April 2024

Learn How To Fly 'Ten Times Safer' at This Month's Second Saturday!

Our warm spring weather has created a lot of activity at the Aurora State Airport, both in the traffic pattern and on our ramp. The next several months are about to get busy — and if you haven't flown since last summer, you might be due for a refresher. At this month's Second Saturday Seminar, CFI Philip Mandel will present "Ten Ways to Fly Ten Times Safer," with a look at some common ways that pilots get themselves in trouble. Phil is a veteran flight instructor, as well as the proud owner of a Thorp T-18, which is his tenth airplane — he's owned everything from a Cessna 150 to a Piper Apache. At this month's event, we will look at various flight scenarios and systematically discuss what we can do to mitigate each type of risk.
 
This month's Second Saturday gets underway on April 13 at 1100 in the Education Hangar at Willamette Aviation. The event is certified for FAA Wings credit and there is no charge. After the event, everyone is welcome to stick around for this month's Apple Pie Social. We'll be serving hot apple pie and other treats. We'll see you there!

Short Finals…

· We're delighted to welcome Jeremiah Harkema to our team of flight instructors at Willamette Aviation! Jeremiah saw the Navy's Blue Angels when he was six years old and has been hooked ever since. He started learning with flight simulators and radio-controlled aircraft, determined to become a Naval Aviator. Jeremiah enlisted in the Navy at 17 and flew onboard S-3B Vikings off of the USS Kittyhawk. After gaining acceptance to a commissioning program, Jeremiah enrolled at Oregon State University, where he got his Private Pilot Certificate. He then earned his gold Naval Aviator Wings in Pensacola, Fla. Jeremiah flew special operations helicopters in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2008. He was also a helicopter weapons and tactics instructor, the Aviation Operations Officer (Air Boss) aboard the USS Cleveland, and an Aviation Assessor for the U.S. Pacific Fleet before retiring from the Navy in 2015. "I learned a lot from my military career," Jeremiah says. "As a flight instructor, I enjoy passing my experience on to future pilots."
 
· Digital fight-planning solutions such as ForeFlight are here to stay, but such doesn't mean that conventional FAA Charts are a thing of the past. As pilots look ahead to our region's peak flying season, they may have one or two cross-country flights that they would like to revisit, or even attempt for the first time. Plotting a long-distance flight on a large-format map can reveal narrative details that might be lost on a laptop or tablet screen. The Pilot Shop at Willamette Aviation stocks several VFR and IFR charts for our local area and beyond, along with Chart Supplement handbooks. These publications expire every 56 days. Please note that FAR 91.103 requires pilots planning a flight to "become familiar with all available information concerning that flight." If you plan to fly using Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) equipment rather than taking paper products on board, please consult the FAA's Advisory Circular 91-78A, "Use of Electronic Flight Bags."

Look for more from Willamette Aviation in the next newsletter. Until then, fly smart and safe!

David F. Waggoner
Willamette Aviation
dave@willametteair.com
(503) 678-2252

Calendar

April 13: 1100: Second Saturday Seminar: Fly Ten Times Safer (CFI Phil Mandel) (Willamette Aviation)

April 13: 1200: Apple Pie Social (Willamette Aviation)

April 18: FAA medical exams (Janice Buenafe M.D.) (Willamette Aviation)

April 27: FAA medical exams (Janice Buenafe M.D.) (Willamette Aviation)

We are sending you this newsletter because you have requested it or you currently are registered to receive messages from our online scheduling system. You can remove your email address from our list by clicking here. If you would like to update your email address, please visit our Newsletter Subscription Page on our website.
 
Willamette Aviation Service, LLC
23115 Airport Road NE
Aurora, Oregon 97002