Couch-flying the G-1000

Pilots,

After resting and shaking off what was a long and bumpy XC flight from KS, I have some thoughts to share with everyone.

First, some maintenance business:

Cessna 08V has had her radios rewired to combat some static. She has also had about 5 or 6 other squaks repaired

Cessna 04H still has the disco DG. We are going to try a new mechanic's eye on it. We're baffled, quite frankly -- apologies all around.

And then some fun stuff:

After much chatter in the office, it has become known to us that many of our pilot friends are a bit intimidated by the 160 buttons on the Garmin G-1000. Yes, that's a lot, and while it's easy for us to tell you that you don't need that many to fly the thing -- it's better to see it in action.

We have decided to make available to everyone a free copy of the Garmin G1000 Introduction/Training Video. They will be in the office, in the lending library bookcase -- no need to ask us, just grab one. They're in the colorful sleeves, and clearly labelled.

This video is about 45 minutes in length, and does a great job of walking you through both VFR and IFR features of the system. After about 20 minutes, you'll join me in going "oh, that's easy... and quite cool!"

--

Additionally -- those of you flying Cessna 17J - please be aware of the very different starting procedure! The IO-360 engine is great, but the fuel injection can be flooded on the ground very easily, leading to very hard starts. If you did everything correctly by the checklist, it will start in 2 blades. If not, something went wrong. Please use the checklist the first time you start her!

Great weather abounds, finally! Summer is here and its cooler up there!

Blue Skies!

- Mike

Welcome Home!

Hi Gang,

After 6 flight test hours and 16 XC hours, 6017J has found her way home from Kansas.

Cessna Boulevard, Independence KS. Really.

I am pleased to say that my initial fears regarding checkouts were unfounded, and we are going to begin the G1000 checkouts at 2 hours of ground and 2 hours of dual instruction, and work our way down from there if this proves to make competent pilots. even after 16 hours, I don't know everything about this system -- so our strategy is to make you a safe, competent pilot first, and then arm you with enough information to navigate the system second. A "license to learn" all over again, but at your own speed.

Julie on the ramp, Wiley Post Airport, Oklahoma City

The important ground topics are:

VFR instrumentation, and where to find everything now
Basic PFD/MFD navigation
The autopilot ("James")
Emergencies/failure modes

And the important airborne topics are:

Traffic/TIS
Autopilot coupling ("NAV mode")
In-flight weather and database
Helpful features, tips & tricks
Emergencies/failure modes

--

After that, I believe you can all join me in learning this huge and impressive avionics package on your own time, enroute to your own destinations.

In the meantime, here are some random pictures of the return trip for you to roll your eyes at.

Blue Skies,

- Mike

Dalhart, TX

Lovely view. Too bad about the 45kt average headwind.



On the ramp, Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix

Greetings from Independence, KS!

Hello all,

Apologies for the quietude of late - I have been running around Kansas, mobilizing the final pieces of the Cessna acquisition.

Yes, Kansas. Here is the mandatory picture of Joe Dirt to go along with that thought.



I have completed the factory familiarity flight with the G1000, and I am proud to announce that it is very easy, natural, and not difficult, as some of us have feared. I will know more over the next few days, but my initial impression is that a 2 hour ground will be more than enough time to get familiar with all of its features, as well as the 2-axis autopilot, and some of the other nifty things featured. I was able to get a "basic VFR mastery" in 15 minutes, with the remaining bells and whistles becoming familiar in another 30. The rest is for me to twiddle with in flight.

And, in case you're wondering, she's a very sweet flier. Traffic Information is going to revolutionize flying in the Los Angeles Basin -- the G1000 "spots" traffic about 10 miles out for you, and alerts you on the intercom to its location, heading, and altitude change (climbing or descending)

My new list of very cool features about the G1000:

Traffic
Terrain Information
Autopilot Coupling
"one place to look" for everything
Shoulder Harnesses w/Airbags
V-speeds on the airspeed tape
Heading and Altitude Bugs
Auto-identifying VOR receivers (the screen will actually put PDZ next to the frequency!)
Crosswind calculator. It actually computes the crosswind direction and speed and displays an arrow on the screen.
XM Radio weather on-screen overlay. This is amazing. Ever get DUATs maps? Imagine overlaying them on your GPS map. Imagine getting in-flight weather depiction (with lightning, cloud ceilings and tops, rain and nexrad -- everything! all at once)
XM Radio. :)


This is definitely the future of aviation. I cannot wait to share it with everyone.

Blue Skies! (be thankful you are humidity free!)

- Mike

Meet Julie!

Pilots!

It is my pleasure to announce that a new Cessna is born!


Cessna N6017J has arrived, having been created at the Cessna factory, and now waits for us on the ramp in Independence, KS. (KIDP)

Seventeen-Julie is a 2006 Cessna 172SP / Garmin G1000. She is designated by the FAA as a Technically Advanced Aircraft or TAA.

A small list of the features of our new Cessna:

Traffic displayed on the MFD
A pair of 10.4" High-visibility screens, including a PFD which integrates ALL of your flight instruments into one screen
Dual redundant Nav/Comm processors, Dual GPS receivers, Computerized fuel and engine monitoring.
Terrain Data
2-axis Autopilot



...and those are just the doodads in the panel. Additionally, our aircraft will have:

Tinted glass all around
Rosen Visors
Beige Leather Interior
Shoulder harnesses
Shoulder harness-deployed Airbags
XM Radio & Weather information

And probably a ton of interesting and amazing things I haven't even learned yet.

We will be picking her up, if all goes as planned, on Friday, and will be flying her home by the following Tuesday, the 30th.


Fly Corona! has been named as the latest GOLD Status Cessna Pilot Center, and we will be standardizing our curriculum around the King/Cessna training materials for the new aircraft, as well as the existing. The King/Cessna materials are CDROM/DVD based, and are a much more interesting way to absorb the various materials presented in the awesome Jeppesen kits we currently use.

Initial rates will be as follows:

Block: $129.00 per hour (!), Retail: $149.00 per hour.

A 30 minute spin around Lake Matthews will be $79.00
Take her to Catalina for 90 minutes, at $229.00

We will be offering TAA/G1000 Checkouts as follows:

New Pilots on retail rates:

TAA/G1000 Checkout: $649
includes 6 hours of instructor time, and 2 hours of flight time.
includes Max Trescott's definitive work, the G1000 Glass Cockpit Handbook

Existing Renters on block rates: only $549 for the above.

--

She is available for bookings now starting May 30, 2006! Feel free to grab a spot on the schedule to try out this amazing machine.

We will undoubtedly be tuning things as time goes on, and we expect to have a homecoming BBQ on the weekend of June 3rd, to show off "new plane smell" and all of the wonderful features.

More as I know it...!

- Mike

A quick update...

Hello Pilots,

Forgive the tardiness of this, but I need to call attention to some superstars in the FlyC family lately:

Wednesday evening, Cessna 04H screamed through her 100hr in 5 hours (a new record), from 6pm - 11pm. One might think this was some ham-fisted pencil-whipping, but it was far from it! In fact, we were able to accomplish this by using 2 A&Ps, with 2 FlyC line folks, an infusion of in n out hamburgers, and a very loud selection of music.

So, having made this new record, inspecting, cleaning, and repairing all discovered squawks on 04H in very short order, and returning her to the flightline the next morning, I extend a warm Thanks! to:

Scott D, FAA-Certified A&P
Mike A, FAA-Certified A&P
John B, FlyC Volunteer Line
Kevin W, FlyC Student and Volunteer Line

04H's DG puzzles everyone who has looked at it. We have a new one on order. Sorry for the hypnosis, we expect its repair soon!

Cessna 68U's new interior plastics have arrived. These will be installed sometime soon.

Cessna 08V has an inop/intermittent CDI. We will be replacing this shortly with a new unit.

--

Chino airport is having an air show this weekend, but we have not heard word of any TFRs in effect. Pilots, get weather briefings or you may end up dogfighting beautifully restored P-51s and B-17s with your Skyhawk! (hint: your defeat is assured!)

--

Fly Safe,

- Mike

Lower Gas prices? Is that a typo?

We just got word that fuel prices are expected to ease this week. Expect our fuel surcharges to ease along with them. More as I know it.

Also, a quick congratulations to Erik B., who earned his Private Pilot License on Monday morning in Cessna 68U, despite the funk and haze. Congratulations, Erik!

Best,

- Mike

Better weather, mutinous planes...

Hello All,

The skies are getting bluer, the temps are rising. We've had a few interesting squawks lately, and of course, they all happen at once, defying our ability to fix them all promptly.

Cherokee 08F has a new battery installed, and now should start reliably.

Cessna 68U has a repaired right nav light.

Cessna 20U is down until further notice for a wonky copilot door latch, as well as the reattachment of the oil cooler. (since temps are rising) ETA is some time on Wednesday.

Cessna 04H has gone through 2 new Directional Gyros. The DG is not broken, there is an issue with the vacuum plumbing. 04H has full use of the AI, but the DG is currently in "Disco Stu" free-spinning mode. Do NOT allow yourself to be hypnotized by a spinning DG, as it will command you to fly direct to Las Vegas, and bet everything you own on number 4 at roulette!

Cessna 04H will be undergoing 100hr inspection on Wednesday evening. No downtime is expected.

Cessna 08V is behaving just lovely. Thanks 08V! Here's a random action shot in her honor.




Fly Corona! has been approved to acquire a Cessna 172SP/G1000. This is apparently the easy part. We are awaiting insurance quotes for the monster, and if all goes well, we might be 2 weeks away from glass panel goodness. Still some number crunching to go, and some final financial wrangling to derive the correct rental price, but we think we can be highly competitive, as is our fashion. Stay tuned!

I would like to say that the folks at Cessna have been an absolute pleasure to work with. I wish buying a new car was as professional and respectful a dealing. A class act all the way.

Blue Skies!

- Mike

"Quit yer buggin'"

Pilots!

Late spring brings us all manner of fauna and flora - wildflowers, geese returning home, and a huge collection of... bugs!

On a car, bugs are good for peppering windshields, and not much more. Aircraft, though, seem to collect them like magnets, and this can cause a few specific problems:

1. Our leading edges are in need of additional washing. Sorry. :) If you wish to wash planes in the evening for flight time, or know someone who does -- we would be very appreciative. Wed-Fri is ideal. We will be seeking line support for weekday evenings to supplement our weekend wash schedule.

2. Bug-in-the-pitot! This one is actually very serious. Since the pitot tube is an air pressure instrument, working on ram air taken from the forward airstream - it is not uncommon for bugs to be "ingested", literally, by the pitot tube. We can get them as often as 3x a week on the fleet.

Imagine for a second the effects this will have. The failure modes are insidious:

Partial blockage: Your airspeed will read lower than actual. Think your approach speed is "a little fast" ? It might be.

Full blockage: This can happen in flight, causing your airspeed indication to "freeze" at your last speed. Imagine if it freezes at 40mph and you don't notice until your takeoff roll -- will you rotate at 2/3 field, or will you stay on the ground until you see trees? (kinda-correct answer: A)

(correct answer: You noticed the airspeed glitch on your runup and aborted flight)

A generally unreliable or "suspicious" airspeed indicator is dangerous! We rely on the airspeed for many critical operations, many of which are at final or departure.

Remember that the stall warning horn cannot be blocked by a bug and will continue to work. Should you depart with the plane hanging off of its prop and the stall warning horn blaring? NO. But if it goes off at 80mph you can stop and wonder about your airspeed.

If you have any questions regarding proper operation or diagnosis, please ask a flight instructor. Better safe than munching oak trees, and this is one of those interesting scenarios that sparks more theory than fact! :)

Blue Skies!

- Mike

A few things...

Good morning Pilots!

First, sadly, this:

CNO 101553Z 00000KT 2SM HZ CLR 17/13 A2996

is a huge improvement over recent 9am weather. We may be emerging out of this aerial funk which has kept everyone on the ground for the last 2 weeks.

Second, Cessna 20U completed her 100hr inspection last night.

Third, after much hand-wringing and the like, and absent any serious leaseback movement, we are strongly considering a Cessna 172SP for the school. We are working on the numbers, but they look like they would be in the $130-$140/hr ballpark. (depending on insurance -- waiting on that quote now)

The Skyhawk SP would come equipped with a Garmin G1000 panel, which will be different from what we are all used to, but not substantially.


Cases for the SP:

New.
Great performance from 180hp.
Traffic avoidance on the GPS map
The GPS map
2-axis autopilot
Airbags & Shoulder harnesses
Fuel Injected

Cases against:

Appx 2x the cost of the older skyhawks
"It's still just a 172"
Increased fuel burn of 10gph
GPS panel can add 10 hours to training, due to many features
I get to say new and strange things like "You can get your pilot's license in as little as $7,500" (about double the cost of training in a C150)

I'm interested in your thoughts.. is this something interesting to everyone? We need another pair of 172s once the weather improves -- is this too much skyhawk, or something supremely cool that everyone will enjoy?

Blue Skies -- watch out for that haze :)

- Mike

Evil weather and low-vis flying

Weathernistas,

Despite the lack of (much) flying, there are some events lately that are noteworthy.

Cessna 08V is in for an overhaul of her exhaust system. There was a worrisome "popping" noise which we've been chasing for the last two weeks, and which the wizards at Corona Cylinder have identified finally. We will have her down for other repairs today and possibly tomorrow.

Cherokee 08F received her new climb prop this weekend, and now launches off of the numbers! She's quite a treat, posting upwards of 800fpm climb rates. Quite nice! We've done a lot of work on the Cherokee and believe her to be a rock-solid bird now -- give her a whirl if you'd like to try a low-wing.

Cessna 20U will be going in for 100hr this week. Cessna 04H will be following right behind her. Downtime is possible, but we will do our best to minimize. Stay tuned for status on those.

--

Those of you frustrated with 2200' ceilings and 3 miles vis (and I imagine there are quite a few at this point) -- next time you're in the office, take a look at saddleback mountain (which is about 3mi away) and wonder what it's like to not be able to see it while cruising in the air at 2 miles per minute.... not a comfortable thing!

Now imagine trying to spot that other plane converging on you (also at 2 miles per minute) -- are you looking outside for planes at all times? Two planes converging at 120mph in 3 miles vis get exactly 45 seconds to locate, identify, and avoid one another. Yes, it's hard to hit another plane, even on purpose -- but 45 seconds is just not a sufficient margin of safety for us.

Class G airspace minimums are >1 mile< !! Imagine that! You get 15 seconds to see and avoid the other plane, and you can't see the 91 freeway from final approach. No thanks!

Fly safe, and remember.. once the inversion layers are gone, it's going to be replaced with summer heat.... we may be begging for the return of overcast soon enough!

- Mike

We hate cancelling flights, but.. safety first.

I can see!

The end (of low vis and ceilings) is near! :)

CNO 041953Z 23013KT 7SM BKN055 19/11 A2999

Glooooomy weather!

Pilots!

June Gloom has arrived early. We are plagued with poor visibility and very low ceilings in the mornings, burning off only around noontime.

Come to think of it, that's exactly what happened this time last year.

We've heard grumblings from numerous students, who receive our unfortunate calls telling them we'll be cancelling their flight... again. Take heart! The gloom is usually only here for a week or so, and following it is almost always clear blue skies all day long.

Pilots wanting something to do with their newfound free time can certainly request some ground instruction with their instructor. We also stock MS Flight Simulator if you're interested in a little armchair pilotage ($30, check with the office :) )

===

Some other news -- we have completed our bookkeeping, and have finalized new pricing for 2006, which will go into effect Wednesday, May 3. We have been able to hold down prices for the last 13 months, and now we must adjust to our increasing costs.

Generally, prices will be increased only $5 per hour across the board at the block rate level, with the exception of the Cessna 150s, which remain at $49/hr wet. After discussions with various fuel providers, we have decided not to roll the current fuel surcharges into these new prices, since there may be some relief in sight in the near future. (and like taxes, price hikes are impossible to get rid of once implemented). Prices will still be set at the optimistic $3.00/gallon AvGas price, which we hope to return to soon. Fuel surcharges will still apply, at our cost, to fuel prices over this target.

Retail rates will be raised an additional $5 per hour.

Since nobody likes surprises, least of all pilots, we have adopted the following grandfathering policy to ease the transition for our existing students:

Students or renters who are currently on block rates, and who have greater than $1,000 on account with us at any point before Sunday, May 8 - will be grandfathered at the old block/package rates until June 15th. After June 15th, no grandfathered rates will be used.

Retail renters and those with only a few flights remaining will use the new rates, unless they are to raise their account above $1,000 before the 8th. In essence, we are offering pilots one week to purchase a block of time at the old rates, before we effect the transition to the new.

I welcome your comments on this policy -- you may email me at mike@flycorona.com with any questions or concerns.

We believe this "no surprises" grandfathering policy to be the most equitable solution to our existing students, and we will continue to represent the best priced, most fun aviating in the southland.

Blue Skies,

- Mike