Aviation Blogs

TechCareers Series Adds Aviation Pilots Book

Av8tor — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:56:22 +0000

TechCareers: Aviation Pilots is a taste of what it looks like to be trained and work as an aircraft pilot. The need for commercial aircraft pilots always is growing. According to the Joseph T. Nall Report published annually by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the number of aircraft in use roughly doubles every 10 years.

Aviation Pilots,TSTC Publishing’s newest edition to its TechCareers series, offers employment overviews, skill requirements, education and training information and everything else needed for a career in the aviation business. Feb. 1 is the official release of the paperback book, with an ebook version expected shortly.

Written by Jodi Wheatley, the book is divided into three sections: Aviation Pilot Careers, Aviation Pilot Education and Certification and Additional Aviation Pilot Information and Resources. Aviation Pilots also gives an employment outlook, salary ranges, job titles, career paths and job duties, and features profiles of pilots, employers and instructors in the field.

The book offers a list of job titles and corresponding duties pilots can find in their industry:

Private pilot – Certification allows pilots to fly passengers for personal transportation and business.
Certified flight instructor – The flight instructor rating is specific as to the type of instruction authorized, such as multi-engine instructor, single-engine airplane certified flight instructor certified flight instructor instrument (CFII) and helicopter.
Commercial pilot – To obtain commercial pilot certification, the individual must be 18 with a private pilot certificate and a minimum of 250 flight hours completed, along with various other sub-requirements.
Airplane transport pilot – One must be 23 before earning an airplane transport pilot’s (ATP) certificate. The individual must have a private and a commercial certificate, instrument rating and at least 1,500 hours of flight experience and pass the ATP written exam and a flight test.
Multi-engine pilot – A commercial pilot must acquire a rating for a multi-engine airplane.

From employment outlook to job duties to the necessary skill sets a pilot is expected to possess, TechCareers: Aviation Pilots provides vital information any prospective pilot student needs to know.

The TechCareers Series is a joint effort of TSTC Publishing, the publishing arm of the Texas State Technical College System, and TSTC Forecasting. The series includes: Biomedical Equipment, Automotive Technicians, Aviation Pilots, Avionics Technician, Wind Energy, Computer Gaming Programmers & Artists and Welding Technology. Other forthcoming books include Aviation Maintenance, Graphic Design and Radiation Protection Technology.
Born and raised in Texas, Jodi Wheatley earned her bachelor’s degree in TV & Film Production from the Journalism, Broadcasting & Film school at Trinity University in San Antonio. After many years working in local television – writing, producing and directing commercials, public service announcements, station promotions and marketing videos – she expanded into technical/communications writing for Texas State Technical College in Abilene. Writing and editing online course content (including Fiber Optics, Hydraulics, Cutting & Welding, Electricity, Applied Math and other subjects) for wind energy technology training classes was great fun, as it allowed her to do the two things she said she enjoys most: learning and helping others learn.

Established in 2004 as the publishing arm of the Texas State Technical College System, TSTC Publishing offers faculty throughout the country the opportunity to initiate and participate in a variety of book development projects. TSTC Publishing projects now include such ancillary products as instructor guides, student workbooks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, ebooks and companion websites. In addition to offering editorial help and guidance to faculty, assistance also is available in the areas of materials production, distribution and sales.

The book retails for $14.95 in paperback and is available from all major book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble or directly from TSTC Publishing.

FAA Safety Briefing-January/February 2012

Av8tor — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:12:28 +0000

This first issue of 2012 explores some of the resources available to help you in your initial quest for pilot certification, as well as the lifelong quest to improve your aeronautical knowledge. Feature articles show you how to leverage the information power of aviation regulations and handbooks as well as provide tips to help prepare for your next checkride and find an aviation school that’s right for you. The January/February issue of FAA Safety Briefing is now available online atwww.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing /. Check it out today!

Announcing the First Release of FAA Mobile!

PlanePilot1 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:22:54 +0000

FAA Mobile is an easy-to-use mobile website that provides quick access to popular FAA.gov tasks for aviation enthusiasts on-the-go. You can look up N-numbers, find Advisory Circulars, browse airport delays, and more. You can find FAA Mobile at http://www.faa.gov/mobile (optimized for mobile devices).

The FAA Mobile website allows you to stay con

FAA Mobile fully supports iOS 4 and higher, as well as Android 2.2 and higher. For details on all devices that are compatible with FAA Mobile, see Supported Platforms and Devices.

Features

FAA Mobile provides mobile access to the following FAA.gov features. To see page examples, click the “See Example” links.

N-Number Lookup
Look up any aircraft’s N-number to see ownership, registration, aircraft manufacturer and model, and more information. See Example
U.S. Airport Status and Delays
Review information about airport status and delays across the entire National Airspace System (NAS), or look up the status of a particular airport to plan your travel schedule. See Example
Advisory Circular (AC) Lookup
Find and read advisory circulars to help you comply with FAA regulations. See Example
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) Locator
Locate the closest offices based on your current location, if you have Location Services enabled on your device. You can also locate FSDOs by region or by office name. See Example
Wildlife Strike Reporting
Report an aircraft wildlife strike or edit an existing wildlife strike report. See Example
News and Press Releases
Read the three most recent FAA news stories and press releases. See Example

Airborne 12.23.11: FAA Allows Pilots To Rest, TSA Pillories Petition, 2011′s True Aero-Innovators

PlanePilot1 — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:12:28 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Happy Holidays from the crews at Aero-News, Aero-TV and Airborne! Even though the year is coming to a surprisingly busy close (and thank God for that, eh?), there was plenty to cover this week in Airborne-land.

And as usual, there were items popping up all over the place, even as we tried to complete this episode.

PLEASE keep sending us your feedback and ideas… you have no idea how important that is to us as we evolve the Airborne mission. As we listen to your critiques, we’re getting a far better idea as to how to tweak and fine-tune future Airborne programming to fit you needs.

We’re continuing to implement your suggestions for a tighter overall length, without reducing the story count, on Airborne, and I assure you that we have even great things in store for you as Airborne evolves rapidly to serve the aviation world. So… be sure to keep filling us in what you want from ANN, Aero-TV and Airborne!

Airborne 12.23.11 is chock full of info about the week ending Friday, December 23rd, 2011… Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Ashley Hale, and supported by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, and Aero-Journalists Tom Patton and Paul Plack, this episode covers:

The FAA Finally Publishes Rest Regs
TBM-700 Downed In Bad WX
Avidyne Certs for Piper PA-46 Line
The Sultan Of Brunei Now Owns ALL Of Piper
The Guessing Over The Next FAA Admin Is Under way!
Barefoot Bandit To Do Hard-Time
AeroNav Thinks Flyers Are Their Own Private ATM
Another Satellite Coming Down
SpaceX Readying For ISS Mission
China’s Aircraft Carrier Revealed
Barnstorming Features EAA’s Rod Hightower, This Week
TSA’s Pistole Seems A Mite PO’ed
ANN Salutes The Aero-Innovators Of 2011
Aero-Video Of the Week Encounters SANTA!!!
NASA Knows Rock??? Who Knew?

Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again next week for another edition of “Airborne” here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you next week!

FMI: www.aero-news.net, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork,http://twitter.com/AeroNews

Sporty’s Offers Fast Track to First Solo

PlanePilot1 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:10:15 +0000

No matter your ultimate goal, if you want to learn to fly, you have to solo. Talk to any pilot and a major milestone in their flying is the first time they flew an airplane alone. For most pilots, soloing an airplane is more memorable than passing a checkride. Now, Sporty’s has made this milestone even easier by offering a DVD course that includes everything a pilot needs to solo—just add flight instructor.

“We know from over 50 years experience gained at our own flight school, if you get a student to solo, his chances of dropping out are virtually zero,” says Sporty’s Founder Hal Shevers. “This course will help student pilots make it to that milestone, whether they plan to continue on towards a license or simply solo.”

Because learning to fly can sometimes feel overwhelming and because many aspiring pilots don’t know exactly what certificate level they desire, Sporty’s designed its new course to be simple and easy to use. It’s the perfect starting point for anyone learning to fly. There is no software to install and no textbooks to study. Start with Volume 1 on your television, PC or Mac and continue to solo.

Sporty’s Solo Course includes six hours of video on three DVDs packed with real-world, in-flight footage that explains everything a new pilot needs to know for solo. Sporty’s signature 3D graphics and animations make complicated subjects easy to understand while interactive on-screen review questions mark your progress as you go.

“We are confident that this course will save student pilots time and money by focusing on what’s most important,” adds Shevers. “For less than the cost of one flight lesson, aspiring pilots will have an enjoyable and interactive course to guide them through each lesson.”

Upgrade when you’re ready
When a student pilot is ready to move on to earn a license, Sporty’s makes it easy. Each Solo Course includes a coupon for $65 (the full cost of the Solo Course) off its Complete Learn to Fly Course. Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course includes modular flight training options for Private, Sport or Recreational pilot. Plus, the modular structure of the Solo Course ensures that everything you learn is directly applied to your next Sporty’s course.

Sporty’s Solo Course D233A is available for $65.00 and may be ordered at sportys.com or by calling 1-800-SPORTYS.

Please Help The Flightline Pledge Drive on Kickstarter:

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:46:41 +0000

The Flightline TV Show brings you stories on all types of aircraft and the people that fly them. Our goal (with your help) is to bring our program to a national audience. We not only provide stunning visuals and entertainment, but we’d like to inspire participation in the world of aviation whether as an enthusiast or maybe even as a career.

The Flightline tells the stories of aviation both past and present and we put the viewer right in the cockpit and along for the thrilling ride to see the incredible perspectives that pilots enjoy everyday. We like to say “we’re like an air show every week” except you’re riding along, — instead of behind the ropes.

We’re asking 2,000 people to pledge $46.75 each to reach our goal. If you know of a pilot or aviation enthusiast who can help, please send them this link and help spread the word. Together we can bring The Flightline to a National audience.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Please Pledge Here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flightline/the-flightline-nation?ref=live

Thank You

Turning a Helicopter Pilot’s License into a Career

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:28:22 +0000

Whether you’ve just started flying or you’ve been doing it for a number of years, turning your helicopter hobby into your day job is difficult but doable. The most successful pilots are those who are willing to put in the necessary flight time and training to become skilled in operating a wide number of aircraft.

Education and Certification

A helicopter pilot is expected to obtain certain certifications and log a certain number of flight hours before being considered for employment. After earning a Private Pilot’s license
through helicopter training, it is necessary to continue working to get a Commercial Rotorcraft License. This certification requires about 150 hours of helicopter flight time and an instrument rating to achieve. Those who wish to work as a helicopter pilot should try to become as experienced as possible with a wide variety of helicopters and flight situations.

Many of aspiring helicopter pilots become Certified Flight Instructors to work up to the required number of flight hours to get a commercial license. This is a good way to rack up some serious flying time and get paid for doing it. In addition to these certifications, pilots may want to consider getting a degree in aviation science or going into another math or science-based higher education program. According to HillsboroAviation.com, while the helicopter pilot industry does not necessarily require any type of degree, having this experience can help boost your credibility and give you an edge when applying for jobs.

Career Paths

As a commercial airline pilot, you have one of several career options to choose from. In any industry, however, you should be prepared to take a position, not as a pilot, but as a junior member of a helicopter team while you work up experience and connections in the company.

One of the most common jobs that pilots take after working up a good number of flight hours is a job as a tourism pilot. These pilots must be very flexible, as job opportunities may last for a few years and then move to another area. This industry does, however, have the distinct advantage of allowing you to become your own boss if that’s what you wish. If you are an entrepreneur who is able to save up enough money to purchase your own aircraft, you can start a helicopter business from scratch wherever you wish.

Some other options include working in the medical, police, or fire agencies and being a news helicopter pilot. These jobs are generally more stable and pay very well, but may require some extra knowledge such as EMT or police officer training.

A final opportunity that some pilots pursue is a career in the military, which includes becoming a Coast Guard pilot. This route to an aviation career allows pilots to start flying very quickly and become exposed to a large variety of machines and situations. Many military pilots become civilian helicopter operators after their service is over. Keep in mind, however, that the requirements for entering this particular area of military service are quite high.

If you are thinking of becoming a helicopter pilot you should know that the process is very demanding, but also very rewarding. Keep a good attitude and be persistent, and you can eventually achieve success in this field.

by: Hillsboro Aviation

Cessna Launches Single-Engine Aircraft Safety Education Initiative

flyer98 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:36:54 +0000

WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 2, 2011 — Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has launched a safety initiative to educate 100- and 200-series single-engine piston aircraft owners around the world about new supplemental aircraft inspection procedures that will be added to Cessna service manuals.

The supplemental inspections cover Cessna single-engine piston aircraft produced between 1946 and 1986 when Cessna suspended production of piston aircraft. The inspections will be incorporated into the service manuals for the 200-series aircraft in early December and the change for the 100-series aircraft will be made in April 2012.

“The supplemental inspection program we’ve developed is primarily a visual process aimed at supporting the continued airworthiness of aging airframes,” said Beth Gamble, Cessna’s principal engineer for airframe structures. “Through this education effort, we hope to answer most questions before we release the revised service manuals. We encourage owners to check in with their local Cessna service affiliate at the appropriate times to have the mandatory inspections completed.”

The criteria for initial visual inspections will vary by model and aircraft age or hours of operation and focus primarily on signs of corrosion or structural fatigue damage. Cessna authorized service providers will have special training and access to specific equipment for the inspections and for repairs, if required.

“Corrosion and fatigue are inevitable but with early detection and proper maintenance, severity and effects can be minimized,” Gamble said. “The new inspection requirements we’ve developed are very simple, and are based on visual inspection that can be done quickly by a trained inspector during an annual inspection.”

Cessna plans a series of education opportunities on the new inspection procedures starting with the company’s authorized parts and service facilities. An interactive presentation is available on the customer access portion of the Customer Service page of Cessna.com and ashort video explaining the inspection process is on Cessna’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/CessnaAircraftCo.
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Cessna is the world’s leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered more than 192,500 airplanes around the globe. This includes more than 6,100 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2010, Cessna delivered 535 aircraft, including 179 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $2.6 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at textron.com.

The FAA Announces Changes to the Blocked Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) Program

PlanePilot1 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:43:16 +0000

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that, effective immediately, general aviation or on-demand charter aircraft owners or operators seeking to keep their aircraft’s registration number from being displayed over public data systems during flight no longer need to submit a Certified Security Concern to the FAA.
As a result of language in the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill, the FAA is withdrawing its June 3, 2011 policy (76 Fed. Reg. 32,258-32,265) of requiring aircraft owners or operators to submit a Certified Security Concern in order to have their aircraft tail number blocked from view on the FAA’s Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) or National Airspace System Status Information (NASSI).
Owners and operators seeking to have their aircraft tail number blocked from these data feeds can now submit a blocking request directly to the FAA without stating a reason for the request. The FAA has already begun receiving requests under the new appropriations language and is processing them.
This change will be reflected in the FAA’s interim policy which will be posted to the FAA Docket and published in the Federal Register as soon as possible. The FAA is developing a permanent policy that will be posted in the Federal Register for public comment early next year.

Source: http://www.faa.gov/

NASA Accepting Applications For Future Astronauts

Av8tor — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:15:33 +0000

HOUSTON — Do you dream of flying in space? Now is your chance. NASA is accepting applications for the agency’s next class for the Astronaut Candidate Program.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Starting today, qualified individuals can submit their applications through the federal government’s USAJobs.gov website. Those selected will be among the first to pioneer a new generation of commercial launch vehicles and travel aboard a new heavy-lift rocket to distant destinations in deep space.

“For 50 years, American astronauts have led the exploration of our solar system,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. “Today we are getting a glimpse of why that will remain true for the next half-century. Make no mistake about it, human space flight is alive and well at NASA.”

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience. Successful applicants frequently have significant qualifications in engineering or science; or extensive experience flying high-performance jet aircraft. Educators teaching kindergarten through 12th grade with these minimimum degree requirements also are encouraged to apply.

NASA will accept applications through January 27, 2012. After applicant interviews and evaluations, the agency expects to announce the final selections in 2013. Training will begin that summer.

For more information about astronaut application and selection and to follow the latest news via NASA accounts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/flynasa