Pilot Builds Golf Course

How do you build a golf course?

Have a vision. 

Get committed: Buy turf, cups and flags. 

And follow through. 

Lots of little helpers at the beginning of the project to dig the dirt and move rocks are a great help too. 

Ground preparation is essential. I thought that water would flow through the turf. But the turf is solid rubber on the back and you don't want water to soak in. Thus the ground needs to have a bit of a slope so the water will run off. That could be a challenge depending upon your yard. I'm waiting to see where the pond will develop after our first rain.

 Rent a tamper to pound that dirt into place.

Cover the ground with weed cover. Pay the money and get the most expensive paper... worth the weight in gold to not rip when you're running over it with a wheelbarrow.

Build a boarder to hold the rock. Then you'll need 3-4 inches of crushed rock over the entire surface tamped down to the feel of cement. I brought in 3.5 yards.

Then you dig the holes for your cups. Place the cups in and cement them. Fill around them with more crushed rock. Missed the photo shoot on that one...

Cut and place your turf down. You will glue the pieces together. Make sure the grain goes the same way. 

Then you cover the turf with sand. The sand is use to hold the turf down. Make sure you get tan color and super fine. 800 lbs on a 300 square foot surface. I used a spreader and evenly spread 50 lbs at a time and brushed into the turf. 16 bags later... I was done... until the hard part.

Cutting the holes was my challenge, and the last thing you do. I used the shop vac to suck the sand out of the turf where the holes would be cut. That made it much easier than cutting through sand and turf.

Then I moved my rocks to make a rock wall, and added a fountain and she was done. 

Do you want to build a course? Call my friend Dan Dowty at Artificial Turf and Putting Greens. (573) 4654 8311 

He will give you the best deal on the turf and his support during the project phenomenal. He even gave me his cell phone if I needed him. It's nice when you get into a project like this to have someone to talk to. When I was going to buy 9 cups, he said it would be too busy. I bought 7 and used 5. I also bought 3 flags and he is sending me two more in exchange for photos.

Reward yourself when you're done!

I bought myself a new patio table for my prize. But seriously... doing this was the prize itself. So yesterday I cleaned my deck, stood on my roof and washed the glass over my deck, and my little yard is done. 

Today I'm off to SLC and then to Paris. No time to play on the course... but I'm sure it will be used while I'm away.

Enjoy the Journey!
XOX Karlene

Author of Flight For Control and Flight For Safety,
If you haven't read them...it's time!

Road or Runway?

“A mile of highway takes you a mile; 

a mile of runway takes you anywhere”

Marc Epner 

Need I say more?
I didn't make that up.... Marc Epner did. 
If you don't know Marc, you should.
Click HERE to read more. 

Do you know where this runway is?

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Al Waterloo

Friday's Fabulous Flyer

Al Waterloo

There is greatness walking the earth and they usually have wings of some sort, with an Avgeek label on their back. They are called pilots, and Al Waterloo is one of those special people. The other half of Simple Flight Radio, I had the great opportunity meeting Al at Aviation Universe during a live broadcast. 

Between he and Marc, they kept us in stitches. Al's humor and passion were awesome, as were his parents sitting in the audience. A family of aviators sharing a love. But the most amazing thing about Al is his attitude and love of aviation, despite where the wind blew him. 

He has learned two things in his career and sharing them with us today. I am ever grateful for yet another life lesson or two. Please meet Al

Al:

"Hey #avgeeks! I’m Al Waterloo and I’m nuts about aviation! For me, like so many others, it all started at Meigs Field. At least in the electronic sense. As many of you may recall, Microsoft Flight Simulator always started at Meig’s and I was addicted to the program. Who knew back then that my first days as a CFI started as I tried to teach baby sitters how to land an airplane on the computer. The reality of is that I was obsessed with airplanes and everything that had to do with them.

All the dreaming paid off in high school, as I was very fortunate to earn my private pilot’s license in Mtn. Home, Arkansas during the summer of 2002. That set me up nicely to be accepted (by a long shot) into the University of Illinois Aviation Program. Good fortune followed me as 2007 rolled around and a hiring boom at the airlines. 

 

 

I jumped in with both feet and rode the wave until 2011. Despite the negativity usually associated with the regionals, I thought it was a great job. It’s a great way to build flight time, enjoy real world flying, and shape yourself as a pilot in command (even though you spend a good deal of time as a first officer). While at the airlines, I learned two things that I live by in my own aviation career. I hope you find them of value and implement them into your aviation lifestyle.

First, aviation always gets what it wants out of you; make sure you get exactly what you want out of it! This was a lesson learned while sharing a crash pad as a young first officer. The aviation industry is ALWAYS changing. For example, the airline I worked for ended up furloughing a handful of junior pilots (I barely made the cut off by a few seniority numbers). There was doom and gloom projected by the airline. 

 

A few mornings later I woke up to the news that my employer had purchased another airline. It made for a big day. In a deja vous moment, the next morning, it happened again. We bought another airline!!! I could not believe my ears! It was really crazy. The point is that there are many peaks and valleys in aviation. I’ve learned that creates opportunity. While some pass it off as luck, I believe luck is at the intersection of hard work and opportunity...

 

 

A pilot that works hard, puts themselves in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. 

 

Said another way, aviation is constantly changing and impacting those that call it home. It is therefore appropriate for pilots to make changes throughout their career. You’ll find that you are handsomely rewarded with a great aviation career, which starts with a smile on your face that comes from a fun job that your love. That leads to the second thing I learned while at the airlines. 

 

Never apologize for a decision you make in aviation. 

 

 

You are pilot in command. You are in control, confident, and accountable for your decisions. Carry that mentality with you, whether you are on the ground, in the air, or on an aviation sabbatical.


An example of how I get exactly what I want out of aviation is by having a great time hosting Simple Flight Radio (www.simpleflight.net). I’ve learned the industry is not just about pilots flying airplanes. There are so many outstanding people doing so many amazing things, it’s opened my eyes to the incredible potential of the industry. 

 

 

The people we have as guests on our show and our listeners are really my aviation heroes. It’s amazing to hear how each is adding value to aviation and making it better every day. 

 

They are celebrities that make me proud to be a part of the industry. My two years as co-host of the show has provided another aviation learning moment. Aviation is in great hands and it has such an awesome future! I hope you can participate and enjoy some of the fun we have on the radio show at www.simpleflight.net/radio.html)." Al Waterloo.

Al, Thank you for sharing your amazing story and I'm excited to see what the future will bring on this incredible journey called life. With a great attitude and passion, there is nothing you cannot do.

XO Karlene

Is Cirrus the Future?

Last month I accepted the opportunity to attend an event at Seattle's museum of flight with the CEO of Cirrus. 

From a business perspective this was a fascinating story of two brothers fresh out of college that decided to build a better plane. CEO Dale Klapmeier took us from their first headquarters to the their current project, the single engine jet. But while I listened, I gained some great insight and realized that the Cirrus is not the plane for me.

Let's back up a bit. I wanted a Cirrus because I wasn't flying my A330 enough and thought what better way than to fly a glass plane with a stick. When I looked at the price I had a bit of sticker shock with a $700,000 price tag. However, the dream did not diminish. Until I experienced an epiphany.

This plane was designed for passengers, and not for pilots. Dale said his wife was concerned because she didn't know where she was going, so they installed instruments with a map. A time to destination message and how many hours of fuel on board. Great idea. Then also they installed a rocket with a parachute. The numbers were 54 shoot deployments and 94 lives saved, to date. But the reason the Cirrus has a parachute is that it's not fully spin certified.

While we don't train spins today, I still believe that a plane should have performance to get out of one. And then there was the pride and joy button. The blue button that says: LVL. They call this the timeout switch and recommend before you deploy the parachute, press the button, give the plane to the autopilot and see it the automation can regain control (because the pilot lost it).

Well... here's the deal. I think that we need to teach pilots to fly their planes, not have a timeout bailout option. I have to ask why are pilots losing control of their plane creating a need to bail? Well... I didn't ask because I did not want to turn the questions into a challenging debate. But when I spoke to Dale afterward, he was a bit touchy about the automation issue. "Why would anyone want to fly a plane without out it?"

And then there was their jet, the Vision, that I fell in love with for a price of $2 million. Unfortunately that V-tail has a wobble. But... if you turn on the autopilot there is a dampener to minimize it. Yet another plane you must fly with the automation. 

A Chinese company purchased Cirrus two years ago and they are looking forward to sales oversea that will justify building a factory in China. For now, Cirrus owned by China is built in Duluth.

During the discussion someone asked how we were going to increase the number of pilots. Dale responded without answering the question, because I don't think a $700,000 automated plane is something that will inspire a passion for aviation. For a beginning trainer, this is not it. One day I may own a Cirrus, but it will not be to fly and increase my skills. It will be for a mission of destination. 

With all this said, Cirrus has a market. 

This is the plane that every doctor, attorney, or CEO who have a pilots license should own, with a purpose to get from point A to B, and do not spend a lot of time focusing on flying as they are focusing on the rest of their life. The automation creates great situational awareness, and if you get in trouble, you fire your rocket and deploy the chute.

The inspiration, dedication and commitment the two young men that set out to create a plane is amazing. They proved that anything is possible. They built it, held together when times were tough and the sold the company. What greater success is that? The presentation was fascinating and I'm very glad I attended. 

Is a Cirrus the plane for you?

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

PEDs on the Flight Deck

Prohibited! 

The FAA has officially prohibited Personal Electronic Devices in the flight deck. Undoubtedly because of the overfly of Minneapolis a few years back. I'm wondering if this is another reaction that was not fully thought through.

Enroute Laptop usage improves safety

I agree that in the domestic operation arena, where radio contact is ongoing and the flight is busy,  that this is a great rule. But on the international flights, where we fly hours without speaking to anyone compliments of CPDLC, this rule is unnecessary. 

The greatest challenge on an international flight, crossing the ocean on the backside of the clock is fatigue. How do we battle a problem that is here to stay? We mitigate the possibility of falling asleep while we fly. Droning on into the night with idle minds has the effect we want to avoid.

Numerous studies have shown that one of the tips to help fall to sleep is to NOT watch television or work on your computer at a minimum of an hour before bedtime. The light suppresses melatonin production and stimulates brain activity. I'm not sure about you, but I want my pilots alert with stimulated brains. Give them something to do to keep them awake.

What do you think? 

Personal Electronic Devices or Not?

On a side note: Without videos and photos from our jobs, what will we have to inspire the future generation of pilots?

Life is beautiful. We must document it. 

Enjoy the journey and stay awake for it!

XO Karlene

Below is a cut and paste of the fine print from the FAA

Information for Operators
U.S. Department InFO 14006
of Transportation DATE: 5/20/14
 

Federal Aviation
Administration Flight Standards Service

Subject: Prohibition on Personal Use of Electronic Devices on the Flight Deck

Purpose: This InFO provides information to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 air carriers regarding the prohibition on personal use of electronic devices on the flight deck.

Background: Part 121 § 121.542 (d) (effective 4/14/14) prohibits flightcrew members from using a personal wireless communications device or laptop computer for personal use while at their duty station on the flight deck while the aircraft is being operated, unless it is in accordance with FAA approved operational procedures. This prohibition is intended to ensure that non-essential activities do not affect flight deck task management or cause a loss of situational awareness during aircraft operation.

Discussion: Operators should be aware of the following:

• This prohibition includes any personal use by flightcrew members of these devices, including, but not limited to, talking, texting, bidding for schedules, reading or accessing the Internet. In other words, all personal use is prohibited, whether or not the device is in “airplane mode”.

• “FAA approved operational procedures” (e.g., use of electronic flight bags, digitized charts or manuals) are those procedures that have been developed by the air carrier and have been approved/accepted, as appropriate, by the FAA.

• This prohibition does not apply to a person occupying a flight deck jumpseat.

• The prohibition applies regardless of any “ownership” test. The rule does not differentiate between devices owned by the air carrier or the flightcrew member. Rather, the rule requires a “use” test. These devices (regardless of ownership) may not be used for personal use during aircraft operation but may be used only in accordance with FAA approved operational procedures, as defined above.

Recommended Actions: This prohibition on personal use of electronic devices on the flight deck in the final rule is applicable only to operations under part 121. However, Directors of Safety and training managers for all operators under parts 135 and 125, as well as part 91K, are encouraged to include operating procedures in their manuals and crewmember training programs prohibiting flightcrew members from using such devices for personal use during aircraft operation..

Contact: Questions or comments regarding this InFO should be directed to Nancy Claussen, Policy Integration Branch, AFS-270 at (202) 267-8166 or nancy.l.claussen@faa.gov

Supersonic Civilian Planes?

Blogging In Formation is at it again! But we have redesigned our format. 

Each month one pilot will pick a topic of their choice, and we will discuss the issue on their site. One month, eight pilots, and we all have an opinion.

Today, join me at: The House of Rapp where Ron has written an incredible post on supersonic planes in the corporate world. Hear what the team has to say. We've got quite the discussion going, and I hope you'll join in!
But before you go...

What do you think?

Safety... Expense... Feasibility....

If they build it, will they buy it?

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene  

Win A NWA B747-400 Model

 

17 inches wing to wing. 19 inches long. 9 inches tall. 

She is heavy! (I think made out of wood)

And she can be yours! 

Do you want to know how? 

On the black bar above there is a page with details. Or... you can click HERE.

The 747-400 is my all time favorite plane. 

What's yours?

Enjoy the Journey

XO Karlene