On the first lesson my instructor gave me a Flight Training subscription card to mail in to start my six free issues.
I worked my way up, and by the age of 19 I was a CFI. Flight Training was there with excellent articles that helped me overcome the obstacles of every certificate and rating.
Two things I now recommend to new instructors. First, give your students subscriptions to Flight Training. The magazine will do part of your work for you, and it will also bring more questions up because of something the student read. Second, try to obtain your Gold Seal Instructor Certificate. This will make you a better instructor because you have to have an 80 percent pass rate out of at least 10 students within 24 months. To do this, you must teach and not just build time. And, if you have a good pass rate, you will become more popular with students. When I quit instructing, I was flying 25 to 30 hours a week, and I was so busy that I had to turn students down.
I have not achieved my goal of flying something really big yet, however I am flying an airplane with 70 people aboard that weighs 50,000 pounds. I wanted to say thanks to Flight Training. Someday I?m sure I?ll read your magazine then head to work in the left seat of that 757.
Jay Mercer
Bakersfield, California
How one FBO makes it work
Thank you for a good article on ?How to Make it Work? in the February ?Flying Smart.? The question of how I can afford flying lessons is one that I myself had to cross. During the training process I considered ending my training because of the associated costs.
I noticed that my local FBO had framed certificates that hung on the walls. Each certificate listed the new pilot licenses for the year and the new solos. But one thing stuck out on each certificate. There were always only a few new pilots and always a long list of solos. My instructor at the time explained that many new pilots never finish the training because of the cost or changes in their family life.
My FBO has a ?Top Flight? program for new pilots. This program gives each student a bank of instructional hours, airplane, and fuel at a reduced rate. I asked about the students who dropped out and the balances to their Top Flight accounts. Many of the students still had balances or credits to their accounts.
With the permission and help of the FBO, I offered each of these past students 60 percent of the value of their remaining accounts. Many of the students jumped at the chance to get some of their money back.
It was a win-win situation for everyone. The FBO cleared up accounting books that had been left open for years. The past students who quit regained some of their money. For me, I had the edge I needed to obtain my private license. In return for my help in clearing up the old accounts, I was able to save 40 percent on my flying and instructional costs. I have been flying high ever since.
Michael Wellner
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Right red lights
I?d like to point out an error in February?s ?Light Up Your Night: A Guide to Airport Lighting Systems.?
The article says that the ?last 2,000 feet of centerline lighting is bi-directional to indicate remaining runway lengths. Pilots see alternating red and white centerline lights from 2,000 to 1,000 feet remaining, and the last 1,000 feet of centerline lights appear red.? In actuality, the lights are alternating red and white for the 2,000 foot spread from between 3,000 feet and 1,000 feet remaining, and are all red for the last 1,000 feet. A professional pilot?s information must always be accurate and up-to-date. Thank you for helping us meet this objective.
Theron Georges
San Antonio, Texas
Paying for training
I love your section entitled ?No Dumb Questions.? February?s question was, ?How can I afford flying lessons?? It was great because I have been battling with being low on money ever since I started flying, and every piece of information on how I can get through all my ratings and come out without too many loans is wonderful. It?s almost comforting to know that others are having trouble and still getting through it. Of course I have always believed that flying is worth every penny. Every experience in the air is different with its own memories that you can carry with you forever.
Katie Brand
Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Stopping seat slips
I?m writing in response to January?s ?Slip-Sliding Away.? As a CFI, I always educate my students on the dangers of seat slippages, especially in Cessna singles. Whenever I train in any of these planes (i.e. C150/152, C172, C182, etc.) I also teach a technique that could possibly save their lives in the event of an unexpected seat slippage.
I show them how to make a ?peace sign? with their throttle hand. They make the sign with their palm facing them, then I demonstrate how they can grasp the area between the throttle friction lock and instrument panel with their index and middle fingers to make this modified ?peace sign.?
In the event of a seat slippage, the friction lock should hopefully serve as a stop or handhold and keep them from sliding all the way back until they are at an altitude where they can safely adjust their seat. I do this myself whenever I am flying any of the Cessna singles, and I also require this grip of my students on all takeoffs until at least 1,000 feet AGL.
So far I?ve never had an opportunity to see if this technique actually works, but I know of others who claim it has saved their lives.
John G. Callender, CFI, ATP
Via the Internet
New ATIS information
I found January?s article on ?ATC Communications? very informative. However, I would like to inform you that there has been a change to the ATIS format.
It has changed from the sequence stated in the article. The new sequence is as follows: airport name; ATIS report identifier (a sequential letter from the phonetic alphabet); time in universal coordinated time, or Zulu; wind direction and velocity; visibility; sky condition (ceiling); temperature and dew point (in degrees Celsius); altimeter setting; active runway and instrument approach information; and remarks (NOTAMs).
I look forward to the information that is available in each issue; keep up the good work.
Marshall L. Jackson
Via the Internet
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