More pilots, and an update:

Pilots,

Please join me in congratulating New U.S. Instrument Pilot Michael Booth, who earned his blindfold yesterday with DPE Ken Earl in Cessna 25R. This is the RG's first checkride with us.

Nice work, Michael!





Cessna 17J has completed her Annual.

Cessna 68U has completed her 100hr.

Piper 85Y is having her fuel system on the left engine scrutinized.

Cessna 04H will likely go down for 100hr tonight.

Cessna 25R will likely go down for 100hr early next week.

Whew.




Blue Skies,

- Mike

New pilots, and wicked planes..

Pilots,

Please join me in congratulating new U.S. Private Pilot Tony G., who got his wings yesterday with DPE Ken Earl in Cessna 1ES. Under stormy clouds, Tony sailed to victory -- nice work, Tony!



Our planes have all aligned their 100hr inspection schedules again... with 4 of them coming due in the next 15 flight hours. We had hoped to keep 20U at a leisurely pace and do some thorough work, but it looks like we'll be in a scramble instead.

Cessna 630 still has 90 hours or so, and now has a new pitot-static certification.

Cessna 68U has already begun her 100hr early.

Cessna 20U plods onward through a tough 100hr.

Cessna 04H will likely be down next week for her 100hr. In the meantime are working on some radio troubles.

Cessna 1ES was just signed off -- whew. However, we are having starter troubles again. Look for some interesting downtime.

Cessna 17J will be put in for early annual on Tuesday.

Cessna 25R is likely due at the end of next week.

Piper 85Y just completed her annual. She is in for investigation of some badly foulled plugs.

Apologies if it seems like we're juggling these schedules all around. It's going to be a bumpy ride for a bit.



Two separate scalawags took our primary and backup restroom keys and pocketed them. If you have one of these, PLEASE bring them back, as you have inconvenienced a number of students, and we are all making faces at you. We are considering chaining the key to a bowling ball or something similarly inconvenient.

==

If you are interested in flying a little plane to Osh Kosh this year, and would like to split fuel and expenses, please get in touch or drop me a line. We are considering taking my V-tail and 85Y up to Wisconsin this year. No, wiseguys, I won't be taking the 150 back up :)



Now that Cessna 630 is here, we are considering retiring Cessnas 68U and 20U in the next year or two, and to replace them with another 172M or P (like 04H). Thoughts? While 68U is still as simple and rugged as a buick, 20U is starting to show signs of strain, and we're making some major investments in her -- but at some point she will just do better being in one pilot's loving care, instead of teaching landings to a few dozen folks a week.

Good weather is coming soon. I can't wait.

Blue Skies,

- Mike

NO TAMs for you!

Pilots,

There may be a notice at your destination airport about the parade floats on the runway, or the aerial gunnery practice being done from the run-up. Maybe even a NOTAM that they are practicing fire-fighting with large aerial drops of kool-aid. But nobody knows about it right now, and nobody can warn you of this situation. See below:

"About midnight last night, the FAA Notam system crashed," AOPA's Chris Dancy told AVweb early on Friday morning. "Pilots need to know that the system is not being updated, and we don't know at this point how long it will be before it is back on line." Flight service briefers at Lockheed Martin are advising pilots who call for briefings that Notams are not available, Dancy said. The AFSS Web site is also carrying an alert at www.afss.com The system failure affects security TFRs as well as safety-of-flight notices.



So what is a pilot to do? Well, short of paying a visit to FSDO and reviewing the written NOTAMs, your best bet is going to be to lean on local knowledge. For airports, give FBOs or Airport Managers a call (as found in the AF/D or airnav.com), for enroute NOTAMs, the ATC folks will know about the important ones (ie the Disneyland TFR). Feel free to query them, even if you are not receiving services like flight following. For the rest, well, common sense prevails. If there was a skydiving operation last week at Elsinore/Skylark, chances are good this week there will be too.





Be vigilant out there, since a lot of us are flying just a little less informed than we're used to.

Blue Skies, (what? well, okay not at the moment...)

- Mike

Tuesday...

Pilots,

As promised, some better pictures of our new 150. Nick also got a little artsy and added a California Palm tree pose. Nice work, Nick. I can almost smell the latte' and a screenplay deal in this pic.



==

We've been asked a lot about the eyesore trailer next to our office. It's not our doing, it's that of our landlord and the airport manager. They plan to add 24-hour security (which I think is a decent thing), but have done so in the trashiest way possible. (which we all loathe)

We've already lodged a formal complaint, since we believe it makes the airport seem skeezy, and it definitely makes our business appear low-rent. If you agree with these ideas, please please get in touch with the airport manager, Rich Brodeur, and let him know your thoughts. Rich is reachable at richard.brodeur@ci.corona.ca.us or via phone at 951-736-2289.



==

Cessna 20U is down for a thorough 100hr.

Cessna 1ES is down for a normal 100hr.

Cessna 25R is due soon.




For some of our longtime pilots, we have been finding outdated contact information. Next time you're in the office, please take a look at the information we have on file to make sure we can get in touch. You might actually want to know that we've upgraded your flight, or have a Ferry opportunity for ya.

==

Blue Skies,

- Mike

Made it.

Whew. New pictures of Cessna 630 are forthcoming -- I notice the one we have is not too flattering.



For now, however, some sleep.

Blue Skies,

- Mike

I'd like to buy a vowel...

Pilots,

We have secured a Cessna 150. At last. And she's fun!

Please meet Cessna 11630, a Cessna 150L, decked out with a KX155 digital radio (same as 1ES) and on her way to Corona. Cessna 630 will be available for rental at $59/hr.



Cessna 630 joins us from Mineral Point, WI (KMRJ) -- and when I asked the CFIs if they would like to ferry a 95kt plane back, the laughter was simply indescribable in both its volume and derision -- So I'm doing this flight personally.

We're already at Roswell, NM (KROW) via KMRJ-KLWD-KMPR-KDUX-KROW -- with a top groundspeed of 117kt, and a low of 66kt (ouch), the winds are odd today, but generally favorable. With luck and only modest headwinds, she might just make it for Monday bookings.



Some interesting facts so far:

Typical cruise speed MIAS: 110-115mph @ 6500'
Typical fuel burn: 6.1 gph
NM so far: 887nm
NM to go: 652nm
Flight time: 8.3 hours
Fuel used: 50.9 gallons
Total travel time: departed KMRJ 9:30am CST, arrived KROW 9:30pm MST (11 hours)
Total aircraft sighted on trip so far: 1, near Dubuque, IA.
States overflown: WI, IA, MS, KS, NE, OK, TX, NM
Last state where I had feeling in my butt: IA

==

Blue Skies!

- Mike
(from Roswell, NM)

Calm seas

Pilots,

Just not a lot to report around the ranch lately. Here are a few things I know:

Cessnas 04H, 17J, and 25R completed their pitot-static and transponder checks.

Cessna 04H has had some avionics repair work done.

Cessna 68U has had some transponder repair work done.

Cessna 20U is down for 100hr inspection.



June gloom is approaching. Overcast skies and haze will be the norm this summer. Early-AM pilots, be prepared for scrubbed flights. Typical burn-off is 10am or so, but it varies a lot.

==

As summer approaches, it is common for us to accept linemen to help wash and fuel planes, and basically do all manner of grubby jobs. If you know someone interested in doing these chores for flight time, let the office know!



That's all that I know of. :)

Blue Skies,

- Mike