tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2748877844308218372024-02-19T07:47:38.984-08:00Sky Blogby Sue Ballew - Certified Flight InstructorSkytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-524069668892499772013-10-09T09:27:00.000-07:002013-10-09T09:30:22.450-07:00Pakistan's only female fighter pilotPakistan's only female fighter pilot becomes role model for millions of girls.<br />
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If border sniping should ever descend into all-out war between India and Pakistan, Ayesha Farooq will be one of the first pilots into the air. <br />
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<img alt="Ayesha Farooq, 26, Pakistan's only female war-ready fighter pilot" height="124" itemprop="image" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02658/Ayesha-Farooq_2658627b.jpg" width="200" /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="caption">Ayesha Farooq completed her training to become Pakistan's first war-ready female fighter pilot, flying the F7-PG, a Chinese version of the MiG 21 jet</span> <span class="credit">Photo: REUTERS</span></span><br />
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<span class="credit"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rob-crilly/" rel="author" title="Rob Crilly"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Rob Crilly</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, Islamabad</span><br />
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<span class="credit">She has already made history by becoming the first woman assigned to one of Pakistan's front line dogfighting squadrons. Now at the age of 26 Flight Lieutenant Farooq says she is ready for the ultimate test. <br />
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<span class="credit">"If war breaks out, I will be flying on my senior's wing as his wingman, well, wingwoman," she said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph at the headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force in Islamabad. </span><br />
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<span class="credit"><strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india">India </a></strong>and <strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan">Pakistan</a></strong> remain locked in a stand-off over the disputed territory of Kashmir. It has twice since partition been the cause of all-out wars and the dispute is flaring once again. Both sides have claimed they have been attacked with artillery and small arms. Last month, India accused Pakistani forces of killing five of its soldiers, stoking anger among Hindu nationalists of the BJP, although the killings were denied by Islamabad <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/10279119/Pakistans-only-female-fighter-pilot-becomes-role-model-for-millions-of-girls.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span></div>
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</span>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-5214831494365674882013-10-09T09:14:00.001-07:002013-10-09T09:20:13.320-07:00Rosie the Riveter<h1 class="storyhead" itemprop="headline">
At 93, this Rosie is still riveting</h1>
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<a class="gallery" href="http://www.latimes.com/la-me-c1-rosie-riveter-pictures,0,4871683.photogallery"><img class="feature-image" height="134" itemprop="image" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-52387e16/turbine/la-me-c1-rosie-riveter-pictures-011/980" width="200" /></a> Elinor Otto, 93, in the living room of her home in Long Beach. If she were younger, she jokes, she would look at herself now and wonder, "What's that old bag still doing here?" (Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times)</div>
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Elinor Otto picked up a riveting gun in World War II, joining the wave of women taking what had been men's jobs. These days she's building the C-17. <!-- Byline, photos --> </div>
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<a href="mailto:samantha.schaefer@latimes.com?subject=Rosie the Riveter"><span style="font-size: small;">By Samantha Schaefer</span></a></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sept. 18, 2013</span></h3>
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<span class="firstLetter">E</span>linor Otto braces her slight frame and grips the riveting gun with both hands, her bright red hair and flowered sweater a blossom of color in Long Beach's clanking <a class="runtimeTopic" data-topic-id="ORCRP017215" href="http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-c1-rosie-riveter-20130918-dto,0,850841.htmlstory#">Boeing</a> C-17 plant.</div>
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<em>Boom, boom, boom.</em><br />
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She leans back as the gun's hammer quickly smacks the fasteners into place. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-c1-rosie-riveter-20130918-dto,0,850841.htmlstory" target="_blank">Read more...</a> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rosie on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CQ0M0wx00s&noredirect=1" target="_blank">YouTube</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-69565014918358320492013-09-11T09:22:00.001-07:002013-09-11T09:22:12.333-07:00Giant Concrete Arrows<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Giant Concrete Arrows...</span></div>
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This Really Exists:</div>
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Giant Concrete Arrows That</div>
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Point Your Way Across America...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ke5rHJRxs131m2Qp2_HEFw3B3JTuOLG2U_uUfCitBqeHuvee52CmGaXStJGiuvoysBPd3Ht2Y39Y5KRjge74KX75S90cJyMfqs1C6xJw0kqJXOMhV22vTKtiOsaumWd1GaxQOlctBdA/s1600/Giant+Concrete+Arrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ke5rHJRxs131m2Qp2_HEFw3B3JTuOLG2U_uUfCitBqeHuvee52CmGaXStJGiuvoysBPd3Ht2Y39Y5KRjge74KX75S90cJyMfqs1C6xJw0kqJXOMhV22vTKtiOsaumWd1GaxQOlctBdA/s320/Giant+Concrete+Arrows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every so often, usually in the vast deserts of the American Southwest,</div>
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a hiker or a backpacker will run across something puzzling:</div>
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a large concrete arrow, as much as seventy feet in length,</div>
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sitting in the middle of scrub-covered nowhere. <a href="http://www.skytrekker.net/uploads/Giant_Concrete_Arrows.pdf" target="_blank">Read more...</a></div>
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Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-13876255161371739322013-08-05T11:11:00.003-07:002013-08-12T07:36:53.159-07:00Low and Slow - Asiana Airlines Flight 214<strong>This is one of the first and most important things you learn in flight training when learning to land - don't get low and slow!</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcQlcCM6HPfMcxd09ShDClyzuR0ovsY37jx9PDxxKTcej1Wb1sEImUl78bcSdjT77s0MfEb35c393Mg5yUA55o5YMgczwxyCKCxyNw_vnlhi93dZPz7Y6X0sA3jVlKbA0LTbHe9IKHH8/s1600/Asian+214+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcQlcCM6HPfMcxd09ShDClyzuR0ovsY37jx9PDxxKTcej1Wb1sEImUl78bcSdjT77s0MfEb35c393Mg5yUA55o5YMgczwxyCKCxyNw_vnlhi93dZPz7Y6X0sA3jVlKbA0LTbHe9IKHH8/s200/Asian+214+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>Asiana Airlines Flight 214</b> was a scheduled transpacific passenger flight from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon" title="Incheon">Incheon</a>, South Korea, that crashed on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_approach_(aviation)" title="Final approach (aviation)">final approach</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport" title="San Francisco International Airport">San Francisco International Airport</a> in the United States on July 6, 2013. Of the 307 people aboard the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777-200ER" title="Boeing 777-200ER">Boeing 777</a>, two passengers died at the crash scene (one from being run over by an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_crash_tender" title="Airport crash tender">airport crash tender</a>), and a third died in a hospital several days later. One hundred and eighty-one others were injured, 12 of them critically. Among the injured were three flight attendants who were thrown onto the runway while still strapped in their seats when the tail section broke off after striking the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawall" title="Seawall">seawall</a> short of the runway.<br />
Neither the U.S. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Transportation_Safety_Board" title="National Transportation Safety Board">National Transportation Safety Board</a> (NTSB) nor the South Korean <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_and_Railway_Accident_Investigation_Board" title="Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board">Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board</a> has issued a preliminary report; both have held multiple press briefings to provide facts.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiana_Airlines_Flight_214" target="_blank">Read more...</a><br />
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Video: Animated reconstruction of Asiana Flight 214<br />
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10179596/Animated-reconstruction-of-Asiana-flight-214-crash-at-San-Francisco-Airport.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10179596/Animated-reconstruction-of-Asiana-flight-214-crash-at-San-Francisco-Airport.html</a><br />
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Be sure to view this:<br />
<a href="http://lists.kjsl.com/pipermail/beech-owners/attachments/20130719/7a1b0737/attachment-0001.gif" target="_blank">New Runway Approach Lights at SFO</a>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-8862696488734273852013-08-05T10:52:00.004-07:002013-08-05T11:17:38.899-07:00Amelia Earhart namesake to re-create famed pilot's final flight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjb3Lf_15DQ5M0nhJDdBP12vUtK_LOz1jLu923zsLfpqsXblFE7llgFBoORuoQ1yg_0WB6TqQCvHx2U3DQz4vRrl__8I2nlW5dHEPOpmpSDyKVWrtLhdD40dmLlLDAPlwNGkYb0IN-2iw/s1600/Amelia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjb3Lf_15DQ5M0nhJDdBP12vUtK_LOz1jLu923zsLfpqsXblFE7llgFBoORuoQ1yg_0WB6TqQCvHx2U3DQz4vRrl__8I2nlW5dHEPOpmpSDyKVWrtLhdD40dmLlLDAPlwNGkYb0IN-2iw/s200/Amelia.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Amelia Rose Earhart</strong>, a namesake and distant relative of the famed aviator plans to re-create Earhart's attempted flight around the world next summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earhart, an anchor for KUSA-TV in Denver, made the announcement Wednesday at an experimental aircraft show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the station reported.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"One year from now I will be completing, symbolically completing, and recreating Amelia Earhart's historic flight around the world. It's a dream that I've had since I was about 18 years old," Earhart said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mystery has surrounded Amelia Earhart's fate since her plane went missing in 1937 in the South Pacific during her quest to become the first woman to fly around the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earhart told KUSA-TV she plans to retrace her distant relative's exact flight path in a Pilatus PC-12 NG, a single-engine turbine aircraft. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/01/amelia-earhart-namesake-to-re-create-pilot-final-flight/" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span><br />
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<br />Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-74499031108923089342013-08-05T10:42:00.000-07:002013-08-05T10:42:09.566-07:00Nadezhda Popova, WWII ‘Night Witch,’ Dies at 91The Nazis called them “Night Witches” because the whooshing noise their plywood and canvas airplanes made reminded the Germans of the sound of a witch’s broomstick. <br />
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<a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/07/15/world/popova-obit-2/popova-obit-2-popup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/07/15/world/popova-obit-2/popova-obit-2-popup.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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The Russian women who piloted those planes, onetime crop dusters, took it as a compliment. In 30,000 missions over four years, they dumped 23,000 tons of bombs on the German invaders, ultimately helping to chase them back to Berlin. Any German pilot who downed a “witch” was awarded an Iron Cross. <br />
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These young heroines, all volunteers and most in their teens and early 20s, became legends of <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/w/world_war_ii_/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="More articles about Wold War II.">World War II</a> but are now largely forgotten. Flying only in the dark, they had no parachutes, guns, radios or radar, only maps and compasses. If hit by tracer bullets, their planes would burn like sheets of paper. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/world/europe/nadezhda-popova-ww-ii-night-witch-dies-at-91.html?_r=1&" target="_blank">Read more...</a>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-15565741226104376962013-08-05T10:33:00.003-07:002013-08-12T07:45:33.388-07:00Landing on the Nose WheelLift that nose up and flare!!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">NTSB Investigating 737 Nose-Gear Failure</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.4;">The nose landing gear collapsed as a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 was landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport at 5:45 p.m. on Monday. The gear failed rearward and upward, the NTSB said on Tuesday afternoon, damaging the electronics bay. The exterior fuselage also was damaged from sliding 2,175 feet on its nose along Runway 4 before coming to rest off the right side of the runway. All 150 on board evacuated the airplane. Three passengers and five crew were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated and released, according to Southwest. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4;">The runway was closed for over an hour. <a href="http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/NTSB-Investigating-737-Nose-Gear-Failure220200-1.html" target="_blank">Read more and watch the video...</a></span>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-44744232247561392782013-04-20T06:54:00.001-07:002013-04-20T06:57:41.306-07:00Fuel: The Money You Save And The Price We'll Pay?I thought this was an interesting article considering we all want general aviation to not only survive, but thrive.<br />
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April 18, 2013 <br />
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by Glenn Pew </div>
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Contributing Editor, Video Editor </div>
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Tecnam USA CEO Phil Solomon thinks he sees the beginnings of a problem for general aviation, and we may all be a part of it.<br />
<a href="http://www.avweb.com/newspics/GA_airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 129px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 298px;"><img align="right" border="0" hspace="8" src="http://www.avweb.com/newspics/GA_airport.jpg" /></a>Solomon believes he's watching a transformation take place in aviation. It's starting at the grass roots level and extending all the way to the FAA. And each level plays off the other for an overall negative effect. As Solomon describes it, this transformation begins with the desire for lower fuel costs but ends as a long term detrimental impact on general aviation. After hearing his concerns and experiences we went out in the world to learn if, or how, other people were affected. This is what we found.<br />
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<a href="http://www.avweb.com/news/skywrite/fuel_price_fbo_airport_solomon_208402-1.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-11593018845223115482013-04-17T08:26:00.000-07:002013-04-17T08:36:52.734-07:00Exclusive: Lion Air crash pilot felt jet "dragged" from skyRecently in the Bay Area we have experienced continued extreme windy conditions accompanied by major turbulence with SFO regularly reporting winds up to 45-50 kts. Many of the smaller airports such as SQL, PAO, and HWD have reported winds as high as 28 gusting 38 kts. <br />
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A few days ago around 2 pm a student and I were going out for some traffic pattern work at PAO. The winds were manageagle but then started picking up dramatically as we taxied out. By the time we took off the winds were 18 gusting to 22-25 kts about 30 degrees off the runway heading. So I said to my student that the first one would be a test and we would make a decision wether to continue after that.<br />
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Sure enough it was quite turbulent, and then on final the preceding aircraft reported -15 kts of windshear. Well that made the decision...and we terminated the flight. ATC is required to announce the pilot report of windshear and then record it on the subsequent ATIS. When I flew for the airlines, any detection of windshear was an automatic go-around.<br />
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Exclusive: Lion Air crash pilot felt jet "dragged" from sky</h2>
By Tim Hepher and Trisha Sertori<br />
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PARIS/DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) - The pilot whose Indonesian jet slumped into the sea while trying to land in Bali has described how he felt it "dragged" down by wind while he struggled to regain control, a person familiar with the matter said.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2bc1DgNF63nlA9YTh14ELEWOT2GHYceN7V4MSjbOC0Q3kSvMW4iq_FqVSQbt8BUmYEmvBGa8muaFuJ65kc-Bo_msXrX7Yu6uov0l2WTon05f_hnc3uO76LdxI7a513HcE1PgCoZUEKo/s1600/Lion+Air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2bc1DgNF63nlA9YTh14ELEWOT2GHYceN7V4MSjbOC0Q3kSvMW4iq_FqVSQbt8BUmYEmvBGa8muaFuJ65kc-Bo_msXrX7Yu6uov0l2WTon05f_hnc3uO76LdxI7a513HcE1PgCoZUEKo/s1600/Lion+Air.jpg" /></a>.</div>
All 108 passengers and crew miraculously survived when the Boeing 737 passenger jet, operated by Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air, undershot the tourist island's main airport runway and belly-flopped in water on Saturday.<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-lion-air-crash-pilot-felt-jet-dragged-063713747--finance.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-2070844304816298882013-03-31T08:09:00.004-07:002013-08-12T07:38:35.896-07:00Life in a World Without Towers <span class="headline"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Paul Bertorelli </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Editorial Director </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">March 28, 2013</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">So now that all the towers are closed, what are we to do? Will chaos reign? Have the dogs of doom been loosed? Not quite, but depending on where you fly, there could be some challenges ahead that will be unnerving. And just to put some numbers on it, the FAA-announced closures will shutter 149 of 516 control towers in the U.S. or 29 percent. It's not a trivial number so irrespective of safety or risk, many of us will have to adapt to operational changes.</span><br />
<img align="right" border="0" height="133" hspace="8" src="http://www.avweb.com/newspics/cfi_instruction_student_cockpit_sm.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the other hand, for pilots already operating out of non-towered airports and who don't fly IFR much, if it all, it will be business as usual. It probably will not be business as usual for IFR operations, however. The control facilities which handle these—Centers and TRACONs—will be impacted by furloughed staff and controllers tell us service will inevitably suffer, we just don't know how much. One way to look at the tower closures is to consider VFR operations first, then IFR ops. <a href="http://www.avweb.com/news/airman/control_tower_closure_flying_208403-1.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></span></span>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-17806205523252278892013-03-26T12:06:00.005-07:002013-03-26T12:08:29.523-07:00FAA plan to close towers a ‘flawed policy assault on pilots’<div class="post-info">
<span class="date published time" title="2013-03-25T16:53:36+00:00">March 25, 2013</span> by <span class="author vcard"><span class="fn"><a class="fn n" href="http://www.generalaviationnews.com/author/ganstaff/" rel="author" title="General Aviation News Staff">General Aviation News Staff</a></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGLyLsnw9SRdeuumVRlKjtI1BB-c9zNl9aP1FD6G_cEKiS7FmuFVsTTU8RumKk3SNFiC2K3FhQbflYAUlauqxk5A9p8fkBMBYUAsCKKCxzH3iIP7aluFCGUR9xZaqznAeo0_YMIKrxRY/s1600/AOPA-Craig-Fullers-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGLyLsnw9SRdeuumVRlKjtI1BB-c9zNl9aP1FD6G_cEKiS7FmuFVsTTU8RumKk3SNFiC2K3FhQbflYAUlauqxk5A9p8fkBMBYUAsCKKCxzH3iIP7aluFCGUR9xZaqznAeo0_YMIKrxRY/s200/AOPA-Craig-Fullers-photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
DUPAGE, Ill. — A federal plan to impose across-the-board spending cuts by closing 149 active control towers nationwide will compromise air safety and “should not stand,” according to Craig Fuller, president and CEO of the <a href="http://www.aopa.org/" target="_blank">Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association</a> (AOPA).<br />
<br />
“The White House does not understand the consequences of these actions, or they do and they simply do not care,” Fuller said. “Either way, this approach is dangerous and should not stand.”<br />
<br />
<span id="more-76824"></span>Speaking to a group of more than 100 pilots at an AOPA pilot town hall at DuPage Airport outside of Chicago, Fuller said that FAA cuts directed by the White House will have a serious impact on general aviation in the United States. <br />
<a href="http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2013/03/faa-plan-to-close-towers-a-flawed-policy-assault-on-pilots/" target="_blank">Read more...</a></div>
Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-7703520480567409932013-03-26T11:59:00.003-07:002013-03-26T11:59:58.140-07:00Schedule for tower closures releasedThe FAA has released its three-part phase in period for closing federal
contract towers. On April 7, <a href="http://download.aopa.org/advocacy/130325april7-closures.pdf" target="_blank">24 contract towers will close</a>, followed by <a href="http://download.aopa.org/advocacy/130325april21-closures.pdf" target="_blank">46 on April 21</a>, and the <a href="http://download.aopa.org/advocacy/130325may-5-closures.pdf" target="_blank">remaining 79 on May 5</a>. The FAA is closing the towers based on
activity levels, with the first to close having fewer than 1,000 commercial
operations in fiscal year 2012. The second group had fewer than 2,500 commercial
operations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2013/pdfs/1303012letter-to-huerta.pdf" target="_blank">Earlier in
March</a>, AOPA President Craig Fuller warned FAA Administrator Michael Huerta
that the “cuts will have unacceptable consequences for the nation and the flying
community.” <a href="http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2013/130325schedule-for-tower-closures-released.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-86355440962859445612013-01-28T12:35:00.001-08:002013-01-28T12:35:50.146-08:00Women of Aviation Worldwide Week March 4-10, 2013<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL 'WOMEN OF AVIATION WORLDWIDE WEEK' - MARCH 4-10, 2013! </em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."</span><br />
<br />
This observation made by American judge Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. in the late 1800s describes perfectly the impact of the Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week initiative.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><img align="middle" class="editable alignable" height="157" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/WOAW_WEEK_2013-300x157.png" width="300" /></span><br />
<br />
Not only are we getting ready to stretch the minds of thousands of girls and women during the 3rd annual Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week but we are also getting ready to stretch the minds of many stakeholders in our beloved industry. <br />
<br />
When midnight strikes on March 10 2013, no one involved will return to his or her original mindset. Girls and women will know that contributing to the air and space industry is for them too. CEOs of aerospace corporations, presidents of associations, and aviation educators will irrevocably know that girls and women are interested and eager to join our industry and will begin to take steps to assist their inclusion.<br />
<br />
The wind of change is blowing. Each one of us is responsible for creating this powerful flow.<br />
<br />
Let's never forget that individual air molecules acting together are responsible for the magical lift force that allows us to soar. Our coordinated individual actions are generating a force strong enough to lift our industry and society. <br />
<br />
One flight, one community at a time. Worldwide. Together, we are better.<br />
<br />
For information about how to organize an event, visit: <a href="http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/event/organizing-an-event/">www.womenofaviationweek.org/event/organizing-an-event/</a> <br />
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To locate an event near you, visit: <a href="http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/event/event-list-registration/">www.womenofaviationweek.org/event/event-list-registration/</a> <br />
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Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-75021655106098764422012-11-28T20:53:00.004-08:002012-11-28T20:53:39.511-08:00First Solo - Jayne!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-25UaJ4nxyqufmt1tqXNU2EkQfqHrXqDEOONHuoVDIlslnaeZ5S6lIyCfePARz30ampFemzmoQkNb0htvkfr4gSN-rAgCsBgK_fRTLp4lshLvoVbgme1z80nrnzo8AklF-DHnsY2MWs/s1600/Jayne+-+Solo+11-26-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-25UaJ4nxyqufmt1tqXNU2EkQfqHrXqDEOONHuoVDIlslnaeZ5S6lIyCfePARz30ampFemzmoQkNb0htvkfr4gSN-rAgCsBgK_fRTLp4lshLvoVbgme1z80nrnzo8AklF-DHnsY2MWs/s200/Jayne+-+Solo+11-26-12.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Congratulations to Jayne who soloed on November 26, 2012. Jayne was flying a C172 last year, and after a break to go traveling and buy a mountain chalet, she decided to switch to the C162 Skycatcher and fulfil her dream.Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-40560038222422041072012-11-25T21:42:00.000-08:002012-11-25T21:43:21.289-08:00First Solo - Robert!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rWEtXlYvv-ZmtFyy15GC_QYLLXe2bxyl5_ZAha7htvWDvuc0nYaFr84KHTIMJrZk9b35-fqKdOKoEvtqCTKAne_iWw7-KXltj3EvGOiA04EcND164KBY5d3-Uq-d7QL95CtKTWQFUPk/s1600/Robert+Kubis+-+Solo+11--7-12+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rWEtXlYvv-ZmtFyy15GC_QYLLXe2bxyl5_ZAha7htvWDvuc0nYaFr84KHTIMJrZk9b35-fqKdOKoEvtqCTKAne_iWw7-KXltj3EvGOiA04EcND164KBY5d3-Uq-d7QL95CtKTWQFUPk/s200/Robert+Kubis+-+Solo+11--7-12+s.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Congratulations to Robert who soloed on November 7, 2012! Robert was ready way back in June but then had to travel extensively. He is definitely prepared for cross country flight.Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-38333891106500682312012-11-25T09:17:00.000-08:002012-11-25T09:17:01.429-08:00Private Pilot - AmandaCongratulations to Amanda who passed her checkride on November 14, 2012! In August Amanda received the news that her husband had gotten a new job several hundred miles away which necessitated them to move. So, while he relocated to the new city, we started on the fast tract to complete her training, while she managed the sale of their home, the move of all of their belongings, caring for their young son, and maintaining a full time job. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4ndbHzEdhJnKHLhQGBLsNw16tlCSuIWD59F8ZpUmhKPf4-fuapaGBvn7SA_AQGbzJMZNX9rNfLsSDPOkbqBjMdHDy2vfR0AS4_3yaD9UsfLkzaryw0fXqgiWMHAIABiNbyF6sMXCboU/s1600/Amanda+-+Private+Pilot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4ndbHzEdhJnKHLhQGBLsNw16tlCSuIWD59F8ZpUmhKPf4-fuapaGBvn7SA_AQGbzJMZNX9rNfLsSDPOkbqBjMdHDy2vfR0AS4_3yaD9UsfLkzaryw0fXqgiWMHAIABiNbyF6sMXCboU/s200/Amanda+-+Private+Pilot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Whew...if that wasn't enough, weather caused her to reschedule her checkride four times, and after already moving to their new home, she made the drive back to the Bay Area to complete her checkride That is some perseverance!!!Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-35810199776345160012012-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:002012-11-25T09:00:14.448-08:00Private Pilot - Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG1iAWu52LpkLw56jeZQXVKEmH2h0cmcUPy4HqIaglcqf52mrEefgDXMoNAsaNTY0GUBDEQdiSuvBeKRu_weGCqq3SbRM2s-7B3LVDxukNzK-5_Gzk3HNFMGscO20SMk-i5MmpWn3U1c/s1600/Scott++-+Private+Pilot+10-03-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG1iAWu52LpkLw56jeZQXVKEmH2h0cmcUPy4HqIaglcqf52mrEefgDXMoNAsaNTY0GUBDEQdiSuvBeKRu_weGCqq3SbRM2s-7B3LVDxukNzK-5_Gzk3HNFMGscO20SMk-i5MmpWn3U1c/s200/Scott++-+Private+Pilot+10-03-12.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Congratulations to Scott who passed his checkride on September 27, 2012! Scott was very focused and a dedicated student throughout his training. He was beaming with joy on that special day, along with that look of accomplishment and relief that he had finally achieved his dream.Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-22530873240158748432012-11-25T08:53:00.000-08:002012-11-25T08:53:01.515-08:00Private Pilot - Ioan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE_KFilIh-dhhzFs8kmnelB2BMFKGI7RHrc6eSyYIMdklM7Wp1rigyD_aQv3CMIrhcagvjypLPhxZ8xfyP1wll71hhjXA8QfF0DRII_y76RngetMKTwqnhLx-IBCyUgyiFDOHailXCBM/s1600/Ioan+-+Private+Pilot+09-24-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE_KFilIh-dhhzFs8kmnelB2BMFKGI7RHrc6eSyYIMdklM7Wp1rigyD_aQv3CMIrhcagvjypLPhxZ8xfyP1wll71hhjXA8QfF0DRII_y76RngetMKTwqnhLx-IBCyUgyiFDOHailXCBM/s200/Ioan+-+Private+Pilot+09-24-12.JPG" width="200" /></a>Congratulations to Ioan who passed his checkride on September 24, 2012! Ioan enjoyed his training so much that we did several sightseeing flights around the Bay Area. He was in such awe by the experience that he always had the NFlightcam mounted to the windshield and recorded every flight, not to miss a moment.<br />
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<img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE_KFilIh-dhhzFs8kmnelB2BMFKGI7RHrc6eSyYIMdklM7Wp1rigyD_aQv3CMIrhcagvjypLPhxZ8xfyP1wll71hhjXA8QfF0DRII_y76RngetMKTwqnhLx-IBCyUgyiFDOHailXCBM/s200/Ioan+-+Private+Pilot+09-24-12.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 633px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 54px;" width="96" />Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-72065122990865708612012-10-13T20:42:00.002-07:002012-10-13T20:42:46.463-07:00The "Emergency Descent"
<br />
This is a great example of the new maneuver in the PTS for private pilots,
the "Emergency Descent".<span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Fire and water: Pilot, passenger rescued
after ditching Baron</span> <br />
<br />
<div class="byline" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
By Jim Moore</div>
<br />
<div class="byline" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
October 10, 2012</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g3raZHxY3MadBKA99vBT4QFMpHVA4-hl5YCVmSwftXcvC1EVQ2YRvOJ1P5pKSxsGScMtpLurNv91DocHPyLtbo2RhKT4s1vP0U5yDL7D0-GdvSs_XqWfMfSJ2KpbrJqS-jraV15Hqho/s1600/Baron+-+Emergency+Descent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g3raZHxY3MadBKA99vBT4QFMpHVA4-hl5YCVmSwftXcvC1EVQ2YRvOJ1P5pKSxsGScMtpLurNv91DocHPyLtbo2RhKT4s1vP0U5yDL7D0-GdvSs_XqWfMfSJ2KpbrJqS-jraV15Hqho/s320/Baron+-+Emergency+Descent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<div class="byline" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em>Theodore Wright (far right) and Raymond Fosdick (second
from right) exit an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter at Coast Guard Air Station New
Orleans, Sept. 20. U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan
Tippets.</em></div>
<br />
The fire quickly spread from the forward baggage compartment of the
Beechcraft Baron, and smoke filled the cockpit of the twin cruising at 11,000
feet.<br />
<br />
Pilot Theodore Wright made a quick radio call to ATC before cutting the
electrical master switch, hopeful that would cut the trouble off at the source.
But it was not, apparently, an electrical fire. While opening the door cleared
some of the smoke from the cabin, flames were visible outside, apparently
coming from the baggage compartment door, and Wright cut the throttles and dove
for the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
<br />
“I was probably over redline by 20 knots,” Wright recalled of the harrowing
descent, heat from the fire building behind the instrument panel. “I couldn’t
see the instruments … the windshield was half melted.”<br />
<br />
It took about two minutes to get to sea level and ditch the aircraft, and
“that two minutes was longer than the three hours we spent in the water,”
Wright recalled. <br />
<br />
Wright, and passenger Raymond Fosdick managed to don personal flotation
devices as the aircraft sank beneath their feet, and were rescued just before
sunset Sept. 20 by the U.S. Coast Guard, which dispatched a helicopter after
receiving an alert through a hand-held Satellite <a href="http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=102" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">GPS
Messenger SPOT</span></a> Wright bought in 2008 to report his position to family and
friends during a circumnavigation in a sailboat. It has been part of his kit
ever since.<br />
<br />
“I don’t go anywhere without it,” Wright said, adding that his 406 MHz
emergency locator transmitter failed to register the position of the aircraft,
which sank about 60 seconds after landing on the water.<br />
<br />
“The airplane went down so fast that it’s possible it never got its fix
off,” Wright said of the ELT. Coast Guard public relations staff members were
unable to confirm exactly what signals were received from the ELT, if any,
referring AOPA to a Sept. 21 press release that stated the distress call came
from “a spot beacon alert.” <br />
<br />
<br />
Wright and Fosdick, both undaunted by the ordeal, have given several
interviews to national media outlets, each stating they have no fear of flying
again. In the glare of the media spotlight, Wright has made an effort to make a
case for both relative safety, and the good that general aviation does, calling
attention to a charitable organization he recently founded: Around the World
for Life. Wright plans to circumnavigate in a light airplane (the Baron is no
longer an option), and raise money to fight childhood disease while educating
the public about the value and contributions of GA. <br />
<br />
While not yet listed by the IRS as a nonprofit organization eligible for
tax-deductible contributions, Wright said that paperwork is pending, and he is
also actively searching for a suitable replacement aircraft. <br />
<br />
Wright has a hunch, but no certainty, about what caused the fire in a
compartment containing typical baggage for a trip from Texas to Florida. A
conclusive determination is likely to be elusive: the Baron is beneath 3,000
feet of water, about 30 miles off shore. A salvage company quoted a cost of
$55,000 a day, with an estimated three days required to locate and explore the
wreck with remotely operated submarines.<br />
<br />
“I’d like to have the vertical stabilizer for my den, but not at that kind
of money,” Wright said.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->U.S.
Coast Guard video of the rescue: <span id="goog_1765105414"></span><a href="http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1769283" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1769283</span></a><span id="goog_1765105415"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-75814146420858183332012-09-15T07:44:00.002-07:002012-09-15T07:54:14.261-07:00WOW pioneers strike gold in Columbia!WOW (Women of West Valley Flying Club) would have made quite an entrance had we arrived into Columbia by plane as prospectors 160 years ago. Instead, the date was Thursday September 12th 2012 and we had the benefits of aerodynamic engineering and norcal to guide us. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl6Te-yMj6LMkaqlVC5uS3Yge5umnd3ayrsEQDudHZ_GWXfaPPg_NG6cqavj4h4GMjFxBs-37r9mNx2ZPNtPVgtnMdDt_O64LPqGrSXm9iGKauI3Ol5UxokhpyniCOx1NxB5a79SMfrA/s1600/The+Group+-+Columbia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl6Te-yMj6LMkaqlVC5uS3Yge5umnd3ayrsEQDudHZ_GWXfaPPg_NG6cqavj4h4GMjFxBs-37r9mNx2ZPNtPVgtnMdDt_O64LPqGrSXm9iGKauI3Ol5UxokhpyniCOx1NxB5a79SMfrA/s1600/The+Group+-+Columbia.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrival at Columbia Airport (O22)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
How life has changed since this time but not for Columbia State Historic Park where the main gold rush town of Columbia has become preserved for posterity. A total of 16 WOW pioneers flew over from the Bay Area’s six different airports in 6 different planes ranging from C172s, C182s, Cherokees, and a Piper Dakota seeking riches in the form of lunch and laughter. Not only did we have WOW members, but many members of local 99s chapters joined us. We were also met at the airport by a local glider pilot (friend of one of our pilots) who shared lots of local color.<br />
<br />
<br />
Being non-towered, the flight into Columbia was a choice between runway 17 (calm) or runway 35 (not-so-calm) and most pilots cautiously opted for 35 with a left downwind arrival. I couldn't help noticing a small hill momentarily obstructing the numbers as Amanda - our skilled student pilot - went from downwind to base. With an elevation of 2,120 MSL there was no doubt about it, we'd gone up the hill a bit. The area is also prone to wildfires and the stationed Cal Fire unit at Columbia was hard to miss at what is currently its busiest time of year. Several WOW's watched as a 30,000 pound Grumman S-2T air tanker carrying 1200 gallons of fire retardant weighing an additional 20,000 pounds struggled to get airborne and utilize the full 4670 feet of runway 17.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJRwsCSuUnbv1vHiHEDihlmkeSC_Nrh1r36CugvWHUjjEd2FRICwaFM7-M9ULnmIY4k0pIwnpXs5xIbw0QIaZYfaOufhyYHRn6HCKxDYCcd1ScqhxKYZj_dSeV4xICtaia6UEyaKw2uM/s1600/Lunch+at+the+Saloon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJRwsCSuUnbv1vHiHEDihlmkeSC_Nrh1r36CugvWHUjjEd2FRICwaFM7-M9ULnmIY4k0pIwnpXs5xIbw0QIaZYfaOufhyYHRn6HCKxDYCcd1ScqhxKYZj_dSeV4xICtaia6UEyaKw2uM/s1600/Lunch+at+the+Saloon.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at the Saloon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next exciting installment was an adventurous 15 minute stroll that meandered from the airport to Jack Douglass Saloon in the town passing many a marble limestone outcrop and the odd lizard. This saloon is said to be one of the oldest watering holes in the west (yee-haw) and served some refreshing locally made wild cherry flavored Sarsaparilla - the 1850s name for root beer - and some pretty good food. The 'humongous Douglass deluxe nachos' gets the big thumbs up but only if you're really hungry and have a friend or three to share it with. <br />
Columbia was a fun destination and at 88 miles from Palo Alto airport, it was just far enough away to feel like you were experiencing a very different part of California and all within an hour by plane. Next time we really should do a spot of gold panning. There can't be a better endorsement to travel by plane than this.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(written by Jayne Pearce/edited by Sue Ballew)</span><br />
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(comments encouraged)Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-73859495707951115072012-08-21T21:33:00.000-07:002012-08-21T21:33:06.995-07:00First Solo - Bogdan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPmQvhq_c6IuKLfblulB1mrIN7-C74ZYHgPeGZ_UrmkSB17LMIg46RLgxE-sQdaEB57VDS-dEZXAkEzXMzJkHfbORWuePAorPBQcn8gl0AzedZXRN-oLfWwUyZKqL5qWZOcLxSOz7Ufc/s1600/Bogdan+solo+08-20-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPmQvhq_c6IuKLfblulB1mrIN7-C74ZYHgPeGZ_UrmkSB17LMIg46RLgxE-sQdaEB57VDS-dEZXAkEzXMzJkHfbORWuePAorPBQcn8gl0AzedZXRN-oLfWwUyZKqL5qWZOcLxSOz7Ufc/s200/Bogdan+solo+08-20-12.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Congratulations to Bogdan who soloed on August 20, 2012! We had perfect conditions and Bogdan soloed without a hitch. He's ready for more!Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-32940435499353719692012-08-21T21:25:00.003-07:002012-08-21T21:35:15.097-07:00South Africa: Wonder-Women in Aviation<strong>South Africa: Wonder-Women in Aviation Initiative to Encourage Women Into Aviation</strong><br />
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1time Airline will be embarking on an initiative in August 2012, called Wonder-Women in Aviation, which involves 30 female students from Sizwe Secondary School in Elandsfontein, receiving first-hand exposure to the airline's operations by shadowing its female employees on their daily work routine.<br />
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The students, who range from grades 10 to 12, will see how many women manage to build notable careers in aviation, the corporate world and technical positions. Students will discover the wonder of flight, as they will accompany cabin crew on their flights to Cape Town and Durban.<br />
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Others will shadow women in executive and managerial positions, in the various departments at the head office in Isando, Johannesburg. <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201208131077.html">more</a><br />
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<br />Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-4152104939045134562012-08-17T07:52:00.000-07:002012-08-17T07:52:29.746-07:00Chinese Female Fighter Pilots<span style="font-size: large;">Chinese female fighter jet pilots complete first solo flights.</span> <br />
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Five Chinese female pilots have completed solo flights in China's indigenous J-10 fighter jets, becoming the first batch of female pilots to fly combat aircrafts in the country, reports Want Daily, our Chinese-language sister newspaper.<br />
<br />Read more...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOflqRcRF50nOSER4axYLHTJs3bkrxKnvD3WGT523BIROThTJgXdpL1KHHCAFaYcGWszPtzjhhJ7YD6x8I4EJfVC_Vu7Rup9VbJq46adFFQWAFgqCCj5aK1HjZDdqh9hzZDbL2fRPJZ8/s1600/Chinese+female+fighter+pilot.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOflqRcRF50nOSER4axYLHTJs3bkrxKnvD3WGT523BIROThTJgXdpL1KHHCAFaYcGWszPtzjhhJ7YD6x8I4EJfVC_Vu7Rup9VbJq46adFFQWAFgqCCj5aK1HjZDdqh9hzZDbL2fRPJZ8/s200/Chinese+female+fighter+pilot.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120816000116&cid=1101">http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120816000116&cid=1101</a>Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-70729451247425723242012-08-14T19:05:00.001-07:002012-08-18T23:14:17.055-07:00Solo - Kyle!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p5vCBYuScmho0omrTE655Gr_9UrOIngVRyLo0Y7Z-X0hV697zSnc9a-Yd1scF82u-xRb9kE4EVuppxstuWW7m0sa1n_aI17EMA24RX5Xr5C_GqZID7Lezwv0NgEVEq1estk9xuxAQjY/s1600/Kyle-Solo+08-11-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p5vCBYuScmho0omrTE655Gr_9UrOIngVRyLo0Y7Z-X0hV697zSnc9a-Yd1scF82u-xRb9kE4EVuppxstuWW7m0sa1n_aI17EMA24RX5Xr5C_GqZID7Lezwv0NgEVEq1estk9xuxAQjY/s200/Kyle-Solo+08-11-12.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Congratulations to Kyle who soloed on August 11, 2012! Kyle had started flying a couple of years earlier and then got very busy with work. He came back recently to resume his training. This was actually his second solo but he said it certainly felt like the first as he smiled from ear to ear.Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-274887784430821837.post-35346506057827182612012-08-14T18:59:00.001-07:002012-08-21T21:33:43.029-07:00Private Pilot - Masha!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfVHo3wkGr2Epc-pH4kpnfyfOLvCcIIMO-sM84_1TonAQktJ9gDCgvsBjTaxRfhGIrhi9iRRh6p1yw7N35OosyVLgF3Kfktr12N9-EtCoFj6svmOBFOm-dRkUiXEtTG0ZZydxhc4UWHM/s1600/Masha-+Private+08-09-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfVHo3wkGr2Epc-pH4kpnfyfOLvCcIIMO-sM84_1TonAQktJ9gDCgvsBjTaxRfhGIrhi9iRRh6p1yw7N35OosyVLgF3Kfktr12N9-EtCoFj6svmOBFOm-dRkUiXEtTG0ZZydxhc4UWHM/s200/Masha-+Private+08-09-12.JPG" width="200" /></a>Congratulations to Masha - she passed her Private Pilot checkride on Aug 9, 2012! After leaving the country several times on business trips, Masha decided it was time to get this done. So flying three times per week did the trick.</div>
Skytrekker Aviationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12587328410532934746noreply@blogger.com0