Surgeon to Put Pilot License to Good Use
Dr. Stephen Fletcher is a pediatric neurosurgeon at University of Texas, Houston. He has recently achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. While the dream may have remained a constant in his life, what he plans to do with this accomplishment has evolved into a noble cause. South Texas has a large population of under served medically needy and Dr. Fletcher's goal is to fly to them and provide medical care they cannot otherwise get.

The dream to fly had been in Dr. Fletcher's heart since he can remember. Between him and his dream, though, were the obstacles of life: college, children, financial constraints. When the time seemed right, he began his training at an FBO. He accumulated 60 hours and was just ready to take the written exam, when a tragedy occurred in his workplace. He put his dream temporarily on hold. When the time seemed right, he came back to his training, flew another 10 hours and was again prepared to take the written. A partner quit the firm and Dr. Fletcher put his training on hold once more.

Although nearly ready to give up his dream for good, he decided to call American Flyers. A plan was developed to complete his training and the school was able to help him train around his haphazard schedule so he was able to complete his training successfully. Dr. Fletcher has been flying around Texas since earning his Private Pilot certificate and plans to get his Instrument rating in the future.

Tips from the Tower
By Alvin DeVane, Manager, ADS ATCT

(Editor's note: This is Alvin's last column. He is retiring from the FAA and will be back in the cockpit fulltime flying for an Oklahoma corporation. Please join me in wishing Alvin good luck in all his future endeavours.)

It seems that forever advertising has tried to convince us that we will find our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow if only we drive the right car, dress in the right clothes, live in the right house with the right job …and so it goes.

In 1968 the group Steppenwolf released the song Magic Carpet Ride, which was destined to become a classic. For those that don't remember, the lyrics started out:

I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine
On a cloud of sound I drift in the night Any place it goes is right
Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here
Well, you don't know what we can find Why don't you come with me little girl On a magic carpet ride.

In 1980, John DeLorean designed and built a car that was like no other. The advertising campaign for the DeLorean was "Live the Dream". In the movie Back to the Future, Doc made his famous time machine out of a DeLorean.

If you are still reading, by now you are probably asking what this has to do with "Tips From the Tower".

As a pilot at American Flyers, whether your goal is to become a professional pilot, utilize aircraft in a business, or just to experience the thrill of seeing the sunset at the controls of your own magic carpet, never let anyone dissuade you from
pursuing your dream.

The world is filled with well meaning friends who caution us against this or that. They forget that life is a journey, not a destination. For those with the passion, flying is a magic carpet ride. "Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here, Well, you don't know what we can find" until you live your dream and take that magic carpet ride.

Did You Know…
That humorist Will Rogers once bought enough stamps to mail himself to his destination, because there was no room for him on the airmail flight he was planning on taking. Rogers was the first civilian to fly coast to coast on airmail flights.

Source: PBS Chasing the Sun Series, http://www.pbs.org/kcet/chasingthesun/ series/did.html

Laugh Out Loud…
This CFI and his Student are holding on the runway for departing cross traffic when suddenly a deer runs out of the nearby woods, stops in the middle of the runway, and just stands there looking at them.

Tower: Cessna XXX cleared for take-off.

Student: "What should I do? What should I do?"

Instructor: "What do you think you should do?"

(think-think-think)

Student: "Maybe if I taxi toward him it'll scare him away."

Instructor: "That's a good idea."

(Taxis toward deer, but deer is macho and holds position.)

Tower: Cessna XXX cleared for take-off, runway NN.

Student: "What should I do? What should I do?"

Inststructor: "What do you think you should do?"

(think-think-think)

Student: "Maybe I should tell the tower."

Instructor: "That's a good idea."

Student: "Cessna XXX, uh, there's a deer down here on the runway."

(long pause)

Tower: Roger XXX, hold your position. Deer on runway NN cleared forimmediate departure.

(Two seconds, and then – presumably by coincidence – the deer bolts from the runway, and runs back into the woods.)

Tower: Cessna XXX cleared for departure, runway NN. Caution wake turbulence, departing deer.

Source:http://www.pilotfriend.com/humour/jokes/ students.htm

From Our Gallery…
"SPIRIT OF THE FIGHTER PILOT" The North American P-51 Mustang is practically synonymous with "Fighter". It was the best fighter of World War II, and survived to fight on into the jet age. It remains one of the most popular warbirds and the sound of its Rolls Royce Merlin engine still turns heads and sets all pilots to dreaming about what it would be like to fly the Mustang. This P-51D was flown by Ace Major Wallace Hopkins, 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group, 8th U.S. Air Force in the Summer of 1944.

World-renowned aviation artist, Lou Drendel, created the "Flyers Series" of paintings for American Flyers celebrating famous aviators and famous aircraft. To see more of Mr. Drendel's series, visit the American Flyers Art Gallery in our online Library at http://www.americanflyers.net/aviationlibrary/libraryp2.htm#.

Ask the Pilot Professor
By Dr. Michael Bliss

Q: Even though I have filed a specific route and altitude for my flight plan, ATC often changes my plans for me. Why is that and is there anything I can do to keep my flight as I planned it?

A: The phrase "There's nothing like experience" is certainly true of flying in general and working with ATC in particular. Newly licensed pilots are naturally tentative when dealing with ATC. After all they are the "controllers" and we are the "controllees". But the fact is, that as we gain experience and become more familiar with how the system works, there are many instances when we can make requests of what would be helpful to our own needs.

ATC is essentially concerned with the safe separation of aircraft and the smooth flow of traffic. To accomplish this, they develop canned procedures for traffic flow that are in their interest but may or may not be in the best interest of the pilot. When the controller's workload is heavy we need to be sensitive to that situation and not make requests that will add further burden. However, when traffic is light to medium, there are opportunities to request what is in our best interest, without compromising safety.

Typical requests would include routing changes, often requesting direct to the destination. We are more likely to have such requests approved if we have done our homework and have studied the approach and arrival charts to understand standard traffic flow. While a request for "direct" to a busy airport may not be approved, a request for "direct" to a arrival fix for that same airport may well be approved.

Sometimes controllers can not approve requests because of the altitude being flown, whereas if a higher or lower altitude were flown it might make the request possible. If the controller is not overly busy it might be helpful to ask if an altitude change would make the request possible. We are also more likely to have a request approved if our radio conduct is professional. If we use the correct phraseology and speak confidently, the controller will be more likely to go along with a change from the routine than if he were dealing with someone who may not seem to be on top of things.

Finally, there can be weather related issues where the pilot may have to be insistent with a request in order to maintain safe flight. Most controllers will work with you to accommodate deviations around thunderstorms and large buildups, or altitude changes because of unexpected encounters with icing. In such situations, learn to use the word "unable". Never meekly accept a controller's instruction that would put you in an unsafe condition.

Words of Wisdom…
"Pilots track their lives by the number of hours in the air, as if any other kind of time isn't worth noting."
– Michael Parfit, 'The Corn was Two Feet Below the Wheels', Smithsonian Magazine, May 2000

"The highest art form of all is a human being in control of himself and his airplane in flight, urging the spirit of a machine to match his own."
– Richard Bach, A Gift of Wings, 1974

"Any pilot can describe the mechanics of flying. What it can do for the spirit of man is beyond description."
– Barry M. Goldwater, US senator

"Pilots take no special joy in walking. Pilots like flying."
– Neil Armstrong

http://www.lonestarflyers.com/quotes.htm

Calendar
Ground Schools & Events

Congratulations John Baez, Joe Grana, Louis Roman, Christ Vitale & Leslie Mensah on Completing Your Private Written Class

Congratulations Alan Eliason, Larry Harrison & Stephen Rotkiewicz on Completing Your Instrument Written Class

How About You?

If you are about to tackle your Private or Instrument written there isn’t a better, more enjoyable and guaranteed class available. Plus the class includes two free hours of simulator!

If you haven’t heard yet, there’s a gathering of Morristown area pilots once a month in our hangar. Free food, hangar flying and informative seminar. You and your friends are invited. No cost or obligation to attend.

• Next Scheduled BBQ’s
• Saturday, March 31st
• Saturday, May 5th
• Saturday, June 2nd

“Bring a Friend”

Click here for a more detailed map