If you are serious about becoming the best pilot you can be, you won't want to miss these gems produced by Fly Right Films. I recently discovered these guys via Facebook and saw the trailers posted on their site. I was sold the instant I saw them. I just finished watching Volume 1: Attitude Flying and Volume 2: Decision Making, and I can say that I am really impressed with the quality of these videos.

Unlike most other training videos you'll find elsewhere in aviation, these videos keep you engaged the entire time and don't make you feel like you are sitting through yet another boring training video. Fly Right Films calls it "entertrainment" and I have to agree. These films are entertaining as well as informative. Having Dick Rutan teaching you definitely doesn't hurt either. Dick has a way of telling stories that just keep you on the edge of your seat and you can literally envision yourself sitting there with him as he tells wicked tales of his adventures in aviation.

A number of factors contribute to the magical formula that I believe makes these films unlike any other on the market. First, let me start by making sure you understand that these are NOT films that will substitute any traditional training curriculum that you will find in your typical flight training. I would consider these supplemental films to your primary training and they are great refreshers for any pilot at any level in their flying career. What Fly Right Films has done is combine pertinent topics in aviation safety with an incredible legend in aviation and story-teller extraordinaire, Dick Rutan. They also bring other leading experts in their field that explain in great detail (but in a way we can all understand) the science behind some of the human factors and physiological aspects of how your body interprets external influences that are being exerted on your body during flight. Combine this with brilliant cinematography, a superb original soundtrack and the use of the best and most advanced aircraft and technology in general aviation and you have a winning combination.

Both videos are filmed in various and visually inspiring locations such as Alaska, Minnesota and California and are flown in Cirrus Aircraft (both the SR-20 and SR-22). The SR-20 has the Forward Vision EVS-100 (manufactured by Max-Vis) aftermarket add-on and the SR-22 is equipped with the factory version of the EVS-100 from Cirrus via the Perspective avionics package powered by Garmin. Although the topics covered in these videos applies to ANY aircraft you will fly, it was a nice touch to include the use of the best general aviation has to offer today and gives a nice modern feel to the films.

Fly Right Films proclaims The Aviator Series a "Masters Program For Serious Pilots." I only have one gripe at the moment...I WANT MORE! I am looking forward to future releases of The Aviator Series films and would highly recommend them to any pilot serious about their flying. For those of you aviators in the Civil Air Patrol, having your aircrews sit through one of these films should easily count as a safety briefing for the month. Below are the trailers for the current films for your viewing pleasure. Happy flying!

Volume One: Attitude Flying With Dick Rutan

Volume Two: Decision Making With Dick Rutan

Posted by Frank Bisono at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For any of you Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue pilots who have spent endless hours gridding your sectionals, life is about to get a whole lot easier for you! The fine folks over at Sky Sectionals have just launched CAP Charts for CAP Pilots (or anyone flying Search and Rescue for that matter) at http://www.capcharts.com/.

These digital charts are the same as your typical FAA/NACO charts but insanely more manageable. What Sky Sectionals has done for us is provide the conventional grid overlay we use (15'x15') further subdivided into 7.5' grids (A,B,C,D). The grids are easily identified with semi-transparent lines and don't obscure key critical information on the chart. This is simply a Godsend to Search and Rescue Pilots and Aircrew. Now you can carry current and updated GRIDDED charts with you at ALL times. I still see some guys flying around with charts that are 10 years old because they don't want to grid a new one (granted they have current paper charts, but still...), all that is in the past! There's simply no excuse for not having up to date gridded charts anymore.

Other nice things about these charts are that they are perfect for folding up and putting them in your kneeboard. Just get your grid assignment ahead of time and print them out before you head out to fly your missions. I've gone the extra mile and printed out the entire Seattle Sectional, TAC and VFR Flyway and laminated each page. I carry them all in one giant spiral bound stack so that if we get reassigned to an unexpected grid, I've always got them with me. The laminated surface works great with a dry-erase marker as well for adding notes and outlining your grid.

If you're jumping up and down like I was to hear about this new product, you can get a full tour by heading over to: http://www.capcharts.com/tour

Last but not least, if you aren't already convinced you need to go order these charts, a portion of the proceeds of every CAP Chart they sell is donated to the Civil Air Patrol Foundation. You can make your life easier and contribute further to a great cause all in one! It's great to see a company that has taken the time to address the needs of an organization like the Civil Air Patrol and we should definitely make every effort possible to support them. Happy flying!

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every now and then you come across something and wonder "Why the hell didn't I think of that?" I just recently stumbled across a company called Sky Sectionals thanks to a buddy in Civil Air Patrol. All I can say is that THIS is the way the FAA should be distributing ALL charts these days!!! What a FANTASTIC product!

So for those of you that are not pilots and wondering why I'm ranting and raving about these guys, here's a little background. Aviation charts are typically these huge folded paper charts that are an insane nuisance and in my opinion a safety hazard in the cockpit. Sadly these are the FAA approved navigation charts and outside of products like Jepp charts (expensive), we don't have many options. To make matters worse, these charts are updated frequently and you end up having to buy them at least a couple times a year. Multiply that by the various number of charts we have to carry and this gets expensive and completely unruly in the cockpit.

In steps Sky Sectionals and puts technology to work for us. They take those very charts and have created digital versions that are distributed electronically. They are updated on the same schedule as the FAA certified NACO charts and they have even created a simple way to navigate the sectionals. You can print out an entire sectional or just the parts you need for your route of flight. I should point out that these are NOT approved by the FAA as your sole means of information so you should be cross referencing them with the certified FAA charts, but these are an absolute must in the cockpit in my opinion. They make managing your workload as a pilot a heck of a lot easier when in VFR flight.

For those of us who fly Search and Rescue, cockpit management becomes even more critical as we need to know precisely what grid we are in and searching. We need to manage flying the aircraft and looking out the window making sure we don't hit anything (especially here in WA where we fly low and slow through the mountains). Having these Sky Sectionals printed, laminated and spiral bound are the way to go. One drawback for us CAP pilots is having to take those paper charts and manually draw our search grids on them. It's super time-intensive and not always pretty or perfectly accurate. Again, in steps Sky Sectionals and gives us a lending hand by providing CAP pilots with gridded sectionals. Here's an example of a gridded sectional in the Seattle area:

If you are looking for a way to manage that workload in the cockpit and keep your charts handy and useful, give these guys a try! They have sectional and TAC charts covering the lower 48. For CAP gridded sectionals, contact them directly for the link to your area. Make sure you follow them on Twitter for updated news and coupon codes!

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Predator sensor ball is mounted underneath the left wing of this Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182, turning the aircraft into a ‘Surrogate Predator’ suitable for pre-deployment training for Army and Marine forces. Photo courtesy L-3 Communications

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – With the conversion of a Civil Air Patrol plane into a “Surrogate Predator,” the U.S. Air Force is relying on its auxiliary in a most imaginative way.

“We’re using a manned aircraft to simulate an unmanned aircraft,” said CAP-U.S. Air Force Commander Col. Bill Ward, explaining that a sophisticated “Predator ball” placed under the left wing of a Cessna 182 belonging to CAP will give the plane the capability of mimicking the Air Force’s MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, unmanned aircraft that provide real-time data to U.S. warfighters.

The Air Force will use the Surrogate Predator to fill a critical training gap in support of Army and Marine forces as they prepare for deployment. “Due to the Air Force maximum surge effort to provide more MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper support to ground units in CENTCOM, there are no Predator or Reaper forces available to support pre-deployment exercises such as Green Flag, which focuses on air-to-ground operations,” said Maj. Matt Martin, chief of the Predator/Reaper Ops Branch of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va. “The Surrogate Predator is the solution.”

Air Combat Command (ACC), with the support of Joint Forces Command, secured $2.5 million for the Surrogate Predator Program, once it was determined that CAP could provide the needed training with its dedicated patriotic citizen volunteers at a fraction of the cost of the private contractor currently providing the training.

“We’ve seen nothing but enthusiasm and a willingness to help from the Civil Air Patrol, which is why we chose them to do this mission,” said Martin.

Continue reading "Civil Air Patrol pilots to fly ‘Surrogate Predators’" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 8:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For you aviation and Navy nuts out there, here's a movie you won't want to miss. For those of you living in San Francisco or visiting on August 17th, 2006 - you can get a sneak peek!

Speed and Angels is the true life story and feature-length action documentary about two navy officers chasing their dreams to become fighter pilots. The film follows them during the most dangerous parts of their training and as they go to war, where the realities of being a fighter pilot test their limits.

The film includes epic aerial footage in stunning HD—including the last ever F-14 Tomcat dogfights—and rare naval archival and wartime footage. Thanks to unprecedented access granted by the navy, Speed and Angels gives an inside look at people's journeys as fighter pilots as it has never before been seen.

Based on the original concept of producer F.A.Chierici, Speed and Angels is directed by Peyton Wilson.

Looks like a great documentary and I am definitely getting the DVD.  What Navy airdale veteran wouldn't want to add this to their collection? Brings back a whole boat-load of memories (no pun intended).  ;-)  More information and goodies are available at the Speed & Angels website.

Technorati Tags: Aviation, NAVY, Military

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now here's a company that just plain "gets it."  Southwest has always been a leader in the field and their customer service is second to none.  It's no wonder that they are among the few (if not the only) airlines to actually turn a profit in these trying times.  If there was one airline that I would have pegged as the first to have a blog, it would have been Southwest.  They have officially been bitten by the blogging bug and are now blogging online at: www.blogsouthwest.com. A glimpse of what you can expect...

"...we want this to be a place where you can see just who we are and why we are Nuts about Southwest.

In order to do that, we have lined up an exciting group of bloggers that include Frontline and Headquarters Employees. Among the Frontline Employees lined up to blog are some of our Pilots; Flight Attendants; Airport Employees; Mechanics; folks from our Marketing, Schedule Planning, Properties, People and Leadership, and Executive Office Departments. We hope to add additional bloggers as we go, including some of our Officers, who will show up as guest bloggers."

Not too bad if you ask me.  I'm adding this to my feeds...lets see if they can keep up with the pace of the blogsphere!

Technorati Tags: Aviation, Blogging

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ok, I have got to say, I am getting majorly addicted to YouTube.  I have some buddies always sending me the strangest videos and this one is a winner.  Now what kind of rocket scientist does it take to figure out that FLYING A HELICOPTER is NOT something you can just do without any lessons.  Folks, for those of you that aren't familiar with aviation, flying a helicopter is at least 10x more difficult than learning to fly a regular single engine Cessna for example.  There is definitely such a thing as having so much money that it makes you stupid.  Check this out..

New Pilot Trying to Fly a Helicopter

Technorati Tags: Stupidity, Video

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Someday I hope to own a Cirrus SR22-GTS or better.  As much as I love flying other aircraft like Cessna's, there's nothing that could replace the peace of mind that your family / passengers safety is a yank of a handle away.  I've been in some pretty scary IMC conditions, it can happen to anyone - so this is a much welcomed technology in the world of aviation.

[ via Flightnest.com ]

Ballistics Recovery Parachute Saves Again:

Over the weekend Ballistics Recovery Systems announced their parachute system has recorded another save. Kerwin Day, a CFI found himself in severe icing conditions and unable to control his Cirrus SR22. With two other passengers onboard the aircraft stalled as he tried to climb above the area of icing. The parachute system was activated and the Cirrus came to rest in Alabama suspended by trees.

“I pulled the chute and got a sudden jolt against the seatbelt, said Day. ”The nose pitched down and very quickly leveled itself and in less than a minute we were on the ground.“

Ballistic Recovery Systems says their parachutes have been documented in saving 184 lives.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well I certainly don't need this as an excuse for owning my own airplane, but it sure does give you warm and fuzzies and justify all that is right in the world, even if just for a few hours on the weekend...

[ via Flightnest.com ]

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pass this along. It is the story of a nine year old kid who told ATC “REBEL BASE, THIS IS RED 5. WE ARE STARTING OUR ATTACK RUN ON THE DEATH STAR”. And ATC responded with “RED 5, YOUR CLEARED FOR THE APPROACH TO THE DEATH STAR. REPORTS HITS AWAY”. This is a must read story.

Why I own my own Aircraft

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Boy am I going to miss this plane.  I remember my days aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (I worked on A6 Intruders) and watching Tomcats being shot and trapped off the deck, what an amazing experience.  It will be a sad day in US Naval Aviation.  The newer, sexier F-18's are great, but in my book, just the shear intimidation of the F-14's looks are enough reason to keep it around.  I guess that's why I am not working at the Pentagon making those "executive" decisions huh?

[ via Military.com ]

Aging F-14 Makes Final Bombing Runs :

The U.S. Navy's F-14 Tomcat fighter, built as a Cold War defense against Soviet bombers and emblazoned on popular imagination as Tom Cruise's plane in the 1986 movie Top Gun, is just weeks away from making its final combat sorties over Iraq before being retired for good.

Continue reading "Farewell Our Beloved F-14 Tomcats" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Delta airlines yesterday became the latest US based airline to begin outsourcing its maintenance to another country. That's right folks...the planes you are flying in are being maintained by another country's work-force that is not regulated by the US. How's that make you feel when traveling at 38,000 feet? Delta claims the move will cost as many as 2000 workers their jobs. That's 2000 AMERICAN workers who are highly skilled professionals folks.

Delta isn't the only airline doing this. Delta is joining the ranks of United, Northwest, Alaska Air, and US Airways. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy doesn't it? Last year Delta lost $5 BILLION, and claims that outsourcing its maintenance will save them $240 Million. Does $240 Million sound like a lot in comparison to the $5 Billion they lost? It sure doesn't to me, not when you are talking about uprooting 2000 American families and turning their lives upside down. How about we start trimming the fat with those executive salaries? I bet that topic never comes up in the board room!

Now here is a quote that sums up the intelligence of the management running Delta airlines. Prepare yourself folks, this is a doozie....

"The work in Canada is domestic. Because it's North America, that's part of our domestic operation."

So as Lou Dobbs put it: "A U.S. company exporting work to a foreign country, in this case Canada, saying the work in Canada is domestic. Our quote of the day."

I for one will be cutting up my membership cards to the above mentioned airlines. The day that AMERICAN AIRLINES starts to outsource it's maintenance and other jobs outside of AMERICA is the day I will stop flying commercial airlines entirely. Time to get my pilot ratings current again...that Cirrus SR22 is looking mighty good.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Space Ship One Desktops:

Courtesy of Bryan Bell

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A request was made for me to release desktop-image sized version of the photos I took this wednesday. So here you go. All images are 1280x1024.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:15 PM | Permalink

SpaceShipOne: Monday Launch Is On:

Satisfied that his spaceplane is sound despite a series of unexpected rolls during Wednesday's flight, Burt Rutan will send SpaceShipOne aloft as scheduled to try to capture the $10 million X Prize. By Dan Brekke.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:09 PM | Permalink

Witnessing History:

Wow! Boy I wish I could have been there to see this! Bryan Bell is one lucky dude...

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Yesterday Erin Clerico and I dragged ourselves out of our nice warm beds and drove to Mojave at 3:30am to see the Launch of SpaceShipOne. This was the First in a series of 2 Space flights needed to collect the Ansari X Prize. After getting over the shock of getting out of bed so early, Erin and I had a really good time. The crowd was large but pleasant and the whole event had an upbeat atmosphere that was hard not to get into.

Video of the launch is available here

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:29 PM | Permalink