August 31, 2020 : Sporty's Academy

Biweekly Bulletin – August 31, 2020

MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2020 – WHAT PILOTS NEED TO KNOW

Exclusive Product PIREP from Sporty’s Pilot Shop

You’ve probably heard the buzz about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, the first clean sheet simulator in over a decade. The graphics look amazing and gamers all over the world are excited to start flying missions. But what about pilots? Will it be valuable for training or proficiency flights? And how do you get started? At Sporty’s, we believe this new program will be more useful as a training aid than most perceive. Here’s what you should know.

FRESH PAINT FOR CLERMONT COUNTY AIRPORT

Runway and taxiway painting completed ahead of schedule

You may have already noticed the fresh coat of paint at Clermont County Airport. Runway 4/22, centerline, thresholds and runway numbers were all freshened along with taxiway centerlines and hold short markings.

While the project required closure of the aiport for one day, it was completed ahead of schedule. Thank you for your understanding and enjoy!

NEW DOPPLER RADAR INSTALLED AT CLERMONT COUNTY AIRPORT

Installation to include weather camera

WCPO Channel 9 is making a major investment in its Doppler weather radar installation at Clermont County Airport. Since 2002, the radar tower has been a part of the airport landscape. Originally drawn to the airport location due to its elevation and clear views, WCPO Channel 9 is upgrading to the latest Doppler technology so that it can continue bringing fast, accurate weather information to the Cincinnati region for years to come.

The multiday installation included replacement of the entire radome. The new installation will also feature a camera so that pilots can keep an eye on current conditions (in addition to the existing airport webcams). It’s likely you’ll see Clermont County Airport featured on future Channel 9 broadcasts.

RUSTY PILOT PART II – ACCUMULATING RUST

From Sporty’s Student Pilot News

by Chris McGonegle

Editor’s Note: Welcome to part two of a four-part series on Chris McGonegle’s experience as a rusty pilot – a relatable category for many. Chris is an Instrument-rated Commercial pilot and product manager with Sporty’s Pilot Shop. Read part one here.

Accumulating Rust

After I earned my Commercial Pilot certificate on June 24th of 2015, I took what some would call a hiatus. Others may classify it as hibernation. I’ll regrettably define my lapse in flying as an ill-advised abandonment from sky commuting. I felt proud of what I had accomplished, while also feeling exhausted at its expense. It took me 1,721 days to earn my Commercial certificate after that first lesson. Contributing factors were responsibilities at home and work, but regardless, my training took longer than it should have.

FAA MEDICALS AND BASIC MED AT SPORTY’S

Scheduling now for fall/winter 2020

Regulatory update: the FAA is allowing pilots to continue to fly if their medical certificate expires between March 31 and June 30 to reduce the burden on the country’s healthcare system and limit the potential spread of the virus.

FAA Aviation Medical Examiner, Dr. John Held, offers aviation medical exams and basic med evaluations at Sporty’s Clermont County Airport on select Saturdays. The cost of the exam is $120. An EKG (if required) is subject to an additional $35 fee.

DATE	TIME
Saturday, September 19	9am – 1pm
Saturday, October 3	9am – 1pm
Saturday, November 7	9am – 1pm
Saturday, December 5	9am – 1pm

To schedule, please call Sporty’s at 513.735.9100 ext. 0.

For pilots pursuing Basic Med, the required online training is available through two approved sources – AOPA and Mayo Clinic.

VIDEO TIP: TECHNIQUES FOR BETTER TAKEOFFS

The takeoff is one of the exhilarating parts of flying, but requires some basic knowledge of aircraft control and the airport environment. Here we’ll look at a series of tips to help ensure each of your takeoffs are executed both smoothly and safely.