I was a guest for Episode 203 of the Airplane Geeks, a podcast for all aviation enthusiast. In this episode I discuss my new podcast Aviation Careers Podcast.
I listen to the Airplane Geeks for their discussions on current events and their insightful and entertaining commentary. They have many segments of the show including a history segment and worldwide coverage of aviation events.
If you like all things aviation this podcast is for you. When I'm not listening to podcasts about flying planes I'm listening to the Airplane Geeks. I think you would enjoy listing to this entertaining and informative aviation podcast.
Today’s show is an unusual one, more off the cuff, no topics, other than sharing a celebration of our first anniversary here at the Stuck Mic AvCast, stories of how each co-host got started in aviation, and reminiscing on our first year of podcasting, the experiences it’s afforded us and even how it’s changed our lives.
Pre-Flight
Learn more about the Dahl Fund, a scholarship for qualified students to who wish to attend an accredited commercial flight training school here in the United States. The fund was started on behalf of Sandy Dahl, the wife of airline pilot Jason Dahl who sadly lost his life on September 11, 2001 while flying as Captain on United Airlines Flight 93. Show your support for this scholarship with a donation or share it with your friends and family interested in a career in aviation!
Nothing to see here folks. It’s all in the first paragraph above
After Landing Checklist
~ Picks of The Week ~
No picks of the week for this episode.
Virgin Galactic Space Flight Fund
Thanks for listening to the Stuck Mic AvCast, a listener supported aviation podcast. We love publishing and delivering useful content and information for everyone! Please show your support with a $5 or $10 donation today and maybe we could one day fly in space!
Please submit your questions and feedback via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook, or email and we’ll be sure to answer them on the air!
What the term seniority means and how it impacts everyone involved in aviation.
The “age 65 rule “ and why it is affecting the pending pilot shortage.
What you should be reading if you plan on flying jets or more complex aircraft.
Our interview today is with Angie Terrell. Angie is a former airline Captain and has changed her career path recently to become a professional simulator instructor. In our interview we will discover:
What it’s like to be a simulator instructor.
What qualifications are needed to be a good simulator instructor.
What should you be doing if you want to become a simulator instructor.
What type of career progression can be expected.
What are the job prospects.
Who are the biggest employers of simulator instructors.
What is the lifestyle of a typical simulator instructor.
Recommended Reading:
The Turbine Pilots Flight Manual is the book I read before I moved up to larger more complex aircraft. It helped me when I began flying jets and turboprops because the book uses descriptions and diagrams which make even the most complex systems easy to understand.
Click on the image below to read a sample of the book at Amazon.com.
Welcome to a special feature of the Stuck Mic AvCast. My name is Carl Valeri and I will be your host today as I share with you some interviews and lectures from Long Island Air and Space Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This is a special event hosted by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation and the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
The Cradle Of Aviation Museum is Long Island’s “Air And Space Museum”. The museum has something for all ages including outstanding exhibits, activities for children, a collection of historic airplanes, a lunar excursion module, and a giant screen dome theatre. All those interested in aviation or space will surely enjoy this significant museum.
The Cradle of Aviation Museum is host of the annual Long Island Air and Space Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. I was fortunate to attend this wonderful event and am happy to share some of the interesting interviews and highlights from the ceremony.
The 2012 Inductees to the Long Island Air And Space Hall Of Fame Include:
Harriet Quimby – the first licensed female pilot and first woman to fly across the English Channel.
William Shepherd – Space Shuttle mission specialist, first commander of the international Space Station, and recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Jimmy Doolittle – A flight instructor and test pilot whose most significant contribution to aviation was the world’s first flight by reference to instruments at Mitchel Field in 1929. His most famous feat was when he lead the attack on Tokyo in 1942 for which he won the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The following audio includes :
Interview with Jim Hughes – an enthusiastic docent shares his knowledge of the museum and Harriet Quimby.
Interview with Giacinta Bradley Koontz – Author The Harriet Quimby Scrapbook. Giacinta accepted the Hall of Fame Award on Harriet Quimby’s behalf.
Lecture highlights from “Jimmy Doolittle… American Hero, Aviation Pioneer” presented by Jimmy Doolittle’s granddaughter Jonna Doolittle Hoppes. Jonna accepted the The Hall of Fame Award on behalf of her grandfather. You can listen to the entire lecture at ExpertAviator.com.
Enjoy the show!
Virgin Galactic Space Flight Fund
Thanks for listening to the Stuck Mic AvCast, a listener supported aviation podcast. We love publishing and delivering useful content and information for everyone! Please show your support with a $5 or $10 donation today and maybe we could one day fly in space!
Please submit your questions and feedback via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook, or email and we’ll be sure to answer them on the air!
I spoke with Fox 13 Tampa Bay concerning the Pilatus PC-12 Plane Crash in Polk County, Fl. This is a sad event and will take up to a year for the NTSB to investigate. The primary question is why the plane departed controlled flight and if the structural failure was prior to or after the loss of control.
Welcome to Aviation Careers Podcast. There has been much discussion in the news about the pending pilot shortage. Is this pilot shortage which has been promoted amongst the aviation career websites, media, and the flight schools a real problem?
Information concerning the upcoming pilot shortage.
Your training options.
Why you should look towards a career in aviation.
The various aviation careers available.
The best course of action to achieve your aviation goals.
I have over ten years experience assisting unemployed pilots find new flying jobs and and in some cases helping pilots decide on the possibility of a career change. I have worked with over a thousand pilots and have assisted in brokering interviews with numerous airlines in the United States and throughout the world.
I have discovered some great informational resources for aviation careers. Additionally, I have seen a few poor resources. Some information can be confusing and at times misleading. I have created Aviation Careers Podcast to assist you in determining which path is best for reaching your aviation career goals.
So let’s get started. To truly be successful you should pursue a career that will fulfill your inner sense of purpose. Once you understand your purpose and why you have chosen your career you must start down the path towards your goal with the flexibility and anticipation to change course often. If you keep your eye on the goal choosing the correct path becomes easier. You will soon know whether your path is leading you closer or further away from your career goal. I hope this podcast will help you define your goal with more clarity and reach your aviation career goal.
Your goal may be to one day teach people how to fly. It might be flying passengers around the world in a large and sophisticated jet. It might be maintaining or building airplanes. Maybe you want to write about aviation. You may want to pursue a part time career in aviation. Whatever path you choose in aviation I hope you find this podcast helpful.
Each episode will include three segments:
Career advice and answers to listener e-mails.
Interviews with aviation professionals including pilots, mechanics, and recruiters.
Recommended aviation career products and services.
Instead of telling you why you should pursue a career in aviation let me tell you why I chose flying and flight instructing as my career goal. Maybe in my discussion you will find something that interests you.
I had an interest in aviation and flying from a young age but it was not until someone motivated me to pursue the dream of actually flying a plane that I headed down the path towards a career in aviation. It has been a varied and exciting road to where I am today but I have always enjoyed the journey.
The primary reason I fly is to see the world from a unique perspective. For me the world is always wonderful from the air. Dirty and dilapidated cities take on new light from the air.
The unique things I have seen from the air include, The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the green flowing northern lights, and the Washington Monument through my left window as I pass below its top as I’m landing, and some of the most incredible sunrises and sunsets.
My second reason is the challenge. Every landing is different because the winds are never the same. One of the greatest challenges is flying in areas of weather such as thunderstorms, ice, and fog. There is a sense of accomplishment when you take this aerial vehicle through the air, find a runway amidst the thick fog, and land with precision.
Other aspects of aviation challenge our intellect such as planning our route around weather, choosing the safest route over terrain, and dealing with mechanical problems. At times I welcome the challenge when something breaks on the plane and then landing safely after a major system failure. I truly have a sense of accomplishment knowing that if I wasn’t there to guide the plane safely to the ground things might have ended differently.
If you asked me what is the number one thing that causes me to fly, I would tell you that it is the beauty of seeing the world from an amazing and exciting perspective . If you want to see the world from this perspective I hope you will at the very least take a flight in a small plane and fly over someplace you know or someplace you have always wanted to see. This new perspective in life might motivate you to become a pilot.
Interview
I spoke with Handel Wellington who is also very excited about flying and the wonderful adventures it brings to our life Handel is an expatriate flying overseas and has some very interesting things to relate about flying around the world.
Handel also is one of the pilots who conducts interviews for the airline he flies for. I think you will find it interesting and helpful to listen to him as he discusses the things you should and should not do during interviews.
Recommendation
I am co host of an aviation podcast, The Stuck Mic AvCast, where we talk about learning to fly, living to fly, and loving to fly. The other co hosts, Victoria, Len, and Rick, have a variety of aviation experiences so I encourage you to listen to the semi monthly show. A listener asked what are the pros and cons of flying for fun versus flying for work. In Episode 17 of The Stuck Mic AvCast - Flying for Fun Versus Flying For Hire we answer the listeners question.
There are many opinions on the Internet and aviation forums, some from disgruntled airline pilots, other from passionate aviators looking to fly heavy iron. Both Len and I are airline pilots and Rick and Victoria fly for pleasure. The group discussion about the contrast of flying for fun or flying for a living are very interesting. Click here to view the show notes and listen to the discussion.
I look forward to talking to you in our next issue. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. You can also reach me on twitter, facebook, and by e-mail.
Another day, another show! This episode of the Stuck Mic AvCast brings conversations of what to do when experiencing multiple aircraft system failures, including flight considerations, and adverse aircraft behaviors. We also discuss becoming disoriented with the cockpit layout of a new airplane and even some stories of co-host go arounds and much, more!
Carl; PilotEdge.net; a real-life ATC service for your favorite flight simulator
Virgin Galactic Space Flight Fund
Thanks for listening to the Stuck Mic AvCast, a listener supported aviation podcast. We love publishing and delivering useful content and information for everyone! Please show your support with a $5 or $10 donation today and maybe we could one day fly in space!
Please submit your questions and feedback via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook, or email and we’ll be sure to answer them on the air!
Tiffany from Boca Raton, FL sent me the following question via e-mail:
“Hey Carl!
I have heard you mention the WINGS program. It seems I would need to hold a pilot certificate in order to participate. Is this true? I would love to watch the videos and work through the knowledge, even if I wouldn't get credit for it. “
Tiffany is saving for flying lessons and wants to gain as much aviation knowledge as she can before she begins flying. I applaud her efforts and enthusiasm to get started as soon as possible with her training.
What is The FAA Wings - Pilot Proficiency Program
The objective of the WINGS Program is to address the primary accident causal factors in the general aviation community. The FAA hopes to reduce the number of accidents we see each year for the same causes.
The FAA Wings program is a proficiency program which reminds me of the recurrent training I must complete as an airline captain. Studies have shown that pilots who participate in the WINGS program are safer pilots and less likely to be involved in an accident or incident.
Anyone can sign up on the FAASafety.gov website and get credit for their activities even if you are a student pilot. Once you get your pilot certificate you will be awarded your basic Wings.
WINGS for Student and Non-Pilots
If you are a non-pilot and want to sign up you can do so but there is limited functionality. I encourage you to get your student pilot certificate.There are two procedures for those wanting a standard medical and student pilot certificate and those who wish to receive a Sport Pilot Certificate. The Sport Pilot Certificate is a wonderful way to get involved in flying at a lower cost and aless hours than the the private pilot certificate.
Sport Pilot Student Pilot Certificate
The Sport Pilot Certificate does not require a medical certificate. To obtain a FAA Sport Pilot Student Certificate you will need to fill out FAA Form 8710-11 but your local Aviation Medical Examiner will issue the student pilot certificate.
To be eligible for a student sport pilot certificate, you must:
Be a minimum of 16 years of age (14 for glider).
Be able to read, write, and understand the English language.
Make sure if you are going to a Aviation Medical Examiner that you let the examiner know you are applying for a “Sport Pilot Student Pilot Certificate”. There are many great informational websites concerning the sport pilot certificate. One of my favorites is the Experimental Aircraft Association's Sport Pilot Website.
FAA Medical and Student Pilot Certificate
For those who will be obtaining their private pilot certificate you can obtain your medical/student pilot certificate from your local Aviation Medical Examiner. A list of the Aviation Medical Examiners is available from the FAA Website.
Registering for The WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program
I encourage all to become involved in this free and outstanding pilot proficiency program. To register go to FAASafety.gov and click on the “Create an Account” button.
“You are not in America” was the last thing I heard the Canadian Air Transport Authority Screening Officer tell the upset passenger as they pulled her from the line. Viewing the lady’s red face I began reflecting on why she felt the rules of her country applied in Canada.The four countries within 100 miles of the Continental United States all have different rules and regulations. Many times we don’t feel we are flying internationally because of the close proximity of these countries but rest assured they all have their own operating rules and regulations. So before you decide to fly to any of these countries or through their airspace make sure you understand the rules and regulations.
Canada is a diverse and beautiful country which offers some amazing and challenging places to fly into. Canada offers much to explore including the rugged islands of the Atlantic, quaint cities perched upon flowing rivers, pristine wilderness, and Pacific coastal communities along spectacular mountain ranges.
I encourage you to flying into Canada and enjoy the wonderful sites and people of this terrific country. Before you fly to Canada there are some things you should know. The following is an overview of some information you will need when planning a trip to Canada.
Canadian Aviation Rules
Canada is a member state of the International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO) and many of their rules reflect the ICAO standards. Some interesting operating rules that differ between Canada and the United States include:
While operating within 10 miles and below 3000 feet AGL of a controlled aerodrome you cannot exceed 200 knots indicated airspeed.
“Descend when ready” is used instead of “at pilots discretion”.
Holding speed differ for propeller driven aircraft and turbojet aircraft.
While descending on a STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Procedure) and given a lower altitude you must comply with the charted altitudes unless otherwise cancelled by ATC (Air Traffic Control).
As you can see there are subtle but important differences when flying in Canadian Airspace. One that can be confusing is descents along a STAR. This is much different then the descent via clearance in the United States which I discussed in a previous article. So make sure you comply with the Canadian rules which can be found in the Transport Canada AIM.
Similar to the United States, the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) require the pilot-in-command of an aircraft to be familiar with the available information that is appropriate to the intended flight. Before any flight into a foreign country you should become familiar with the operating rules especially the differences between the two countries.
To review the Canadian Aviation Regulations click on the following link:
I also recommend your reading the Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual. Like our AIM there is some very valuable information and operating procedures. You can find the TC AIM at:
Pilots must carry a valid pilot certificate, valid medical certificate, proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate and photo ID). For more information visit the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.
Certificates that meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards are valid for operating aircraft between the U.S. and Canada. Therefore, the recreational and sport pilot certificates are not recognized in Canada.
Aircraft Requirements
Every aircraft must have: Certificate of Registration, Weight and Balance Information, Flight Authority, Proof of Liability, and Insurance Operating Limitations.
The CARs require pilots to carry proof of liability insurance on board their aircraft when operating in Canadian airspace. This applies to all aircraft, including private, amateur-built and ultralight aircraft. The type of coverage is based on the aircraft’s gross takeoff weight per CAR 606.02.
Aircraft are to be equipped with a Mode C transponder when operating in Canadian Class A, B, C, D and E airspace, as specified in the DAH (TP 1820E), which is available from NAV CANADA (CAR 601.03).
Satellite processing of distress signals on 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz was terminated on February 1, 2009. The satellites now only monitor transmitters operating on 406 MHz. ELTs are required for most general aviation aircraft (CAR 605.38).
Flight Planning
While in Canada for weather briefings, NOTAMs, and assistance filing a flight plan, contact NAV CANADA, which operates eight Flight Information Centres (FIC) across Canada. They have various toll free numbers which operate in Canada with the general number being 1-866-WXBRIEF.
The Canadian Aviation Weather Website includes textual and graphical weather products and is a great tool for flight planning. Additionally you can get download airport diagrams and links to U.S. weather.
Charts
Nav Canada Charts are available from the Nav Canada Website but are also available from Aircraft Spruce and Sporty’s Pilot shop. Order your charts early if you are going to Canada. A few of the charts are available for free as digital download from Nav Canada but many of the enroute and VFR charts are best purchased in the United States for quick delivery.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Flights from the U.S. to Canada must land at a CBSA authorized airport of entry (AOE). A listing of AOEs may be found on the CBSA Web site. Airport Of Entries are listed in the Canadian Flight Supplement and Canadian Water Aerodrome Supplement which can be ordered online from the same vendors selling charts mentioned above.
Pilots must make their own customs arrangements by calling the CBSA at least 2 hours, but not more than 48 hours, prior to their arrival in Canada. The CBSA must be notified of any changes to the estimated time of arrival (ETA) or point of arrival, or of any other changes.All passengers on board the aircraft must have photo identification and proof of citizenship.
• CANPASS is a program offered by the CBSA for private aircraft entry into Canada. This is a great program for those flying often to Canada. Benefits of having your aircraft in the CANPASS system:
Proceed to the final destination if there is no CBSA officer waiting for the aircraft by the reported time of arrival, without the pilot having to make a second call to the CBSA after landing.
The requirements and applications forms for CANPASS can be obtained from their website. This is a great program for those who fly to Canada often in private aircraft.
United States Regulations
There are rules and regulations you must follow on your return to the United States including completing an eAPIS (Electronic Advance Passenger Information System). FltPlan.com makes it easy for you to fill out all of the forms you will need including the General Decleration and Manafest. For an overview watch the video explaining how to enter the information into FltPlan.com:
The United States requires aircraft to be equipped with a Mode A and Mode C transponder to cross the U.S. border in either direction (inbound or outbound). If you do not have a transponder, you must contact the U.S. Transportation Security Agency (TSA) for a waiver.
Conclusion
There are many regulations we must comply with when flying to and from Canada including knowing the flight rules in both countries. I suggest the first time you do fly to Canada review all the information I provided in this article and then get some practical experience. Find a knowledgeable and experienced pilot or flight instructor and take a flight across the border and land in Canada. I think you will find it to be a fun and educational experience.
We’re back in action this episode with comments on the Cessna 421 crash in Florida, unmanned aircraft systems, Carl’s interest in model airplanes and rocketry, flying at non-towered airports, the definition of an airport non-movement area with a quiz included, references to Pontiac, MI KPTK airport, the sleeping tower controller at DCA, ferrying the Shuttle Discovery, and a whole bunch more! Join us.
Pre-Flight
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Cruise Flight
Cessna 421 crashes in Gulf of Mexico – an article including flight track
Unmanned Aircraft Systems – what are they and the dispute with them flying around our national airspace
Thanks for listening to the Stuck Mic AvCast, a listener supported aviation podcast. We love publishing and delivering useful content and information for everyone! Please show your support with a $5 or $10 donation today and maybe we could one day fly in space!
Please submit your questions and feedback via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook, or email and we’ll be sure to answer them on the air!
I was a guest for Episode 203 of the Airplane Geeks, a podcast for all aviation enthusiast. In this episode I discuss my new podcast Aviation Careers Podcast.
Our interview today is with Angie Terrell. Angie is a former airline Captain and has changed her career path recently to become a professional simulator instructor. In our interview we will discover:
Welcome to a special feature of the 
Welcome to 
The objective of the WINGS Program is to address the primary accident causal factors in the general aviation community. The FAA hopes to reduce the number of accidents we see each year for the same causes.
