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American Flyers • Santa Monica Municipal Airport • 2501 Airport Avenue • Santa Monica, CA 90405 • 310-390-2099 |
Destinations…
Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains has been called "mountains of fun". When it comes to recreation, there is just about anything you could want todo… World class skiing and snowboarding, power boating and jet skiing, trout fishing, golfing, biking, hiking, shopping and dining.
Big Bear Lake is considered California's only four season resort and is the perfect getaway for a flying family. In addition to the many outdoor activities, you'll find events scheduled throughout the year, including Old Miner's Days complete with chili cook-off and parade, Octoberfest celebration, performing arts at the 338-seat Performing Arts Center and events at the Big Bear Zoo.
The best part is that you can fly right into the heart of Big Bear City and maybe even share the sky with an American bald eagle! For more information 1-800-4 BIG BEAR.
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Interview with a New Pilot… Kristopher Lythgoe Reveals His Dreams
Why did you decide to become a pilot? Do you know any pilots who influenced your decision?
I decided to become a pilot because I was so bad at golf. I wanted some time away from work and speaking to a friend she suggested I followed in her foot steps and learn to fly. She had only recently passed [her checkride] and said once you are up there it is so peaceful and there will definitely be no time to think about work. She influenced me to call American Flyers, Santa Monica and book an introductory flight. I was hooked.
What do you plan to do with your new license?
I will use it from time to time, but I want to continue to get my IFR. Vegas is the obvious spot, followed by Cabo! My father owns a vineyard in Paso Robles, the finest wine region in California, so I will be flying there too. Not too much though, not until I am instrument rated.
Do you have any secret dreams to accomplish?
I would love to go back to London (yes another Brit) pick up some friends and fly them to the south of France for the weekend. I have not told them I have passed, so I'll surprise them from the cockpit! |
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| Keith Ovitt Has His Intentions Set on His Dream
Imagine landing your airplane gently onto the glassy water of a lake, taxiing up to your dock, tying the dock lines, grabbing your overnight bag and walking the short distance to your front door. Keith Ovitt has wanted to fly a seaplane for a long time. To tie it up at the dock in front of his lake house is the caveat.
Keith has taken a two-week break from his flight training schedule to go to the Glasair Aviation factory in Arlington, Washington where he is building his airplane, the Glasair Sportsman 2+2, a single-engine, 4-seat airplane similar to a C-182. After the airplane is complete, Keith will have to fulfill the FAA requirements for airworthiness certification.
The Ovitt family includes 16 year old Keegan, 19 year old Kalie and wife Vicki. The kids enjoy bringing their friends to the lake house for boating, skiing and general hanging out. Vicki and Keith enjoy entertaining and relaxing. The new airplane will bring an exciting element to their experience this summer. |
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It takes someone with a vision of the possibilities to attain new levels of experience. Someone with the courage to live his dreams.
Les Brown |
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Did You Know…
Harriet Quimby became the first licensed woman aviator in the United States on August 11, 1911. On April 16, 1912 she became the first woman to fly across the English Channel in a monoplane she borrowed from Louis Bleriot.
Quimby, a journalist and screenwriter, attended the Belmont Park International Aviation Tournament on Long Island and met John Moisant and his sister, Matilde. Quimby convinced John's brother Alfred to teach her to fly. Matilde became the second woman to earn a U.S. Pilot license shortly after. Quimby designed a purple satin flight suit she wore whenever she flew.
Credits - © 2002 National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution (SI Neg. 87-9386)
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What You Need to Know About Weather Forecasts
Q: Why did the woman go outdoors with her purse open?
A: Because she expected some change in the weather.
Though we can be sure there will be change in the weather, it's the "when, where, and how" that we leave up to the professionals. Even then, the accuracy of a meteorological forecast wanes as the range of the forecast lengthens. Constantly changing weather necessitates meteorologists constantly updating their forecasts, and since you probably can't be ,on the phone with FSS or online with DUATS constantly we have some knowledge tools to help you beat the odds at gauging the weather.
While forecasts of GOOD weather are likely to be correct for up to twelve hours, a forecast of BAD weather is NOT likely to be correct for the same period of time. Ceiling and visibility forecasts are not reliable beyond two to three hours. In other words, a twelve hour forecast of good weather has a reliability factor of about 80 percent, whereas a twelve hour forecast of bad weather is only about 50 percent reliable.
In cases where distinct weather systems are involved, such as fronts, precipitation, etc., there is a tendency to forecast too little bad weather.
Errors in forecasting the time of a specific weather occurrence are more prevalent than errors in forecasting the occurrence itself.
Some high reliability forecasts, that are usually about 75 percent correct are:
- Passage of fast moving cold fronts within plus or minus two hours
- Passage of slow moving warm fronts within plus or minus five hours
- Rapidly lowering ceilings in pre-warm front conditions are accurate to within plus or minus 200 feet, to within a time accuracy of plus or minus four hours
- In areas where radar is available, the forecast of thunderstorms is accurate to within one to two hours.
Some very low reliability forecasts are:
- Location of severe turbulence
- The location and occurrence of heavy icing
- The location and occurrence of tornados
- Ceilings of 100 feet or less
- Thunderstorms before they are formed.
Whether you are planning a cross country flight or a BBQ in your back yard, these tips will help you better prepare for the surprises that often accompany the daily weather. |
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Two Thumbs Up
At airports where departure procedures are standard, there is a good rule of thumb to follow as to how high to climb after takeoff before making any turns. The circle-to-land MDA for any runway will provide at least 300 feet of obstacle clearance for a distance of 1.3 nautical miles from the end of the specified runway for category A aircraft. If the pilot climbs to this altitude before proceeding on course, he will be safe. |
Laugh Out Loud…
For months after California's Northridge earthquake of 1994, aftershocks rocked the San Fernando Valley and Van Nuys Airport. One morning about three weeks after the initial quake there was a particularly sharp aftershock.
Moments later on Van Nuys' ground control frequency: "Uh, four-three-kilo would like to file a pilot report for moderate turbulence on the east taxiway…"
Http://www.aviation-humor.com/cms/view.php?id=76 |
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"BOB'S ROBIN" …was a P-40E of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group. It was flown by Captain Bob Vaught, who became an ace in 1942-43 while battling the Japanese over Darwin. The P-40 was the mount of the famed Flying Tigers, and was America's premier fighter at the beginning of World War II. While not the best fighter of World War II, it was prolific and reliable. It served on all fronts, in all theaters, from the beginning of the war until the end. It was flown by virtually all of the allied air forces. World-renowned aviation artist, Lou Drendel, created the "Flyers Series" of paintings for American Flyers celebrating famous aviators and famous aircraft. To see more of Mr. Drendel's series, visit theAmerican Flyers Art Gallery in our online Library at http://www.americanflyers.net/ aviationlibrary/libraryp2.htm#. |
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How to Clear a Fouled Spark Plug
By Rick Freidinger, Director of Maintenance
A rough drop on one mag can be caused by many things, but one of the most common is a fouled spark plug. To avoid missing a flight because of a rough mag drop I recommend that you try the following procedure to clear up a fouled plug. Warm the engine up until your oil temperature is in the green. With your brakes set and holding, run your engine up to approximately 2000 RPM, then slowly lean your mixture until the engine starts to run rough, increase the mixture until the engine just smoothes out. Run the engine at this setting for about one minute. Return your mixture to full rich and reduce your RPM to 1700 RPM and recheck your mags. If your drop is normal go out and enjoy your flight. If you still have a bad drop you can try this procedure one more time, but if that doesn't fix the problems it is best to contact your mechanic and let him check things out. |
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Proposed Rule Change
By David Menconi, Chief Flight Instructor
The FAA has released a proposed rule change that will make a couple significant changes to Part 61, which is the regulation that deals with the certification of pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors. Some key changes deal with:
- Establishing procedures that will allow the use of night vision goggles
- Revise duration of student pilot certificate to correspond with 3rd Class medical (36 mos. for students under 40).
- Establishing procedures that will remove the expiration date on Flight Instructor Certificates. Rule still requires renewal every 2 years but will be documented by logbook endorsement much like the current Flight Review.
- Increases the requirements for Instrument rating recent experience by requiring:
- Both precision and non-precision approaches.
- Holds at various types of fixes
- Reestablishes minimum amounts of Instrument flight time.
- Establishes different requirements if the recent experience is acquired solely in a flight simulation device or with a combination of aircraft and simulator. – Adds a requirement of wearing a view limiting device (hood, foggles, etc.) when logging instrument training or instrument flight time in the aircraft or flight simulation device.
The complete proposed rule change can be viewed at: http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=450179& docketid=26661.
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Words of Wisdom…
Both optimists and pessimists contribute to the society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.
– George Bernard Shaw Source: http://www.skygod.com
Every year aircraft manufacturers try to add something to their latest models. If they can't add it to the instrument rack, the speed, the handling, or the load carrying capacity, they do the next best thing… they add a bit to the price! Any attempt to stretch fuel is guaranteed to increase headwinds.
Source: http://www.aviationhumor.com/cms/view.php?id=84 |
Calendar
Ground Schools & Events
| Private |
May 4 |
Jun 1 |
Jul 6 |
| Instrument |
May 25 |
Jun 22 |
Jul 27 |
| Commercial |
May 11 |
Jun 8 |
Jul 13 |
| CFI Revalidation |
May 19 |
Jun 16 |
Jul 21 |
| CFIA & FOI |
May 25 |
Jun 22 |
Jul 27 |
| CFII |
May 12 |
Jun 9 |
Jul 14 |
| ATP |
May 5 |
Jun 2 |
Jul 7 |
| BBQ/Seminar |
May 5 |
Jun 2 |
Jul 7 |
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“You’re Invited … ” |
Written Classes
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Free BBQ & Seminar
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IntroFlight
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Congratulations Ericka Allenbach, Josef O'Conner, Ron Jenner, Amanda Gross, Steven Linke, Taylor Nesbitt, Michael Reymann & Bobby Kilgore on Completing Your Private Written Class
Congratulations Garry Hanafin, Dominic Bronell, Doyle Edson, Geoffrey Eix, Peter McDaniel, Matt Espiau, Victoria Romer, Bradley Madeira, Dick Tak, Chelsea Welch, Todd Dunning, David Schwartz, Tom Sutfin, Chris Fessenden & Tom Marvolo Riddle on Completing Your Instrument Written Class
How About You?
If you are about to tackle your Private or Instrument written there isn’t a better, more enjoyable and guaranteed class available. Plus the class includes two free hours of simulator! |
“Great Food and Fantastic Seminar”
If you haven’t heard yet, there’s a gathering of Santa Monica area pilots once a month in our hangar. Free food, hangar flying and informative seminar. You and your friends are invited. No cost or obligation to attend.
- Next Scheduled BBQ’s
- Saturday, May 5th
- Saturday, June 2nd
- Saturday, July 7th
“Bring a Friend” |
Get Involved… Introduce Friends to Flying
Sandra Mulligan, a Commercial/ Instrument client, wanted to introduce his neighbor, April Burke, to flying. Sandra brought April to American Flyers for an “IntroFlight” as well as the two hours of free simulator. They both took advantage of our free lunch / seminar and enjoyed a great day at the Airport.
How About You?
If you have a friend or acquaintance who might be interested…send them in or better yet, bring them! Plus the IntroFlight includes two free hours of simulator!
IntroFlight:
$99.00
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| COURSE |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
FEE |
| Private Written |
4 |
1 |
6 |
$295* |
| Instrument Written |
25 |
22 |
27 |
$295* |
| Commercial Written |
11 |
8 |
13 |
$295* |
| *Exam fee and manuals not included |
| 310-390-2099 |
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Click here for a more detailed map |
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FREE Simulator … you can enjoy two hours of VFR or IFR simulator instruction, free, by attending either one of our weekend classes or taking an “IntroFlight”.
310-390-2099
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To subscribe to the newsletter please call Katharina at 800-323-0808, email kat@af.tv or to sign up online click here |
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