Prez Sez
If you are more adventurous and would like to get away to the warm waters of the Bahamas, our Bahamas Trip in November is for you! We plan to depart Thursday, November 5th, and return Saturday, September 14th, with the 15th as a weather contingency. We'll clear customs at New Bight (MYNB) and then head off to Hawks Nest for a night. From there, we'll do a short flight to Staniel Cay in the Exumas, where we'll spend a couple nights at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club . Pittstown Point on Crooked Island, Andros Island, and Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos are potential destinations after that. All of these spots offer many activities like snorkeling, SCUBA, fishing, boating, great beaches, and good food. The complete itinerary has not been finalized yet, but we have five aircraft booked already. If you are interested, let us know. If you would like to share a ride with someone, we can put you in touch with others wanting to do the same. Our last trip was lots of fun and we hope you can join us this year. You will need a current passport and the pilot will need to sign up for the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS). (Note that your password must start with a digit.) 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.
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 flight can be a little more difficult; 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. A fixed wing pilot starts with an advantage since a lot of the areas are similar, like navigation, airspace, flight rules, systems, and aeromedical factors. It may not be as difficult as you think. 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!
COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS
It was just the last newsletter when we were talking about warm weather, and now the mornings are cold, and we need to think about cold weather starting procedures. Those procedures include pre-heating if the temperature is below 20 degrees F. Follow the checklist, and ask an instructor if you need help. If the plane does not start after five turns of the prop, you need to re-evaluate the starting sequence. If the window has ice or frost on it, do not use any kind of scraper. Use only a cloth towel. The windows are plastic, and will scratch easily. It only takes 10 minutes to pre-heat an aircraft; when in doubt, pre-heat.
SAFETY TIP
It is often said that the flight is not complete until the aircraft is tied down. This is especially true when it comes to accidents that happen on the ground. Too often a pilot has a long, trying flight, makes his landing, and feels that the flight is done. It is at this point that complacency take hold and an incident occurs. We must be alert and ready for all parts of the flight, including taxi. Do not let your guard down just because you have landed safely. The other culprit that waits in the shadows is one of always being in a hurry. When you are in a hurry you will make mistakes, sometimes small and sometimes correctable, but in the long run they will catch up to you. Flying has no tolerance for mistakes; it is very unforgiving. Take your time pre-flighting, taxiing, doing the run-up, and ensure that you are not rushed into making a mistake. The instructors, maintenance, line and office personnel have been instructed to watch for pilots that taxi too fast, slam on the brakes to make the first rturn-off, and in general show a hurried attitude. Safety is our number one concern!
GIFT CERTIFICATES
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.
