Coms

Letters

Extra Special

I am a 13-year-old student pilot at Nashville Flight Training in Music City, U.S.A. (Nashville, Tennessee).

I especially enjoyed reading Kollin Stagnito’s article (“Always Learning: Extra Special”) about flying in an Aeronca Champ in the March/April 2022 edition of Flight Training magazine. Taildraggers are my favorite airplanes!

My parents recently surprised me with a road trip to Vine Grove Airport (70KY) in Vine Grove, Kentucky, where I had an opportunity to ride in a taildragger for the first time. I will never forget the enthusiasm I experienced that day when I saw the simple, little red/white airplane behind the hangar. It was a 1946 Aeronca Champ 7AC and would soon be taking me skyward.

The pilot was a generous and respectful young man named Charlie Morris. Charlie introduced me to flying a taildragger that day and some of the skills required to safely take off and land on a grass runway. Although the flight was brief, it inspired me to someday get my taildragger endorsement.

More importantly, though, I made a friend that day! Charlie has since then obtained his instrument rating and has invited me back for training once he completes his instructor rating.

Blake Montgomery
Nashville, Tennessee

Difference Makers

Thank you so much for the articleshighlighting the amazing CFIs and flight schools this year (“Difference Makers,” March/April 2022 Flight Training). The issue where AOPA celebrates the amazing flight schools and CFIs each year is one of my favorites! It really encourages and motivates the community to recognize the dedication and passion that we have all around us. That being said, I was wondering why excellence in ground instruction or outstanding ground instructors are not recognized.

Celebrating people is a way to place value on what someone contributes to the community. I would ask AOPA to consider recognizing ground instruction excellence each year along with flight schools and CFIs to increase awareness of the importance of a skill set that has been long overlooked.

Rachael Webster
Auburn, Alabama

Although ground instructors are not recognized in their own category, they are not excluded from consideration as Distinguished Flight Instructors. In fact, many ground instructors have won in the past. —Ed.

Game Time

I just read the article “Game Time” in the March/April issue of Flight Training magazine. Maybe it’s not against FAA rules to throw a roll of toilet paper out of an airplane as a training exercise, but to my way of thinking there are still laws against littering, whether on the ground or from the air. The last I heard, laws trump rules.

Shame on you. In these days of increasing environmental concern, especially in an issue that covers April, the month of Earth Day, such an exercise should not even be considered, much less suggested and condoned. Please try to be better.

Jim Day
North Andover, Massachusetts

FAR Part 91.15 states, “No pilot in command of a civil aircraft may allow any object to be dropped from that aircraft in flight that creates a hazard to persons or property. However, this section does not prohibit the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.” Certain state and city laws on littering may conflict with this ruling. Check your local and state-wide laws on littering before dropping anything out of your aircraft.—Ed.

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