AERO CLUB OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA PILOT Vol 25 No 2, Summer 2014 www.aeroclubpa.org

Published quarterly by the Aero Club of Pennsylvania for those interested in aviation in the Greater Delaware Valley

AERO CLUB NEWS Carson Helicopters brings the S-61 back to life Carson Helicopter Tour Reading Museum P-61 Project Scholarship Dinner The Annual Aero Club of Penn- In late February, with snow coating In 1980, WWII Navy veteran Gene sylvania and Eastern PA Chapter the fields, 15 Aero Club members Strine, a CAF Associate, was deter- Ninety-Nines Scholarship Dinner travelled to Perkasie, PA, to visit a mined to rescue a P-61 from an the manufacturing operation of Car- Indonesian mountaintop. The Strines will be held on June 19 at son Helicopter, a 40 year old compa- founded the Mid Atlantic Air Muse- Wings Field in Blue Bell. The ny specializing in rebuilding helicop- um, in no small part to facilitate vari- Aero Club and the Ninety Nines ters. At the time of our visit there ous needed governmental permis- will once again award numer- were 34 S-61 helicopters in various sions for a rescue attempt of the ous scholarships to deserving stages of reconstruction, from bare remains of the P-61. aviators. See the details and a hull to ready for flight testing. dinner invitation on page 7. Thirty-four years on, the museum has Our guide was Executive Vice Presi- a hundred airplanes, produces a fabu- Member wins B-24 ride dent Jeff Hill who showed us lous airshow each June and has a rec- Aero Club member Werner Volk- around the 70,000 square foot main ognizable P-61 fuselage, sitting on its mann, a private pilot who flies building which houses a large open own wheels, missing only engines and a Cessna 182 out of Brandywine assembly area and various subassem- outer wings. In 2012, the Aero Club Airport was chosen as the recip- bly rooms, including engine, trans- visited the P-61 project and got a ient of a ride on a B-24 this mission, machining, upholstery and personal tour by Russ Strine, Gene’s summer. The ride was given to a avionics shops. The paint shop is in son and president of the museum. member in good standing as of an adjacent building. Carson does it January 31. Originally, it was all on the premises. The York Daily Reporter recently going to be a B-29 ride, but Fifi printed an article about the project, is not flying the east coast this Founder Frank Carson has a life-long including a short video of Gene career in rebuilding airplanes and recounting the rescue of the season. See photo below. designing ingenious solutions. One Northrop night-fighter. To see the milestone included sponsoring the video, go to http://www.ydr.com, ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS replacement of radial engine Siko- and search for “P-61 recovered”. President’s Message, pg 2 rsky S-55’s with a twin-turbine engine transmission combination. The museum has a campaign under- Event Calendar, pg 3 way to raise funds for the restoration Marcel Dassault, pg 4 Carson employs about 150 people, with a matching grant of $35,000. If Airport News, pg 5 most of whom are A&P mechanics. realized, this will help complete the Carson Helicopters, pg 6 Scholarship Dinner Invite, pg 7 Read a more detailed story about project. See the details of the cam- Flight Safety, pg 8 Carson Helicopters on page 6. paign at: www.maam.org/p61.html

B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil” Carson/Sikorsky S-61 P-61 at Reading PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Bruce Thompson This is both a busy and exciting time of year for the Aero Club of PA. By the time you receive this newsletter Debbie Harding and her capable team will have

ORGANIZED: Dec 17, 1909; CHARTERED: May 10, 1910 completed their annual task of screening and interviewing candidates for the PO Box 748 Aero Club of Pennsylvania Memorial Scholarship (ACPMSF) and the Shannon Blue Bell, PA 19422 Memorial Scholarship (SMS). I have it on www.aeroclubpa.org www.facebook.com/AeroClubOfPa good authority that once again the field is This is both a busy [email protected] ripe with outstanding applicants. 2014 will be a banner year. Due to strong financial and exciting time of The Aero Club of PA was formed in 1909 to promote aviation in Pennsylvania and the results from donations and investments year for the Aero Club. Greater Delaware Valley. We are a social we are in a position to award in excess of and civic organization which plans field 30,000 dollars. I would be remiss though if I didn't ask you, the membership, to trips, holds an annual dinner, sponsors pre- continue to support the scholarship funds with your donations and please con- sentations, awards aviation scholarships, and produces this quarterly newsletter. sider including the ACPMSF/SMS in your estate planning. This year, one of the major projects we have embarked upon is reviewing and Membership is only $30 Signup at www.aeroclubpa.org updating the By Laws of the Aero Club of Pennsylvania. It has been quite some time since a thorough review was done. The committee created to per- OFFICERS form this function is staffed by eleven, very gifted people and capably chaired President Bruce Thompson by Jim Kilduff, our past president. Secretary Elaine Farashian Asst. Secretary Nancy Kyle The other project the Aero Club has undertaken is membership. Mike Little Treasurer John O’Toole has worked tirelessly adopting new methodologies to provide capable data base Asst Treasurer John Stubbs management of current and future members. Mike has performed an intensive VP Membership Michael Little review of our financials with our treasurer John O'Toole. It is imperative that VP Spec Projects Walt Ellis VP Scholarships Debbie Harding we employ strong cost controls to keep our membership fees as low as feasi- VP Communications Robert Dant ble. Postage and printing costs continue to rise, so we must be diligent to find VP Airports Elaine Farashian ways to mitigate those costs. Solicitor Paul Heintz, Esq. I live in rural Southern Chester County, PA. The other day I was doing some BOARD of DIRECTORS yard cleanup after the historic winter of 2014. While toiling near the main road 3 Year Term: Debbie Harding in front of my property a car pulled into the driveway. Roger, the driver, whom Jeff Kahn, Esq I knew from my days in the Air National Guard, stopped to say hi. He then Carol Knight mentioned the Aero Club and the terrific tour he had taken at the Boeing Erik Kocher Jonathan Martin Facility in Ridley Park, PA courtesy of the club. Walt Ellis, our go to guy for 2 Year Term: Robert Dant field trips, does a fantastic job finding places of interest for the Aero Club to Steven Lindrooth visit. Walt is only one person though and he is reaching out to ALL of you for Laren Pitcairn suggestions and ideas of new places the club could visit. Please contact Walt John Stubbs through our website for any and all thoughts you may have. I wish all of you Bruce Thompson blue skies, calm winds and a terrific summer! 1 Year Term: Michael Dunleavy Timothy Fields BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPORT Dan Kurkjian Michael Little Elaine Farashian, Secretary Robert Smith The Aero Club Board of Directors dinner is in the planning stage met at Wings Field on April 17. and will be held at Wings Field TRUSTEES VP Walt Ellis presided over the on Thursday, June 19. Aero Club Mem. Scholarship Fund: meeting in the absence of Presi- The board discussed ongoing Bruce Thompson, ex Officio, Chair dent Bruce Thompson. Michael Dunleavy, Trustee review of the Aero Club Bylaws Dan Kurkjian, Trustee Elaine Farashian presented the and plans to update them. Also, minutes from the January meet- the group agreed to increase PENNSYLVANIA PILOT ing. The group discussed finan- membership dues to $30 after Editor/Layout: Robert Dant cials, membership and newslet- being at $25 for the last decade. Contributors: Bruce Thompson ter details. Michael Little report- The board talked about the Nancy Kyle ed that the membership stands recent tour of Carson Helicopters Debbie Harding at about 123. Photographer: Robert Dant and planning for upcoming trips. Printed by: Graphic Impressions Next, Debbie Harding reported The meeting adjourned for din- on the 2014 Scholarship pro- ner and a presentation by Dick Editor: [email protected] gram. The scholarship commit- Graves about flying helicopters 610-909-4467 tee will interview candidates on most all of his life. Published Quarterly: February, May, August, November May 10. The scholarship awards

2 PENNSYLVANIA PILOT Aero Club Scholarship Report AVIATION EVENT CALENDAR By Debbie Harding, VP Scholarships MAY 17-18 Ninety-Nines Pennies-a-Pound, Heritage Airport (PTW) At the time of this writing, the Scholarship 17 EAA 240 Pancake Breakfast, New Garden (N57) review board has only just begun the review 31 FlyIn Footlong Hotdog Day, Sugar Hill, DE (17DE) of candidates for the 2014 Scholarship JUNE Awards. We used an electronic submission 6-8 Reading WWII Weekend, Reading, PA (RDG) program this year and as evident from the 7-8 EAA 216 Pancake Breakfast, Cross Keys (17N) numbers alone, the program worked well! The 7 EAA 540 Pancake Breakfast, Smoketown (S37) 14 EAA 240 Pancake Breakfast and Airport Open House, Scholarship Review Board was in receipt of New Garden Flying Field (N57) 40 applications, 38 received electronically. 13-14 Chester County Balloon Festival, www.ccballoonfest.com at Plantation Field, Rt 82, Unionville, PA About half the applicants applied for a post- 19 Annual Scholarship Dinner, Thursday, 6PM solo scholarship opportunity. 18 applicants are JULY 16 to 18 years of age; 11 are 21 to 30, and the 09-12 Ninety-Nines, 2014 Intl. Conference, Bozeman, MT remainder are 31 to 68 years of age. The 12 EAA Chapter 240 Fly-in Breakfast, New Garden (N57) majority of candidates reside in the counties 12-13 Wings & Wheels, Big Band Event, Grimes (8N1) 17 Board of Directors Mtg, Thursday, 6PM, PACC surrounding the Philadelphia area with 19 EAA 240 Pancake Breakfast, New Garden (N57) Chester County having the heaviest concen- 28-03 EAA AirVenture; Oshkosh, WI tration, followed by Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Berks. There were also 5 candi- dates from New Jersey and 4 from Delaware. Local pilots in 2014 Air Race Classic While we experienced fairly well-rounded visi- June is nearly here and that means the 2014 Air Race bility from the local area, we could still use Classic! The Eastern PA Chapter of the 99s has four some work in expanding our geography. teams entered this year: All 40 applications, with few exceptions were Team 9: Juliet Lindrooth & Terri Morse complete, and in my personal opinion, all were Team 15: Mary Wunder/Marilyn Patierno above average compared to what we have seen Team 41: Linda Evans, in the past. It is encouraging for the future of Alison Chalker & Barb Ziegler aviation as the caliber of applicants working Team 48: Emily Lewis & Alicia Sikes toward joining the aviation ranks is quite high! Every year I say how hard the choices are for Several of these ladies are Aero Club members, so watch the Scholarship Review Board because of all their progress at www.airraceclassic.org. The race is a real the good applicants, but I say bring it on! I also coast-to-coast this year, starting June 16 at Buchanan say for those who have supported these funds, Field (KCCR) in Concord, CA and ending June 19 at thank you. Without your support the Aero Capital City Airport (KCXY) in New Cumberland, PA. Club of Pennsylvania would not have the Volunteers are always needed and since the terminus is opportunity to help pave the way for successful so close, why not help out? Sign up on the Air Race future career aviators. Please join us at the June Classic website. It is very exciting and heaps of fun! 19th Scholarship dinner to see for yourselves! Board of Directors Mtg, July 17 Wings Field, Philadelphia Aviation Country Club The Aero Club will hold its next quarterly Board Meeting on July 17 at the Philadelphia Aviation Country Club at Wings Field.

Following the board meeting at 6PM, we will have dinner and a presentation by Roger Thorne and Dan Kurkjian about the his- tory of Paoli Main Line Airport. Members and guests are welcome to attend our presentations.

Dinner (optional) begins at 7PM and the presentation begins around 8PM. Contact us at [email protected] to announce your intention to attend. Dinner is around $40 per person, not including drinks. Attire at PACC is business casual. Paoli Main Line Airport

PENNSYLVANIA PILOT 3 Dassault Falcon Member Story by Connie Tobias What a coincidence that I would doesn’t surprise me that one of replied, “I like change.” On April arrive home and open a package the men Marcel admired was 17th, 1986 Marcel Dassault passed from Nancy Kyle filled items Thomas Edison with all his differ- away at 94 years old. Here is donated to our silent auction by ent inventions. However, it was something I saved from Marcel Dassault Falcon. This was the when Marcel witnessed Charles Dassault: “With no false modesty, 22nd of January, the birthday Lindbergh land at Le Bourget I will say I have always tried hard (1892) of Monsieur Marcel Das- Aerodrome on his historic flight not to run out of imagination. I sault. I smiled as I recalled his that he re-entered the aviation have worked hard with the team I kindness to two of us women industry. And in WWII he gathered. I have never let hurdles pilots wanting refused to discourage me. I love what I do, only to visit share his bril- and I know how to use my the Falcon Jet liant knowl- willpower to get anything that Factory in France. edge and skill in might divert me out of my way. I designing aircraft with the Ger- lead a simple and happy life. Marcel Dassault has mans. Marcel Dassault was born Everything around me converges, inspired me, but not Marcel Bloch. He was Jewish. He and indeed must converge, to pro- because he was the richest man in was interned in Buchenwald Con- mote the task I have set myself.” France or one of the top ten rich- centration Camp and survived. He est men in Europe. I certainly did came out with Diphtheria and As Paul Harvey would say, “Now not know that when we ended up weighing only 70 pounds. He you know the rest of the story.” being his guest. Years after the changed his name to Dassault and kind encounter we experienced, I Marcel would have been 91 years started again and was very suc- old in December of 1983 when a was able to find more information cessful in the aviation industry. As on Marcel Dassault. He became friend and I were recipients of his the French government became kindness. As the limo driver put enthralled with aeroplanes as a socialized they nationalized his child in school in Paris when he our backpacks into the trunk of successful aviation business. So, the limousine, we stood in front of saw a Wright Flyer fly around the he started another aviation indus- Eiffel Tower. Later he became an Marcel Dassault’s Chateau. We try and became just as successful were embarrassed that we had electrical engineer and was all over again. He negotiated with schooled in aerodynamics. In unintentionally stumbled upon this the government the second time man’s private estate. We were con- WWI he developed a better pro- they nationalized his successful peller for the French Army. He cerned how much expense we company and it worked in his might incur. We were basically then successfully dabbled in quite favor. When asked what he a variety of other ventures. So, it broke and did not have the means thought of the situation, he to secure any funds. We had done

4 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Report Continued... Airport News our best to explain we did not mean to March 20, 2014 to Denver, Tampa, Orlando, Hous- be there. As the driver held the door By Elaine Farashian ton, Ft. Myers and Chicago, Frontier Airlines will add same to Detroit of the limo and motioned for me to PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL and Atlanta April 29. Free parking please be seated, my eye caught a bit New taxiway EE and H project is out will continue throughout 2014, but of movement from a Chateau window. for bid. A designer has been selected the airport is working on a paid- for runway 9R/27L extension. Qatar parking solution. Design has begun For a brief moment I looked. The fig- Airways will begin service to Doha for improvement of its 3 parking ure in the window was of an elderly this spring. Departures Road security lots. The baggage claim area will also man. Was it Marcel Dassault? I would post project is in the awarding phase. be improved within the next month like to think so. Had I only known at BRANDYWINE [OQN] for more efficient customer queuing the time he had survived the Buchen- Phase 2 construction of apron and bag delivery. Design is underway drainage is complete. Although the for taxiways A and B rehab as well wald concentration camp, perhaps I Bureau of Aviation (BOA) approved as expansion of the Terminal ramp. would not have been so ashamed of the work, additional survey informa- NEW GARDEN [N57] my apparel. I am very thankful for tion is required for widening runway Final design and permitting for run- those that live lives that inspire us dur- 9/27. The airport is waiting for a way widening and reconstruction is grant to conduct an LPV (Localizer ing our lifetime. And I am thankful for to be completed this spring and bid- Performance with Vertical Guidance) ding expected in the summer. that brief moment that not only taught approach feasibility study. The Grants are anticipated for the reha- me about the true kindness of a ground surveys will include establish- bilitate West T-Hangar apron proj- stranger, but also took me on a jour- ing one Primary Airport Control Sys- ect, phase 2 site preparation of run- tem (PACS) and two Secondary Air- ney of trying hard not to run out of way 6/24 reconstruction and widen- port Control System (SACA) points. ing and development of multi munic- imagination. CECIL COUNTY [58M] ipal zoning ordinances. The town- ship has coordinated with local Thank you for all the Dassault goodies. The airport was recently purchased by Perry Chopra, a businessman and pilots to form a condo association They have a deeper meaning than you real estate investor from NYC, for future hangar construction. knew. The flashlight is terrific, and each owner of an airport/school in Florida. PENNRIDGE [CNZ] time I put on the hat I will feel warmth Cecil County will be renamed Clare- The airport purchased snow in my heart for this special man. mont Airport to coordinate with the removal equipment and is working one in Florida. Anticipated improve- on removing tree obstruction. ment projects are a runway exten- Braden Airpark saved? sion to accommodate small jets, QUAKERTOWN [UKT] From AOPA: Braden Airpark in perimeter fencing, additional hangars, An obstruction removal and lighting a restaurant and condos, all of which project will be sent out for bid soon. Easton, PA, open since 1938, has will be privately funded. The small been in jeopardy of being closed by flight school anticipates expansion to SOUTH JERSEY REGIONAL [VAY] Harrisburg ADO submitted com- connect with the Florida school. the Lehigh-Northhampton Airport ments regarding final draft of the Authority. In light of the threat, the CHESTER COUNTY [MQS] Master Plan Update. The consultant FBO left the airport last year. The There is bid opening for phase 6 is reviewing the comments. The Jet south apron project. Nighttime A fuel farm is installed. closure date was set for October 19. approaches have resumed after tree obstruction was resolved. TRENTON MERCER [TTN] However, in an April 22 decision, Design phase of taxiway H, B. F the LNAA has reversed their plan DOYLESTOWN [DYL] rehab is completed. Scope change and voted against the motion to The Authority is working on modification of phase 1 & 2 obstruction removal on runway 5 rehab/construction of same taxiway close the airport. They now say they approach with possible bidding of is being reviewed by DOT and are committed to working with air- work in April and completion in awaiting final approval. Cost esti- port supporters on a preservation June. Grants are anticipated for run- mate expected from state contrac- way 5/23 approach obstruction tor for security fence improvements. plan. The Authority has been look- removal, phase 1 preliminary design ing for ways to raise cash to help of transitional surfaces and construc- WINGS [LOM] A ground repeater station for Phila. tion of bypass taxiways on 5/23 ends. pay a $26 million judgement from a clearance delivery is being consid- case resulting from having taken HERITAGE FIELD [PTW] ered. GA terminal apron phase 1 land from a developer. Local pilots Crack seal and marking project of preliminary design was completed had been trying to purchase the air- runway 10/28 was completed. February and sent to the BOA. Flight school activity and fuel sales port, however their offer was well NEW CASTLE [ILG] are higher than that of the same below the selling price. After 6 months of non-stop service period last year.

PENNSYLVANIA PILOT 5 Carson Helicopters by James Kilduff Nestled in the rural village of engine rebuild and gearbox rebuild minum hull, just out of the paint Perkasie, PA, is a seemingly small departments, avionics and electric striping process done in the paint company known as Carson Heli- shops. Carson is vertically integrated building. There were other hulls in copters which does modification and versatile. The hulls come onto various stages of repair and modi- work on helicopters. The Aero Club the property and virtually every- fication, such as added windows. of Pennsylvania visited Carson thing that will be part of the new Other ships had just come from Helicopter arranged by ACPA Trea- helicopter is stripped surer John O’Toole. The members of paint, remanufac- were amazed to see a multi-hundred tured or overhauled, thousand square foot multi-building painted and rein- facility on 100 acres and even more stalled in the helicop- amazed to see 34 Sikorsky S-61 hel- ter. Nothing is icopters in various stages of recon- subbed out to other struction. Carson, in cooperation vendors or shops. with Sikorsky, has a contract with a government agency to rebuild and Mr. Hill explained modify these ships according to the the history of Car- agency’s specifications. son Helicopter. The founder, Frank Car- Long-time employee Jeff Hill gave son, now 80 years 15 ACPA members a detailed tour young, began of every facet of the facility. rebuilding, first cars, S-61 Helicopters in various stages of restoration Although it was Saturday, there and then airplanes, the paint shop on the grounds. Mr. were easily a dozen employees as a teenager. Over the years, his Hill explained that engines, working in various phases of the company extended the life of although no longer manufactured, reconstruction process. Employees many helicopters, working in con- were reasonably plentiful. Cores number around 150 (we asked Mr. cert with Sikorsky. Along the way, were rebuilt on the premises and Hill if they were familiar with the he bought from Sikorsky S-55 and installed along with landing gear, Aero Club Scholarship program S58 helicopters that had been trad- engines, electric wiring by the mile, for would-be A&P mechanics, and ed in on newer models. The older plexiglass, and rotors. yes, they are aware). ships were refurbished and resold to new customers. The S58 Origi- The Carson Company developed The tour looked through glass win- nally powered by a single radial its own composite rotor blades to dow walls at several factory-within- piston engine, Frank Carson per- replace the life-limited original alu- a-factory spaces: machine shop, suaded Sikorsky to produce a twin minum blades. These new rotors turbine engine had the advantage of advances in twin-pack with aero dynamics and improved per- transmission kit as formance about 8%, at the same a replacement for time extending life of the blades. the radial engine. The new blade has been very suc- Sikorsky wanted a cessful and is even flying on the minimum order of fleet of Presidential aircraft. 12 shipsets. Car- son and Air Amer- All the members felt very fortu- ica gambled on nate to receive all the time and the modified ships attention from the very knowl- and the S58 had a edgeable Jeff Hill. Mr. Hill volun- new lease on life teered his time later in the year, as the S58T. when the members might be able to see one of these beautifully Our Aero Club rebuilt machines fly. That will be Aero Club members peer behind the lines group saw an alu- something to see!

6 PENNSYLVANIA PILOT AERO CLUB OF PENNSYLVANIA

Scholarship Dinner Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner

Guest Speaker Presented by the Aero Club of Pennsylvania Memorial Scholarship Fund and Dena Williams the Eastern PA Chapter of the 99’s. USAF Reserve Dena Williams is a Thursday, June 19, 2014 WC-130J instructor pilot in the USAF Philadelphia Aviation Country Club Reserve 53rd Weather Wings Field, Blue Bell, PA. Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane 6 PM: Cash Bar, 7 PM: Dinner Hunters”, the only Department of Defense $45.00 per person organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes. She has remained in same squadron since Note that a portion of your payment will 2001, commissioned in April, 2002 and help provide complimentary dinners for graduated pilot training June, 2003. our scholarship recipients. She has 2800+ total flight hours. In addition, she is simulator pilot instruc- tor for the Italian Air Force in Pisa, As always, seating is limited at PACC, Italy and as C-130J SME (Subject Mat- so get your reservations in early. ter Expert) in Montreal, Canada. She will speak about her career in aviation that was inspired by her father who RESERVE ONLINE flew in the Navy and retired after 34 at www.aeroclubpa.org or use form below. years flying for American Airlines.

Please send check so that it arrives no later than June 13. We regret that we cannot accept phone reservations or walk-ins.

Reserve ONLINE, or send this form with payment by June 13 to: Aero Club PA Scholarship Fund, PO Box 748; Blue Bell, PA 19422

NAME: ______Number Attending: ____ x $45 = $______ADDRESS: ______Scholarship Contribution:$______CITY/STATE: ______Total Enclosed: $______PHONE: ______E-Mail:______

Please list names of attendees... ATTENDEES: ______, ______, ______

7 FIRST CLASS Organized December 17, 1909; Chartered May 10, 1910 POSTAGE REQUIRED AERO CLUB OF PENNSYLVANIA P.O. BOX 748, BLUE BELL, PA 19422 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED www.aeroclubpa.org facebook.com/AeroClubOfPa

FLIGHT SAFETY BRIEFING Getting back into flying The March/April 2014 issue of FAA Safety Briefing doors for more pilots to return to flying was the Sport takes a look at what it takes to “get back in the flying Pilot / Light Sport Aircraft rule in 2004 that allows game.” Whether it’s transitioning to a new type of air- flight without a medical, if your last held medical was craft, or returning from a flying hiatus, the articles not denied, revoked, or suspended. provide safety and training advice and help fine tune any plan for returning to the skies. In one story, Tom Another important task is getting up to speed on regu- Hoffman talks about “Getting back in the game”. latory and airspace changes. For those who recall Ronald Reagan as being in office during your last flight, There are many reasons for a pilot to hang up the you’ll need to take time to review the changes that headset for a while, but they don’t have to mean a per- resulted from the FAA’s reclassification of the U.S. air- manent grounding. If the flying flame still flickers space system in 1993. And since 2001, it’s particularly within, the opportunity to soar once again is yours for important to become familiar with TFRs, and airspace the taking. With a solid plan and determination, along restrictions in areas like Washington, D.C. A current with the benefits of some exciting developments, you Airman Information Manual is a good place to start. can easily shake off that rust and get back to enjoying the freedom only flying can offer. The next step is to find an instructor who understands your situation and is willing to take time to help you Whether it’s been decades or just a couple of years, get back in your game and get you prepped for a flight the best way to get back in the game is to start with a review. Be clear about your intentions and work plan. The first step for many returning pilots is an together to set attainable training goals. And when it’s assessment of personal health and fitness. Thankfully, time to start flying, don’t be too hard on yourself if there have been many favorable changes in the last 15 you seem a bit out of form. That’s to be expected. years to help pilots retain a current medical certificate. What may have been disqualifying years earlier may Read the rest of this article and issue online as a PDF now be acceptable with revised waiver and special- or as a download for iPad, Kindle, Nook, Android issuance guidelines. Also, a big change that opened platforms at www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing.