Centerline Flight

Services

Below are descriptions of the various services I provide on a regular basis. If you have other more specific training needs, please contact me. I'd be happy to discuss them with you.

Primary Flight Training

Instrument Training
Advanced Flight Training

Cirrus Standardized Instruction
Flight Review (BFR)
Instrument Proficiency Check
FAA "Wings" Pilot Proficiency Program
New Aircraft Checkouts
Primary & Instrument Ground Training

Demonstration/Introduction Flights

Formal Ground Schools

Primary Flight Training

This is where it all starts. Some people have "always wanted to fly." Some are at a point in their life where they are looking for a challenge...an adventure. Whatever the reason, flying is where it's at. Primary flight training is the beginning of the learning process. No matter how far you plan to go with your flying, the private pilot certificate is most likely your first step.

As a private pilot, you'll generally begin in a single engine airplane, but may progress to more complex aircraft as you build time and experience. You'll be able to take friends and family as passengers and will soon realize the benefits of traveling by air.

Working toward your private pilot certificate involves ground and flight training, plus solo flight experience. There is a written exam to prepare for and pass. Your flight training culminates with a practical test, otherwise known as a "checkride". Checkride day is a big day for most pilots...Scary? A little. Difficult? Maybe. Satisfying? Hopefully. Memorable? Absolutely!

Instrument Training

Instrument training is frequently the next step after receiving your private pilot certificate. Do you have to get an instrument rating? Absolutely not. Many pilots fly their entire "career" as a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) pilot. An instrument rating, however, opens up an entire new world of flying. With an instrument rating you are able to fly in limited visibility conditions that keep most VFR pilots on the ground. In addition to gaining the skills necessary to fly in IMC (instrument meteorological conditions), instrument training fine tunes your flying skills and makes you more precise. It also teaches you the importance of proper and more accurate aircraft control...and that's a good thing.

Working toward your instrument rating requires additional ground and flight training. There is also a written exam to prepare for and pass. As with most pilot certificates and ratings, your instrument training will prepare you for the instrument practical test or "checkride".

An instrument rating is, of course, a license to learn, but to make real use of your new rating, you need to spend time exercising your instrument skills and building experience. It's important to have confidence in your instrument flying.

Advanced Flight Training

The term "advanced" usually refers to flight training toward a higher level of pilot certificate, such as Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot. Advanced training frequently involves transitioning into more powerful and complex aircraft.

A Commercial pilot certificate is required if you plan to fly for compensation or hire, but even if you only fly recreationally, you may find that the additional training is just what's needed to further polish your flying skills. Commercial training takes your flying to a "higher level" by exploring the outer edges of the aircraft's (and your) performance capabilities and teaches you to really feel the airplane. You'll also learn more about making good pilot decisions for each flight you make.

The Airline Transport Pilot certificate is the highest level of pilot certificate. It is essentially a combination of a commercial certificate and an instrument rating. The ATP certificate requires a significant number of flight hours including lots of cross country, instrument and night time.

Cirrus Standardized Training

As an active CSI (Cirrus Standardized Instructor) I am able to assist you with all types of training in Cirrus aircraft, including initial/transition, Flight Reviews, Instrument Proficiency Checks and recurrent training. I have experience in both SR20 and SR22 models with all avionics packages. I can also provide advanced instrument training, with an emphasis on integrating the Garmin 430 GPS and the S-Tec 55x autopilot functions. Please contact me directly to discuss how I can support you with this specialized training.

Flight Review (BFR)

Even though your pilot certificate never expires, Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations says that anytime you exercise the privileges of your pilot certificate you must have logged a flight review or equivalent in the previous 24 months, hence the name Biennial Flight Review or BFR. For many pilots, the very thought of a flight review sends chills up their spine. It's really too bad, because a good flight review can be a great experience and you are sure to learn a thing or two.

There's one thing for sure about flying...if you don't exercise your skills and knowledge on a fairly regular basis, they deteriorate and that's not good for you or your passengers. The FAA knows this, so they want you to fly with an instructor at least every two years to make sure that some of that skill and knowledge is still in place.

A flight review is not a test or another checkride and it's not possible to "fail", so relax, learn and enjoy. By regulation, it must consist of at least one hour of ground discussion and one hour of flying. The discussion topics and flying should relate to the kind of flying you do. Please see my Flight Review Checklist for the items typically covered during a flight review. I use this form to help guide the discussion and make sure that important topics are covered during our time together. If you're a little rusty, no problem. We'll work on your technique and try to get you back on track. Depending on your level of proficiency, additional ground and flight time may be necessary, but that's okay, because you'll be a better pilot when you're done.

By the way, if flight reviews just aren't your thing, you can always get a new certificate or rating or complete a phase of the FAA Wings program.

Instrument Proficiency Check

Instrument rated pilots who intend to fly IFR need to be current and legal. Being current for IFR means that you've performed and logged at least six instrument approaches, intercepted and tracked courses and performed holding procedures (in actual or simulated instrument conditions) within the preceding six months. Once you're out of currency, you have another six months in which to get current by flying with an instructor or safety pilot. After that, you need an instrument proficiency check with an instructor or examiner.

An instrument proficiency check (IPC) isn't really as bad as it sounds. A typical IPC will begin with an hour or two of ground discussion. The topics to be covered are included on my IPC Checklist. I use this form to help guide the discussion and make sure that important topics are covered during our time together. Following the ground discussion, we'll go fly. The amount of flying will depend on how recently you've used your instrument skills and your general level of comfort in the instrument environment. We'll cover basic attitude instrument maneuvers, partial panel techniques and unusual attitudes. Then we'll fly a series of instrument approaches, including at least one holding pattern. This can all be covered in one flight or may require additional flights as needed. Just like a flight review, this is a great opportunity to learn some new techniques that will help improve your skill and comfort with instrument flying.

Many pilots find it difficult to stay current for instrument flying. This is a shame because instrument flying can be challenging, rewarding and, oh yes, fun! If you haven't exercised your instrument skills for a while, get out there and do it. You'll be glad you did.

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FAA "Wings" Program

The FAA Pilot Proficiency program, more widely known as the "Wings" program, is a favorite way for many pilots to continue learning and stay current. In 2007, the FAA updated the Wings Pilot Proficiency program to be more automated and focus more on regular/ongoing pilot training. Each pilot can have their own personal "account" on the FAA's safety website, where their Wings progress is documented. The Wings program is explained in detail at www.faasafety.gov. Please visit this website and read all about the new program. I'd also recommend that you sign up and begin working on your own Wings program. There are a number of great online learning programs that you can complete in your spare time and that count toward the "knowledge" portion of Wings. When you are ready to work on the flight portion of Wings, please contact me.

While you are visiting www.faasafety.gov, please find your way to the SPANS information page where you can sign up for e-mail notifications of safety seminars and other safety related activities in your specified area.

New Aircraft Checkouts

Most new flying club members are anxious to get "checked out" in the various club aircraft. Some members may even go on to purchase their own personal aircraft. Regardless of the situation, a good aircraft checkout with a qualified instructor is a must. Depending on the club, the aircraft insurance company and the particular aircraft, there may be certain hour requirements that must be met prior to acting as pilot in command. This is particularly true with complex* and high performance** aircraft.

During a new aircraft checkout, you should expect to spend a fair amount of time on the ground reviewing systems, performance characteristics, weight and balance and preflight techniques. Flight time will include the usual maneuvers such as steep turns, slow flight, power on and off stalls and recoveries, basic emergency procedures and takeoffs and landings. If you are instrument rated, you may choose to receive additional training, especially when more complex avionics are involved. A typical aircraft checkout can be as short as a couple of hours or may require several flights and 10 - 15 hours of flight and ground time.

Depending on the club and the aircraft, an aircraft checkout form may need to be completed as part of the checkout process. Another thing to keep in mind is that a flight review, instrument proficiency check or a phase of the Wings program can easily be incorporated into an aircraft checkout. For more information on this, just ask!

* A complex airplane is defined as having retractable landing gear, flaps and a controllable pitch propeller.
** A high performance airplane is defined as having an engine in excess of 200 horsepower.

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Primary & Instrument Ground Training

Way too often, people minimize the importance of ground training. In an effort to get in the air and complete their various flight requirements, ground training time becomes a low priority or an afterthought. It's too darn bad, because without a solid base of knowledge to support your flying skills, you'll come up short sooner or later.

Whether it's one-on-one ground time or part of an organized ground school, I work closely with students and pilots to make sure they understand not just how to do something, but why. Some aviation concepts are difficult to understand and apply. If you have questions or areas you'd like to understand better, please contact me. I'll be glad to help.

Demonstration and Introduction Flights

If you have an interest in aviation and are thinking about learning to fly, a simple introduction flight is a good place to start. This is a great opportunity to find out how you "feel" in a small airplane. The flight itself will last about 30 minutes. There is also some time on the ground becoming acquainted with the airplane. This is meant to be a fun flight, so we'll try to keep it very smooth with no abrupt maneuvers.

Because the airplanes I fly are club operated aircraft, intro flights are reserved for those especially interested in flying as well as club membership. The cost for these flights vary depending on the flight time and the aircraft we fly, so please ask for details.

Formal Ground Schools

I will periodically offer a formal ground school covering specific topic areas. Private Pilot ground schools are aimed at individuals interested in pursuing their dream of learning to fly. Instrument ground schools give existing pilots knowledge and understanding of the world of instrument flying. In addition to helping prepare class participants for a specific FAA knowledge exam, these ground schools offer broader knowledge of the topic areas, including real-world application of the information. Please click this link for more information on the Instrument Ground School, scheduled for January 2008.