February 17, 2020 : Sporty's Academy

Biweekly Bulletin – February 17, 2020

SPORTY’S RELEASES NEW ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMS

Garmin GTN Essentials and Intro to Aerobatics available now

Sporty’s recently released Garmin GTN Essentials and Intro to Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff available in the Sporty’s online course portal and Sporty’s Pilot Training app.

Garmin GTN Essentials

GTN Essentials provides comprehensive training for GTN 650, GTN 750 and GTN Xi series touchscreen navigators. The GTN Essentials eLearning course brings the Pilot’s Guide to life by incorporating a combination of scenario-based training videos, animations, tips and tricks. The course takes you logically through the features of the GTN system and provides demonstrations of some commonly-used techniques. Typical high-altitude and medium altitude scenarios are used to demonstrate how to successfully use the GTN system in flight.

The GTN Essentials eLearning course [#E181A] is available for $125.00 in Sporty’s online course portal and Pilot Training app. For more information or to purchase a course please visit sportys.com/pilottraining.

Intro to Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff

Sporty’s also partnered with airshow legend Patty Wagstaff to produce an all-new course that focuses on the art and sport of high-performance flying. Perfect for any pilot who has ever wondered what it’s like to fly a loop or considered taking an upset recovery course, Intro to Aerobatics with Patty Wagstaff puts viewers in the cockpit for a thrilling look at flight beyond straight and level.

More than just a list of maneuvers, this course explores the history of aerobatics, what the industry looks like today, differences between aerobatic airplanes, and tips for getting started. Then Patty shows off all the maneuvers, from basics like loops and spins to advanced maneuvers like hammerheads and lomcevaks. Stunning HD video shows every maneuver in Patty’s Extra 300, and is supplemented by sophisticated animations. Special 360-degree video segments allow pilots to pan around during flight as if they were sitting in the cockpit.

Intro to Aerobatics course [#E312A] is available for $49.99. For more information or to purchase, visit sportys.com/aerobatics.

ORBAA ANNOUNCES 2020 SCHOLARSHIPS

ORBAA to award two, $2,500 awards

The Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association (ORBAA) will award two scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each to students working toward a career in business aviation. The scholarship application window is open through March 23, 2020. The scholarship requirements and application requirements include:

Current Resume
Enrollment in an Ohio-based collegiate aviation program
Copy of college transcript showing coursework consistent with an aviation career goal (unofficial transcript acceptable)
Private Pilot Certification
Recommendation letter from faculty member of aviation program at applicant’s school
One-page typed essay explaining why aviation is an important career path

Finalists will be selected for personal interviews with a panel of business aviation professionals in the spring at a corporate flight department located in Columbus.

Download the 2020 ORBAA Scholarship Application.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: RICHARD COLLINS WRITING PRIZE FOR YOUNG PILOTS

$2,500 award for winning submission – deadline March 3

The Richard Collins family has once again partnered with Sporty’s to offer The Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. To qualify, the writer must be a pilot (including student pilot) who is 24 years of age or younger. The article must be original, not previously published, and no longer than 1,500 words. The topic should be an event that changed or shaped the author’s flying.

The winning article will be published in Air Facts, the publication Richard’s father, Leighton, founded in 1938 and which was relaunched eight years ago by Sporty’s as an online magazine. The articles will be judged by a panel of three: Richard Collins, Jr., J. Mac McClellan, and Amy Laboda.

The winning article will be published in Air Facts, while its writer will receive a check for $2,500. The prize will be announced during the 2020 Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, FL.

Articles may be submitted now through March 3, 2020, and sent in as a Word document to [email protected]. In addition, young pilots are required to submit a 100-word bio to accompany their articles.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO EARN A LICENSE?

From Sporty’s Student Pilot News

By Paul Jurgens

A question that often arises here at the flight school is, “How long will it take me to earn my pilot’s certificate?” Our answer to this question is a less than definitive, “It depends.”

Factors in the Timeline

The length of time it takes to earn a pilot’s certificate varies widely (anywhere from a few weeks to a year). There are a number of factors that play into this timeline but one of the biggest is how spread out a student’s training schedule is. Student, instructor, and airplane availability can all contribute to how spread out the training is. Weather and finances can also contribute to spreading.

While most people can learn to fly, there are some that take to it more naturally than others. This can also be a contributing factor on the timeline. Some of these factors are outside of our control. Others can be controlled with proper planning, preparation, and having a source for the finances (savings, loans, scholarships, benefactors, etc).

Milestones

A major milestone in your training is your first solo. This is when you fly the airplane without your instructor. Most students reach this point after…

FAA MEDICALS AND BASIC MED AT SPORTY’S

Scheduling now for spring and summer 2020

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 $100 payable by cash or check (no credit cards accepted). An EKG (if required) is subject to an additional $35 fee.

DATE	TIME
Saturday, March 14	9am – 1pm
Saturday, April 4	9am – 1pm
Saturday, May 16	9am – 1pm
Saturday, June 6	9am – 1pm
Saturday, July 11	9am – 1pm
Saturday, August 1	9am – 1pm
Saturday, August 29	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.

CERTIFICATES, RATINGS AND SOLOS

Congratulations on recent achievements at Sporty’s Academy

WATCH THE VIDEO FROM WILLIAM’S FIRST SOLO FLIGHT.

WATCH THE VIDEO FROM ABIGAIL’S FIRST SOLO FLIGHT.

WATCH THE VIDEO FROM PAUL’S FIRST SOLO FLIGHT.

VIDEO TIP: INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO IMC

Taking the time to thoroughly brief the weather before every flight will significantly decrease the odds that you’ll inadvertently fly into IFR conditions as a VFR pilot. This week’s tip takes a look at the actions to take though if you do stumble into the clouds or an area of reduced visibility, to help you safely return to VFR conditions.