Instrument Ground School

Over the last month or so I've seen some interest in Instrument Ratings. Because of this, I'm looking into convening an Instrument Ground School. The time and duration of meeting is pretty flexible, so any feedback I can get would be great. Historically the ground school has run 10-12 weeks and met for 3-4 hours per week in one or two sessions.

Please call or email to express your interest or to sign up.

Barry

Reading Material

And so the dreary days of November are upon us... The airplanes are very available for crosswind practice and, on the right days, actual instrument practice. We're getting reunited with our old morning friend, frost.

Just because it's cold doesn't mean you shouldn't fly! The airplanes perform much better in the dense, cold air, and availability is up. (Pop quiz...explain 3 reasons airplanes like cold air) I've even worked to make 733GL's heater a little more effective!

As a reminder I'd like to mention that we're keeping the airplanes plugged in. When you get back from a flight, please do the next guy a favor and plug it back in. Have you ever tried to start an airplane with molasses in the crankcase? ;)

So for on the days you can't come out to fly, I've found some reading material that may pique your interest: FAA Advisory Circulars.
Some recommendations:
AC-00-2.15 Appendix 3- Index of AC's
AC-00-6A Aviation Weather
AC-00-45F Aviation Weather Services
AC-61-9B Transition to Complex A/C
AC-61-65E Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors
AC-61-67C Stall and Spin Awareness Training
AC-91-6A Water, Slush, and Snow on the Runway
AC-91-13C Cold Weather Operation of Aircraft

Notice that the AC's are numbered by FAR section they modify.

Barry

Happy Halloween!!!

Hey everyone!

As a few of you may already know, but many probably don't, is that there's a PARTY going on at Airlake!

This Saturday, October 25th, there will be a Halloween party going on in the Aircraft Resource Center hangar. We'll start the afternoon around 3PM with kid's events, including pumpkin bowling and a haunted house! Not wanting to leave out the adults, there will be a costume contest and creeper-race complete with cash and prizes! Then, from 7 to 10, there will be a Hangar Dance. Food will be served before the dance.

Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for kids. We're really looking forward to this event, which should be a LOT of fun! Airlake Flight Training, Aircraft Resource Center, and LSA North all appreciate you support and we hope to see you there! Please don't hesitate to call if you would like more information or would like to volunteer.

Barry Park
O: 952-985-0475
C: 612-849-9759

Flying Geek Meets Hurricane Geek

So who's been following hurricane Ike? He's gonna beat up southeast Texas pretty badly. Check out these TAF's! The first one is from an Air Force Base, so the format is a little different. The winds are the same, though! 80G95!!!
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METAR KEFD 16:50Z 09/12/08
KEFD 121650Z 03013G23KT 8SM BKN030 OVC060
31/23 A2967 RMK HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT/

TAF HOUSTON/ELLINGTO, TX
KEFD 121212 04015G25KT 9999 VCSH SCT030 SCT100 BKN250 550009
550909 QNH2972INS
BECMG 1516 03020G30KT 8000 -SHRA SCT030 BKN100 BKN250
550009 550909 QNH2964INS
BECMG 1718 03035G50KT 6000 -SHRA VCTS BKN030 OVC150 590009
590909 QNH2952INS
BECMG 2122 02055G70KT 3200 TSRA OVC025 590009 590909
QNH2945INS
BECMG 0203 02065G75KT 3200 +RA OVC020 590009 590909
QNH2938INS
BECMG 0405 13075G85KT 1600 +RA OVC010 590009 590909
QNH2932INS
TEMPO 0509 13080G95KT 0800 +TSRA BR OVC009CB
BECMG 0809 18065G75KT 1600 +RA OVC010 590009 590909
QNH2928INS
TEMPO 0911 0800 +TSRA BR OVC009CB
BECMG 1011 21060G75KT 3200 +RA VCTS OVC009CB 590009 590909
QNH2925INS T31/21Z T25/12Z=


----------------------------------------
METAR KHOU 17:53Z 09/12/08
KHOU 121753Z 05019G26KT 10SM OVC040 31/21
A2961 RMK AO2 PK WND 04028/1728 SLP031 SHRA SW
8/5// T03060211 10306 20261 58017

TAF HOUSTON/HOBBY, TX
KHOU 121736Z 121818 03020G35KT P6SM BKN035CB BKN100 BKN250
FM2200 03030G40KT P6SM VCSH BKN030CB BKN080 OVC150
FM0300 03045G60KT 5SM TSRA BKN025CB OVC060
FM0600 03050G70KT 3SM +TSRA BKN015CB OVC040
FM0900 03055G75KT 3SM +TSRA BKN015CB OVC040
FM1200 20055G75KT 3SM +TSRA BKN015CB OVC040
FM1500 22045G65KT 4SM TSRA BKN015CB OVC040=

New Medical Rules

The FAA has recently updated the duration of a Third Class Medical Certificate. See the official page here. In short, if your exam was completed before your 40th birthday, you retain third class privileges for 60 months. If you have a first class medical, it is good for 6 months (over 40) or 12 months (under 40) before it is downgraded to the next lower class. Second class medicals are still valid for 12 months.

Remember, it's still your responsibility to ground yourself should you develop a disqualifying medical condition. If you ever have any question, call up AOPA's Aeromedical division.

Free Charts!

The FBO has graciously donated their expired charts and approach plates to us. If anyone is interested in taking some for study or for Flight Simulator, please let me know. Just don't let me catch you using them in a real airplane!

Barry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Politics as Usual...

Ok, so if you're not aware that the Republican National Convention is taking place in St. Paul, you've been sleeping under a rock. Apparently protesters are going to shut down the freeway, the cops are going to be on strike, and the bars will be open until 4 AM. My guess is that this is to compensate for the fact that you'll spend so much extra time GETTING TO the bars in the urban chaos.

Seriously, though, there are some aeronautical considerations as well. A TFR has been announced that will affect all operations into and out of Airlake. Fortunately, we're not close enough to be shut down completely. Unfortunately, the only way into or out of LVN is via a VFR or IFR flight plan, with a discrete squawk code and ATC contact. Also, the TFR will only be active for certain periods throughout the day.

I intend to continue flight training operations during the 'hot' periods. All of our instructors will be IFR current and capable of filing IFR. If there is an interest, we could operate two student flights at a time out of FBL, with one lesson filing out of the TFR and the second filing back in. In fact, this may be a great opportunity to sit in the back seat and learn by watching another student!

If you have any questions regarding this TFR please give me a call. I'll do my best to answer them so that we all make it through the Convention without an F-16 escort.

Barry