When I was training for my flight instructor certificate at ATP Las Vegas, there was some talk about the changes they would be dealing with after the first of the year. Basically, the local Flight Standards District Office had notified ATP that as of January 1st, they were reserving the right to require any initial CFI candidate to take their… Read more →
Stingy?
Few things make me truly angry, but this one comes close. In the wake of the rising death toll from the Asian tsunami (currently 60,000 80,000 dead and still counting), United Nations emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland has implied that the United States is cheap because our initial federal aid package is only $35 million. With all due respect to… Read more →
Happy Festivus!
Hey, if a random professor can invent a holiday (Kwanzaa), why not Jerry Stiller? Many real people are holding parties celebrating Festivus, a holiday most believe was invented on an episode of “Seinfeld” first broadcast the week before Christmas in 1997. “More and more people are familiar with what Festivus is, and it’s growing,” said Jennifer Galdes, a Chicago restaurant… Read more →
Slow-motion helicopter main rotor video
I received an email today from an aeronautical engineering instructor which reminded me that I promised a while back to post a very interesting helicopter video clip. So here it is. I found the clip on Fergworld, which also has a translation for the German narration you’ll hear on the video: The rotortips absorb the turbulence with their flexibility. This… Read more →
ATP Total CFI Program Day 14
Put a fork in me. I’m done! Today’s checkride went very well. I was up at 5:30 and at the airport by 7:00 a.m. By 10 a.m. I had the new temporary airman certificate in my pocket and had said my goodbyes to the ATP staff as I headed out the door. So much work. And all for a little… Read more →
The Aviator
A&E aired an fascinating documentary about Howard Hughes today. Well, it was half documentary. The other half seemed to be a combination preview and advertisement for the latest Martin Scorcese film, The Aviator. The program interspersed clips of the real Hughes with commentary from the cast and excerpts from the motion picture. It’s obvious that the cast did their research,… Read more →
ATP Total CFI Program Day 13
The end is in sight! Tomorrow is the final checkride. In fact, 24 hours from now I should be back in Orange County. You know, these two weeks have flown by (no pun intended). And yet in many ways I feel as thought I’ve been in Las Vegas for months. The program started with such a bang, and yet seems… Read more →
ATP Total CFI Program Day 12
Not much to report on day twelve. Only made one flight today, and it went fine. I was having a bit of trouble remembering the commercial maneuvers since I haven’t done them since… well, since I got my commercial certificate circa 9/11/01, but the cobwebs are slowly clearing. You know, I’m starting to think that Lazy Eights are the non-aerobatic… Read more →
ATP Total CFI Program Day 11
I’m sitting in the ATP office and the place is empty. Just a week ago, the scheduling board was so full you almost couldn’t see any white space on it. Now there’s just a few flights left. Some of those flights are mine, and that’s why I’m still here. All but one other member of my class has finished the… Read more →
ATP Total CFI Program Day 10
Wouldn’t you know it? Just when I was getting used to the 5:00 a.m. flights, they’re over. I took my multi-engine instrument instructor checkride this morning. And passed, thank you very much. In fact, everyone in my class has passed every test so far. Three of us took MEII checkrides this morning. As I recall, Casey departed at 1:00 a.m.,… Read more →