Maintenance Seminar at EFA’s Maintenance Hangar (KLWM)
The final class in our Ground Seminar Series will be Maintenance at EFA’s Maintenance Hangar on Saturday, May 19 from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Members of our staff will lead this discussion. $25
As pilots, we understand aircraft systems, but we rarely get to see under the hood. This is our opportunity.
Come to our maintenance office in Lawrence, MA and we’ll look inside the cowling to get a better idea of what goes on in there.
We expect to be surprised at how much more we understand after looking at everything more closely. This spells confidence and safety. It’s also an opportunity you can’t get anywhere else.
Topics will include:
Look “under the hood” of the aircraft you fly
Learn the whys and wherefores of parts and systems
Understand what the pre-flight checks tell you and why you do them
Learn the techniques of cold and hot starting and why we do what we do
Find out what to do when something doesn’t look/sound/feel/smell right
Discuss in-flight abnormalities and how to write them up
Develop the systems understanding you need to diagnose abnormalities and take action
A year ago, I took my first flying lesson with EFA. Now, my logbook holds more than 250 hours, 40 of which were obtained in EFA’s Super Decathlon. Besides my PPL, I acquired an Instrument Rating, Tailwheel and High Performance endorsement.
While I was keen to learn how to fly, not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that not even 2 months after passing my PPL, I would fly a taildragger upside down, by myself. Nor did I expect to transition as quickly and smoothly from PPL to Instrument Rating. Every time I fly an approach, I’m amazed by the immense skill set I’ve acquired. Moreover, I had tons and tons of fun.
For this, I would like to thank the whole EFA team; the dispatch and line team for always providing a plane ready to fly and in excellent shape, all with a friendly smile, and the mechanics for taking such good care of EFA’s fleet.
But first and foremost, I would like to thank my instructors, Marc, with whom I obtained my PPL and who was my FAA-designated examiner and Tony, who was my aerobatics and instrument instructor. Marc and Tony are my aviation mentors; they taught me attention to detail, a willingness to always hold myself up to the highest standards, respect the airplane and avoid complacency like the plague. Their passionate airmanship has instilled in me a great desire to continue to learn, collect more ratings and constantly work to become a better pilot.
In short, I could not have wished for a better training experience and whole-heartedly recommend Tony and Marc to anyone interested in learning to fly or obtain advanced ratings. I’m sure that both Timm and I will be back for more aerobatics and our CPL.
Sincerely,
Christina
Thank you for your kind words, Christina.
We have deeply enjoyed your friendship
and your passion for flight.
Scholarships are available for New Hampshire flight students.
Each year, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation provides scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers in aviation. For 2012, up to $12,600 will be awarded from three funds:
Michael J. Keating Scholarship Fund
For a New Hampshire resident who is an entering freshman or transfer student in a flight operations program.
David G. Plasch Aviation Scholarship
For residents of the Seacoast area (including York County, ME) who are pursuing flight training or other aviation careers. The fund has a preference for those who graduated from Portsmouth High School.
Boardman-Polando-Goodrich-Maloney-Covich Flight Scholarship
For New Hampshire residents pursuing aviation related studies, including, but not limited to the fields of flight operations, avionics, aerospace engineering and technology and piloting.
Students who fit the criteria of these scholarship programs are encouraged to apply for assistance. To apply, students must complete an online application to our Statewide Student Aid Program.
Students who apply to the Statewide Student Aid Program need only apply ONCE to be considered for all scholarship resources at the Foundation.
The deadline for application is April 13, 2012.
Award decisions will be made within six to eight weeks.
Any questions may be directed to the Student Aid Office at the Foundation: 603-225-6641 ext 1226.
We feel honored to be so close to this area’s historic sites where many come to learn about our nation’s heritage.
That’s why we are taking part in Massport’s Noise Abatement initiative. Please join us in honoring our past by learning these touch and go procedures and making an extra effort to follow them during special events.
Special Events
04/14/2012 Patriot’s Day at Minute Man NHP – Battle Road
9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Battle Road 2012 will feature musket and cannon firing, battle demonstrations, family activities and more.
04/15/2012 The British Redcoat
1:00 PM
Why were the Regulars in Massachusetts? Why did they come to Concord? What happened on April 19, 1775 from the perspective of the King’s Army? Join Park Ranger Roger Fuller to explore the answers to these questions.
04/16/2012 Patriot’s Day at Minute Man NHP – British Mourn Arms Ceremony and Concord Parade
8:30 AM
Join park staff and volunteers for a morning of commemorations and celebrations marking the 237th anniversary of the start of the American Revolutionary War.
04/19/2012 Dawn Salute
5:45 AM
The Concord Minute Men and the Concord Independent Battery observe the anniversary of the April 19th battle with commemorative speeches and a 21 gun salute.
Arrival of the Sudbury Militia
10:30 AM
The Sudbury Companies of Minute and Militia will make their annual march to North Bridge in honor of their fellow townsmen who made the same march in 1775. They will fire volleys from North Bridge in soldierly salute.
04/21/2012 Battle Road Heroes
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Listen to the personal stories of residents who lived along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775. This special evening of theater and history is presented by The Guild of Historic Interpreters, The Center for 18th Century Life at Minute Man NHP.
One pilot’s dream: flying a Piper Meridian halfway around the world.
Pilots dream about that one adventure, that one bucket-list flight they’d drop everything to take.
We interviewed Dr. Arnold Sperling, a long-time friend of Executive Flyers, after his trip-of-a-lifetime. He recently ferried a piston-powered Piper Meridian from Hanscom Field (KBED) in Bedford, Massachusetts to Melbourne, Australia…going East.
Indonesian customs officials process Sperling’s paperwork
Sperling’s journey began with mountains of paperwork. Innumerable customs documents were required for the ten-nation voyage. He also used a third party flight planning firm called Air Journey. Some clearances took as long as a week to process.
Next, Sperling needed an extended-range tank. He flew the Meridian from Bedford, Massachusetts to Tracy, California where the tank was installed by Skyview Aviation. Then, it was back to Bedford and on to the real journey, which would take Sperling and his friend Mike Groff across five continents.
Their first stop was St. John’s International (CYYT) in Newfoundland, the traditional last stop for small aircraft about to cross the Atlantic. They got snowed in for a day before their leg to the Portuguese Azores (LPAZ).
Sperling and Groff made a stopover in Ibiza (LEIB) off the eastern coast of mainland Spain before crossing the Mediterranean. They landed at Luxor International Airport (HELX) in Egypt where one gallon of 100LL costs $20.
Sightseeing in the mountains of Oman.
The next leg terminated at Oman’s Muscat International (OOMS) near the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Sperling and Groff took a day off to do some sightseeing. They visited the mountains before setting off across the Indian Ocean.
They landed in Colombo (VCBI), the capital city of Sri Lanka. The island nation lies just off the southeast coast of India. After some more sightseeing, it was on to Singapore (WSSL) and El Tari airport (WATT) in Kupang, Indonesia.
Medical facilities in southern Indonesia.
Dr. Sperling took some time to visit local medical clinics. While fairly typical of much of the developing world, they certainly lacked much of the medical infrastructure many of us take for granted.
The next leg took Sperling and Groff to Darwin International Airport (YPDN) in Northern Australia. Sperling found Australia exceptionally friendly to pilots. There is a legal mechanism making it relatively simple to transfer FAA privileges to the Australian airspace system. Renting an airplane during an Australian vacation sounds fantastic!
Sperling and Groff refueled in Alice Springs (YBAS) near the middle of the country before concluding their adventure at Moorabbin Airport (YMMB) near Melbourne, Australia. The entire adventure covered almost 13,500nm in two weeks.
One pilot’s trip of a lifetime.
We are impressed with Dr. Sperling’s airmanship. The journey needed lots of planning, stamina, knowledge of regulations and skill, but the return on his investment is a string of memories and stories he will enjoy for a lifetime.
Flying makes the whole world small enough to explore. Sperling’s international adventure reminds pilots everywhere that, for us, the sky has no limits.
Josh Smith is a blogger at Executive Flyers Aviation, a leading flight school in the Boston area.
Executive Flyers Aviation has an immediate need for an exceptional flight instructor.
We are a leader in New England flight training. You can teach a Part 141 curriculum at a school recognized for its commitment to safety and professionalism.
We have a national reputation for excellence and have seen career-minded CFIs find great success throughout the industry.
Our Ground Seminar Series has something for every pilot. Brush up on some flight planning fundamentals, learn new avionics, prepare for your checkride or explore new ways to live your passion.
Seminars are intimate, 2.5 hour lessons designed to develop community and address important topics. Dialog with instructors and students about your specific areas of interest.
Many of our seminars are free. The others still cost much less than a typical one-on-one lesson. They are scheduled on Saturdays during the 10:00am block so you can put your new skills into practice right away.
Brand new King Schools Private Pilot
Checkride Preparation DVD 50% off!
King Schools has released a series of Checkride Preparation DVDs. Private Pilot and Instrument students will find them a helpful, interactive resource.
We want to make sure the outcome of your checkride reflects all the hard work you’ve put in so far. We thinking watching the videos on your home computer will give you extra confidence and insight into the checkride experience.
Normally $119, we’re offering a few DVDs for only $59.
This is a limited-time offer. Quantities are also limited.
