Prez Sez
July and August have been great months. The hot summer weather came early this year, and the lack of rain has made for a dry July. Then August came and things actually got cool at times! The good news is that the flying conditions have been excellent and many of you have taken advantage of the great weather. All the planes were flying these months and it was not uncommon to see the entire flight line devoid of airplanes. We have also been working hard to keep ahead of the maintenance on the aircraft; oil changes, routine maintenance, and 100 hour inspections are all being coordinated with the busy flight schedules of the aircraft. If you have a plane scheduled for a trip or important meeting keep the front desk advised. In that way, we can work the maintenance around the schedule of the airplane. If there is a maintenance issue we will do our best to schedule you in another aircraft.
We have a trip to Mackinac Island scheduled the second weekend in September. Many of us go on this trip each year, and some have decided to depart on Friday, September 11th and stay until Sunday, September 13th. We will be staying at the Lakeview Hotel. If you can spend two nights with us, that would be great. If you can do one night, that would be great too! Hope to see you there!
In November we will be doing a trip down to the Bahamas, and maybe into the Caribbean. We plan to depart Friday, November 6th, and return Sunday, September 15th, with the 16th as a weather contingency. You will need a current passport and will need to sign up for the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS). Additionally, you will need to order a pilot certificate that says "English Proficient" if you haven't already done so. If you haven't gotten your social security number removed from your certificate, you can do both at the same time for free; otherwise, the cost is $2.00.
THE COST OF FLYING
Flying, like so many other activities, can be considered to be expensive and we sometimes forget that there are ways to enjoy flying without breaking the bank. In today's times we see the price of gas fluctuate overnight, and it seems to always go up much faster than it goes down. This has put a damper on everyone's travel, whether it be by air or land. A & M has tried to keep the cost of flying under control. We have been able to keep the cost of insurance down due to our good safety record, which is in part due to each one of you. Keepup the good work, and watch the cross winds!
There are still things that we can all do to keep the price of flying down. Do you lean the engine when you reach your cruising altitude? This can save a few gallons an hour. Do you flight plan for the best altitude for your flight? Flying a few thousand feet higher will use less gas and could present more favorable winds. These little things can help keep the cost of renting down. We offer a 15% discount on trips over 500N one way to help members so they can enjoy a flying vacation. We charge by the tach, not the Hobbes, which saves you money while you are taxiing or doing a runup. Talk with an instructor if you have any questions concerning trip planning and use all your knowledge to minimize expenses and maximize excitement.
For everyone who is currently doing flight training, you too can minimize your expense while maximizing the excitement of flight training.
First, be sure you fully understand what you are going to do in the plane. By that I mean you should be able to go through the maneuvers in your mind. They should make sense to you and you should be up there to practice the maneuver. Take a little extra time with your instructor to review the maneuvers and anyquestions you have about the flight.
Second, students need to consider the time necessary to complete the rating and how best to minimize the time. Flying consistently once or twice a week has always been shown to result in the lowest total time for a rating. If you fly once a month, you are constantly relearningfor part of the lesson and it will invariably take longer to complete your rating. This is true whether it be private, instrument, or commercial.
HELICOPTER RATING
Have you ever thought about flying helicopters? Hovering over a spot to get a better look at something, flying with the doors off and the wind circling around the cabin, or the challenge of getting a new rating on your license? Helicopter flying is not for everyone; you need to be able to use your feet and both hands to control the helicopter and make it do what you want it it do. It is very rewarding, however, for the few that venture into rotorcraft flight. Helicopters are becoming more mainstream these last few years, and you can see them at almost every airport. If you are interested in learning more about helicopters, give us a call! If you know someone who is interested in a career in aviation, let them know that A & M Aviation offers both fixed wing and helicopter training!
SAFETY TIP
Happy Flying,
JIM
Other News
After-Hours Procedures
A LOCK BOX is located next to the front door for aircraft keys when you come back and the office is closed. Leave the book in the plane and place the keys in the lock box.
