The Aircraft Dispatcher’s Role in Aviation
When airline passengers pass through the jet way and board the aircraft they are greeted pleasantly by the captain and crew. They then move down the aisle, store their carry-ons, and settle in their seats waiting for the airplane to push back from the gate. Confident the captain will get them safely to their destination, their thoughts may wander to work, family, or maybe a good book. What they probably aren’t thinking about is the aircraft dispatcher who is equally responsible for the safety of their flight.

The FAA licensed dispatcher is required to determine that the aircraft is correctly equipped pertinent to the route of flight, weather minimums, flight crew qualifications, time limitations and fuel requirements. The dispatcher will also ensure compliance with weight and balance specifications, passenger and cargo load data and confirm that all airport equipment for the proposed flight is operational. The pilot and dispatcher are required to communicate when any changes in the flight plan are needed.

American Flyers now provides a six week Dispatcher Training Program at our facility located in Fort Worth, Texas. Gordon Barnes, a former airline pilot and meteorologist, spends the first two weeks introducing procedures, regulations and terminology in preparation for the FAA written test, with week 3 set aside for testing. During the final 3 weeks, Gordon is devoted to preparing students for their FAA oral and practical evaluations.

I recently spoke with two students who were finishing the course. Dagmara Kowalska came to Fort Worth from Poland where she is already a dispatcher in the Operations Department of a private company. Her goal is to upgrade her existing license to an FAA license. Dagmara feels the course meets her expectations and Gordon provides a great deal of knowledge and experience. I also spoke with Wendy Davis, who is transitioning to a new career in aviation. She is impressed with the amount of information that has been covered and is looking forward to putting her new knowledge to work.

While the crisply uniformed airline captain is the most visible member of what is called “the aviation industry”, he or she does not work alone. There is a team of highly trained and competent people who are “unseen” that keep the world flying safely.

Aviation Destinations
With winter having wrapped us in its wonderful, yet not so warm embrace, outdoor fun is waiting. What better way to welcome winter than with a family outing to the wide and wild slopes?

Located in Truckee, CA is the Northstar at Tahoe, a fabulous ski and winter resort that will provide a relaxing, or exciting getaway for the whole family. It is accessible from the Truckee-Tahoe Airport (TRK); a quick call to the hotel will bring transportation.

The resort offers the total experience of a ski lodge getaway, with ample and varied lodging from the hotel-style rooms, to five bedroom mountain houses for the family.

Here you can have a “tailor-made vacation package for every mountain enthusiast”, packages include a wide range of features such as ski instruction, spa usage, lift passes, yoga classes, meal vouchers, massages and more. Room amenities include TV/DVD player, free wireless Internet and more. Ski and snowboard equipment rentals are available. Also on the grounds you will find dining and shopping options.

Just because the air is cold and the days short, it doesn’t mean outdoor fun has to stop!

For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.northstarattahoe.com.

Practice Makes Perfect
Whether you’re watching an Olympian perform a flawless dive or a chef prepare a perfect soufflé, you can be sure that it was a combination of training and practice that brought about those impressive results. The appearance of effortless control of your aircraft is a worthy goal and you have the opportunity to polish your prowess with every flight. One common action, when practiced to perfection, will reap noticeable benefits. This seemingly simple action is the roll out of a turn.

To smoothly roll out of your turn onto your desired heading, you need to start your roll out at a point which represents half of your bank angle in the turn. If you are turning with a 30 degree bank, start your roll out 15 degrees before your desired heading. If you are turning with a 20 degree bank, start your roll out 10 degrees prior to your heading. To increase your roll out accuracy, identify the proper lead heading on the heading indicator well ahead of that point in the turn. During the turn it is best to concentrate more on the instruments that affect the quality of your turn (attitude indicator and turn coordinator) than on the heading indicator itself.

Practicing your roll out technique will greatly benefit the overall accuracy of your flying – to which you naturally aspire. Though perhaps you won’t have millions of viewers tuned in to your flawless turns, the ‘Flying Ace’ residing in your heart will be cheering you on.

Recent Regulatory Changes
By Dave Menconi, National Chief Flight Instructor
FAA regulations governing the certification and currency requirements for pilots have changed recently. The following is a summary of some of the changes that became effective on October 20, 2009. A complete copy of the final rule can be reviewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-25133.pdf

Night Vision Goggles
Defines and establishes procedures for the use of night vision goggles (NVG). It includes provisions for the logging of NVG time, NVG operating currency requirements, flight instructor qualifications for giving the PIC night vision goggle qualification and currency training, and establishes the required instruments and equipment for NVG operation.

Student Pilot Certificates
Student pilot certificates do not expire until 60 calendar months after the month of the date of examination for pilots who have not reached their 40th birthday. For pilots who have reached their 40th birthday, the student pilot certificate does not expire until 24 calendar months after the date of examination.

Months Replace Days
Numerous regulations have replaced days with months. For instance, the “flight training in preparation for a practical test” (61.99(a) (2)) must be done “within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test.” Previously the regulation read “60 days.” Remember that when calendar months are used, the last day of the month is the day that is referenced.

Use of View Limiting Device
A view limiting device is required to be used when receiving instrument instruction or when obtaining instrument recent experience in an airplane or in an aviation training device.

Tow Pilot Currency
The 3 tow currency requirements prior to flight have been increased from 12 to 24 months.

Instrument Experience
New requirements for currency when using simulators, flight training devices, and aviation training devices, independently or in combination with airplanes have been established.

Flight Instructor Limitations
A flight instructor who provides instrument training required at the commercial and airline transport certification level must hold an instrument rating on their flight instructor certificate. A flight instructor must hold the appropriate multiengine rating on his/her flight instructor certificate in order to conduct instrument training in a multiengine airplane.

Ground Instructors
A ground instructor must hold an instrument ground instructor rating (IGI) in order to provide training and endorsement for instrument training toward the instrument rating.

From the Professor’s Desk
By Dr. Michael Bliss

There wasn’t a question in the mailbag for this month so as I was thinking about what to write, I started with a basic question, “What motivates a person to learn how to fly?” Over my forty plus years in aviation, I have asked that question of literally hundreds of people. Each story is a little different, but there are a few common threads that continually pop up, one of which involves the first flight in an airplane.

For me, it was as an eight year old, sitting in the window seat of a TWA Lockheed Constellation on a flight from Ohio to Florida for Christmas vacation. Watching those big Wright Cyclone engines start up with a puff of smoke, a belch of fire, and the raw rumble of power, fueled a desire in me that is still alive and well. In those days of innocence, we were welcomed into the cockpit, and for a child, I can’t imagine anyplace that could have made a more a lasting impression. Having a father that encouraged and shared my excitement didn’t hurt either.

For some pilots it may have been a neighbor or relative who took them flying or to watch an air show. Others share a common thread of motivation sparked by a television show that we “old timers” remember well, Sky King. We’d sit in front of the TV, our attention glued to whatever adventure rancher/pilot Schuler King and his very pretty niece Penny were undertaking in his plane, the Songbird. Ask any “mature” pilot and he or she will likely recount a fond memory of Penny and King.

For some pilots it may have been a neighbor or relative who took them flying or to watch an air show. Others share a common thread of motivation sparked by a television show that we “old timers” remember well, Sky King. We’d sit in front of the TV, our attention glued to whatever adventure rancher/pilot Schuler King and his very pretty niece Penny were undertaking in his plane, the Songbird. Ask any “mature” pilot and he or she will likely recount a fond memory of Penny and King.

[Editor’s note: All 64 episodes of the Sky King series can be viewed on our web site at: www.americanflyers.net/entertainment/skyking.asp.]

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