Random Photo follow-up

Just a quick follow up to my last entry, the PHP script that allows all the photos in the online album to show up randomly on the home page is up and running! If you go to the home page and refresh your browser a few times, there's no telling which photo will come up next! I think this is a great way to keep the home page looking fresh each visit as well. Enjoy!

Fly Safe,
William Green
www.cnyaviation.com

What's coming soon at CNYAviation.com?

For starters, the site doesn't get updated with new content any where near as much as I'd like it to. The constant job commitments have really put a damper on that. But that doesn't mean I'm not cooking up some ideas.

First, I'm going to implement a PHP script on the home page that will make a random photo get pulled from all of the shots in the photo album, rather than a select few. This way, whenever a photo is added to our album, it will automatically go into "rotation" and could show up on the home page as the random photo at any time. I hope this will inspire more folks to submit their photos so they can see their shots come up on the home page once in a while.

Second, some folks have asked why only the hard surface airports show up in our airport info pages. Truth is, we had to start somewhere and since the hard surfaced airports are utilized much more often than the grass surface airports, we opted to start with them. But, the good news is, the soft surface airports are in fact coming soon to the airports list.

While I'm on the subject of the airports list, If you look at the page for Syracuse (KSYR) you will see what is going to be included on all the airport pages in the near future. This includes airport communication frequencies, Live ATC (where available), METAR and TAF info (also where available), and a link to the Airnav info page for each one. There will also be links to FBO's or Flying Clubs available at each airport as well. Please be patient, however, as it's going to take a while to get all this info entered. As each one is finished, it will be published to the site. I'm also thinking about including a small graph on each page that shows the distance in Nautical Miles between that airport and the major airports in NYS (Class D or Higher).

As always, I'm always up to new ideas for the site if you have some. I can't guarantee that they will be implemented, but you never know unless you ask right? In the meantime, keep sending me photos and aviation events for the site.

Fly Safe,
William Green
www.cnyaviation.com

Learning the Radio Ropes

They say learning the proper control of an airplane happens within the first 10 hours of flight instruction. What does not happen that quickly is radio communication skills. Some folks are absolutely petrified of speaking into the radio when it comes to talking to Air Traffic Control. Why? Well, my belief is, they're afraid of saying something wrong and getting yelled at. The fact of the matter is, the good folks up in the tower usually know immediately if your a student just by your unsure tone of voice. They're going to do what they can to help you, not verbally beat you into submission.

Part of my day job is voicing TV commercials...and as such, I never had a fear of the "dreaded" microphone. But, I don't credit voicing commercials to my comfort on the aviation airwaves...I credit the fact that I've been listening to controllers via a scanner since I was a kid. I've heard thousands of IFR clearances, landing and take-off instructions, even emergency procedures from listening to that scanner. When I became old enough to drive, I bought myself a hand-held scanner and took it to the airport so I could see the live action of what I heard on the radio. Because of all that, by the time I started flying lessons 4 1/2 years ago, none of it was foreign to me. I knew what "Turn right on Mike and hold short of Alpha" meant long before taking the controls of an airplane. I can rattle off an IFR clearance with no trouble at all and I'm not even IFR certified.

So, if you're a student pilot and your scared of even opening your mouth when it comes time to communicate with ATC, invest in a decent hand held scanner, find a spot at your local airport to listen in and you will quickly learn what each transmission means and how to convey your intentions as a pilot.

If you're not a pilot, even an aviation enthusiast can enjoy watching air traffic come and go with the "running commentary" to go with it.

Fly Safe,
William Green
www.cnyaviation.com

Fall Flying

There's probably no better time of year to fly here in New York State than in the Fall when the leaves are at their peak. While listening to Syracuse Approach control the other day, I heard an airline pilot describe the view as "looking down on a big bowl of M&M's".

From all reports, this year looks to be one of the best years for fall foliage. A cool, wet July and a cool August have been perfect conditions for creating brilliant colors. While checking out Mother Nature's spectacular creation from the ground is certainly nice, we as pilots have the advantage of seeing much more from the air. Red, Yellows, Browns and Oranges as far as the eye can see. Better yet, with the cooler air temperatures, our flights are much smoother than they were in the hot days of summer. The thermals that bounced us around are gone...and the air is smooth as glass on a clear day when a big area of high pressure sits over us. So, get out there and fly...see the sights of Fall before the leaves are gone...and be sure to bring your camera. In fact, send us a photo or two of the great shots you do capture, we love to include them on CNYAviation.com!

Fly Safe,

William Green

http://www.cnyaviation.com/

Real Flying vs. Flight Simulator

Many pilot's and aviation enthusiasts alike enjoy Microsoft's Flight Simulator. Whether you're still hanging on to FS2004 or you've upgraded to a computer that can actually handle FSX, Flight Simulator offers a great way to do some "flying" on those hangar days when you're stuck on the ground. Plus, if you're a VFR pilot in the real world, you can fly through whatever weather you want in Flight Simulator! Although the FAA doesn't recognize FS as an official training tool (i.e. you can't log hours while using it)...it's still an excellent tool for keeping your skills sharp. Use it to practice Instrument Approaches at your favorite airport, try some soft field take offs and landings on a grass strip somewhere, or maybe practice your steeps turns and stalls. Even though Flight Simulator doesn't offer you that feeling of G-Force in your seat, it's still a great way to go over the fundamentals...some of the things you may not practice as much as you should in the real world. Although, FS should never replace practicing these maneuvers in a real plane, but it's still a nice refresher.

The biggest drawback to Flight Simulator is landing...unless you're lucky enough to have three monitors, with one including the front view and two of them including the side-views, you have no peripheral vision...an important thing to have when landing an aircraft. In flight simulator, you have to do a lot more guess work when it comes to flaring the aircraft. As a real pilot, I actually think it's more difficult to land an aircraft on Flight Simulator than to land the real thing!

The biggest advantage to Flight Simulator is, if you make a mistake, it's just a simulation. In the real world you are not magically placed back on the runway in the upright position after a crash...you're either seriously injured or worse. My flight instructor used to tell me that the last thing out of a pilot's mouth is usually "Watch this!". Flight Simulator allows you to do those dumb things you should never attempt in real life...like barrel rolling your Cessna 172 with a gravity-fed fuel system.

While it cannot completely simulate the real deal, Flight Simulator is a lot of fun which is why it has such a large following all over the world. So if you're stuck on the ground today, fire up flight simulator and do some flying! It's the next best thing.

Fly Safe
William Green

The State of GA in a Recession?

Like it or not, we're in a recession...and it's having a major impact on General Aviation. I don't think it's just the skyrocketing price of fuel either. It's much deeper than that. Many pilots these days are like everyone else, they seem to be afraid to spend money on leisure items. Perhaps many are afraid of losing their job because of corporate cutbacks..and want to save every dime they can now in case they're out of work tomorrow. Those who are not wealthy or self-employed can all relate to that.

After taxiing back to the FBO the other day, a friend of mine pointed out that many of the GA aircraft parked behind the T-hangars were for sale. With consumer confidence as low as it is, my guess is these aircraft owners don't feel they can justify owning an aircraft anymore. Who has the money lying around for tie-downs, maintenance, annuals, insurance and yes, fuel? The bad news is, lots of people are selling airplanes, but not many seem to be buying them. While Wall Street puts us all in a panic about our stocks and 401k's we should keep one thing in mind: The economy is cyclical and it will get better sooner or later. In this case, it certainly looks like it's going to be later...by I'm no expert in economics.

In the meantime, I hope every once in awhile, each pilot in New York State and across the country takes advantage of treating themselves to flying now and then. We worked hard and spent a lot of money to get that certificate, it's such a shame to see it go to waste collecting dust in your wallet. Even if it's just once a month or twice a year...fly someplace...take someone with you and get them excited about flying. Heck, they may even split the cost of the flight with you! Less than 1% of Americans can proudly say they're a pilot, lets not let the current state of our economy destroy what we love to do most.

Fly Safe
William Green

Flying IFR as a VFR Pilot!

In my last post I mentioned I would be flying down to Ithaca (KITH) airport for their annual fly-in breakfast. Food was excellent! If you have the chance next year, be sure to go down there for it! I also mentioned that Rob Belisario, the Chief Flight Instructor at Exec Air at Syracuse (KSYR) would be coming along with me. It was a good thing that was part of the plan because having an instrumented rated instructor on board was the only way I was getting down to Ithaca that day.

The conditions leaving Syracuse were not bad, in fact we could have easily flown out of there VFR, but as the terrain rose and we got closer to Ithaca, the weather began to deteriorate. We were on top of the clouds at 4000 feet with only a few holes here and there in which to see the ground. This was my first taste of flying in real IFR conditions and I must say it was quite educational. It was a whole different ball game keeping my eyes glued to the instruments rather than freely looking out the window whenever I pleased. I had to make sure I kept assigned heading, altitude and attitude relying only on my instruments. I remember being under the hood plenty of times during training, but this was the real deal. The few times I did glance out the window, it was nothing but a sea of white. Inside the clouds I couldn't tell if I was right side up, sideways or upside down for that matter without trusting what my instruments were telling me.

As we got closer to Ithaca, Elmira approach started giving us vectors for the VOR runway 14 approach. This was another first...the only approach I tried before was tracking an ILS down to the runway in VFR conditions. As Rob read my altitude restrictions to me at each approach point, I began to realize a whole new appreciation for the workload IFR pilots have to deal with. It was enough for me to keep track of the instruments and make sure I didn't end up a lawn dart without worrying about reading the approach plate too. Once we reached the final approach fix, Rob said "Airport's in sight" and a feeling of relief came over me, I could fly the rest of the way looking out the window and keeping track of my airspeed.

After a nice plate of eggs, pancakes, sausage and even some homemade applesauce courtesy of the East Hill Flying Club, we took a look at a few static displays while Rob called in our IFR plan for the trip back home. In less than a minute off the ground, we were back in the soup until we got back on top where I could see the familiar puffy pillows of white below us that most people have experienced flying on an airliner. After being handed off to Syracuse, approach began vectoring us for the ILS runway 28. They descended us to 4000 feet which was right back in the soup again. We would be in this soup for quite a while while I had to make turning descents in the clouds. I was amazed at how easily someone could become distracted. I even caught myself in a turn at one point that was not intentional. I told myself to wake up and watch the instruments! I said this out loud, so I'm pretty sure Rob heard me, but he silently let me do my thing and learn as I went...all the while giving me tips on what I can do to plan for my decent on the ILS approach using trim, pitch and power settings. Later, approach told me to "descend and maintain 2000 until established on the localizer, cleared ILS runway 28 approach.". I did a little too much chasing the needle and had to continue to make small adjustments to my heading to get myself back on track. Once we broke out of the clouds, Rob reminded me not to fall into the trap of diving down once I had visual of the runway and to just keep on the 3 degree slope all the way to the runway. Once we landed I was simply amazed at what I had just accomplished.

Looking back, that flight was one of the most exciting I'd experienced to date as a private pilot. I learned first hand how much IFR pilots have to stay ahead of the aircraft in order to fly safely to their destination. I also appreciate my friend Rob who was in the right seat guiding me each step of the way.

I can see now how dangerous it can be when a VFR pilot inadvertently flies into IFR conditions...that's not a situation I would want to be in with out an instrument rating.