Posted October 4th, 2011

http://iflycoast.com/fast_planes/

Stop by Coast on October 22, 2011 and check out the latest from Cirrus and Porsche.  Sit in both cockpits and experience the power!  Limited flights available with reservations.  Event is free to attend, flights are $175.  All profits will go to Rady Children’s Hospital.

Food and drinks will be served.

Posted September 18th, 2011

* A beautiful & unspoiled island located just twenty-two nautical miles from the Souther California coast, Catalina Island is one of the most popular holiday destinations for passengers & pilots in the area. For pilots, however, a trip to Catalina Island is as much about the journey as the destination; Catalina Island presents a number of challenges even for experienced pilots.

*Catalina Island’s airport has no tower & sits atop an elevated mesa that stands 1602 feet above sea level. Consisting of a single 3000 foot long runway. Pilots can usually enjoy a sunny landing even on cloudy days because of the airport’s high elevation.

*One of the best ways to see the natural scenery of Catalina Island is by air, since many of the most beautiful areas cannot be easily accessed by ground transportation. After landing, visitors can enjoy fresh buffalo burgers at a scenic airport restaurant thanks to the presence of herd of buffalo that still roam the free range areas of the island. A trip to Catalina Island takes just 40 minutes by air for flights departing from KMYF. Compare that to the hour or hour & a half via scheduled ferry trips from Long Beach or Dana Point, & it’s easy to see why flights to Catalina Island are always in demand for aspiring & experienced pilots.

Posted September 18th, 2011

During initial training, Coast flight training students experienced a 98% pass rate. This high pass rate is a testament to the quality of the company’s experienced & knowledgeable flight instructors & the innovative flight training methods employed by Coast Flight. Nathan Linder recently passed his IFR checkride in a Cirrus SR22. Two days after the checkride, Coast Flight Training President, Will Dryden, instructed Linder on flying to Mexico, making it possible for Linder to take his wife on a surfing trip to beautiful Cabo San Lucas. It’s just one more way in which flight training makes a big difference in the lives of Cirrus pilots!

Posted September 18th, 2011

Coast Flight is organizing a trip to go island hoping around Bahamas. We will depart from San Diego, California on October 30th. If you are interested in joining us on this exciting trip, email trips@iflycoast.com to reserve your space today; don’t let this opportunity pass you by! If you can’t make it this time, be sure to follow our adventure on Facebook

Posted September 18th, 2011

On October 22nd, Coast Flight will be sponsoring an open house along with Pioneer Porsche, Cirrus Aircraft & Airdale Brewing Company & will offer flights in the Cirrus SR20 for $175. All profits from the flights will be donated to Rady Children’s Hospital. Come check out the latest models from Porsche Turbo, Cirrus Aircraft Turbo & cool brews from Airdale Brewing & help out this great cause at the same time. This event is free.

Posted September 15th, 2011

Will Dryden is the President and founder of Coast Flight Training. He is a career instructor with both Master Flight Instructor and Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor designations. Will founded Coast with the focus of breaking aviation flight training paradigms (www.iflycoast.com).

The perfect way to reduce students’ anxiety about radio communication is to start by explaining to them that the air traffic controller they’re talking to is most likely wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, and sipping a cup of Joe. He or she is nothing to be afraid of. The job of the ATC is to keep the pilots safe and help them when they have questions.

A common mistake instructors make is telling students that ATC radio calls have to be perfect and in a particular order. Instead, the instructors should encourage students and be positive. And while instructors should initially avoid fixing their students’ communication mistakes, it’s important that the students can rest assured that the instructor is there to back them up and can finish the call for them, in case they are having trouble.

Here are some simple steps to improve students’ radio calls:

• Let the student talk on discreet pilot-to-pilot frequencies, without the pressure of talking to a controller. Have the student call “in the blind” to get used to hearing his or her own voice in the headsets.
• Use a full motion simulator with an intercom system to practice radio calls under simulated circumstances.
• Prior to each flight, go over what needs to be said to the controllers during airport operations by role-playing until the student is comfortable with the wording.
• Teach the student to anticipate what communication is coming and how to respond to or initiate it.
• For some students, it helps to let them write down exactly what to say on a cheat sheet, but this technique should really only be done during their first couple of flights.

Radios are often difficult for students. Air traffic controllers talking fast can be intimidating, creating a psychological “mountain” for the student. Reminding students that they’re just talking to that guy in the Hawaiian shirt enjoying his coffee can generally ease a lot of the pressure, and by identifying themselves as “student pilot” will alert the ATC to give them the extra attention they need and deserve.

Posted September 8th, 2011

IMSAFE is the Standard for Safe Flying Practices

As any good pilot knows, safety should always be one’s top priority when flying. Pilots must always do a pre-flight checklist of themselves and their aircraft as a safety procedure before they take off. This safety checklist for the pilot can be easily remembered as IMSAFE. Each letter stands for a different safety issue that the pilot should be checked for before taking off.

Illness

Is the pilot healthy enough for this flight? Consider the following factors:

• An upset stomach is worsened while on an aircraft in flight
• Congestion is aggravated by changes in altitude
• Sinus problems quickly become unbearably painful during descents
• Flying an aircraft requires the utmost attention
• Illness drains the body and mind
• Sickness prevents pilots from being at their best

Medication

The simple fact is that most medications have side effects. A pilot is more than likely not going to be at 100 percent if they are taking any sort of medication, and there are several medications which are illegal to use while piloting a private aircraft or training others who are piloting.  From major pain killers to minor allergy medication, there are unsafe side effects for flying.

Stress

Pilots shouldn’t fly while they are under stress because it can hinder judgment and cause sloppy mistakes. Before flying make sure you’re not letting these stressors get to you:

• Nervousness about the route/weather
• Personal problems
• Stress about getting to destination on time (i.e. wedding, funeral, graduation)

Alcohol

A pilot simply shouldn’t fly if he or she has ANY alcohol in their system.

• The legal alcohol limit for flying is .04% BAC
• Even half a drink can impair your ability to fly
• If you have consumed alcohol in the last eight hours, it’s illegal to fly
• The dangers of flying under the influence are worse than those of DUI
• You won’t just get a ticket – the FAA won’t let you fly again

Fatigue

Always make sure you sleep enough before you fly. If you’re flying at an odd hour, you should adjust your sleep accordingly beforehand.

• Even autopilot won’t save you
• Imagine the horror of falling asleep while flying
• It’s easy for a tired pilot to drift into sleep while the flight is calm and smooth
• As you climb in altitude, your body naturally gets tired as it is

Emotion

Anger and depression can compromise decision-making skills. If you are an emotional person, it’s even more important to be aware of your emotions.

Some versions of the IMSAFE checklist also use Eat, because high elevations affect the body more dramatically on an empty stomach. So make sure to eat a well-balanced meal before flying.

Using this simple acronym you should always be able to remember how to pre flight yourself for a flight.  It is important enough that on every Cirrus, this checklist is the first thing that comes up on the MFD when the plane is turned to on to ensure you have thought about it.

Posted September 4th, 2011

Posted August 23rd, 2011

As any good pilot knows, ground power is an essential part of modern flight. Ground power units are used to supply power to various aircraft while they are on the ground. The most common use for the larger power-supplying vehicles is supporting large aircraft as they are moving around the runway, such as after a landing. Ground power also helps create a low-pressure environment in which pilots in training can practice and learn the avionics of the plane before they actually fly.

A ground power unit is a may look like anything from a small box to a large truck depending on the planes it services.  It carries electric energy from a generator to a connection on the aircraft. Some airports also have the ground power built in. Ground power allows aircraft systems to be used without depleting the battery, so new pilots can train without the pressure of flying and make sure they’re comfortable with the plane and all of its instruments before ever taking it into the sky.

The Benefits of Ground Power

• Chair flying offers the best opportunity to get familiar with avionics
• Highly efficient training aid
• At Coast there are No additional fees charged for this service
• Provides full usage of all the plane’s instruments
• Resource for students to effectively learn proper avionics techniques
• No pressure to perform because the airplane is on the ground

Chair flying lets new pilots get familiar with the avionics of the aircraft. This is because the actions of the student’s body while sitting in the cockpit and envisioning flight help to develop muscle memory. Chair flying provides experience with GPS, frequency and different waypoint inputs. It makes lessons more productive, because once the student has become competent in the procedures, he or she is able to practice rather than just learn from a book or simulation. Students are focused on fine tuning their procedures instead of learning the procedures in a classroom.

Chair flying also provides students with practice in all the following areas:

• Engaging autopilot
• Locating information
• Navigating avionics
• Practice checklists
• Practice procedures
• Switching switches
• Turning knobs

Ground power is a resource you’ll find in practically any airport these days. It helps to reduce emissions, fuel costs and noise pollution around the airports while the aircraft are circling the runway. From a student perspective, it is also the most efficient way to learn.

Posted June 21st, 2011

Boeing has declared the world economic recession all but over and issued its rosiest commercial aircraft forecast in years. The company’s pre-Paris Air Show analysis predicts a doubling of the world fleet of commercial aircraft over the next 20 years, with 33,500 aircraft selling for a total of $4 trillion. “The world market has recovered and is now expanding at a significant rate,” Randy Tinseth, Boeing’s VP of marketing for commercial aircraft, told reporters. “Not only is there a strong demand for air travel and new airplanes today, but the fundamental drivers of air travel – including economic growth, world trade and liberalization – all point to a healthy long-term demand.” Much of the growth will come from emerging markets in China, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, while traditional markets in Europe and North America will be buying planes for fleet modernization.

Although the big buzz at Paris seems to be how Boeing will counter the multi-front assault on its single-aisle 737, Boeing says the big market for the next 20 years will be in twin-aisle long-range aircraft that will respond to the demands of globalization and trade liberalization. The wild card will be the effect of fuel supply and demand on airlines. “While passengers are getting what they want – more frequencies and nonstop service – rising and volatile fuel prices are expected to continue to challenge the industry,” Tinseth said. Boeing is debuting its 747-8 stretched jumbo at Paris, which runs June 20-26.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/1935-full.html#204836