, and short-field landings, and instead just lazing away, puttering off to Catalina for a buffalo burger, San Diego for some nightlife, or Camarillo for shopping... are you feeling bored? Letting the autopilot fly while you catch up on Reader's Digest? Pish tosh!
We at Fly Corona! have put together just the thing to stimulate your sleepy brain, and let your Student Pilot comrades feel like someone is sharing the toil -- that's right, we present to you the...
Instrument Approach Demo Flight
Departing Corona as normal, one of our devious CFIIs will throw you under the hood at 200' AGL, daring you to dodge rocks using only The Force(tm) (and an instrument departures book), and will then make you fly blind to Lake Matthews, call SoCal Approach Control, and will request an ILS Precision Approach into Chino Airport -- dunking you into a maddening blind descent to 200' AGL once more, and lined up for a landing -- and all while missing the cows.
Sounds hectic? It's not -- in fact, it's one of the more tranquil things you can do, where the controllers deliver you every assistance on silver platters and with honeyed tongues.. (wait, SoCal who?) -- SoCal Approach was designed for IFR traffic, and now you can stop mooching on the system and play with the big boys! And when you lift the hood and see a Red-over-white VASI waiting for you, and the big letters 26R welcoming you to tarmac once more -- it clicks, and you get it -- you've just completed a safe precision approach, without peeking out the window once. Nice Job!
==
As always, Demo Flights will be credited towards any Instrument Training Package. Inquire with the Office for more details.
A 45-60 minute Demo in a C172 will be $99, in the PA30 $149. Every FlyC instructor is CFII rated, and you will receive full credit usable towards your 35 hour training requirement for the Instrument rating. Our 35-hour training packages start at $4,459.
Grab the rating while it's nice, then own the skies when they are dreary in Winter!
==
Some other news around the FlyC ranch...
Cessna 17J has a new starter and battery.
Cessna 1ES has a new starter.
(remember, for fuel injected planes, priming with the fuel pump should be short, and will not be necessary if the plane is warm!)
Cessna 04H has loaned 08V a radio for the week. It will return ASAP. Please inform the office if this is an inconvenience, and we can install a temporary radio into 04H.
Cessna 20U has been diagnosed with a slow flap motor. She is expected to be down until tomorrow.
Cessna 68U should be emerging from her 100hr tonight, after a gruelling week.
Cessna 08V has sneak-thieved 04H's COM2 temporarily. Cheeky!
Piper 85Y has a new prop governor on the RH engine, and is back in service after a 5-day delay. Apologies to those affected.
==
The office has new Air Conditioning units. Office, CFI, and Students alike were threatening assorted tortures for operating a toaster oven as an office.
==
Checkrides are in the air -- while your CFI will generally schedule your ride with the Examiner, it is helpful to let the office know in advance so that we may coordinate maintenance windows and prepare the aircraft. We have had some slipshod planning of checkrides in the office lately, and we aim to improve this -- please keep us in the loop, and we will do our best to make these happen.
On that note, Students, the checkride is a big deal, involving coordinating multiple schedules, maintenance windows, and a stack of paperwork -- we may be forced to commandeer your flight in order to make room for a student in the home stretch. This is the only time we will forcefully bump you from the schedule, and when it is your turn for a checkride, you will receive the same priority. Please inform the office if being bumped is an undue burden, or has led to unexpected disappointment -- and we will try to make it right. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
==
Have a great weekend!
- Mike
Monday, June 25, 2007
Top 25!
Pilots,
Forbes has honored Professional Pilots as one of the Top 25 Paying Careers in the United States!
Cool!
Check out the article here
From the slide:
Airline Pilots, Copilots And Flight Engineers
Mean Annual Wage: $140,380
One-Year Change: 4.0%
No. In Employment: 75,810
Top-Paying Industry: Scheduled Air Transportation ($149,710*)
Top-Paying State: Illinois ($162,160*)
Top-Paying Metro: New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ ($170,220*)
Pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for the transport of passengers and cargo.
Forbes has honored Professional Pilots as one of the Top 25 Paying Careers in the United States!
Cool!
Check out the article here
From the slide:
Airline Pilots, Copilots And Flight Engineers
Mean Annual Wage: $140,380
One-Year Change: 4.0%
No. In Employment: 75,810
Top-Paying Industry: Scheduled Air Transportation ($149,710*)
Top-Paying State: Illinois ($162,160*)
Top-Paying Metro: New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ ($170,220*)
Pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for the transport of passengers and cargo.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Mutiny!
Arr, Pilots,
The planes have been scheming, it seems, for we had maintenance issues yesterday with 6 of our 7, to wit:
Cessna 08V has a new battery
Cessna 68U is down for her 100hr
Cessna 20U has her prop back and reinstalled
Cessna 1ES has a new starter
Cessna 17J has a new battery on order
Piper 85Y has new gear indicator lights
... Cessna 04H was working just fine. Thanks, 04H!
Whew. Apologies to those caught in the maelstrom, it was a busy day yesterday with a lot of schedule shuffling.
Blue skies have abounded otherwise.
Cheers,
- Mike
The planes have been scheming, it seems, for we had maintenance issues yesterday with 6 of our 7, to wit:
Cessna 08V has a new battery
Cessna 68U is down for her 100hr
Cessna 20U has her prop back and reinstalled
Cessna 1ES has a new starter
Cessna 17J has a new battery on order
Piper 85Y has new gear indicator lights
... Cessna 04H was working just fine. Thanks, 04H!
Whew. Apologies to those caught in the maelstrom, it was a busy day yesterday with a lot of schedule shuffling.
Blue skies have abounded otherwise.
Cheers,
- Mike
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Propwash
Pilots,
Our thanks go out to the eagle-eye of one of our students, Leo M., who discovered a nick in the propeller of Cessna 20U. 20U has been grounded pending refurbishment or replacement of the propeller.
During a preflight, it is an easy thing to run your fingers across the edges of the prop blades, and feel for any rough spots. The prop should be generally smooth, although with our rough tarmac, nicks are inevitable -- but a nick that is enough to poke your hand, or that is visibly out of "line" in the prop is bad news, and should be looked at. Remember that the forces acting on the propeller are measured in tons, and that the weight of the aircraft (including you) is hanging on this 40 pound chunk of aluminum. Give it an eyeball on your next preflight.
More as we know it from the prop wizards.
Also, in a stroke of obvious aircraft collusion, Cessna 68U has been taken down for her 100hr inspection. This means the 172Fs are out of comission for likely the remainder of the week, with 20U likely to return (hopefully) before the weekend, and 68U sometime next week. Sorry, all -- the schedule has been adjusted accordingly.
Our thanks go out to the eagle-eye of one of our students, Leo M., who discovered a nick in the propeller of Cessna 20U. 20U has been grounded pending refurbishment or replacement of the propeller.
During a preflight, it is an easy thing to run your fingers across the edges of the prop blades, and feel for any rough spots. The prop should be generally smooth, although with our rough tarmac, nicks are inevitable -- but a nick that is enough to poke your hand, or that is visibly out of "line" in the prop is bad news, and should be looked at. Remember that the forces acting on the propeller are measured in tons, and that the weight of the aircraft (including you) is hanging on this 40 pound chunk of aluminum. Give it an eyeball on your next preflight.
More as we know it from the prop wizards.
Also, in a stroke of obvious aircraft collusion, Cessna 68U has been taken down for her 100hr inspection. This means the 172Fs are out of comission for likely the remainder of the week, with 20U likely to return (hopefully) before the weekend, and 68U sometime next week. Sorry, all -- the schedule has been adjusted accordingly.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
A new antenna for 04H
Pilots,
After chasing poor nav performance in Cessna 04H since.. well, since forever -- we have rewired a section of the antenna wiring in the tail (of all places), and reports are that the NAVs are now up to full strength. Whew.
We will perform a VOT on the navs today, but I believe that we have finally conquered the nav problem in 04H for good -- next stop will be 20U's intermittent nav2.
==
Cessna 68U has had her pilot's-side step re-bonded.
==
Check out this awesome time-lapse photo of a night-flight. All you can see are the nav lights of the jet departing... pretty cool!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
After chasing poor nav performance in Cessna 04H since.. well, since forever -- we have rewired a section of the antenna wiring in the tail (of all places), and reports are that the NAVs are now up to full strength. Whew.
We will perform a VOT on the navs today, but I believe that we have finally conquered the nav problem in 04H for good -- next stop will be 20U's intermittent nav2.
==
Cessna 68U has had her pilot's-side step re-bonded.
==
Check out this awesome time-lapse photo of a night-flight. All you can see are the nav lights of the jet departing... pretty cool!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Monday, June 18, 2007
Annual Annual
Pilots,
Piper 85Y returns from an extensive annual tomorrow, back for service. The delay was primarily due to her need for a propeller overhaul.
We also are expecting to get her Right-hand brakes sometime next week.
Nice weather abounds otherwise. There is nice summer flying in the southland!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Piper 85Y returns from an extensive annual tomorrow, back for service. The delay was primarily due to her need for a propeller overhaul.
We also are expecting to get her Right-hand brakes sometime next week.
Nice weather abounds otherwise. There is nice summer flying in the southland!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Hey, that wasn't in the METAR
Ran across this today...
==
School is buzzed, pilot is sought
Plane bombarded building with toilet paper, paintballs
June 9, 2007
BY KORIE WILKINS
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Police are looking for the pilot of a plane -- and two possible accomplices -- who buzzed Farmington Hills' Harrison High School, chucking toilet paper and paint balls out the window.
No one was hurt in the incident, which happened at about 2:20 p.m. Thursday at the school on 12 Mile, just east of Orchard Lake Road.
There is a $500 reward being offered by police. Officials say no one was injured, although a bag of paint balls nearly hit an occupied car, police say.
"It's over the top," said Estralee Michaelson, Farmington Hills Public Schools' director of safe schools.
Police say the blue single-engine plane with a yellow stripe buzzed the school at a low altitude, making several passes.
Police Chief William Dwyer said several students were outside watching the plane after having been given advance notice. He said three former Harrison students could be involved.
"This could have been a real tragedy," Dwyer said. "I think they thought it was a prank, but it wasn't. It's just a matter of time before we identify them."
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said there is an open investigation.
Mack Goodwin, a flight instructor since 1974, said if there are people, structures or vehicles in the area, pilots must stay at least 500 feet above the ground. In more densely populated areas, pilots must remain 1,000 feet above the ground, said Goodwin, who runs Mack Goodwin Flight Instruction and Sales in Birmingham. The plane that police are looking for was below 500 feet, Dwyer said.
Anyone with tips should call the Farmington Hills Police Department at 248-871-2610.
While this was clearly a highly dangerous prank, a part of me is smirking inside.
--
In other news,
Piper 85Y's prop has been identified as weeping a slight bit of oil in the hub assembly. We have pre-emptively sent it out for a re-seal. Downtime is estimated to be an additional week.
The piper has what is referred to as a "Constant Speed" prop, which means exactly that - it will hold an exact RPM setting regardless of the power applied. This contrasts with the Fixed-Pitch prop in our cessnas, which will vary RPM according to how much the engine can overcome the workload placed upon it (hence lower RPM on climbout, and higher RPM in cruise) It works by twisting the pitch of the blades, and creates, in effect, a sort of transmission effect, allowing you to vary torque applied to the prop, matched to the airspeed of the aircraft.
This mechanism works with engine oil pressure, which pushes the prop blades into a lower RPM setting (thus a loss of pressure in the system will allow it to revert back to "best climb" configuration) -- a leak can actually starve the engine of oil if it is allowed to go unchecked. Ours was nowhere near this bad, however, I've never known an oil leak to get better -- so our prop is off to the repair shop.
Cessna 04H is undergoing radio work to get the NAVs into a more reliable state.
Not much else to report with the planes. The weather sure has gotten nice, though -- finally. :)
Blue Skies,
- Mike
==
School is buzzed, pilot is sought
Plane bombarded building with toilet paper, paintballs
June 9, 2007
BY KORIE WILKINS
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Police are looking for the pilot of a plane -- and two possible accomplices -- who buzzed Farmington Hills' Harrison High School, chucking toilet paper and paint balls out the window.
No one was hurt in the incident, which happened at about 2:20 p.m. Thursday at the school on 12 Mile, just east of Orchard Lake Road.
There is a $500 reward being offered by police. Officials say no one was injured, although a bag of paint balls nearly hit an occupied car, police say.
"It's over the top," said Estralee Michaelson, Farmington Hills Public Schools' director of safe schools.
Police say the blue single-engine plane with a yellow stripe buzzed the school at a low altitude, making several passes.
Police Chief William Dwyer said several students were outside watching the plane after having been given advance notice. He said three former Harrison students could be involved.
"This could have been a real tragedy," Dwyer said. "I think they thought it was a prank, but it wasn't. It's just a matter of time before we identify them."
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said there is an open investigation.
Mack Goodwin, a flight instructor since 1974, said if there are people, structures or vehicles in the area, pilots must stay at least 500 feet above the ground. In more densely populated areas, pilots must remain 1,000 feet above the ground, said Goodwin, who runs Mack Goodwin Flight Instruction and Sales in Birmingham. The plane that police are looking for was below 500 feet, Dwyer said.
Anyone with tips should call the Farmington Hills Police Department at 248-871-2610.
While this was clearly a highly dangerous prank, a part of me is smirking inside.
--
In other news,
Piper 85Y's prop has been identified as weeping a slight bit of oil in the hub assembly. We have pre-emptively sent it out for a re-seal. Downtime is estimated to be an additional week.
The piper has what is referred to as a "Constant Speed" prop, which means exactly that - it will hold an exact RPM setting regardless of the power applied. This contrasts with the Fixed-Pitch prop in our cessnas, which will vary RPM according to how much the engine can overcome the workload placed upon it (hence lower RPM on climbout, and higher RPM in cruise) It works by twisting the pitch of the blades, and creates, in effect, a sort of transmission effect, allowing you to vary torque applied to the prop, matched to the airspeed of the aircraft.
This mechanism works with engine oil pressure, which pushes the prop blades into a lower RPM setting (thus a loss of pressure in the system will allow it to revert back to "best climb" configuration) -- a leak can actually starve the engine of oil if it is allowed to go unchecked. Ours was nowhere near this bad, however, I've never known an oil leak to get better -- so our prop is off to the repair shop.
Cessna 04H is undergoing radio work to get the NAVs into a more reliable state.
Not much else to report with the planes. The weather sure has gotten nice, though -- finally. :)
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
And some more good news
Pilots!
Please join me in congratulating U.S. Private Pilot Joel K., who earned his wings yesterday in Cessna 68U with DPE Tom Hamm. Nice work, Joel!
--
In other news, word is that our own CFI Jeremy has accepted a position at Dynamic Aviation flying the King Air 90. Jeremy is out this week for training, and his new schedule is TBD. Wish Jeremy luck as he buzzes around overhead at 300+kts!
We have a new face at the FlyC ranch, CFI Alex! Alex joins us from ATP in Riverside, and holds CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings. Alex is flying 7 days per week, and is available immediately for bookings. Please give him a warm FlyC welcome, or book him for a flight around the patch.
My apologies to Students affected by Jeremy's downtime, and for rescheduling or to try out a different CFI, please contact the office or book some time.
--
In maintenanceland, Cessna 08V has received a fresh battery. Cessna 68U is down today to repair her brand new transponder. Again. Piper 85Y is expected to return next week from her inspection.
June gloom is here, but it has been burning off by 10 or 10:30 lately -- nice weather abounds otherwise in Corona.
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Please join me in congratulating U.S. Private Pilot Joel K., who earned his wings yesterday in Cessna 68U with DPE Tom Hamm. Nice work, Joel!
--
In other news, word is that our own CFI Jeremy has accepted a position at Dynamic Aviation flying the King Air 90. Jeremy is out this week for training, and his new schedule is TBD. Wish Jeremy luck as he buzzes around overhead at 300+kts!
We have a new face at the FlyC ranch, CFI Alex! Alex joins us from ATP in Riverside, and holds CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings. Alex is flying 7 days per week, and is available immediately for bookings. Please give him a warm FlyC welcome, or book him for a flight around the patch.
My apologies to Students affected by Jeremy's downtime, and for rescheduling or to try out a different CFI, please contact the office or book some time.
--
In maintenanceland, Cessna 08V has received a fresh battery. Cessna 68U is down today to repair her brand new transponder. Again. Piper 85Y is expected to return next week from her inspection.
June gloom is here, but it has been burning off by 10 or 10:30 lately -- nice weather abounds otherwise in Corona.
Blue Skies,
- Mike
Monday, June 04, 2007
The return of the 5
Pilots,
After being some weeks without our primary charts (TAC LAX, SEC LAX, TAC SAN, SEC LAS, SEC SFO), the NOAA folks have finally gotten us the shipment. Apologies for those left without direction. :)
I think old sectional charts are neat, this one looks like a Jeppesen Los Angeles
Blue Skies!
- Mike
After being some weeks without our primary charts (TAC LAX, SEC LAX, TAC SAN, SEC LAS, SEC SFO), the NOAA folks have finally gotten us the shipment. Apologies for those left without direction. :)
I think old sectional charts are neat, this one looks like a Jeppesen Los Angeles
Blue Skies!
- Mike
Sunday, June 03, 2007
A fine weekend at the Ranch...
Pilots!
Please join me in congratulating newly-minted U.S. Private Pilot Lisa P.! Lisa earned her wings in Cessna 1ES on Saturday with DPE Tom Hamm.
Nice work, Lisa!
In other news...
Cessna 17J completed her 100hr last week.
Piper 85Y will be down for her 100hr this coming week. We plan to install new-style gear indication lights and make sure everything is running correctly in our complex machine.
Also...
Chevron ran out of fuel this weekend. Apologies to those affected by the logistics.
The ramp is being re-paved on Monday. THIS MEANS ALL AIRCRAFT ARE TO BE OFF OF THE WEST LINE, which includes every tiedown between the office and the hangars (Rose's line), where we normally park. Aircraft are to be parked in transient parking for the duration of the paving operation, plus 2 additional days to allow it to cool/harden/etc. Please be respectful of the airport and don't taxi through fresh blacktop unless we clear it first.
--
Beth and Cristina will be at a Customer Service seminar in Phoenix from Sunday through Wednesday this week. Expect the office to be running a little lean early next week, then expect it to be running full steam on their return. I shudder in advance...
That's all -- decent weather seems to be back in fashion.
Blue Skies!
- Mike
Please join me in congratulating newly-minted U.S. Private Pilot Lisa P.! Lisa earned her wings in Cessna 1ES on Saturday with DPE Tom Hamm.
Nice work, Lisa!
In other news...
Cessna 17J completed her 100hr last week.
Piper 85Y will be down for her 100hr this coming week. We plan to install new-style gear indication lights and make sure everything is running correctly in our complex machine.
Also...
Chevron ran out of fuel this weekend. Apologies to those affected by the logistics.
The ramp is being re-paved on Monday. THIS MEANS ALL AIRCRAFT ARE TO BE OFF OF THE WEST LINE, which includes every tiedown between the office and the hangars (Rose's line), where we normally park. Aircraft are to be parked in transient parking for the duration of the paving operation, plus 2 additional days to allow it to cool/harden/etc. Please be respectful of the airport and don't taxi through fresh blacktop unless we clear it first.
--
Beth and Cristina will be at a Customer Service seminar in Phoenix from Sunday through Wednesday this week. Expect the office to be running a little lean early next week, then expect it to be running full steam on their return. I shudder in advance...
That's all -- decent weather seems to be back in fashion.
Blue Skies!
- Mike
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)