I have an addition for your list of golf courses ("Flying to a Tee: Add a Golf Destination to Your Logbook," April 2009 Flight Training). There is a resort in Vermont called Basin Harbor that sports its own 3,000-foot grass strip (B06) and golf course. The resort also happens to be on Lake Champlain.
I enjoyed the golf course article, although I haven't golfed in quite a while, because it reminded me of other interesting places that you can fly into that are unique. Living in Massachusetts, we fly to Katama Airfield (1B2) once in a while, as you can park your plane across the street from the beach on Martha's Vineyard, and when you are done swimming, take the bus into town. Another similar location is Montauk, New York (MTP), at the end of Long Island.
Brian McKinley
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Thank you for the suggestion. We had a hunch there were a few golfers in our readership, and they've submitted numerous additions for our online directory (http://ft.aopa.org/golferairports)--so many that we're revamping the directory to make it more user-friendly. Look for it soon. And if you have a favorite fly-in golf spot, submit it to [email protected].
Who are you?
I enjoyed Karen Kahn's article on basic radio procedures ("Speak up: You're the Boss," April 2009 Flight Training).�Unfortunately, the first step in initial radio contact was not included anywhere in the article.�Paragraph 4-2-3 of the Aeronautical Information Manual indicates the initial contact should begin with the "name of the facility being called;"�for example, New Haven ground.�This is a relatively common omission at the beginning, and it's almost always followed by a pause and question by the controller on whether someone is trying to call that particular facility.�Otherwise the article had many good points of advice to help students be organized and communicate effectively.
Warren Webb Jr.
Cromwell, Connecticut
An impressive definition
As an engineer, I want to say how impressed I was by a statement included in Jack Williams' article "The Weather Never Sleeps: An Icy Hazard" (March 2009 AOPA Flight Training). Very rarely have I heard someone correctly identify 32 degrees Fahrenheit as the melting point of ice. Hurray! Usually I hear it is the freezing point (until I ask what super-cooled liquid droplets are). That single statement has validated Williams' creditability as an intellectual aviator.
Douglas K. Manuel
Greenbelt, Maryland
Another whiz-wheel trick
I am writing in regard to your article "Whiz Wheel Savvy" in the April 2009 issue of AOPA Flight Training. Your article discusses the method of short time calculations where 36 is used in place of 60 on the inner scale. While I agree that it is an alternative method of calculating time, speed, and/or distance, I disagree with your statement that erroneous answers can arise when using the 60 index method to calculate speeds slower than 70 or 80 knots, or distances shorter than six or seven miles.
For example, setting the 60 index on 70 gives information on a variety of possibilities. All you have to do is keep track of the decimal. This shows that you could travel 70 miles in 60 minutes, but also seven miles in six minutes, or even 0.7 mile in 0.6 minutes. I will concede that one advantage of the short time calculation is that you can look at the inner scale ("C" scale), and get an answer in minutes and seconds instead of minutes with a decimal.
James O'Leary, CFI
Fremont, Nebraska
We appreciate your comments. Letters should be no more than 300 words and must include your name and address. E-mail letters to [email protected] or mail to AOPA Flight Training, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701. Letters may be edited and will be printed as space permits.
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