In 1988 on a cold snowy Christmas day in Sandpoint Idaho, a stranger invited me to go for an airplane ride in his Cessna 150. The weather was not conducive for much more than a few turns around the pattern due to light snow showers in the airport vicinity; conditions that persisted for the entire week that my family and I were in town for the holidays.

 The stranger was a friend of a friend and I was intrigued with the fact that he actually owned his own airplane. I had never heard of such a thing. For the next week, we spent several hours a day circling the pattern as I received my initiation to recreational flying. A week later on Jan 4, 1989, I walked into the airport office at Harvey Field in Snohomish Washington and met the Harvey's for the first time, a relationship that subsequently cost me at least a hundred thousand dollars over the last twenty-three years.

 During the next two years, I achieved a private pilot certificate, an instrument rating, commercial license and floatplane rating. Five years after my (now) very good friend Craig Wyborny took me on that closed pattern adventure, I bought my very own airplane, which I have featured on the cover of my very first book.

In the years since, among my many passions has been airplane camping and exploring the backcountry airstrips of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. My survival of those exploits give testimony to the exceptional training I received at Snohomish Flying Service.

 
Dreams, (often referred to as hangar flying) are the fabric of every pilot's next adventure. I have written a book that has sprung from the dreams of what I might do, someday and of what adventure might lie beyond the next bend in the river. If you are willing to let your imagination soar, let your heart laugh, and maybe (if no one is looking) even cry a little, I am sure you will enjoy THE SEQUEL TO ALFRED CREEK by D.L. WATERHOUSE.

Available, at the Harvey Field airport office, Aviators Store, Amazon.com, B&N, Crossbooks.com, Kindle, Nook and other e-books.

 

"Reprinted from AOPA"  By Dan Namowitz, AOPA reporter

Washington Governor's signature was awaited on an AOPA-backed liability protection bill that could broaden access to private airfields in the state.  

Throughout the legislative process AOPA teamed with the Recreational Aviation Foundation and the Washington Pilots Association to mobilize support for the measure, which includes aviation among recreational uses for which landowners are afforded liability protection when granting public access to their lands.  

In late February, Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president of airports and state advocacy, and David Ulane, AOPA Northwest Mountain regional manager, met in the state capital of Olympia with key members of the Senate to press support for the bill, following House passage. In January, AOPA had issued a call to action that mobilized 12,000 members to support the measure, working in tandem with Recreational Aviation Foundation State Liaison Bob Kay, who is also a Washington Pilots Association member.  

Backers of the bill pointed out to lawmakers that by broadening airfield-access opportunities for aircraft owners and pilots in Washington state, they would be boosting aviation-related economic activity statewide-with no state outlay of funds required.  

The broader airfield access would also facilitate a wide range of activities including camping, hiking, and other outdoor recreation, they said. 

As we head into better weather and longer flying days, we need to remember that this leads to more aircraft around us especially in the vicinity of an airport. It is the pilots responsibility to "see and avoid" and your head and eyes need to be focused outside the cockpit. Studies have shown that in order to be aware of your surroundings you need to spend at least ¾ to ⅔ of your scan outside the aircraft. This requires a conscientious effort on your part and especially in the take off and landing phase you need to try and ensure a "Sterile Cockpit" with no distractions from passengers. In fact make use of them. They will enjoy being part of the flight experience and ask them to scan the skies for other aircraft. Teach them the correct scan technique which is explained well in the AIM, section 8-1-6.

There is additional information in the FAA Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge in Chapter 16 on the physical effects of flying including optical illusions.

To graphically see why it is so important to "keep your head on a swivel" and not become fixated on a single point, follow this link for a very good demonstration.   http://www.msf-usa.org/motion.html

This is a good time to review your scan technique, keep your head "out of the cockpit" and make every effort to avoid that startled exclamation to your passengers of "wow did you see that...that was awfully close...!!!

WHAT'S UP IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY ? 

Angel Flight Newsletter  

AOPA president speaks at Northwest Aviation Conference

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller spoke on Saturday at the Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show. The annual event also handed out NW Spirit of Aviation Awards for excellence in general aviation.

Arlington, Wash., mayor enjoys flying as private pilot  

Barbara Tolbert, executive director of the Arlington Fly-In and Sport Aviation Convention, enjoys flying her private plane. "Aviation for recreation purposes, it's not just you take up the activity as a sport, you become involved in the whole community. It's one of the major appeals of it," she said. Tolbert was recently elected mayor of Arlington, Wash.

Wash. state auditor questions funding for aviation school 

The Washington auditor's office is questioning the Port of Seattle's role in funding an aviation high school in the state. The port provided $13.6 million for Aviation High School as part of its goal to promote jobs in the region. "We feel that supporting Aviation High School is an important part of the port's mission," said port Commissioner John Creighton. "In terms of workforce development and helping kids get into aviation careers." KING-TV (Seattle) (2/27)