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Somerset Air Services, Inc.
150 Airport Road
Bedminster, NJ 07921

Tel: (908) 722-2444
Fax: (908) 722-1359

 

Flight School

CFI Blog
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By Margo Kay CFI/CFII

What a winter we are having! This past January and February have brought an unusually high number of days when the reported gusts have flirted with and sometimes exceeded 40 knots. NOTAM Tangos for moderate turbulence and LLWS (low-level wind sheer) have become the rule rather than the exception. And over the CTAF frequency you can hear Byron shouting “Whee!” gleefully with every circuit!

A day with a brisk Northwesterly wind of more modest 10-20 knots is a great place to start refreshing your wind flying skills if it has been awhile. Start with a thorough weather brief using a combination of sources: television weather reports and internet sites such as ADDS followed by a phone call to our friends at 1-800-WXBRIEF. The FAA publication Aviation Weather for Pilots opens Chapter 4 on wind with the lofty explanation that “Differences in temperature create differences in pressure. These pressure differences drive a complex system of winds in a never ending attempt to reach equilibrium.” What that means for us is that those Isobars, or lines of equal pressure, that populate Prognostic charts can tell us a lot about what’s in store. Widely spaced isobars with shallow pressure gradients will lead to quiet days while tightly packed isobars resembling a coiled slinky mean a bumpy ride.

Consult your POH and using the forecast surface winds in your area and a handy wind component chart calculate how much of that wind is crosswind. Does the calculated cross wind component for the runways you expect to use exceed the demonstrated cross wind component of the manufacturer? If so, are you up to playing test pilot in the wind? Do you feel lucky?

Review taxiing procedures. That old adage Climb Into, Dive Away is a useful pneumonic to remember aileron and elevator placement on your way from the ramp to the run-up area. A twenty knot quartering tail wind can be mighty exciting taxiing back for another go round the pattern if you let go of the controls.

 

Remember S-Turns over a Road, Turns Around a Point and Rectangular Patterns? Practicing ground reference maneuvers again increases understanding of the changes in rate and radius of turn depending on ground speed. Performed at pattern altitude approximately 1000’AGL, wind will turn our attempts at circles into oddly shaped ovals without correct compensation.

The rectangular patterns prepare us for windy day landings which brings us to one of the great unresolved aviation debates; the crab method versus the slip. I will freely admit to a preference for the slip, or wing low, method. Begin by rehearsing the traffic pattern on the ground. Our fastest ground speed is on downwind of course so the turn to base will be steeper. On base the wind is pushing us away from the runway so a crab into the wind is in order.

The turn from base to final is one of the most critical to time correctly. Sure, the landing runway will be primarily into the wind, but Mother Nature rarely lets us off with out at least a partial cross wind component. Relative to the final approach course is it to the left or right of the center line? Will you have to start your turn early because you have a crosswind from the left or wait until almost on top of the extended centerline because of a cross wind from the right (assuming a left hand traffic pattern)?

            Flying the final approach with a slip sounds relatively straight forward: lower the upwind wing to counteract drift and than apply opposite rudder to align the longitudinal access of the aircraft with the extended center line. These two seemingly simple steps can become anything but with the fickle wind changing direction and velocity at whim (wind sheer) and a fluctuating load factor that comes with the bumps. Conventional wisdom advises us to increase IAS on final approach by half the gust factor (the numerical difference between the reported steady wind and reported gusts).  The extra speed safeguards against variations in airspeed due to wind sheer. But beware, too much of a good thing comes at a cost; many accident reports begin with extra speed on final and end with airplanes in the mud off the end of the runway.

            The most important tool for mastering flying in the wind is obeying the laws of common sense. Start with a low approach to feel out the wind before attempting the real thing. Go-arounds are always a good idea. And there are always other runways…

 If the crosswind is outside your comfort limits at Somerset head to Solberg, just four miles away and an easy drive for one of the line guys to pick you up. When the winds are across our 30/12 then they are down the runway of 04/22 at N51. Better still, call the office and get on the schedule with an instructor some windy day. We are here 7 days a week, and chances are good if you see the winds are going to be challenging in the next 24 hours a quick call to Miss Melanie will have you scheduled up in no time!

 


Somerset Air Services, Inc has been professionally training pilots for over fifty years. Whether you want to take a few lessons, complete a private pilot's certificate or wish to pursue a career in aviation, we can take you there. In our Piper Cherokee airplanes you will be able to comfortably learn to fly in a professional, yet relaxed, atmosphere. From your first lesson you will handle the controls with a competent FAA Certified Flight Instructor guiding the way. You will learn the basics of aviation, navigation and communications aloft.

Somerset Air Service has a staff of four full time flight instructors to meet your scheduling needs. Lessons are customized to enhance your progress. One-on-one training for ground school is available. If you have career aviation goals, advanced training is available for instrument, commercial, multi-engine, airline transport and certified flight instructor ratings.



 
Keith Pronko (CFI I)
Mat Kiener
 
Ian Ricks
Neal Tilak (CFI I)
 
Paul D'Auria
Andrew Hofford (CFI II)
 
Eric Santos
Michael Barbato (CFI I) *




Theodore Steffens *
First Solo
11/17/12
Harin Jose
Private Pilot
Antonio Di Nizo *
First Solo
8/14/12
Terry Markovich
Private Pilot
Liz Sharkey
First Solo
7/17/12
Louis Giacomazza
Private Pilot
Clarke Moody
First Solo
7/11/12
Nilson Bolanos Private Pilot
Bob Kolodziej
First Solo
4/18/12
Juan Salgado Private Pilot
Andres Machado
First Solo
2/18/12
Austin Brady Private Pilot
Matt Allergra
First Solo
2/5/12
Mike Barbato Commercial
Bill Moore
First Solo
11/5/11
Vijay Singh Commercial
Andrew Jimcosky
First Solo
10/11/11
Mike Akers Private Pilot
Harin Jose
First Solo
10/2/11
Tony Lo Presti Private Pilot
Tim Tachun Lin First Solo 7/28/11 Sumeet Khurana Private Pilot
Luis Alvarez First Solo 9/20/12 Fred Ginsberg Private Pilot
Rahul Shah
First Solo
5/18/13
Virendra Patel Private Pilot
Kevin Kober First Solo 6/1/13 Bill Patullo Private Pilot


* new
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Drew Harteveld
Jeffery Probasco
 
Jeremy Dole
Danny Kay

Down to Details - With our FAA approved curriculum, you will flight train for a minimum of 40 hours for your Private Pilot Certificate. This total time requirement includes dual and solo flights flown locally and over cross country routes (at least fifty miles from home). With the use of our well planned syllabus, your instructor will guide you through all the FAA requirements for certification. Please note these times are minimums. The national average for completion is 70 hours or total time.

An FAA Medical Exam is required prior to solo flight. As an added convenience, we have an FAA Medical Examiner located at the airport.

You are required to pass both a written and practical flight test for certification. Your Jeppesen Flight Training Package will be the foundation of your flying curriculum.

Rate Information - Call us today at (908) 722-2444 for the most current information.

Aircraft

Cherokee 140 $ 97.00
Cessna 172SP $ 140.00
Arrow $ 165.00

Instruction

Primary
$ 40.00
Instrument/CFI
$ 55.00
Own Aircraft
$ 60.00
Ground Instruction
$ 40.00
** Multi Engine rates available on request

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Any excuse to visit an airport?

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We know you're hooked and ready to begin.
Call us at (908) 722-2444 for more information


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About Us | SAS News | Flight School | Maintenance | Charter | Teen's Corner | Doctors Hours | Directions | Contact Us | Home Page | Disclaimer


About Us | SAS News | Flight School | Maintenance | Charter | Teen's Corner | Doctors Hours | Directions | Contact Us

 
 
.
Home Page
History
Location
Airport Ops
Airport Communication
Nearby Radio
Airport Services
Runway Info

Follow us on FACEBOOK click icon and find out what we've been up to!

 
Somerset Air Services, Inc.
150 Airport Road
Bedminster, NJ 07921

Tel: (908) 722-2444
Fax: (908) 722-1359

 

Doctor's Hours for December 2012


Doctor Lorne B. Sheren, M.D., Senior Aviation Medical Examiner has office hours at KSMQ's main office. No appointment necessary! Dr. Sheren offers 1st, 2nd, 3rd class EKG's which are available on site.

NOTE - Please confirm prior to coming to the office



 
Date
Day
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June 8, 2013
June 13, 2013
June 23, 2013
June 29, 2013
Saturday
Thursday
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11:00 A.M. thru 12:30 P.M.
5:00 P.M. thru 6:30 P.M.
11:00 A.M. thru 12:30 P.M
10:00 A.M. thru 11:30 A.M.

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For further information visit www.MedXpress.faa.gov



 
   
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