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R-ATP Part 61 Exemption for Purdue University
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week granted an exemption to Purdue University allowing graduates of Part 61 flight training to become eligible for restricted ATP (R-ATP) certification with reduced experience requirements. This exemption is retroactive. It is effective for all Purdue graduates from 2009 through 2016. The R-ATP check rides can be conducted through…
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Pilot Shortage Update
The release of December 2013 airmen statistics indicated another increase in the number of airline-qualified pilots in the United States. Labor statistics also showed an increase in pilot employment last year. As a country, we do not seem to be running out of pilots by any numerical measure. A deeper analysis is always more interesting, of…
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April in Brief
There are good changes happening behind the scenes here. After the recent redesign of the Aviation Weather Center website, I updated my Prog Charts Archive to include the mid-range prog charts. Those are the 3 through 7-day forecast charts issued once daily. In the Missed Approach Point Study Guide, I expanded some of the explanations…
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Restricted ATP Minimums
Easy-to-read details about the new ATP rules? You found them! I understand the need for simple explanations. There are six ways to get an ATP license now, each with different requirements. This is my summary and comparison of the R-ATP minimums from 14 C.F.R. § 61.159 and § 61.160. 160 (a) 160 (b) 160 (c)…
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R-ATP Exemption for Part 61 Training
My searches on federal websites found four petitions by universities seeking R-ATP authorization without a required part 141 ground school certificate. The petitioners are, in alphabetical order: Eastern Michigan University, Jacksonville University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Purdue University. Letters and documents filed by these universities seem to be routine. I will point out…
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Reaching 500 Hours
Goals, time building, industry changes, and future advancement. A look at the modern career pilot. At the 500-hour milestone, experience comes more quickly for me. I enjoy six days per week at the airport, often arriving at 6:45 am and returning home by 8 or 9 pm. My schedule is not consistent, though. If I…
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New Detroit Airspace Effective April 3
The FAA finalized last week the redesigned Class B airspace over Detroit, Michigan, as proposed August 2012, effective 3 April 2014 to coincide with the next chart cycle. With this new rule came another discussion of the impact on flight training activities at EMU: The Class B airspace established southwest of DTW is required to…
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CFI Checkrides Do Count as Flight Reviews
Yes, it’s true! After a CFI or CFII checkride, you do not need another flight review for 24 calendar months. For example, I passed the commercial AMEL practical test on 26 October 2012. When I was hired in October 2013, I reported my flight review date for my commercial test, meaning I would need a…
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How to Credit Card
If credit were as simple as cash, we wouldn’t need cash anymore. Credit cards are very complicated sometimes, yet the fundamental financial skills needed to use them are not taught in schools or colleges. Here are my secrets to success in managing credit accounts. #1 Always have at least two credit accounts This is the…
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Missed Approach Point Study Guide
The M.A.P. Study Guide is a list of notes I first developed during instrument-flight-instructor training because I needed a concise explanation of various approach profiles. Now that I am instructing instrument students, it seems this guide is the best tool for teaching missed approach identification with FAA charts. The Missed Approach Point and Missed Approach Track…