Ever wonder what day of the week is busier at the SQL or PAO airport? I was thinking that there would be a big difference between the weekday and weekend in terms of operations. I found data on operations counts for San Carlos and Palo Alto for the past year and charted it below. What I found was that it doesn't appear to be dramatically different between the various days. Although it appears Monday is the least busy day.

BTW, PAO is about 58% busier than SQL.





"free ground school" sessions in December

Dan Dyer is putting on two special "free ground school" sessions in December.

Tuesday, Dec 13:  A Review of Airspace
Tuesday, Dec 20:  Advanced Aerodynamic Topics from Ground School

The private pilot Ground School in SQL will end early in December, and I'd rather not start a new 3-month cycle of classes until January of 2012.  I've decided to replace the two skipped weeks (Dec 13 and Dec 20) with ground school-like safety seminars, open to anyone.  The sessions are free and open to anyone, student or private or CFI.  If you know of anyone struggling with airspace or advanced aerodynamics, let them know.

Sessions will be at SQL classroom, starting at 6:30pm.

Student and New Pilot Support Group

Monday December 5th 7-8PM at the San Carlos Clubhouse

WVFC's Student and New Pilot Support Group is a monthly meeting geared for new pilots and student pilots. Each month we pick a topic and have a short presentation on that topic, followed by lots of questions, answers, and discussion. It's a great way for new pilots and student pilots to meet other people going through the same process and share tips on what works.

This month's topic "Meet the voice of SQL Tower" We will have a representative from the SQL tower join us to talk about helpful hints for new pilots/student pilots when operating in/around SQL airport. Feel free to come with questions you might have about communicating with the tower After the discussion, stay around for pilot Team Trivia with prizes for the most answers.

Basically a fun night for student or new pilots. No sign-up required, but an advance RSVP is always nice. (Send RSVPs to: hpatten@pacbell.net).

It is blowin up there

Check out these winds aloft forecast for SFO area!

********  FD Winds Aloft Forecast  ********

DATA BASED ON 301200Z                                                REQUESTED
VALID 010000Z   FOR USE 2100-0600Z. TEMPS NEG ABV 24000              ALTITUDE
FT  3000    6000    9000   12000   18000   24000  30000  34000  39000  5500
SFO 0240 0258+07 0169+07 0170-01 3572-15 3476-27 338945 339153 327957 0255+08

And how about these pireps from the area?

LVK UA /OV LVK-LVK090004 /TM 1834 /FL040 /TP PA44 /TB MOD 040/BLO
SJC UA /OV NUQ135007 /TM 1826 /FL045 /TP BE35 /WV 36050KT /TB NEG /RM WIND FROM THE NORTH 50KTS  030-060

The prog charts shows the steep pressure gradient between the High Pressure and the low pressure... and then the associated impacts to flying are noted in the airmets below... Also a sigmet issued for the Sierras




check out the close isobars



Airmet T - Turbulence

Airnet T





Congratulations Eric!

Yesterday brought Eric a perfect Autumn day and a new private pilot certificate. Congratulations!

HAF Crab Update: Crabbers strike for better price - Half Moon Bay Review : News

Crabbers strike for better price - Half Moon Bay Review : News: The crab looks good but the fishermen aren't ready to leave the
docks until they get a fair price.

FAR 2012 - Part 2

Some updates were made to the FAR in August but they have very little impact on most pilots. Some FAR updates of note include:

61.65 Instrument rating requirements
Now allows a student pilot to pursue an instrument rating simultaneous with a private certificate.

A nice place to see updates is:
http://www.asa2fly.com/files/updates/FARAIM_Update2012.pdf

Congratulations Ken!

Congratulations to Ken on his solo Saturday morning. He made this short movie (about a minute) from the footage I shot with his iPad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z91vQQwNeWU

Congratulations Mark!

Congratulations to Mark Centoni on his first solo this morning at PAO! Calm wind, blue skies and a great flight.

FAR 2012

The FAR 2012 "books" have been out for a few weeks..for those who still get the book. So what's new for the typical GA pilot? Not much. Some minor changes to part 61 and part 91.

These are:

61.57 (d) "Instrument proficiency check" ... additional text was added on who can give the instrument proficiency check (IPC) and other requirements.

61.65 (c) Instrument rating requirements "Flight Proficiency" ... it looks like it corrects a typo in the opening paragraph to refer to paragraph (g) which defines the maximum hours of instrument training allowed in a flight simulator or flight training devices. The 2011 version referred to paragraph (e) in error.

91.107 (a)(3)(iii)(B)(3)(iv) "Use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, and child restraint systems" ... changed the reference to section 21.8 for seat or child restraint compliance for child restraint system that do not bear a specific label.

91.147 (b) "Passenger-carrying flights for compensation or hire" removes the "by September 11, 2007" for when an Operator must receive a Letter of Authorization.

91.417 (a) (2) (vi) "Maintenance Records" changes the reference for the required forms to section 43.9(d) from 43.9(a) - looks like another typo being corrected.

But... that is just the changes to the "hard copy" FAR as printed by ASA between the 2011 and 2012 editions. There are updates to the printed 2012 book that are current as of 10/12.2011. More to come on that.

New Power Plants and Airports

I just started to notice the following NOTAM for a local airport, Byron, C83

Byron CA [C83]: September NOTAM #246 issued by Oakland CA [OAK]
(O) POWER PLANT 2.7 south EMITTING THERMAL PLUMES avoidance advised 1500 / below

See these great pictures that show the new power plant in relation to the Byron airport as well as a display of the flight paths for a month. As you can see it is close.

In a recent Cal Pilots meeting it was mentioned that they are seeing a number of these new power plants spring up near airports. As I understand, these are not the typical large power plants but are converted jet engines that have a shorter exhaust stak but still generate a thermal plume that can be felt and can impact GA plans. This NOTAM will probably go away once the charts are updated.

Passenger Stories

I had a friend report an interesting passenger story. The story is:

We headed down to South County with a landing in PAO and had to turn back at San Jose. One of my friends was starting to get airsick - thank god he did not puke! I just asked NorCal to go back. They asked if there were any problems and I explained the situation. Flew back to KSQL without incident.

Some thoughts on this:

What's in your flight bag? Do you have air sick bags?

Do you have on your passenger briefing card information on where to locate the air sick bags and to request that your passengers let you know if they are not feeling well?

As always, if in contact with ATC, let them know what you need and use them...

Congratulations Leo!!!

Congratulations to Leo on his solo today! Pictures posted when I can figure out how.

What do you make of this?

So, for some reason I was looking at this airport and I found something I had never seen before.

What catches your eye about the information contained here and has anyone been to Healdsburg to experience this unqiue feature?

It took my awhile to do the research on this but what I found was very interesting. I think I now want to fly to Healdsburg and experience this first hand.

Presidential TFR -

I haven't see this type of VIP TFR before... but it is not like I have been looking at these for decades. Normally the VIP TFRs that I have seen are for a specific radius from a specific point. These TFRs are for a specific distance from a "Line Segment" resulting in the race track type exclusion zone depicted in the pictures. An example of one of these in "text" is:

Airspace Definition:
Buffer defined bounded by:
Buffer: 10 nautical miles
Buffer Type: From any point along the line segments.
Line Segments:
Latitude: Longitude: FRD:
41º31'05"N 90º35'00"W MZV007012.1
41º25'02"N 90º00'44"W BDF309024.6

Altitude: From the surface up to but not including 18000 feet MSL


In this case, a picture is extremely helpful. Imagine having to plot a dozen or more of the line segment TFRs during per flight planning... it would be enough to make one think maybe today is not a day I should be flying...

Congratulations Hakan!

New instrument rated pilot! Bull ride tonight at Old Pro, 8:30.

SQL Experience ... what would you do?

Coming into SQL yesterday afternoon I was switched to tower and reported approaching Coyote Hills. The response was what I was expecting, right base for runway 30 report cement plant BUT it “sounded” different. It sounded like the tower controller was down the hallway talking into the microphone, i.e. it was a faint. As I continued inbound, things got a lot stranger. As aircraft made calls to SQL tower, the SQL tower responses not only were faint but became choppy… you could hear only every other word. A few seconds latter you could only hear garbled responses from SQL tower. Planes already in contact with SQL were reporting back that the SQL response was unreadable. A plane on the ground must have just switched to tower frequency with a request and went through the whole process of indicating they were having difficulty hearing on COMM 1 and were going to switch to COMM 2 thinking they had the problem trying again on COMM 2 and getting no clear response. At this time, no one could understand SQL tower transmissions. So what do you do in a situation like that? We have all been trained on how to handle a radio failure in our planes when landing at class D airspace, i.e.

“Remain outside or above Class D airspace until direction of traffic and runway in use has been determined. Squawk 7600 before entering Class D airspace, enter the traffic pattern on a 45, and fly a typical pattern for landing. Look for light gun signals.”

But is there a standard procedure when the loss of radio communications is with the tower itself?

So I started to consider my Options….
Before I tell how this situation ended, I am curious how many great suggestions we have on how to handle this situation. This would be a great topic for a pilot discussion group.

See and Avoid info

See info below on the seeandavoid website.


The SeeAndAvoid.org portal offers a centralized, credible website that provides civilian and military pilots with reciprocal information and education on airspace, visual identification, aircraft performance, and mutual hazards to safe flight - with the ultimate goal of eliminating midair collisions and reducing the number of close calls.

This portal is targeting two user groups. The first group is General Aviation (GA) Pilots, who we encourage to include SeeAndAvoid.org as part of their flight planning. From weather to Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to flight planning, pilots in general and civilian pilots in particular, use the Internet to get their most important flight safety information. As important as the weather, knowing where the military operational flying areas are - and how to avoid that airspace - is crucial to a safe flight. Unexpected turbulence, icing, terrain obscured by fog, or a jet flying low at 500 knots; each one is just as deadly to the GA pilot if not planned for prior to takeoff.

This website integrates and links with related sites such as FAA Special Use Airspace, AOPA’s Air Safety Foundation, and the new FAA MADE (military airspace deconfliction) program.

Gratifying Day at the Airport

Today at the airport...

I saw former student Robert safety piloting for current student Hakan on a practice instrument flight.
I saw former student Jenna CFI'ing for current student Faria on a mock checkride flight.
I saw current student Eric washing his plane like a proud aircraft owner.
Kevin told me he's going to put a third 152 on the flight line at Advanced because the planes are getting so busy.
Ken and Leo practiced going to San Carlos and back.

Thanks to all of you! It is so gratifying to see everyone out there enjoying a beautiful day at the airport, using their ratings, and helping each other out.

Patti

Drive? Why would we want to drive to Berkeley?

<p>Just the other day I had this crazy thought run through my head; a completely new format of thinking about how I am going to get somewhere that isn't all that far, but a 'boring' drive none the less.<br>
There was something in berkeley I wanted to go pick up. I can't remember what it was. Maybe a carpeted skateboard, some unfound berkeley-exclusive coffee beans, a hemp something or other, or the ever-fanciful barefoot boogie.

Bottom line: I had my first 'why do I want to drive all the way there when I can fly instead?' And then I realized that I could not yet. So I did not go.

I did in fact have a dream that I took a very small glider-esque plane on the freeway though. All by myself.

Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing On Highway 280

Interesting comments from the story:

"This could have been a lot worse," said CHP Capt. Mile Maskarish. "The fact that everyone's okay, no injuries, no significant damage and there weren't more veicles on the freeway... We're thankful this didn't have a much more tragic ending."



Link to full story: http://www.ktvu.com/news/28437461/detail.html

SQL Tower Tour anybody?

The manager of the SQL tower mentioned a couple of months ago that they are open for tours of the tower facility, workload permitting. A year or so ago I tried to get a tour but they couldn't offer them because of security protocols so I have never been in the SQL tower. I think it would be interesting to take a tour and would find it more enjoyable if we did this as a group. So if you are interested post your interest here and I will coordinate the tour with the tower manager. I am thinking perhaps a Friday afternoon, evening or a weekend morning (before it gets too busy). If you have a preference for time include that in your response.

Herb

This happened last night. Somehow, no injuries. An important image to keep close in mind, however - so important to be thorough in planning, to be pro-active in noticing/responding to in-flight anomolies, and when that doesn't work to be well-practiced in executing emergency landings.

Newcomers to the Blog

I just invited the students who have started flying with me recently to the blog... welcome Ken, Leo, Sonia (pre-solo), David (getting ready for his checkride), and Hakan (Instrument).

Patti

Going to Kingdon Airport (O20)?

Kingdon Airport (O20) is having a Pilot Competition tommorow, June 11th. It is a flour bombing and spot landing competition. For more details check out:

http://www.deltaflyingclub.com/#/club-events/4540276827

Sounds like fun

Wind History

Check out this site that another WVFC member/pilot/student created:

http://www.windhistory.com/

It provides an interesting view into prevailing winds at airports.

Oakdale (O27) Airport History

It is interesting to read the history behind a number of the airports in the area.

http://www.oakdaleleader.com/news/article/4785/

And we thought PAO squirrels were things to watch out for....

It is always interesting to run across an unusual NOTAM. This is one from Modesto. Anyone been to MOD to actually see this?

!MOD 05/003 MOD TWY B ANIMAL HOLE 100 NORTHWEST TWY D INTXN 25 SOUTHWEST TWY B CNTRLN 8 IN WIDE BY 24 IN DEEP

Fun WX Fact

They called this a fun WX fact but you would have to be into cold WX to consider this fun...

FUN FACT...LIVERMORE AVERAGE HIGH IS NOW 80 DEGREES. ONLY 3 DAYS THIS MONTH REACHED 80 OR HIGHER IN LIVERMORE AND THE LAST OCCURRED ON MAY 5TH...WITH MOST DAYS OBSERVING HIGHS ONLY IN THE 60S SINCE THEN. IN ADDITION...OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS MANY LOCATIONS ARE SEEING AVERAGE HIGHS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE COLDEST EVER FOR THAT PERIOD. HOWEVER IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS SAME THREE WEEK STRETCH LAST YEAR WAS EVEN SLIGHTLY COOLER FOR HIGHS IN MANY LOCATIONS.

Source: www.weather.gov/zov
under the Aviation Text link

nasty storm tonight mid-country

ATIS error?

Hmm... what error has been made in this morning's ATIS?


KPAO 281447Z 28007KT 20SM SCT030 BKN10 13/08 A3001

Interesting METAR for SQL

KSQL 022151Z 33010KT 30SM FEW010 FEW015 SCT180 23/07 A3024 RMK FU

I haven't seen an FU before.

If you look it up you will find it stands for "smoke"

There was an explosion/fire south of SQL yesterday afternoon at the Graniterock plant ... Smoke was thick and black as it was two tanks of liquid asphalt.
The location was pretty much at the base to final turn for a long final (abeam Kaiser).

It attarcted 3 news helicopters and SQL suspended closed traffic.

Parade of Planes - May 22nd

The San Carlos Airport Association is pleased to sponsor the 2011 Parade of Planes. This community aviation educational event provides a unique opportunity for children to learn about small aircraft “up-close." Scheduled for Sunday May 22, 2011, the planes will parade (taxi) down Redwood Shores Parkway (from the Station 20 Fire House) to the Sandpiper Elementary School, 801 Redwood Shores Parkway, and remain on static display from 11 AM to 12:30 PM.

We need airplanes for this event -- preferably with a wingspan under 25 feet. We also need volunteers to manage aircraft movement, traffic, and provide education. To volunteer for this event, please contact Carlyn Smith: carlyn.m.smith@gmail.com . To consider providing aircraft, please contact Michael Baum michael@secureav.com (650-867-9492).

Please check the SCAPA web site for current information about the event

OK --- things in Threes (3)....

Hopefully this United 497 event closes the loop on the latest series of aricraft incidents. In the audio you can hear ATC offer to provide a "no gyro" approach. From the visit to NorCal it is my understanding that this is when ATC tells the pilot when to start turning and when to stop turning... used in cases where the pilot has no instruments or is in such a bad situation that they can't effectively use the instruments on the plane. Pretty amazing that they made it back to the airport with no injuries. More details at: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/united_airlines_pilot_airport.html Transcript of the ATC conversation:

7:07:00 United Airlines 497: Clear for takeoff Runway 19, thank you very much.
7:11:35 UA 497: We need to vector back to the airport, we got a smoke issue with the airplane.
7:11:43 N.O. approach controller: Turn right 030 (degrees) and maintain 4,000 (feet).
7:11:51 UA 497: 030 4,000. And we'd like the longest runway, please.
7:12:23 N.O. approach: There are men and equipment on the runway -- they're going to try to get them off now. Descend at pilot's discretion. Maintain 2,000.
7:12:31 UA 497: We are declaring an emergency, and please roll equipment for our landing please.
7:12:57 N.O. approach: We are unable (to clear Runway) 10, can you take (Runway) 19? 7:13:00 UA 497: ... no ...
7:13:06 N.O. approach: Roger, we are clearing the runway now.
7:13:26 Airport operations: How much time do we have?
7:13:30 New Orleans tower: I'd say they are about 11 miles to the west.
7:13:39 Airport operations: Tower, we can start trying to pull them off, but I don't think we will get them all off in time.
7:14:00 N.O. approach: United 497, say souls on board and fuel remaining.
7:14:05 UA 497: 106 souls on board, fuel remaining 32,400 pounds.
7:14:16 N.O. approach: They are still trying to get all the vehicles off the runway and 19 is still available if you like ...
7:14:24 New Orleans tower: ... working as fast as they can (unintelligible). There is a bunch of equipment on there. They're trying to get it off now. 7:14:32 UA 497: You need to clear it for us.
7:14:35 New Orleans tower: I understand, sir. We're getting them off as fast as we can.
7:15:02 N.O. approach: Turn right heading 140, main 2,000 ... cleared ILS (instrument landing system) Runway 10 approach.
7:15:17 New Orleans tower: Can you verify the vehicles are exiting?
7:15:21 Airport operations: We are attempting to get the vehicles off right now. I'm removing the cones also.
7:15:27 New Orleans tower: OK, 'cause I haven't seen any of the vehicles move and the aircraft is 10 to the northwest and they have to have Runway 100.
7:15:40 N.O. approach: United 497, Turn right heading 180.
7:15:49 UA 497: um ... We only have one ... um ... (Alarms sounding in background.) 7:15:56 N.O. approach: United 497 say again sir?
7:16:04 New Orleans tower: We need three minutes to get the runway clear.
7:16:10 UA 497: (alarms blaring) We've lost all our instruments right now and we're going to need (radar directions to the airport).
7:16:33 N.O. approach: United turn left heading, 20 degrees left.
7:16:43 N.O. approach: Just continue left turn. I'll tell you when to stop.
7:16:54 UA 497: (unintelligible) What vector are we from the airport?
7:17:01 N.O. approach: Right now, sir, you are on the 330 degree heading from the airport. Northwest of the airport for Runway 19er. If you continue on this present heading, you'll set up on the shoreline for 19.
7:17:05 UA 497: Shoreline for 19.
7:17:07 N.O. approach: I can set you up there or I can vector you, what'd you need?
7:17:12 UA 497: That's fine.
7:17:13 N.O. approach: (unintelligible ... )You got the water, right?
7:17:16 UA 497: Yeah, we got the water, and we're going to stop here about 600 feet. 7:17:17 N.O. approach: Roger that. The airport's currently at your 1 o'clock and 5 miles.
7:17:20 UA 497: 1 o'clock and 5 miles, roger.
7:17:52 New Orleans tower to fire crews: Fox-6, next arrival Runway 19er is our aircraft. And the aircraft is approximately 3 miles northwest runway 19er.
7:17:57 N.O. approach: If you start your right turn now, I can set you up on final. 7:18:02 UA 497: Start turn on final.
7:18:30 New Orleans tower to fire crews: The aircraft is over the shoreline around 2 miles out. You do have permission to proceed on to the runway after he lands.
7:18:40 N.O. approach: Make a right turn. The airport is off to your right side.
7:18:47 N.O. approach: 497, clear to land 19er. You'll be able to make it, sir? Winds 180 at 16, gusts to 20, Clear to land. Runway 19er.
7:19:36 New Orleans tower to fire trucks: Fox-5, this is our aircraft touching down now.
7:19:45 New Orleans tower to fire trucks: Follow the aircraft down the runway.
7:20:10 New Orleans tower: We're going to need Runway 10 operational. Runway 19er is fouled at this time.
7:20:19 Fox-5 (NOFD): The aircraft is off the runway. Times are approximate.

Small Plane Crashes At Oakland International Airport

Small Plane Crashes At Oakland International Airport Posted: 4:52 pm PDT April 3, 2011 OAKLAND, Calif. -- A small private plane crashed into the water after takeoff Sunday at Oakland International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It was not known how many people were onboard the single engine Navion that crashed at about 3:40 p.m. or their condition. Emergency crews are on the scene. Haven't heard any more details....

"controlled" descent SWA 812

Yesterday SWA #812, a Boeing 737, lost cabin pressure after a hole developed in the skin of the plane on Friday en-route from PHX to SAC.

Officials said Flight 812 lost pressure because of a fuselage rupture. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the pilot made a "controlled descent from 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet altitude."

I grabbed some info from flight aware to see how quickly they went from 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet. It looks like at one point they were descending at over 10,000 feet per minute. I wonder what it feels like to desend at 10,000 feet per minute.

Here are some of the charts:

WVFC Student Pilot Support Group

The first meeting of this group will be Thursday March 31st at 7:00 PM at the WVFC San Carlos location. The idea is to have a monthly meeting for student pilots to get together and help each other go through the training process. All are welcomed. For more information check out the WVFC newsletter. Future monthly topics include:

• Solo x-c stories


• Dealing with WVFC phase checks


• Managing your CFI


• Flying for fun once you've gotten your license


• To own or not own during training - or pick your own topic!!!

Puzzle anyone?

Can you plot a flight that goes through all the class air spaces consecutively i.e. G directly to E directly to D directly to C directly to B? And for the purposes of the puzzle assume that ATC will permit you entry at will to any controlled airspace regardless of typical routing procedures and make the flight path start with a departure from an airport and end with a landing at an airport.

Mountain Flying Operations 4/13

There is another FAA Safety seminar coming up. This will be at PAO. The following is the descriptions.


If you ever plan to fly in the mountains or at high altitudes, this seminar is for you. Learn about the preparation and planning needed for mountain flying. Among other topics, we'll discuss mountain weather, handling updrafts, down drafts, and other flight hazards, emergency equipment, making a survivable emergency landing, oxygen requirements, and the effects of high density altitude on aircraft performance.

Presenter Scott Stauter holds Gold Seal CFI, CFII, MEI, and AGI certificates. He has done extensive mountain flying in both the Sierras and Rocky Mountains. Among many other achievements, Scott has successfully landed at and taken off from "North America's Highest Paved Airport," Leadville, Colorado, located at an elevation of 9,927 feet. He will cover the planning and execution of safe flights in mountainous areas.

You can go to www.faasafety.gov to sign up or you can try this link:

https://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/event_details.aspx?eid=37715&caller=/SPANS/events/EventList.aspx

Just what is that thing????

There is a beautiful plane right outside of WVFC PAO office, N6658A. It is a glossy dark blue with immaculate white interior ... but what caught my eye was the "thing" on the side of the plane. This is a Venturi vacuum system. The idea is the suction produced is strong enough to drive the gyros of the Attitude Indicator (AI) and the Directional Gyro (DG). Pretty cool stuff in addition to a sharp looking plane... so much to learn... so little time....

PAO Runway closure?

Anyone know what is going on at PAO this Thursday?

Palo Alto CA (Palo Alto Arpt Of Santa Clara Co) [PAO]: March NOTAM #2
Runway 13/31 closed effective from March 10th, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST (1103101800) - March 10th, 2011 at 02:00 PM PST (1103102200)

Gusty Winds today/forecast

Winds were/are pretty gusty today. It seemed like earlier in the morning they were blowing pretty hard.

Winds aloft show some strong winds for the area

FT 3000 6000 9000

SFO 3333 3332-01 3344-05

The METARS were showing high winds.

KSFO 071256Z 29020G30KT

KSJC 071253Z AUTO 27015G25KT

Is the main cause of this the location of the high pressure system off the coast and the low pressure system in NV reinforcing/creating a strong wind between the two systems? i.e. the clockwise rotation around the high and the counter clockwise rotation around the low is blowing right through the center of the bay area???

Congratulations Sanjay...

... West Valley's newest private pilot!

WINGS Safety Seminar @ SQL - Speaker Patti Andrews CFII

Safe Operating Practices at Non-Towered Airports

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 , starting at 7:00 pm

In this seminar, WVFC CFII Patti Andrews will cover:
- traffic pattern procedure and techniques
- proper communication
- collision avoidance
- VFR and IFR operations
- flying alongside helicopters, gliders, parachutists
- courtesy tips

To sign up

http://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/event_details.aspx?eid=37132&caller=/SPANS/events/EventList.aspx

Front row seats reserved for Students of Patti?

Norcal Approach vs Norcal Departure?

A couple of weeks ago I got to go on a tour of the TRACON facility in Sacramento that we all know as NORCAL. It was a really fascinating tour and very educational. The tour started with a briefing/presentation that lasted almost two hours where we could ask all sorts of questions. The briefing was handled by Victoria, a trainer and a controller. Following the briefing we went into the area where the controllers work and we listened in and watched the controller “work” their planes at one of the stations. I got to sit with a controller directing traffic into Oakland from the Sunol area. It was interesting to see all the various planes in the area as well as you could see the planes at PAO as they were flying around the pattern. I even spotted N35583, a C172SP from SQL, as It was flying into Hayward. One question that was asked is when do you call NORCAL Departure vs. Approach? The short answer is it really doesn’t matter, NORCAL Approach is the best option to use. The official answer is that the only time to use NORCAL "Departure" is on the initial call out of a towered airport when tower tells you to contact NORCAL departure i.e. before you have been radar identified departing from a towered airport.

Congratulations Joe!

Congratulations to Joe - a new private pilot as of this afteroon and moving to Hawaii day after tomorrow. Now if only I can find his solo shirt!

Presidential TFR on 2/18

http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_1_7062.html

The Gold Standard

Herb put together some good checklists to guide his preparation in the final stages of his private pilot training, as he was getting ready to meet with his examiner. His preparation was memorably excellent - right up there with Julia Singleton's private pilot prep in Summer '09 - and so... although every applicant needs to put together his or her own lists and reminders as they get ready for their own checkride, I want to encourage Herb to post his prep notes here on the blog for the benefit of future almost-private-pilots. I didn't have the blog yet when Julia took her checkride and I don't know if she has postable notes, but if so it would be great to get those posted as well.

Thanks guys!

It too can happen....

After many trials and tribulations
Several false starts on scheduling
a mad rush to a finish line that got pushed back months
A switch to a different examiner
delays due to WX
I took my check ride today and heard the words we all want to hear
"Herb, you are a private pilot"
well at least the last part of that sentence is what we all want to hear

Thanks to many but I have a special place in my heart for our instructor that has seen me through this entire adventure. I can't thank Patti enough.
Patti ... i love you... thanks for all the support!

For those that are interested, I have compiled some notes and will finish them off with some final thoughts from the actual check ride.

Faria ... I am legal if you still are game...
Herb

"Monumental" Australian cyclone

They are saying this is the largest storm ever to hit the country.

Headwind or Tailwind?

Another question I find interesting is: if you were flying to South Lake Tahoe at 13,500 ft MSL (since you want to be well clear of the mountains ... plus you want to brag to your friends that you flew that high...) and you see that your ground speed is 135 KTs/hour but your Air Speed indicator reads 125 KTs... do you have a headwind or a tailwind?

VOR interesting point

I was asked the following question about the Hangtown VOR.

Why does this VOR box include the type of VOR, "VOR DME" when other VOR's do not need to include that information.

Temporary Restriction of Closed Traffic at SQL

In case you haven't seen this notice....

Temporary Restriction of Closed Traffic at SQL

The San Carlos Airport Air Traffic Control Tower advises that closed traffic operations/pattern work at San Carlos Airport may need to be suspended without prior notice during the next several weeks because of a temporary reduction in tower staffing levels.Please note: the dates and times of the above restriction are subject to change. Please contact the San Carlos Airport office at 650-573-3700 if you have any questions. Pilots should verify all restrictions by checking the latest FAA Notams prior to flight.

F18 fly-by at SQL on Saturday 1/15 at 2PM

Passing this along from San Carlos Pilot Association:

A really neat feature of this event will be an F18 fly-by of SQL at 2PM. We are passing along this information because we know that many of you would enjoy seeing this yourself.

Humurous ATC

Someone sent these to me and I got a chuckle out of them...

Tower: "Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o'clock, 6 miles!"
Delta 351: "Give us another hint! We have digital watches!"

Tower: "TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 Degrees."
TWA 2341: "Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?"
Tower: "Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?"

A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, "What was your last known position?"
Student: "When I was number one for takeoff."

A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down.
San Jose Tower Noted:
"American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadeloupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport."

One day the pilot of a Cherokee 180 was told by the tower to hold short of the active runway while a DC-8 landed. The DC-8 landed, rolled out, turned around, and taxied back past the Cherokee...
Some quick-witted comedian in the DC-8 crew got on the radio and said, "What a cute little plane. Did you make it all by yourself?"The Cherokee pilot, not about to let the insult go by, came back with a real zinger: "I made it out of DC-8 parts. Another landing like yours and I'll have enough parts for another one."

The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: " Frankfurt , Speedbird 206! clear of active runway."
Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven."
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"
Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?"
Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, -- And I didn't land."

Stadium TFRs

There is an interesting dialog at the link below about a pilot that flew within the TFR restriction around a football stadium in Ames, IA. It goes to show you that it is hard to know when this TFR is in effect especially if you are flying cross country.

http://uncontrolledairspace.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1747&p=8621&hilit=tfr#p8621

The following link is a listing of the stadiums that fall under the TFR. The usuals show up here on the list like Stanford, Candlestick, AT&T Park, etc... but also Infineon Raceway which is not something that would come to my mind.

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/stadiums.html

Rob had at one point a web site that would provide details of the schedules for all the local stadiums but I can't seem to find it. Some information can be found on his site at:
http://www.down-and-locked.com/planning/