Less than four years ago, I found myself in a local airport, looking for the perfect instructor. I had been reading every issue of AOPA Flight Training for more than two years and had realized that the most important part of learning to fly was finding the perfect instructor. I decided to go to the nearest flight school and start flying. I figured I would try instructor after instructor until I was satisfied with a great one. The ghosts of Orville and Wilbur Wright must have smiled on me. The first instructor I flew with impressed me so much that I not only got my private certificate, I also finished my instrument rating with her. Unfortunately I had to get my commercial certificate with a different instructor at another flight school. I finished with a flight instructor certificate in less than three years and yet another instructor.
My family and coworkers all thought I was having a mid-life crisis. I started instructing and enjoyed it so well that this summer I quit my corporate job. Quitting a job I hated was a great day in my life. Maybe it was a mid-life crisis, but I have never been so happy in all my life. I make less money, but I fly or teach ground school six days a week. I have a full schedule and go to work with a smile on my face almost every day. My career goal now is to be a perfect instructor. I hope to inspire others in the same way that my first instructor did. For me flying was "the road taken."
Byron Hamby
Bridgewater, New Jersey
No injuries after chute deployment
Regarding "The Weather Never Sleeps: Ice and Frost" in the November 2006 issue of AOPA Flight Training, I was the pilot of the Cirrus that deployed the parachute.
The author, after quoting the NTSB report on a Cirrus accident, states that the parachute was deployed and that all personnel exited the airplane "without serious injury." However, this statement implies that there were some injuries. In fact, there were no injuries--not even a bump or a bruise.
In past occasions, when experiencing icing conditions, I have climbed out of the icing conditions, causing the ice to either melt or ablate off. What was different about this occasion?
On this particular occasion, the Cirrus entered the clouds at 5,000 feet with a temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Upon reaching 7,000 feet, the temperature was 32 degrees F, and I reported to ATC that I was encountering icing and requested a higher altitude. The temperature then decreased to 22 degrees F at 8,000 feet. Just above the clouds in clear air the Cirrus stalled, spun, and the rest you know.
The cause of the accident? The pilot did not recognize that the rapid decrease in temperature meant severe icing. The best result of the accident? Due to the parachute, the biggest concern of the passengers after the unexpected landing was where to eat dinner that night.
Kerwin Day
Atlanta, Georgia
Greetings from a glider pilot
I have only been a reader of AOPA Flight Training magazine for half a year or so now, but I feel like giving feedback now: AOPA Flight Training is, to me, an excellent resource of information from which I learned many things that I considered very important. And that is even though I do not fly airplanes with engines, but have only been a glider pilot in Austria's skies for a while. Still, as many concepts of flight are the same and as I am flying motor gliders as well, I actually consider AOPA Flight Training as one of my favorite readings.
Jens Lang
Vienna, Austria
Erratum
An incorrect URL was published for Max Trescott's online Garmin G1000 courses ("Pilot Products," December 2006 AOPA Flight Training). The correct URL is www.pilotlearning.com.
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