Prez Sez
The Open House and Cavalcade of Airplanes was held on June 5th and June 6th. I hope everyone had an opportunity to come out and see the new planes. This was our biggest event ever; we had two good days of weather, except for a little rain Saturday morning. Mark your calendars for the first weekend of June, June 4th and June 5th 2011, for next year's event! The summer season is here, and the warm weather is upon us. We are planning a number of activities this summer and I hope everyone can participate in one or more. An updated list is at the front desk and the various upcoming activities are listed. Also watch the website for any updates!
Weather is always a concern when flying. Unfortunately, the weather reporters do not have the best of records, and trying to schedule your flights a week in advance is never easy. Even a day in advance the forecast can look bad, but the actual day turns out to be just fine. When they call for thunderstorms, they may be isolated, or limited to a few hours of the day; the rest of the day is beautiful. If you are on the schedule for a two hour training block don't be swayed by a forecast that is less than desirable. Summertime weather changes quickly; especially with fast moving storms.
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 it without breaking the bank. In today's times we see the price of gas fluctuate overnight, and it always seems to go up much faster than it comes down. This has put a damper on everyone's travel, whether it be by land or by air. 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 of you. Keep up the good work, and watch the crosswinds!
There are still things 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 our members a 15% discount on trips over 500NM one way so they can enjoy a flying vacation. We charge by the tach, not by the Hobbes, which saves you money while you are taxiing, doing a run-up, or doing pattern work. Talk with an instructor if you have questions regarding trip planning and use all that knowledge you learned to minimize expenses and maximize excitement.
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 to get a new rating on your license. Helicopter flight 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 to 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!
Training
For everyone who is currently doing flight training, you too can minimize your expense while maximizing the excitement of your flight training. First, be sure that you fully understand what you are going to do in the plane. By that I mean that 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 before the flight to review the maneuver and answer any questions you have about the flight. Students need to consider the time necessary to complete the rating and how to best 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 only fly once a month you are constantly relearning for part of the lesson and it will invariably take longer to complete your rating. This is true, whether it be for sport pilot, 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 factor for the performance capabilities of the 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 often. However, working out of a runway like Clow we should expect some differences from the cool spring days of a few weeks ago. Be sure to complete a weight and balance to ensure you are not over gross, and check your takeoff and landing distance to see that it has not increased significantly. Be careful on takeoff so as to use the complete runway and on landing to be on the ground before midfield. Also review the operating handbook to become familiar with the proper leaning techniques for the aircraft. This will keep the mags from fouling.
Miscellany
If anyone is interested in flying up to the EAA AirVenture Air Show in Oshkosh this year, we can put together a few day trips. Last year I flew up one morning, spent the day at the show, and flew home in the 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 9AM. This would be a good cross country to go on with your instructor!
A & M has a brand new baby on board! Congratulations to our assistant chief flight instructor Keith Brown and his wife Trish on the birth of their daughter Olivia Rai. She was born on Independence Day, July 4th and came in at just over a gallon of 100LL in weight at 7lbs 11oz and 22".
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.
Dinner Flyout is on July 17th to Sheboyan (SBM). Check out all the flyouts and trips.
Happy Flying,
from JIM and the rest of the A & M Aviation Team
and Jet and Turbo
