AviNation Magazine Summer 2023

Built for Your Mission...Flown for the Passion

Since our inception 35 years ago, our innovative engineering and manufacturing processes continue to create advanced composite aircraft that are powerful, elegant, safe, and comfortable. We put our hearts into every single aircraft we deliver. Those who own and fly our aircraft have come to know our commitment to quality and benefit directly from our experience.

New Flagship Aircraft STREAM SIRIUS STING S4 STREAM TURBO

Summer 2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS

By Izzy Pence

About AviNation

AviNation exists to attract, educate and empower youth in aviation. AviNation magazine strives to give readers insight into the future of aviation by focusing on aviation students, programs, events and innovative approaches to the promotion and continued growth of the aviation industry.

Staff & Contributors

Publisher: Jacob Peed

Copy Editor: Nancy Nwelati Coll

Administrative Coordinator:

Barb Moritz

Social Media Manager: Ethan Coll

Design & Production: Barb Stuve, Lime Valley

Mankato, MN

Business Development:

Thomas W. Flavin

Phone: (310) 709-0844

E-mail: Tom-flavin@roadrunner.com

Correspondence & Advertising

Editorial submissions, advertising and other correspondence

E-mail: jppeed@gmail.com

Phone: (515) 408-3763 www.avinationusa.com

Contributing Writers

Air Force Recruiting Service

Detachment 1

Andreas Pashos

Andrew Ross

Austin Banttari

Clinton Coonfield

Izzy Pence

James Birdsong, PhD & Captain Willie Billingslea

Jill Meyers

Leeanna Hauch

LED FastStart

Matt Ferrari

Nick Poucher

Robbie Grayson

Spencer Doyle

Savanna Tanner

Shawn Pugmire

Thank you to our Cornerstone Supporter

When Panthers Learn to Fly: STEM Day at SJPII

When the students at St. John Paul II Catholic High School learned that we were going to have a STEM Day, no one knew quite what to expect. Sure, we had guests come to our school and talk to us before, but it was nothing compared to what we learned on our day with Avination. While our school is home to the recognized Aerospace Engineering Club, the majority of the students have never learned anything about aviation beyond the basics.

Upon entering the gym, students were greeted with a variety of tables set out, each seating a different individual or group dedicated to a career in aerospace. We sat down for a bit to listen to several testimonies from each of the presenters and were then released to engage with them in smaller groups, allowing students to ask questions and learn more about their respective careers.

Our group got to see many different demonstrations and hear from various professionals in the world of aviation. We learned about what it is like to be part of the Coast Guard and Navy, learning about all the different career paths associated with those two branches of the military. Then, we headed over to the next station where we got to talk to United Airlines Captain Nathan Maki about the steps he took to become a successful airline pilot.

At the next station, we learned about what Million Air does at our local airport, Tallahassee International Airport. The group explained what they do as an FBO and the jobs that come along within that field of work.

The final station our group attended was the presentation from Epic Flight Academy, a flight school from New Smyrna Beach that has a location in our hometown of Tallahassee. We were able to talk to one of the instructors about how we could do a discovery flight and start our journey towards getting our pilot’s licenses.

When we ended the day, everyone felt as though they had learned things about aviation that they never would have previously found out on their own, and that this experience was beneficial to everyone at our school, not just those who had prior interest in pursuing a career in aviation. My fellow students and I would like to share our gratitude with Avination for bringing this wonderful experience to our school.

FROM STUDENT IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ TO ENGINEER AT DUNCAN AVIATION

“I’m happy here at Duncan Aviation, and I enjoy helping show that women can face the challenges of engineering, mathematics, and other science-based fields.”

“It’s wonderful to be able to serve as an example and a mentor, and to bring other women along in the field I enjoy so much.”

LEARN MORE: www.DA.aero/pathways/linh

Duncan Aviation is the largest family owned Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in the world!

We are proud of our 65 year history and excellent reputation. Most of all, we are proud of our expert team members who bring their best every day to ensure Duncan Aviation remains a competitive leader.

Linh Abdulrahman, Structures Engineer II

The AIM HIGH Flight Academy is a FREE, three-week program designed to inspire young adults to explore aviation. Students receive one-on-one training from Air Force and Certified Flight Instructors in a classroom and in the sky.

Scan the above QR code or visit: https://www.recruiting.af.mil/Aim-High-Flight-Academy/

Basic Qualifications

• Must be 16 by June 1st*

• Be enrolled in high school or graduating seniors*

• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better

The AIM HIGH Flight Academy is a three-week program that helps students gain confidence in aviation and prepares them to learn everything necessary to achieve up to 15 flight hours. A typical day in the program includes three key segments: flight simulator time, academic classroom time and flight time. You’ll be assigned to a flight, paired with a wingman and an Air Force mentor to study and fly with throughout the program. Other activities you’ll participate in include team building, study time and character development.

*U.S. Air Force Academy & Air Force ROTC Cadets may apply through their respective institution.

• A letter of recommendation from a high school principal or counselor

• An endorsement from someone who knows you well (like a job reference)

• A desire to learn about aviation and a strong work ethic

• Earn up to 15 flight hours

• Meet other students from around the country

• Learn important skills needed to become an aviator

• Strengthen your skills as a leader

• Attend the program completely free of charge

Participation does not obligate military service.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY AIR FORCE R.O.T.C. OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL (OTS)

Piedmont Airlines is committed to developing the next generation of aviation professionals and will assist you in pursuing your goals. Discover your journey to the flight deck through Piedmont’s Cadet Program, the most flexible pilot cadet program in the industry. Build time where you want, when you want - no partner school required.

Become a Piedmont Aircraft Maintenance Technician through our Tuition Payment Program. Candidates selected will receive a conditional offer of employment and Piedmont will cover the cost of tuition, testing and some fees. Piedmont has a career for everyone. Learn more and join our team today!

This ad is a little plane. Piedmont’s career opportunities are bigger.

Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School Students Take Flight

Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School (AAHS) is a new aviation-focused public charter school in Bessemer, Alabama (a southwestern suburb of Birmingham), founded in 2021. The school, free of charge for students, offers a career and college-focused education, providing students with a future-building, developmental pathway to success as pilots, mechanics, and other aviation professionals.

Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School will be an industry-changing institution, supplying a pipeline of young aviation talent from a community long underrepresented in aviation. Many in the aviation industry believe schools like this are needed more than ever. Dr. Witte, the Director of Auburn University School of Aviation, said this about AAHS. “The dynamic nature and high academic standards of AAHS serve not only to introduce students to the world of aviation but provide them with the skills and knowledge to be successful.”

AAHS’s inaugural class began in August 2022 with approximately 100 rising ninth-grade students. The high school will grow enrollment by adding a grade each of the next three years so that by 2025, it will have a full high school complement of grades 9-12. The high school’s first-year class includes 85 percent minorities, with 25 percent being female. Those pursuing pilot careers will help diversify the pilot workforce, which is presently 93 percent white and 92 percent male, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

School founder, Ruben Morris, and his leadership team worked to develop bridge-building partnerships across higher education and the aviation and aerospace industry to create unique learning opportunities for students. This past summer, Auburn University, which has been a leader in aviation education since the early 1940s and can trace its aviation roots to a Wright Brothers’ visit to Alabama before the opening of their first flight school in Montgomery, Alabama, and the historic World War II era Civilian Pilot Training Program, partnered with Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School to offer a week-long resident aviation summer camp to educate and inspire the high school’s inaugural students and help them learn about the many education and career opportunities available in aviation.

The university’s School of Aviation led academic programming, and the university’s Office of Outreach contributed logistical support. Twenty-seven high school freshmen attended the inaugural summer camp and now have a new perspective on what they can achieve in aviation and life. Students engaged in many hands-on activities that included: discovery flights from the Auburn University Regional Airport, simulator flights at the Delta Air Lines Aviation Education Building, a tour of university aircraft maintenance facilities, a visit to the Aerospace Engineering department led by Department Chair Dr. Brian Thurow, and tours of the wind tunnels and rocket labs, as well as a visit to Southern Union State Community College’s new engine

By James Birdsong,

with Auburn University!

lab, led by the college’s Director of Aviation Technology, Mr. Richard Belk. Students also visited the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site and museum at Moton Field in Tuskegee, just 25 minutes from Auburn. Students experienced university campus life while living in Auburn’s resident dormitories, eating at campus dining facilities, and enjoying evening social and recreational activities. School of Aviation students, flight instructors, faculty, and staff supported this program. Auburn University is a vital partner with AAHS. As stated by Mr. Morris, “Auburn’s School of Aviation is a mission-critical partner and supporter of AAHS. Our model depends on higher education and industry partners aligned with our mission to create clear Pathways into aviation and aerospace careers for all students. Auburn Aviation provides us with strategic guidance, essential training opportunities for students and staff, and invaluable exposure opportunities for students.”

Auburn University will host AAHS for another summer camp during Summer 2023. To learn more about the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, please visit https://alaahs.org/.

Written by James Birdsong, Ph.D., and Captain Willie Billingslea (USN,

Ph.D., and Captain Willie Billingslea (USN, Retired), Auburn University School of Aviation

Retired), Auburn University School of Aviation

UPDATE: Vlad Prostakov

By Nick Poucher

Former Lakeland Aero Club member Vlad Prostakov who currently has a Commercial Single and Multi Engine Land, Commercial Single Sea, Glider and Instrument certificates, Gold Seal Flight and Ground instructor instrument certificates and more than 1000 dual given hours in different types of aircraft and numerous successful students who have had a chance to get their pilot certificate. As a member the Aero Club Vlad participated trip from Florida to Oshkosh when he was only a student pilot and then many other trips as an instructor of the Aeroclub’s members. He is now committed to ensuring new students have the same opportunities and quality training that he did. He helps the students to get real-life experience and create the environment to learn proper decision-making models.

Vlad created a training program to ensure new pilots have access to comprehensive training through his company Advanced Aviators, LLC in Lakeland, FL. His flight school provides not only the regular basic training for all of types of pilot certificates, but it has the unique training syllabus which allows the fresh pilots and flight instructors to gain a huge amount of real-world experience in a short period of time.

Many commercial pilots earn their certifications around 250-300 hours and do not have experience outside of basic training aircraft. Furthermore, most flight training programs simply check the minimum requirements and do not adequately prepare new pilots for real world

scenarios. Vlad’s training program is designed for those pilots and instructors to get a wider range of training before entering the world of professional aviation. Upon completion of Vlad’s training program, new pilots will have the opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of aircraft including tailwheel, aerobatic, seaplanes, and gliders. The course is one to two weeks in duration and it allows pilots and flight instructors to get training in the critical stages of flight. The students will be more prepared for their first aviation jobs and employers will be happy to get high skill professionals who can provide high-quality service and ensure safe operations.

The statistic shows that most accidents happen with low time pilots and due to Loss of Control Inflight. Ensuring that pilots are not simply meeting minimum requirements but rather becoming prepared for flying outside of a training environment will ensure a higher level of safety for new pilots and flight instructors. This approach to the training will help to improve overall safety in the US aerospace system, help the pilots find jobs, and provide the employers with highly skilled aviators.

A Career in Aviation

the aviation industry is that there are so many careers for people to consider, in addition to the ones you read about most often. If you love airplanes but don’t want to be a pilot, flight attendant or aircraft mechanic, there are still dozens of jobs you can have and still be part of our amazing aviation community.

I once met a man who was the Arts Program Curator for the San Diego International Airport! His job entailed working with regional and national artists and arts organizations to curate the airport’s exhibitions and performing arts programs. Airports and aviation companies all over the world need accountants, graphic designers, marketing experts, and more. They also need lawyers…. lots of lawyers!

Aviation and Space Law is a truly fascinating and much-needed career field. Aviation lawyers provide commercial, regulatory and insurance advice and litigation services to the world’s airlines, manufacturers, and financiers. Key areas of work in this field include aircraft leasing and finance, competition and state aid, insolvency and restructuring, emissions trading rules and aviation disasters.

Space law covers decisions and activities for anything traveling beyond the earth’s atmosphere. This includes local, federal, and international laws regarding space travel, weapons, intellectual property law and environmental protection law. In an era where commercial firms like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and Blue Origin are sending people and objects into space, regulations—as well as application of laws—can be in flux and complex. Not to mention the fact that, closer to earth, an increasing number of companies and nations are competing for airspace. And as no one country owns space, space law follows treaties agreed upon by the United Nations.

So how does one become an aviation and/or space lawyer? You will first want to pursue a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, considered to be a “first degree” in law. If you want to practice law in the United States, you will, in almost all cases, need a J.D. degree. After that, many consider getting an LLM (Master of Laws) degree

in Air and Space Law. This graduate program will help students get up-to-speed regarding current laws in this space, as well as how the laws are being applied to new technologies and use cases. Many LLM programs in Air and Space Law leverage current thinking and research to inform their curriculums, ensuring that students have a cutting edge understanding of the field upon graduation. Classes in these programs include topics like Air Law, Public International Law, Space Law, and Aviation Law, as well as courses in related fields like Telecommunications Law and Security Law.

Many graduates of Air and Space Law programs find positions in law firms or consulting firms with an aviation and space law practice; legal departments of airports, airlines or aerospace companies; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or international Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs); ministries of transportation; space organizations like NASA or the European Space Agency; or in academia. The options are diverse and all very exciting!

To learn more about this unique career field, I interviewed my friend, Dayan “Day” Hochman-Vigil. At an early age, Day became interested in language, political science, and the arts. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College and a J.D. from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Law. After attending UNM, Day obtained her LLM in Aviation and Space Law from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. While studying at McGill, she was a consultant and project coordinator to the U.S. Delegation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, advising ICAO on aviation safety and security laws. During this time, she also contributed to aviation and transportation law-related case notes for an internationally acclaimed international law journal, including producing legal opinions on various international aviation regulatory issues. Day has been an attorney since 2012 and started her own

Aviation and Space Law

law firm, DHV Law LLC, in 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There are only a handful of aviation attorneys in New Mexico and Day is the only one certified to practice Aviation Law with a Masters in Law degree.

JILL: Where and how did your passion for aviation start?

DAY: I am a third-generation pilot. My love for airplanes started when my father used to take me plane-spotting at the Albuquerque International Sunport when I was a child. I also used to love flying with my father in his Beechcraft Bonanza when he would fly our family to various locations throughout the country.

JILL: How did you first learn about aviation law as a career option?

DAY: I graduated from the UNM School of Law in 2011the height of the great recession as it related to careers in law. My first law firm job was at a civil defense firm that was defending a re-insurer in a crash litigation case that contained various components of aviation law. During the litigation, I was charged with finding an expert to testify in the case. The expert retained was the Director of the Institute of Aviation and Space Law at McGill University at the time, who encouraged me to apply to the program as he was inspired by my background and interest in aviation law. The rest is history!

JILL: What was it like being in the LLM program at McGill?

DAY: The LLM program at McGill was amazing. I had opportunities to learn about every facet of Aviation and Space law, as well as to meet several key figures in the industry who had either graduated from the program themselves or had some other connection to the school. I was also able to work with the office of the U.S. Ambassador to ICAO during my time at McGill, assisting them with several research projects that had a direct effect on international civil aviation regulation.

JILL: What was your first job in aviation law after graduating from McGill?

DAY: I was an associate attorney at the Washington D.C. office of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin and Merlott, working in their aviation regulatory division.

By Jill Meyers

JILL: What type of clients have you helped through having your own law firm?

DAY: I have had several different types of clients and cases during my time as an aviation attorney. I have helped pilots with licensing and regulatory issues; helped several different types of domestic, international, air taxi and charter operators with regulatory and litigation issues; worked with airports; and have helped low earth orbit and stratospheric airship manufacturers with several different legal matters.

JILL: Tell us a bit about your role as General Counsel for Sceye, Inc. What was it like supporting a company building an airship?

DAY: Every day at Sceye was different and brought new challenges and opportunities for growth. In addition to addressing the day-to-day issues as a corporate General Counsel, such as contractual negotiations, employment issues and intellectual property questions, I also assisted with building regulatory frameworks in partnership with the FAA, applicable to the newest generation of high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), as well as future management of Class E airspace. I also attended launches and helped with expansion of the company, in addition to identifying and applying for various funding sources. And these are just some of the many areas I supported while in my role as Sceye’s General Counsel.

JILL: What advice would you give to young students who might be interested in becoming an Aviation and Space lawyer?

DAY: Follow your dreams! Learn as much about aviation and the practice of law as you can before you make a commitment to pursue this line of work. If you are really serious about practicing aviation law exclusively, seek out attorneys like me that already work in the industry, and do what you can to develop a network of mentors and business contacts to help you break into this particular area of the law.

Jill Meyers, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, has been in the aviation/aerospace industry for over 40 years and is a recurring author for AviNation. She is a licensed private pilot, Air Force veteran, aerospace engineer and business leader, and was the recipient of the National Aeronautic Association’s 2022 Katharine Wright Trophy.

From the Classroom to the Hangar

By Savanna Tanner

great. And, I was guaranteed a job after graduation, so I have a career set up for life.”

“My favorite part of the job is knowing that when the plane goes up to the gate, it will have a nice safety approval. It feels good to be able to fix something and tell people, especially people I know who fly on these planes, that this plane is a good plane; this plane is going to get you to your destination safely.”

Abi learned about career opportunities in the aviation field when she was in high school. “I’d been in an engineering class, and I did not like sitting behind a desk, but I did like working on cars,” Abi said. One day someone mentioned working on airplanes and Abi immediately explored the potential of working in aircraft maintenance. “It just seemed so cool to work on something that big and powerful and something that necessary,” Abi said.

In the midst of her high school graduation, Abi toured Piedmont Airlines’ maintenance hangar in her hometown of Salisbury, Maryland. She learned about their AMT Tuition Payment Program, a program designed to help provide financial assistance to students pursuing their A&P license to become Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and work on commercial aircraft. Within five months of graduation, Abi was enrolled and attending the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) in Norfolk, VA in their accelerated program “The tuition program really helped,” Abi said. “I’m debt-free and it feels

Abi joined Piedmont in October 2022. “Here you get to do so much – you get to work on a lot of different things, and I really like that I get to know the whole entire aircraft. I usually like working with the engines and I’ve tried getting into sheet metal and some composites, too.”

In every shift, there’s something new to fix. “Every day, there is an inspection to do, and the inspection always turns up different faults with the aircraft that we have to then go back and fix,” Abi explained. “For every different aircraft there’s going to be different things going wrong and parts that need to be traded out.”

The Piedmont hangar is fueled by teamwork. “A lot of the people here are really cool, and it just makes working so much fun,” Abi said. “The music will be playing and we’re all singing along to different songs, and it sounds awful, but we’re all just happy, turning wrenches. We spend a lot of time together at work, so we try to make it as enjoyable as possible.”

Becoming an AMT provides unique job opportunities for those interested in aviation maintenance. “It’s just a different beast compared to vehicles,” Abi said. “I know a lot of people love working on cars and tinkering with the little stuff, but you can get all those aspects and more working on an airplane. There’s just so much more riding on what you’re working on and what you’re signing off at the end of the day.”

Abigail (Abi) Creager is an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) at Piedmont Airlines.

AviNation American Dream Tour Comes to Louisiana

Do you want to make a dramatic impression on high school students considering a career in the aviation/ aerospace industry? Land a Blackhawk helicopter at their school and elevate a typical Career Day into a oneof-a-kind experience for students and faculty alike. This was just one of the exciting activities that took place during the Louisiana leg of the AviNation American Dream Tour spearheaded by AviNation, a national magazine created to attract, educate, and empower youth in aviation, giving its readers insight into the future of the industry. The tour is an outreach program for youth that promotes aviation/aerospace education and career opportunities, along with directions on how to take the initial steps to enter the industry.

From engineers and mechanics, to operations technicians and air traffic controllers, the aviation industry has a wide variety of career choices available and a deep need for employees that extends well into the next decade. High school students at select schools across Louisiana had a first-hand look at the industry during the AviNation event. Louisiana Tour Stops Included:

• Belle Chasse High School in Belle Chasse

• David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy in Lafayette

• Washington-Marion High School in Lake Charles

• The SwampSTOL (Short Take Off & Landing) Competition in Jennings

“The AviNation Magazine team was excited to bring groups of outstanding speakers and participants to

share their experiences and knowledge of the aviation industry,” said Thomas Flavin, Business Development Advisor, AviNation. “We were impressed by the students’ response to this outreach and are appreciative of each school’s administrative leadership and support. Louisiana has great colleges for these students to advance their education and careers in aviation and aerospace if they choose this career path.”

An Inside Look at the Tour

In addition to helicopters landing at some stops, all of the tours included a keynote speaker along with industry members who participated in breakout sessions about their specific roles in the aviation/ aerospace industry and career paths. Some of the participants included:

• Avex CEO, Raymond Bernard

• Chennault International Airport CEO, Kevin Melton

• Boeing Supplier Quality Specialist, Shawn Pugmire

• Commercial Airline Pilot, Captain Nathan Maki

• Metro Aviation Pilot, Laura McColm

A&P Mechanic Instructors from SOWELA and Baton Rouge Community College spoke to students about mechanic jobs in the industry. In addition, representatives from Nunez Community College, University Louisiana Monroe, Dillard University, the U.S. Air Force, and Coast Guard also participated.

By LED FastStart

One of the highlights at the Belle Chasse event was hearing from keynote speaker Kenneth Morris, Executive Director at Aviation Community Foundation of Houston, a nonprofit that promotes aviation to young people.

“Regardless of our background, ethnicity, barriers, religion, socio-economic status, etc., the aviation industry has a place for each of us,” stated Morris. “The pinnacle of our success comes from the people we are involved with, personally and professionally, and the relationships we create along our journey. As a pilot, I have so much respect and admiration for our mechanics, technicians, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, customer service reps, line service technicians, administrative staff and more—it truly takes a team. For those looking to the future to become Aviation, Aerospace and STEM professionals, it is imperative to focus on being a productive person and a citizen that always does the right thing, even when no one is looking.”

Morris delivered his keynote address to the entire school. The young men and women were so impressed with his speech, 40 additional students signed up that day to attend the breakout sessions.

“I know that our students thoroughly enjoyed the event, and it really opened their eyes and minds to career possibilities within this field,” said Dr. Crystal Bowie, Principal at Washington-Marion High School. “The kids here in Lake Charles think mostly about jobs at chemical plants and in the hospitality industry, and to know that these careers in aviation are here, too, is amazing.”

Aviation Industry Facts

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 13,100 openings for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the next decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force or retire.

One of the reasons the tour stopped in Louisiana is that the state’s aircraft-related industry is growing and needs

employees, especially for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanics. These highly-trained, skilled professionals that work on, repair, and maintain aircraft are needed at Louisiana-based companies like Avex, Advanced Aero Services, and Citadel Completions.

Why should you consider a career in this field?

• Great Pay and Rewards: The average pay for an A&P mechanic is $63,000 annually, and experienced mechanics that move into heavy maintenance can command over $100,000 a year in salary.

• Great Perks: If you work for an airline, these companies sometimes reward their employees with flight benefits for travel.

• Job Security: A&P Mechanics are in the same job classification as nurses, much-needed around the country and the world.

• Immediate Need: Aviation companies in Louisiana are making hundreds of hires in 2023 with the industry poised for steady growth over the next decade.

“I speak for the entire team at Avex MRO, when I mention the excitement we had to be included in the recent AviNation event in Lafayette,” stated Raymond Bernard, Avex CEO. “Having the ability to get in front of potential future employees was a dream-come-true. The aviation industry, with such a wide range of job opportunities, offers so much to young students with inquisitive minds. We hope to continue to participate and assist where possible to drive the aviation industry needs. Avex is currently hiring. Our growth plans and long-term strategy will forever have available positions for a dedicated workforce.”

If you’re currently looking for a new job in the aviation/aerospace sector, check out Louisiana’s LED FastStart Recruiting, a full-service employment hub where you’ll find jobs in a wide range of skill levels. Visit Opportunities.LEDFastStart.com to complete your profile today and then be matched with a job that’s tailored for your skills and experience.

By Andreas Pashos

What Does it Take to Get to Space?

What does it take to get to space? As you can imagine, there is quite a long list: a purpose, gigantic facilities, new technology, unique tools, sizable funding, a lot of math and physics, reliable spacecraft and powerful launch vehicles.

After more than 50 years, our purpose is clear again. It is time for humans to go back to the moon; and not just that, it is time for humanity’s footsteps to mark the Red Planet!

Here, in the Greater New Orleans Region, the facility is well-known: Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), a location that has played a part in every single American manned space mission ever taken, currently building the largest and most powerful rocket ever made. Its name is the Space Launch System (SLS) and you can’t build it without the latest technology and one-of-a-kind tools that you find at MAF.

Even with limitless funding, you still wouldn’t be able to build anything successful without the final, and most important piece of the puzzle: the people.

Here, in Louisiana, as we are building the next-generation rocket, we also have to build the next-generation talent pipeline of aerospace technicians, or we wouldn’t get very far. An aerospace technician may as well be called a rocket builder, because that’s exactly what they are: the folks who do the hands-on work of building, assembling, and testing anything that travels beyond the earth’s grasp.

So we wondered: how do we get this needed workforce? The answer was to bring everyone who shared this purpose together. In 2017, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development provided an $1,000,000 investment to support expanded opportunities in Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing. In November 2017, Louisiana Governor, John Bel Edwards announced this partnership with NASA & Boeing, which launched and introduced the Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Program at Nunez Community College in Chalmette, LA. The program hired its first instructor and program manager, me, in the summer of 2018, and launched in the Fall 2018 semester. It is the only program dedicated to Aerospace Manufacturing in the State of Louisiana. With this incredible partnership creating a very strong foundation, we were ready to blast off.

The Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Program at Nunez Community College provides hands-on and classroom training that allows students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully perform the tasks required of an entry-level Aerospace Manufacturing Technician and to compete in the market. It also established a paid apprenticeship with Boeing, where students can go to work at the NASA facility three days a week, while taking classes at Nunez the rest of the time. Students considered for the apprenticeship, must have successfully received their Certificate of Technical Studies, maintain their Nunez enrollment, and possess certain core competencies, such as: Teamwork, Communication, Productivity, Professional Ethics, Common Interest, and Continued Enthusiasm.

As of Spring 2023, Nunez has had more than 100 graduates finish at least the certificate program, almost half have participated in the paid apprenticeship, and now has graduates hired and working good-paying, impactful jobs all throughout the Gulf South region.

AeroAdvManuf@gmail.com

Eagle’s Nest Projects Wisconsin RV-12 ULS Sweepstakes

First Place Prize: 2018 Van’s RV-12 ULS Aircraft or $65,000 Dollars

Second Place Prize: New Axis 500 4x4 UTV or $4,999 Dollars

Third Place Prize: Pair of VVolt E Bikes or $1,200 Dollars

Funds will support aviation scholarships, building of our aircraft, and other flight experiences for students.

The Best Flight of My Life:

How I Found My Passion for Aviation

By Leeanna Hauch

Imagine you’re a sophomore in high school with the Wisconsin summer only 2 ½ months away, and then, soon after, you will be a junior, only 2 years from graduation! However, you only have a rough idea of what you want out of life with no rhyme or rhythm for what you are doing at the current time. Then, as you are walking through the halls during your passing period, you spot a poster about a program that catches your eye. The poster is for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program that is held at your school and teaches students how to build and fly an airplane! It piques your curiosity, so you follow the instructions on the flier and attend the informational meeting with your parents. You find yourself standing next to an RV-12. The plane looks great, and the program sounds interesting, so you ask for an application and submit the application. Several days, and one 15-minute interview later, POOF! you’re now a part of the Westosha Central High School STEM Aviation program. You’re also going on a three-day glamping trip with a group of parents and kids you don’t know on your way to Oshkosh, WI, for the EAA AirVenture airshow in July. Well, that is exactly how I became a WCHS Stem Aviation program member! Since then, a few more important events have occurred. I transferred, became a junior at Union Grove High School, and stayed with the program. We have started to build our fourth RV-12!

Fun fact: the four planes were named Falcon One -in honor of the school’s mascot- F2 Talon, F3 Tiercel, and now F4 Raptor.

So, what is the WCHS STEM Aviation program, and why are you even reading this article? Well, as for the what question, it shall be answered throughout the article, and, as for why you wanted to read it, I shall leave it to you. (After all, not all who wander are lost, and not all who are lost are wandering.)

The Westosha Central high school aviation program, located in Salem, WI, originally ran under the umbrella of Eagle’s Nest, which originated in League City, Texas. James Senft, the program director, brought it to Westosha Central high school, completely new and starting from scratch. The mission of the WCHS aviation program is to get more young people involved in the realm of aviation since it can seem quite intimidating, especially flying on one’s own. I know for me, it certainly was; I did not know much about aviation, but my curiosity and interest were raised.

The aviation program can be divided into two main parts: building the RV-12 and Ground School. The RV-12 is a two-seater, low-wing aircraft classified as a light sport aircraft used for light-performance flying. About sixteen of us, usually working in groups of four or five, work on a different aircraft component at any given time. When building, we use several types of tools, both manual and air powered. The tools used most frequently are deburring tools, Cleco fasteners, temporary rivets, a rivet gun, a screwdriver, and a hot airgun, to name a few. Working with these various types of tools gives us a glimpse of what is involved in building and maintaining a plane like this one.

The second part is Ground School. It runs for sixteen weeks on Tuesdays for three hours and covers the

fundamentals of aviation theory and practice. The curriculum covers weather, navigation, communication, aircraft systems, aerodynamics, and many more areas essential to becoming a safe and knowledgeable pilot. After completing the course, students take the FAA written test and must achieve 70% or higher to pass and start flight training. Once passed, they will need at least 40 total flight hours: 20 hours with the instructor, ten hours of solo, and the other ten can be either one. By the end of the training, an FAA flight examiner will conduct both a flight and oral exam, testing the student’s ability to navigate and handle an emergency, such as engine failure or loss of communication, along with any other problems that may come up during a flight, determining whether the student has the skill needed to fly the plane safely. Students who pass all three exams will receive their private pilot certificate.

Initially, I mentioned being a junior at Union Grove high school. How am I able to participate in this program? I was at Westosha Central before transferring to Union Grove a few months ago. Thanks to the kindness of Mr. Senft, I was able to stay in the program and continue to grow my knowledge in aviation; I will be forever grateful to Mr. Senft for allowing me to stay. There are many reasons why I am thankful to remain in this program. First, I am grateful to be able to continue working and learning with my fellow aviation members. They feel more like family rather than just students that happen to be in the same program. I am also grateful for the many theoretical and practical skills I have learned and used inside and outside the program. The experiences, people, and knowledge I have gained from my time in the program have even helped me figure out what I want to do with my life after high school. If you couldn’t tell, my future will involve planes and aviation. I intend to study at Embry-Riddle Aerospace college in Florida and obtain a Ph.D. in aeronautical or aerospace engineering.

Finally, I am also grateful for my curiosity. This might sound odd, but my interest has driven me to do things and think of ideas for which many would call me crazy, but it has never led me down the wrong path. Had I not followed my sense of curiosity toward that poster I saw in the hall, I would be a very different person. All pilots should be curious.

I am still relatively new to the world of aviation, even though most of the men in my family have worked in the aviation field. This includes my father. He never talked about what he did, so I never gave aviation a second thought. But my interest was truly piqued after the EAA AirVenture airshow last July in Oshkosh, WI. I watched pilots do stunt tricks in the air while we all returned to the campsite for lunch from that afternoon’s show. I remember vividly how I was super nervous on the trip to Oshkosh because my knowledge of planes and the realm of aviation was little to none. Little did I realize that my worries were indeed for nothing. When we arrived at the campground, I had a chance to talk and interact with the other students. They were all fantastic and easy to get along with. Even now, when we all get together and work on the plane, I can always count on having a good chuckle or two over some random event or conversation that occurs.

A program this great does not appear out of thin air. As I mentioned before, in 2014, Mr. Senft brought the program from Texas, and for a time, it was initially funded by the original creator of the Eagle’s Nest projects. The initial funds were used to buy the first plane kits, and then students would build them. The completed plane was then sold, and the proceeds were used to purchase the kits for the subsequent aircraft. Many donations and grants also helped with the running of the program. However, the founder has recently retired, and Eagle’s Nest Wisconsin became its self-funding organization. So now, the club runs on its own through the funding of joining/entry fees,

grants, and donations from organizations and fundraisers. Currently, to raise money, we are hosting sweepstakes with some rather exciting rewards! The sweepstakes are running from January 3rd of 2023, until September 8th, 2023, or will end sooner if 5,000 tickets are sold before then. The sweepstakes will have 3 winners with a chance to win the following: 1st place wins the 2018 Van’s RV-12 ULSA (this is the most recent plane built by some of the current and previous members) 2nd, place is an Axis 500 4x4 UTV, and 3rd place is a pair of Volt Alpha E-bikes or cash equivalents. All profits from the sweepstakes are put towards purchasing the rest of our kits for the RV-12s, hangar costs, and everything else a program like this needs to run smoothly. If you want to know more about the sweepstakes event, go to www. falconaviation.org/the-cockpit/ sweepstakes.

(This will also take you to our websites, where you can find more information on the program, sweepstakes, and contact information.)

So, the next time you see a peculiar-looking flier or poster in your school hallway, you may look closer instead of walking away, because it may send you on the best flight of your life!

The 16th Annual Triple Tree Fly-In is a full-scale celebration of aviation that invites pilots from all over the world to come together. Over the years, this event has become a staple of the aviation community, featuring seminars presented by industry leaders and a wide array of world-class camping and recreational activities – there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

Pilots from across the globe flock to Triple Tree Aerodrome to make use of the world-renowned manicured grass runway, which measures nearly 7,000 feet in length. Upon arrival, you’ll soon find yourself at home among the 400 acres of rolling hills and lakes that make up the Triple Tree campus. Whether you choose to pitch a tent along the banks of the Enoree River or enjoy the premium hookups for travel trailers or motorhomes, it’ll become clear that there’s no such thing as a bad spot here!

Where the magic of Triple Tree begins to shine through is in the experiences that pilots and their guests get to share during their visit. Flanked by one of fewer than twenty Spartan Executives still flying today, much of the excitement takes place in the main hangar. Perched atop one of the many rolling hills of the Piedmont of South Carolina, this living museum serves as the center for much of the week’s excitement. Each evening, friends new and old can break bread together over one of Triple Tree’s classic meals – whether it’s ‘Cook Your Own Steak Night’ or the ‘World Famous’ barbecue dinner, everyone can get a taste of Triple Tree.

Of course, the rest of the week has plenty to offer too! Visitors can get a behind-the-scenes peek of the

The Magic

magic by visiting the Restoration Hangar. Whether it’s recovering a wing for an AirCam or constructing an 85% scale radio-control Piper Cub, Triple Tree’s volunteers are always ready to share a tip or trick with those interested!

Next door at Triple Tree’s Learning Center, guests have the opportunity to hear from speakers from across the aviation industry about the latest news, technology, or experiences that the community has to offer!

The whole week can’t be all work and no play, of course. At Triple Tree’s lower campground, located on the southeast end of the runway, you’ll find the Pilot’s Lounge and Lower Gazebo. Nearly every night of the fly-in, you’ll find something sure to pique your interest down here – live musicians, karaoke performers, storytellers, and astronomers are all frequent guests of the lower gazebo. In the lower campground, you’ll also find ‘Pat’s Fireball’. This one-of-a-kind twist on the campfire is sure not to be missed!

Proceeds from the fly-in go directly towards supporting Triple Tree’s education programs, notably the Aviation Centered Education (ACE) portfolio. The ACE portfolio facilitates infrastructure that supports the next generation of aviators. From scholarships and outreach programs to in-house initiatives that train students from radio-control flight through full-scale mastery, Triple Tree Aerodrome aims to create an endowment that makes reaching new heights a possibility for generations of future aviators to come. Summer camps, reading programs, and teacher training programs are just some of the initiatives featured within the ACE portfolio.

of Triple Tree

YOUNG AVIATORS FLY IN 2023

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A search and rescue case (SAR case) launched in the middle of the day, in Port Angeles, WA. The call came into the H65 Dauphin crew at around 10AM for a boat in distress with confirmed passengers aboard. The day and night before had been one of the annual 100 mph wind storms that the area usually seems to see heading into the winter months. This means the winds were still gusting into the mid-sixties, and the terrain assured it was happening unpredictably, usually at a very bad time.

Making the turn north, over the San Juan Islands, the winds entered a soup bowl of confusion. The point where the Hood Canal from the south and the Strait of Juan de Fuca come together sustained winds of fifty miles per hour coming from both directions. It becomes kind of like the spot behind a rock in a river, swirling and shifting in whatever direction the strongest wind blows. The turn north to Bellingham on any other blue bird day would be uneventful. Not today.

Making the corner over San Juan Island, the winds suddenly gusted and grabbed the tail of the aircraft and kicked ninety degrees out. Immediate loss of lift to the rotor wings began an uncontrolled descent of 400 feet in just a couple quick seconds. Now, at 800 feet above the island and a terrifying stirring of the cyclic, the aircraft finally under control, the flight mechanic comes over ICS and asks, “Sir, should we be worr…?” Cut-off, the pilot, squeezing the ICS button in a

TIME TO WORRY

By Shawn Pugmire Boeing Quality Production Specialist

death-grip, Boom! It happened again - 400 more feet lost, the island was looking pretty big.

Frantically “stirring the pot” again, the pilot arrests the uncontrolled descent once more. This time, silence in the cabin. Everyone had huge eyes and insanely tight seat harnesses now. Everyone knew, this was a time for business, the case was going to be anything but a walk in the park.

Finally arriving on scene after locating a small watercraft that was being tossed wildly by the wind and seas, the crew established a tight orbit to assess. It didn’t take long to find out that there was no one onboard and the lines hanging off the boat, tattered from tearing away from whatever dock they were tethered to, were a solid indicator that this was no longer a SAR case but a boat adrift.

The decision was made to land at the nearby Bellingham airport and wait-out the remainder of the windstorm. With warm chocolate chip cookies and free coffee, the break was more than welcome to the crew. Sitting inside the FBO, discussion began about the return home. “Winds will be much lighter,” began the pilot, then, mid-sentence, he stops and circles back to the flight mechanic’s question that was cutoff earlier in the flight. “Oh, when you asked if we should be worried…, Yeah. It was a pretty good time to worry, I had zero control. We were definitely along for the ride.”

By Matt Ferrari

TANGO THIRTY ONE AERO CLUBE

Earlier this spring while at SUN ‘n FUN, I wandered into the Lakeland Aero Club hangar and there sitting at a table to greet me was a cast of characters, similar to a modern-day version of the “Little Rascals”, the likes of which I haven’t seen in a long time.

T31 is the identifier for the Aero Country Airport, a privately owned public use airport located just outside McKinney, Texas. One of the few airports left in our country without a tall fence surrounding it. That just may be one of the main reasons that something special is happening there.

Tango Thirty One Aero Clube (yes, Clube…) is the brainchild of flying friends Kevin Lacey, Lt. Col. Greg “Spanky” Barber and retired airline Captain Ron Roland. All of whom went far with their own aviation careers and decided to provide a launch pad for the next generation. Kevin has a storied career covering many facets of aviation from general aviation, corporate flying, aircraft maintenance and he found fame in the Discovery Channel television series “Airplane Repo” where film crews followed him around as he repossessed aircraft for lenders from non-paying borrowers. His aeronautical antics are well documented in his self-authored book, “Fly It Like You Stole It”, a fun read that I highly recommend! USAF Lt. Col Greg “Spanky” Barber was the last person selected to fly the SR-71 Blackbird, he spent two years training for the job only to have the program cancelled on the week of his first scheduled flight by then President Bill Clinton. Recovering from that career setback, “Spanky” found a place in the U-2 flight program and moved on to that. His perseverance shows that sometimes life throws you a curve and even with the best laid out plans, and all the hard work to match, you may have to change course, and keep leaning forward. Tragically, “Spanky” and his son Tim, who was to leave the following morning to begin his second semester at the U.S. Air Force Academy, were lost in a mid-air collision over their home airport on New Year’s Eve, 2016. Captain Ron Roland retired after a successful airline career, finishing up flying the Boeing B-757 and B-767 and in retirement he enjoys owning and flying a beautiful Cessna C-180 and a Piper J-3 Cub. Kevin Lacey considers himself semi-retired, sort of. He still takes on some work, but only considers shorter term projects. Having spent a lot of time chasing down airplanes all over the world, such as spending three years on a fleet

of B-737’s in Brazil and nine months recovering a B-747 in Kenya, he prefers to stay a little closer to home these days. Besides, with the Aero Clube meeting at his hangar three days a week, there’s a lot of administrative work like sourcing parts and providing guidance regarding maintenance and repair to keep the aircraft projects moving forward, flight instructing to keep the members moving forward, and seeking grant money to help fund a hangar that the Clube desperately needs as it continues to grow in members and aircraft. In his spare time, Kevin likes to fly his 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D.

Kevin Lacey is a busy man, but I can say firsthand that his efforts and the time that he is putting into the kids and their Clube are evident with the success and confidence they exude in conversation. Each one of the Clube members has a unique story, and as they each shared theirs with me the others around the table, while occasionally exchanging some teasing banter, were very supportive and encouraging toward one another.

To my left and going around the table clockwise sat Weston “Popeye” Dudley, 18 years old. He currently works as an apprentice at an aircraft maintenance shop gaining experience toward earning his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificates and as of this writing, he has recently soloed and hopes to fly commercially. Nick “Snaggletooth” Heilman, 18 years old, has already earned his Private Pilot Certificate and is planning to continue his education and flight training, attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University starting this fall. He hopes to fly for the airlines and is leaning toward the cargo carriers. Peyton “Junior” Dudley, 16 years old and “Popeye’s” younger brother, hasn’t yet started his flying lessons and has an interest in pursuing a career in Aeronautical and

Aerospace Engineering. Ethan “Plowboy” Chapman, 17 years old, is currently taking flying lessons and hopes to earn his A&P Certificates. Kaitlin “Jailbait” Murphy is 18 years old, she’s already earned her Private Pilot Certificate, plans to go to Texas A&M, participate in the ROTC program and become a career U.S. Marine Corps aviator where she hopes to fly the V-22 Osprey. After speaking with Kaitlin for about 10 minutes, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she will accomplish exactly what she sets out to do and the Marines will be lucky to have her! Logan “Mighty Mouse” Griffin, 17 years old, has also earned his Private Pilot Certificate and he hopes to fly for the airlines. Logan is a bit soft spoken and a man of few words, hence the call sign “Mighty Mouse”, but the rest of the group was there to fill in the blanks and prop him up.

Each of these young men and women are unique and have their own dreams and path to follow but as a part of this group, their Aero Clube, they have the support and encouragement of each other, aviation brothers and sisters – related or not. They have a mutual respect for each other earned through working together in the hangar. As members of the Clube, they are each given the opportunity to participate and to succeed. Their success is measured only by their own individual efforts as part of the Clube. Opportunities to succeed come with the risk of failure, but without accepting the fact that they might fail, they can never succeed. Failure is not the result of doing it wrong, that can be learned from. Failure is the result of quitting. Mistakes happen, they are learned from, and the lessons are carried forward. These kids are all the result of opportunity offered, hard work put in on an individual basis, for the good of the Clube, and a mutual respect earned and shared with their peers based on their personal integrity and performance. Not necessarily perfection, but the willingness to try, to learn, to improve and if necessary to try again. It was so refreshing to spend a little time with these young people who share a common passion and love for aviation. It reinforces that the future is indeed bright, and the next generation is strong and able. Passing the aeronautical torch to these young men and women will ensure that our shared love for airplanes and flying will continue long into the future!

Tango Thirty One Aero Clube is indeed a special thing and thanks to people like Kevin Lacey, “Spanky” Barber, and Ron Roland who started it all, just looking for a spark of interest in a few young people, they have lit off what has become an aeronautical flamethrower!

Oh, and the kids have assigned a callsign to Kevin too - “Tombstone”! I’m not quite sure if the callsign is a result of Kevin’s Texas southern drawl and his cookie-duster mustache that could easily place him in the cast of the movie Tombstone, or is it that the much younger Clube members consider that Kevin is getting a little long in the tooth? While they may argue that his warrantee has run out, I would counter that by highlighting the fact that he is by no means circling the drain! Maybe that’s because my age is a little closer to his than theirs……

The Professor (holding the Gyro) and Mouse (in cockpit) contemplate the number of times you can spin a 150 before the gyros become unusable while Popeye and Thunder look on. Photo credit Jack Fleetwood

As demonstrated by Jail Bait, Mouse and Swiggles, it is always a good day around the Clube house when a box from McFarlane arrives.

Photo credit Kev

Clube members installing the wings on their Cessna 172M project that they affectionately call the “SwampHawk”.

There is another story happening within the Clube too. There is a group of original members who have moved on, continuing along their journey into their own aviation careers.

Five past members of the Clube, “The Hammer”, “The Professor”, “Blue”, “Ms. Ponytail” and “Beer Money” hold a special place in the history of the Clube.

Kevin “The Hammer” Butler was the first Clube member to earn his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificates. He has also earned his Inspection Authorization, the highest certification for an A&P Mechanic allowing him to perform a wide variety of aircraft maintenance, repairs, alterations and inspections, such as an aircraft’s annual inspection, and return the aircraft to service. He recently passed his check ride, earning his Private Pilot Certificate. He currently works as first shift Lead Mechanic at Bombardier Aircraft Services at Dallas Love Field maintaining Challenger and Global Express jets.

Daniel “The Professor” Kaphingst earned his Private Pilot Certificate in a Clube airplane that he helped restore. He went on to earn a scholarship to Texas A&M. Unfortunately, his scholarship was lost during the COVID lockdown, yet he continues to move forward, and he is very close to earning his Instrument Rating.

Alex “Blue” Coats was the first Clube member to earn his Private Pilot Certificate and he did it in an airplane he helped restore. He then went on to earn his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificates, he is currently working on his Instrument Rating and is very close to earning that. He works as an Aircraft Mechanic at the Cirrus Aircraft Maintenance Facility in McKinney, Texas.

Sahara “Ms. Ponytail” Billman earned her Private Pilot Certificate, also in an airplane she helped restore, graduated high school a year ahead of her class and earned a scholarship to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She now holds her Commercial Pilot Certificate, Multi Engine and Instrument Ratings and is working toward her Certified Flight Instructor Rating. She is on track to graduate early from college and she has earned a well-deserved spot on the Dean’s Honor Roll every semester that she’s been at Embry Riddle!

Kaleb “Beer Money” McPherson was with the Clube during his high school years. After high school, he joined the U.S Army and is currently stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii working as a Crew Chief on AH-64 Apache helicopters. Prior to heading off to boot camp, he passed his Private Pilot written exam and soloed. He plans to finish up his Private Pilot flight training and then move on to advanced pilot certificates and ratings.

Success breeds success and the past members help inspire the next generation to keep working hard and follow their dreams. These “graduates” of the Clube stay involved with the current members, mentoring them as well as setting examples for them to strive for. You’ll be able to read more about these five originals as each will be featured in upcoming issues of AviNation magazine.

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Seat Belt Sign: ON

By Andrew Ross, Boeing 787 First Officer, Owner/Author VATH Publishing & The Airline Transition Manual

As I take-in the first light of the day in Tokyo, I am struck by one of those fleeting moments of unbelievable gratitude that pop-up every so often in my career. The thought goes something like this, Holy cow! How did you get here? How are you so lucky to be doing this? While it may seem like these moments would come often, as with any full-time job, we normalize a lot of our activities to the point of taking them for granted. There have only been a few moments where it dawned on me that I’ve “made it” in the traditional sense, and they each stand out in my head.

The first time was lining up to takeoff in my alma mater’s Cessna 421 to take a load of passengers from Chicago Executive (KPWK) to Southern Illinois Airport (KMDH) in 2008. Wow, I thought, they trust me to take them up to flight level 230?

The next was lining up for takeoff at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD) at night in 2013 as a first officer for a regional airline in my Embraer 145. Wow… I’m really doing it!

My first time taking a plane full of passengers from Norfolk, VA (KORF) to Washington Regan (KDCA) in 2017 as a captain on the Embraer 145, I thought, Wow… I’m the captain now.

And, finally, this morning, in March of 2023, sitting half-way around the world in Tokyo marveling at how my career has taken shape, I think, Wow… what a ride this has been so far! Since my first flight in 2003, I have amassed some 8,700 hours in aircraft from the trusty but tired Cessna 152 to my current aircraft, the speedy and technologically advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Outside of flying, however, I have been blessed with many other amazing opportunities. I count among them the ability to serve as a board member for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA), a steering committee member for The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Education Committee, a board member for the Department of Transportations (DOT) Youth Access to

American Jobs in Aviation Task Force (YIATF), Check Airman on the Embraer 145 at my pervious airline, union representative for first officers in Chicago, union committee chairman for a communications group at a previous airline, owning my own leadership consultancy company, and finally, being an author and owner of The Airline Transition Manual with our parent company, VATH Publishing.

I’d like to believe I’m only halfway through my career with another 29 years to go, but of course medical issues pop up, airlines close or shrink, and a multitude of other barriers can come up to cut one’s career short. While my own career hasn’t been without its challenges (such as the AMR bankruptcy during 2011-2014 and COVID issues of 2020), I have still been overwhelmingly lucky and satisfied with what I’ve done so far.

Here is the “kicker”: if you had met young Andrew in middle school or high school, and looked into his education history, you would not pair up the above career or experiences with him. On paper, quite frankly, I was a poor investment. I wasn’t involved in any extracurricular activities, favored playing video games, taking mall trips with friends, and learning drums by myself, in place of taking my education seriously or building any meaningful experiences to help propel my future self forward. By the end of my sophomore year of high school, I had a very solid 2.3 GPA. I couldn’t have told you when I last studied for a test, and I viewed homework as a hurdle to playing video games and music. I’m pretty sure my parents, at this point, assumed I’d be skipping college and living at home until they kicked me out (though they wouldn’t admit it). My favorite memory of this is when my ACT scores came back, and my mom said, “HA! I knew you were smart.” That was not a resounding testament to my educational acumen.

The only thing I had going for me was my love for aviation. I collected model airplanes, had every version of Microsoft Flight Simulator starting from ‘98, would look up at every passing aircraft, and had dreams of flying the big metal birds. It is by chance that two things happened almost simultaneously to change my track.

First, a friend invited me to join the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) close to the time my high school counselor slid a brochure across her desk that advertised a business aviation career day at a state college, Southern Illinois University (SIU).

The cover of the author’s first book, The Airline Transition Manual, available now!

The author after his 787 checkride in the simulator in Denver.

Bing! That is when the seatbelt sign came on!

The CAP gave free orientation flights in gliders. This was my first hands-on flight experience, and I was hooked! It paved the way for me to explore how to attain my powered flight certificates. This is where the second opportunity came in. I went down with my father to SIU to attend their business aviation career day and learned how to go about getting my private pilot certificate, as well as the general outline for what it would take for me to make this a career. This is where my heart sank a touch. A 2.3 GPA with no other balancing extracurriculars? I was not going to be high on a college admission desk with that resume.

So, I went to work. For the first time, I found purpose in school. I signed up for flying lessons at Illinois Aviation Academy out of DuPage Airport (KDPA), and flew one lesson a week until I was finally able to achieve my private pilot certificate, two weeks before I left for college. (In a funny bit of coincidence, my instructor was an SIU graduate.) I vowed to work harder in school and find success where I could, and boy was it hard!

I was determined to go to school for this and make it my career! While the GPA only recovered to 2.6 by graduation (one year is tough for a turn-around), my ACT and letter of recommendation from my instructor helped me secure a spot at SIU in the fall of 2005.

In college, I finally found my stride. I committed to not repeating my less-than-inspired performance from high school and joined many student organizations, including the NIFA flight team. I stayed involved, and by the time I graduated in 2009, there was no comparing high school Andrew to college Andrew.

I had purpose, I had goals, and I had a clear dream.

I could write articles upon articles and books upon books about my experiences, and, perhaps, I will. But for now, I want to articulate a few important lessons from which I believe all could benefit, especially readers who identify with high school Andrew.

1. Past performance does NOT indicate future performance.

This goes both ways, but don’t give up on yourself if you are at “the back of the pack”, or experiencing setbacks. Perseverance is always a key to payoff. Likewise, don’t rest off of your past success to sleep on current progress. It’s a rude awakening when you fail a test because you were too comfortable to study or prepare.

2. Show gratitude to those who help.

No matter who you are, we don’t do this alone. You will have instructors, counselors, friends, family, teachers, and a million other people who will guide you along your journey. We were not born with the ability to fly, someone had to help you. Be humble!

3. Never count yourself out.

It may be easy to come upon a challenge and forget that you have more to give than perhaps you have given so far. Whatever happens, whatever stumbles you make, the only thing that counts is getting back up and getting it done. Believe in yourself, and don’t count yourself out!

Matters

to the U.S. Air Force

There is no other country in the world so widely diverse, yet so deeply committed to being unified, as the United States of America. The challenges we face today are far too serious, and the implications of failure far too great, for our Air Force to do less than fully and inclusively leverage our nation’s greatest strength— our remarkably diverse people. Across the Force, diversity of background, experience, demographics, perspectives, thought, and organization are essential to our ultimate success in an increasingly competitive and dynamic global environment. As airpower advocates, we must be culturally competent and operationally relevant to effectively accomplish our various missions.

Air Force Recruiting Service

Detachment 1 was established in 2018 to conceive and implement innovative programs supporting Air Force Total Force recruiting efforts and is the tactical execution arm of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Rated Diversity Improvement Initiative. The Det 1 team focuses on recruiting in underserved communities across the country while developing partnerships with underrepresented groups.

Det 1 focuses on pre-accession audiences (youth, young adults, and influencers) and works with partners to provide pathways to Air Force officer accession sources such as the U.S. Air Force Academy, Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Officer Training School. They are a unique organization focused on bringing the future faster by securing the most talented Americans to serve in the 21st century Air Force. Det 1 integrates partnerships with agencies both inside and outside of the Air Force to synchronize activities so they can provide pathways towards accessions across the entire Total Force recruiting enterprise.

One of the best programs Det 1 offers to students is the AIM HIGH Flight Academy (AHFA), an aviation scholarship for a three-week introductory flight program at various universities across the world. The mission of the flight academy is to inform, influence, and inspire the next generation of aviators and leaders. After completion of the program, students will understand the pathways to becoming an Air Force aviator, and will earn up to 15 flight hours. AHFA pairs high school students, USAFA, and AFROTC cadets with current Air Force members who provide mentorship about the various aviation professions and career fields.

The AHFA scholarship is completely FREE to selected students! Early exposure to aviation raises awareness of potential opportunities amongst diverse youth. The Air

Force is actively identifying and removing barriers to rated careers without lowering standards.

Applications for the Summer 2024 Flight Academies will open 1 September 2023 and can be found here: https://www.recruiting. af.mil/About-Us/Aim-High-Flight-Academy/ ELIGIBILITY

REQUIREMENTS

• Be at least 16 years old by 1 June 2024

• Be enrolled in high school or be a graduating senior*

• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher

• Have no more than 5 powered flight hours

Notes:

• No flight or aviation experience necessary (we’ll teach you to fly!)

• No commitment or obligation to the Air Force

• *USAFA & AFROTC Cadets may apply through their institutions

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS RECEIVE

• Up to 15 flight hours

• Housing and meals during training

• Transportation to/from training location

• Classroom training (ground school)

• Flight simulator training

• All training is provided by FAA Certified Flight Instructors

• Access to university recreation facilities

• Mentorship from Air Force aviators

*All items funded by USAF

If you work with an educational institution and think their aviation program would be a great fit to host students for the 2024 flight academies, please reach out to Afrs.ahfa.studentapplications@us.af.mil.

Grayson Benton, McAlvin Juasemai, and Barrett Zajeski stand in front of a Cessna 172 at South Dakota State University’s campus in Brookings, SD. Benton, Juasemai and Zajeski are all ROTC cadets in college. ROTC and U.S. Air Force Academy cadets comprise 23% of all selected students, with the other 77% of students hailing from high schools across the country.

Synergy: ArkanSTOL, The Pilot

Aviation endeavors begin with a single idea, a strong urge to achieve a notable goal that’s both difficult and rewarding. Like all things in aviation, we soon find like-minded individuals and organizations that share the same passion for learning and discovery, a combination of ideas where synergy takes hold, and something great transpires.

That’s exactly what happened in March of 2022, when members from ArkanSTOL (arkanstol.com)—a newly created type of STOL competition that incorporates multiple runways over real obstacles—teamed up with The Pilot Club (thepilotclub.org) and AviNation (avinationusa.com). The Pilot Club (TPC) is a recently formed flight-sim community of over 2800 members, where virtual pilots can fly in real-world conditions and receive virtual flight training.

“I stumbled across TPC, and saw that they had their own virtual ArkanSTOL competition. Looking at it, I thought, There is some detail here that you just don’t see in normal simulator programs,” said Charley Jones of ArkanSTOL.

“Come to find out, the guy that did the scenery package for Microsoft Flight Simulator, Spencer Doyle, did an add-on graphics package for Byrd’s Adventure Center, where the competition is held annually. He came out there and took something like a thousand pictures,” Jones added.

It wasn’t long before ArkanSTOL and TPC realized their interests were aligned, and a partnership ensued. The two organizations began collaborating to add the rules, graphics, and precise details of the 2022 ArkanSTOL course to both Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane platforms as a freely downloadable add-on package.

“I gave them all the dimensions as far as where the scratch line was, where the pylons were, and the 500 feet they had to stop in for qualifying and everything. They put all that into the graphics package for the simulator,” said Jones.

Not only did the team at ArkanSTOL see the technology as an inspiration to young pilots, it proved to have real-world value when it came to safety and coordination.

“We were trying to figure out, for qualifying, how many airplanes could we handle and what would be the safest separation between planes. Well, I said, let me talk to Paul and see if they can model it to see what’s going to be the best. (Paul Alarie was the first contact Jones had with TPC and helped with coordination between the two organizations.) That’s where we came up with the idea of 3 airplanes at 55 seconds apart. They just kept flying it and playing with it until they found the sweet spot.”

The simulation was so accurate that in 2022, during qualifying, ArkanSTOL applied the rule; allowing for the safest and most efficient use of distance and time.

AviNation’s commitment to educating and inspiring young aviators was on full display for the ArkanSTOL 2022 competition, when they volunteered to truck in a Cloud Flyer flight simulator - a non-powered, motion simulator platform - so that any person, pilot or not,

Club & AviNation Team Up

SIM

Spotlight

could give the course a go. It was set up on site just a few hundred feet from one of the backcountry runways at ArkanSTOL. AviNation provided the hardware, Spencer Doyle provided the scenery, TPC provided the testing, and ArkanSTOL provided the venue.

Cooperation in all aspects of aviation has been the unwritten rule for good reason. It’s the understanding that the industry and community are much better-off when ideas and experiences are shared and collaboration is the norm. The exciting truth is that the combined efforts of working together with shared passion in aviation can literally help people defy gravity and bring dreams to life! ArkanSTOL,

TPC and AviNation know the value and reward of diligently helping others realize their potential, and they plan to continue that mission.

Come see the new improvements made possible by this collaboration at ArkanSTOL 2023, September 27th-October 1st. More info at www.arkanstol.com

MSFS – Deciding Where to Fly, Flight Inspiration

With the entire world available to fly in amazing detail in Microsoft Flight Simulator, sometimes the hardest part is just deciding what to fly and where to go. Which plane do you want to fly? Or maybe you’d even like to fly a helicopter, go soaring in a glider, or sightseeing in something low & slow. If you ever find yourself staring at the screen with analysis paralysis trying to make this decision, then hopefully this article can direct your attention to some useful resources. Whether you fly on Xbox or on PC, there should be something available for everyone.

Let’s start with the in-game tools first. From the Main Page, if you navigate to Activities, and then Bush Trips, there are 35 trips currently available, with Asobo releasing more on every World Update. While you’re stuck with whatever plane Asobo has chosen for the trip, each one is tailored specifically for the experience. These trips range from Alaska to Australia, the Pyrenees to Finland, and often showcase some of the best scenery MSFS has to offer. Depending on the trip, some require a bit of navigating skill, so you’ll need to pay attention to the stopwatch and your VFR scenery. I have flown quite a few of these and have yet to be disappointed.

Now for the simplest out-of-game solution, let’s look at https://worldtour.flights/. Worldtour.flights is a community-driven website where simmers from across the world share and upload their favorite routes. This can range from single short-run flights to long multi-leg trips. They usually showcase scenic locations or interesting things like castles, stadiums, and various other scenery that MSFS has added over the years. If you’re on Xbox, you’ll have to manually input the flight plan, but PC users can download the flight plan file and upload it directly into the sim. If you have flights or tours that you’d like to share with the community, this is a great way to do so.

Flightsim.to is another website to bookmark for finding flight plans. Most simmers know this site as the go-to spot for freeware mods, but there are two sections, Bush Trips and Flight Plans, that are dedicated to the community sharing flight plan content with each other. The Bush Trips usually contain files that add new Bush Trips to your sim, right alongside the official ones from Asobo, whereas the flight plans can be either uploaded into the simulator directly, uploaded into an app such as littlenavmap, or in some cases, just manually input by the player. With anything created by the community, the quality can range considerably, but there are definitely some high-quality experiences

to be had there. If you’re ambitious, look at some of the various World Tour flight plans available, some of which mirror real-world trips by various pilots. While you’re on Flightsim.to, search for Airport Finder, which is another great way to find interesting places to visit. With this free app, you can use various filters to find what you’re looking for. I like to use Airport Finder to ensure that I takeoffand-land and use custom scenery that I have installed.

For the serious airliner simmer, Volanta is a great resource for generating oneoff flights. Volanta is a free tool by ORBX that tracks all your flights, including statistics such as your landing FPM and things of that nature. The deluxe version, which requires a subscription, has a Schedules feature which is a database that includes up-to-date realworld routes. This is a fantastic tool if you’re looking to generate a flight, either at a specific airport, with a specific plane, or even, for a specific airline. You just set up the filters for your needs, and choose a flight. Once you’ve decided on a flight, it will also generate a SimBrief flight plan for you.

Now, let’s get into some of the career and business add-ons compatible with MSFS, starting with A Pilot’s Life, Chapter 2. A Pilot’s Life is an airline pilot career simulator developed by Sim Bit World. Like all the career and business add-ons, A Pilot’s Life is an app that runs in the background while you fly in the sim, tracking everything you do, from making sure you don’t speed on the taxiway, turn your lights on and off at the proper time, and land within certain parameters. You start out at the lowest rank, and gain experience on every flight you complete, depending on how accurately you fly the plane. With the experience that you earn, you rank up, which will increase your salary as you fly. You get paid by the flight hour, and can spend that money on various upgrades, including different “licenses”, which gives you the ability to fly different planes. You’ll be offered jobs by select

Airport Finder

Volanta

with Career Tools & Resources

airlines each week and need to meet certain criteria with the airline you fly for to stay on good terms or earn bonuses with them, based on the contract you agreed to when you started flying for them. I believe nearly every realworld airline is included, and of course, you’re flying a real-world schedule that you’ll have some input in generating when you sign-on with an airline.

Next, in the lineup of career and business add-ons, is OnAir Company by Aerosoft. Where A Pilot’s Life is a single player experience, OnAir Company is all about player interaction. When you start, there are 3 servers to choose from, depending on what type of challenge you are seeking. You are not only a pilot, but also a business owner, hiring other pilots, and staff, including mechanics and flight attendants. You’ll buy, sell, and rent other planes, often from other players. You’ll have headquarters at your airport of choice, and even build FBOs anywhere you want, which can sell fuel to other players or repair their planes. You accept available jobs and fly the planes that you’ve rented or own in OnAir. Or of course, for the business tycoon types, you can hire your AI pilots to fly routes as well. You can also start a Virtual Airline and hire other players to fly for you or fly on somebody else’s Virtual Airline while leaving all the business decisions to them.

NeoFly is another great option in the career and business add-on space.

NeoFly has a robust free version, and a premium version with more options. Much like OnAir, you are limited to flying the planes that you either buy or rent within NeoFly. What separates NeoFly from the competition is the variety of missions, and the way those missions change the world around you inside the sim. For example, imagine flying a helicopter to extract an injured person, and you get there to find an actual car wreck on the highway surrounded by emergency vehicles. In another example, imagine you’re flying to

By Spencer Doyle

take water to a forest fire, and the fire is physically represented in the sim. NeoFly also has different difficulties, ranging from Free to Survival. Another major feature that separates NeoFly is its ability to generate content away from airports. If you’re a bush pilot, you might be asked to land within a certain range of a waypoint, and it’s up to you to fly around the area and find a suitable spot and get down safely. On the business simulation side, you can hire pilots, and managers for your headquarters and FBOs that you develop. You can develop routes, accept one-off jobs, or even try to turn a profit by buying and selling commodities.

SkyPark by Parallel 42 is another option for those looking for more flexibility but still wanting some sense of progression. Parallel 42 is a developer known for thinking outside of the box, and their SkyPark option is no exception. In SkyPark, you can choose between two different game modes, Discovery and Endeavor. In Discover, you don’t gain xp or money, but you can go anywhere in the world at any time, so it’s a tradeoff. Endeavor is more of a career mode option where you progress through XP, earn money, and change Karma based on whether you choose to fly illicit cargo for the Coyote company or play it straight. Flights range from simple point A to point B flights, to multi-leg flights, all the way up to Tours, which are like the aforementioned Bush Trips, but allow you to choose which plane to fly. The only restriction you have is the cost to move your “character” if you want to fly from a location far from where you currently are. This is, of course, only a cost in the Endeavor game mode, as Discovery lets you go where you want. For the jobs you accept, you can fly any plane if it has the passenger and cargo capacity needed for the job you accepted.

There are other options out there that I haven’t personally tried, such as Air Hauler 2 by Just Flight, but with the above options, you should always be able to find something that fits your needs and avoid the analysis paralysis of staring the World Map wondering where to go. As for myself, I’m a First Officer flying the Fenix Airbus A320 for LATAM Brasil in “A Pilot’s Life Chapter 2”, a DHC-2 Beaver float plane pilot for Yukon Airways out of Kodiak Island, Alaska in NeoFly, the owner of the billion dollar virtual company “Ozark Mountain Air”, flying a diverse group of planes all over the United States and selling overpriced fuel to players who find themselves running on empty. What a virtual flightsim world we live in!

A Pilot’s Life

NeoFly

Section Supported by

AIM High

By Robbie Grayson

Celebrating Carl G. Schneider

MARCH 6, 1928 — APRIL 20, 2023

Carl G. Schneider, Major General, USAF, (Ret) died unexpectedly in Williamson County, Tennessee, on April 20, 2023, at age 95. Born in Ralls, Texas, on March 6, 1928, to the late Carl Schneider and Laura Kerlin Schneider, he was raised on a farm during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. At the age of 9, he decided to become a pilot. He and his brother, Clyde, were inspired by an Ag Pilot/Crop duster who was flying near their family farm when they decided flying would be much more comfortable than picking cotton.

Carl joined the Army Air Corps in September of 1946. Following basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, he entered aviation cadet training in 1947, completed advanced training at Williams AFB in Chandler, Arizona, and was promoted to second lieutenant. He spent most of his 32 years in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot. Flying more than 30 types of aircraft, he logged over 3,000 hours in combat flying with over 5,000 hours in jet fighters. This record qualified him as a command pilot, an honor given to astronauts. He graduated from Williams AFB, flying the P-51.

During the Korean War (1950-1951), he flew 100 combat missions in the F-80. He was Ops officer of the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Bitburg AFB, Germany, flying F-100s from 1957 to 1959. He returned to Korea in the early 1970s as the Vice Commander of Air Forces Korea. In 1962 and 1963, he established the Air Liaison Officer/Forward Air Controller system in Vietnam, flew combat missions with the Vietnamese Air Force, went on ground missions with the Vietnamese Army, and helped the U.S. Special Forces teams along the Cambodian and Laotian borders. Later in the war, he flew the F-4 Phantom.

He is a graduate of Squadron Officer’s School, USAF Fighter Weapons School, U.S. Marine Corps Staff College, the Air Force Institute of Technology, and the Air War College. He served in many jet fighter units and was Commander Ops when George W. Bush was a student at Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia. He served as Logistics Center Commander at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and later was Wing Commander at Moody AFB. He earned his undergraduate degree in business management from Arizona State University and received a master’s degree in International Relations from George Washington University. Additionally, he took a course in Air Power and Air Warfare at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England.

His awards and decorations include the following: The Distinguished Service Medal, The Legion of Merit with One (1) Oak Leaf Cluster, The Distinguished Flying Cross with One (1) Oak Leaf Cluster, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Air Medal with Six (6) Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Additionally, he was a member of the following organizations: Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, Commemorative Air Force

Museum’s Walk of Honor, Military Officers Association of America, Quiet Birdman Society, Super Sabre Society, Daedalians, Arizona Aviation Historical Society, and Arizona State University College of Business Hall of Fame.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, he pursued a successful career as a business executive in the Phoenix area. In his later years, he moved to Thompsons

PROPELLING THE PROGRESS OF

Station, Tennessee, where he was involved in several veteran programs, particularly at colleges and universities. General Schneider was a kind, generous man who made friends easily and devoted his life to serving others. He is the author of two books, the first of which was Little House on the High Plains, the story of growing up in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. His second book, Jet Pioneer: A Fighter Pilot’s Memoir, is about his military service.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

AG Spotlight

Celebrating Carl G. Schneider

MARCH 6, 1928 — APRIL 20, 2023

General Schneider was preceded in death by his late wife, Elaine, and sisters Joyce Winn and Grace Winn. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Carole Woods Schneider; son, Robert Schneider; daughter, Debi Furches (Eric); grandson, Cory Furches; granddaughter, Lindsay Stuart (Ian); stepdaughter, Laura McLeod; as well as his brothers, Clyde Schneider (Martha) and Dr. Finis Schneider (Eunice); sister, JoAnn Lamb; many wonderful nieces and nephews; and close family friends, the Eliasons and Wares.

General Schneider was a valued Advisor to AviNation and provided countless introductions and insights. Despite his lifelong accomplishments, he remained humble, approachable, and accessible. He also inspired the Ag Pilot section that you are reading today. Aim High!

Do you know about flight test?

Do you know about flight test?

METRO AVIATION IS MORE THAN A DREAM JOB, A GREAT CULTURE, AND A PAYCHECK. Metro is