Prez Sez...
The TFR that occurred over the Memorial Weekend is over and I and happy to say that we had a number of flights both in and out of the airport. The instructors worked with the pilots and it turned out to be a great learning experience for everyone. Although the TFR was onerous, once you saw how it was done it was not difficult, and I feel that everyone that flew over that weekend enjoyed their flight and learned how to work in the system. If you have any questions on flying in or around a TFR, just ask one of the instructors who flew and they will give you the ins and outs for a successful flight.
Flying, like so many other activities, can be considered to be expensive, and like so many other activities 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. We have 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.
There are still things that we can all do to keep the price of flying low. Do you lean the engine when you reach your cruising altitude? This can save a few gallons per 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 500nm one way to help our members so they can enjoy a flying vacation. We charge by the tach, not the Hobbes, which saves you money while you are taxing or doing a run up. It can also be beneficial if you reduce the RPM a little when you fly. This will reduce the tach time with only a slight increase in your trip time. Talk with an instructor if you have questions concerning trip planning and use all that knowledge you learned to minimize expenses and maximize excitement.
For everyone who is currently doing flight training you to 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 any questions you have about the flight. Students need to consider the time necessary to complete the rating and how best to minimize that time. Flying consistently once or twice a week has always shown to result in the lowest total time for a rating. If you fly once a month you are constantly relearning for part of the lesson and invariably it will take longer to complete your rating. This is true whether it be private, instrument or commercial.
Safety Tip
As the weather heats up and we get those hot summer days we need to be aware of the effects of density altitude.Density altitude is a measure of air density, which is used as a determining criteria for the performance capabilities of an aircraft. Since an increase in density altitude will reduce aircraft performance we need to take this into account. As a result of being close to sea level in the Chicago area this is not something we consider very often, however, working out of a short runway like Clow we should expect some differences from those cool spring days of a few weeks ago. Be sure to complete a weight and balance to ensure you are not overweight, and check your takeoff and landing distance to see that it has not increased significantly. Be careful on take off so as to use the complete runway and on landing to be on the ground before midfield. Also review the operating manual to become familiar with the proper leaning techniques for the aircraft. This will keep the mags from fouling.
If anyone is interested in flying up to the Oshkosh Air Show this year we can put together a few day trips. Last year I flew up one morning spent the day and flew home that evening. The air traffic was not bad, and the organization on the ground was great. It was really easy to fly in; I would suggest arriving there before 9:00AM. This would be a good cross-country to go on with your instructor.
Student Pilots: the summer season is upon us and you are all working to do your solo flights and get the requirements for your private licenses completed. This is a big step in your training and requires a lot of things to fall into place at the right time. The biggest variable is the weather. Not only are ceilings and visibility a concern, but we also have to contend with the wind. Although these variables are out of your control you should watch the weather and schedule an airplane when it looks promising. Mornings and late afternoon are sometimes the best time for flying. Work with your instructor on weather prediction, it will speed your training along. On a similar note the Front Desk cannot dispatch an airplane for solo flight unless all the required paper work and endorsements are in place. These include a checkout sheet for the airplane, various endorsements from your instructor for the flight you are taking, and an instructor sign off before the flight. Be sure that you have reviewed the flight with your instructor and have the proper endorsements in your log book. You should also check with the Front Desk to see if your instructor or another instructor will be here to sign you out when you are ready to solo. This is especially important on a busy day when the weather is perfect for flying.
Happy Flying,
from JIM and the rest of the A & M Aviation Team
and Jet and Turbo
