Navy Advanced Jet Training

In order to become a fixed-wing, carrier-based Naval Aviator, the Student Naval Aviator (SNA) must go through several years of training.  After finishing Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) in Pensacola Florida and Navy primary flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor or T-6 Texan II, students who select “Tailhook” move on to Advanced Jet training in Meridian, Mississippi or Kingsville, Texas.

After finishing primary flight training in Corpus Christi, TX, I moved to Meridian to fly the T-45C Goshawk at VT-9.  The advanced jet training squadrons are responsible for training both US Navy and Marine Corps carrier pilots, as well as pilots from other nations such as France, England, Spain, Italy, India, and other countries.  The entire strike syllabus takes a little over a year to complete, although some students leave halfway through to train to fly the E-2C Hawkeye and C-2 carrier delivery plane, both of which also “trap” onboard the carrier.

The Goshawk is a carrier-modified version of the British BAe Hawk jet trainer, with a tailhook, beefier landing gear, speed brakes, and other modifications for our Navy’s training requirements.  The syllabus is divided into two phases.  The first phase consists of instrument flying (and cross country flights!), familiarization flights, formation flights, night fams, and field carrier landing practice.  Phase Two is all of the fun stuff: low level navigation (400 mph at 500 feet), weapons (dropping 8 practice bombs at a target), tactical formation and air combat maneuvering (dogfighting), night formation flights, and last but not least, “the boat.”

At the end of August, I will be flying from the coast of Jacksonville, FL to land on the USS George HW Bush (CVN-77), the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.  The first time students go out to the carrier, they fly there solo with an instructor lead.   During two or three days of carrier qualifications, the student will make ten arrested landings and catapult shots on the ship.  Throughout our training, we complete hundreds of practice field carrier landings before we go to the boat so students are ready when the time comes.  However, this is one of the most thrilling and fun parts of Naval Aviation and it cannot be replicated in any other way.

After finishing training over the next two months, I hope to earn my wings of gold and return to my hometown of Virginia Beach, VA to train at NAS Oceana.  VFA-106 is the East Coast fleet replacement squadron (FRS) for the F/A-18 Legacy and Super Hornet.  After the FRS, I’d like to join a fleet squadron in Japan or in Virginia Beach and will most likely deploy soon thereafter.

FLY NAVY!

LTJG Mike Scott, USN

A Pilot Pilgrimage

Aside from usually great flying weather, July has come to mean one
thing to most every pilot: Oshkosh.  This annual event that started as
a get-together for pilots interested in building their own private
aircraft has transformed into THE aviation event of the year for
anyone that has (or dreams of having) their own wings.  Pilots from
across the country, and many from around the world, are descending on
Oshkosh, Wisconsin this week to share their love of aviation.  I’ve
known many pilots that plan their entire year to make sure they can
make it to at least some portion of this week-long event, with most
planning to fly themselves to Wisconsin.

While the focus of Oshkosh is and will always be private aviation, the
event has also attracted the business jet and commercial aircraft
builders, making it truly a one-stop shop for every aspect of
piloting.  The massive display grounds and aircraft parking areas at
the airport make it quite easy to forget that there are daily air show
displays going on overhead and I can guarantee that one week is
certainly not enough time to take in all that Oshkosh has to offer.

Moreover, Oshkosh and its sponsor (the Experimental Aircraft
Association) are both strong reminders that the joys of flying do not
stop on the runway, but are carried forward throughout our lives via
the camaraderie that aviators share with each other and their
communities.  Nonprofit associations like the LeRoy W Homer Jr.
Foundation, AOPA and EAA not only tie aviators together, but serve as
a conduit between aviation and our communities.  This philanthropic
and communal nature that bonds most pilots together has kept the
aviation community thriving throughout the first century of human
flight and will continue to provide its heartbeat in the future.

Whether or not you ever dream of sitting in the cockpit, I would
encourage everyone who reads this blog to plan at least one pilgrimage
to Oshkosh in your lifetime.  I’m willing to bet that your first trip
will not be your last.

Matt Baumgarth

Foundation vs Corporate America

The 2010 scholarship recipient has just been selected, making this recipient the 12th person to receive a scholarship.  There were many great applicants and as in previous years, it was hard to pick just one.  We had hoped to be able to award more than one scholarship this year and although our individual donors continue to support The Foundation, the cost of flight training and fuel just keeps rising.   We have approached corporations who grant funds to non profit organizations but we so far our grant requests have been declined.

Most frustrating to me is the aerospace industry.    For example, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are both located in New Jersey, and corporations usually want to support organizations where they are located. Many corporations also allocate funds to programs which fund national programs which focus on education.  Yet neither of these billion dollar companies are interested in supporting The Foundation.  Both of these companies design and build aircraft; LeRoy flew aircraft built by both companies.  Northrop Grumman is another American aerospace and defense technology company with a net worth of over 33 billion dollars.   We have approached Northrop Grumman for funding.  Instead they have chosen to name an aircraft carrier, “the USS Somerset” naming an aircraft carrier to memorialize the flight crew and passengers of Flight #93.  In the words of Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, “The courage and heroism of the people aboard the flight will never be forgotten.  Which is great of course, but I have become cynical in that many of the gestures over the years seem to be good PR for these companies.

All told, if these three companies alone, with total revenue of over 138 billion dollars had each donated $5000.00 to our organization, an organization recognized by the IRS as a non profit organization, they would have received tax benefits, and we would have been able to award another scholarship.

So although I get frustrated, I try to focus on the positive.  We have done more in 8 years with less money than many other organizations.  (Where did that $4 million dollars from the Todd Beamer Foundation end up anyway?)  I believe in what we do, and will continue to do it as long as I can.

Melodie Homer

President

My Experience with Airline Entertainment

What is your favorite past-time while flying?  I really enjoy the entertainment centers on the transcontinental flights.  Recently I had the opportunity to watch a movie that I would not normally go to the movies to see – cartoon feature.  As an adult without children it is difficult to find friends that are interested in seeing the latest cartoonJ.  I also enjoyed learning a new language and developing my own play list from albums and artists ranging from Beethoven to Tanya Tucker.

The movie selections are great.  The personal selection and screen options allow you to view the available selections and select a movie.  If you happen to dose off you simply restart or pause the movie.  I have watched all of the latest cartoon classics while flying.  On a good flight there is no need to carry your own music selections unless you have some must have oldies.  My flight from Newark to Singapore provided a listing of albums according to type (classic, country rhythm and blues, etc) according to artist.  After you select the type and artist you can listen to the entire album, a selection or a sample.  If you like a selection you simply add it to your play list.  The experience gave me the opportunity to discover artists that I would not normally listen to.  After making the selections, I had the option of simply listening to the music in sequence or shuffling the music.  I really enjoyed sleeping to the sound of music.

I also enjoyed activities designed to stimulate the brain.  Even though I have visited Korea on several occasions, I do not speak Korean.   One of the flight options allowed the opportunity to learn the language of your choice.  I chose Korean.  The initial lesson taught me how to count from 1-20.  The test to measure comprehension was actually a computer game.  I did not make it beyond level 1 but I can count from 1-20 in Korean.  What are some of your favorite past-times while flying?

Teresa Harman

Board Member

Enough With The Nickel and Dimeing, Already!

I read an article that stated effective August 1, 2010, a US airline plans to charge for “carry-on luggage”!  Their rationale is that the charge will “discourage customers from bringing on carry-on luggage, improve safety and speed up the boarding and deplaning process”.  The airline stated that in addition to the surcharge, they plan to lower airfares. The surcharge would not apply to items that fit under the seat in front of you.  The article also stated that the other domestic carriers are taking a “wait & see” stance to measure customer reaction.  If they find that there is no “strong customer backlash” they may follow suit.  New York’s Senator Chuck Schumer thinks this is absurd and plans to introduce legislation to fight the surcharge!

Don’t get me wrong, I am truly in favor of improving safety and “speeding up the boarding and deplaning” process but why is it necessary to put a “charge” on something that I expect the airline to consider in their “operational efficiency stats”!

I think the airlines that are considering this move should sit in “our seats” to appreciate our priorities!  As for “improving safety,” I would prefer they concentrate on checking their equipment and where they rate in terms of on time performance.  In addition to trying to improve their revenue, they should also consider what impact increases will have on other travel services i.e. hotels, car rentals, tourism!”

I recently spent several days checking web notices about “airfare sales”.  When I found a price that I thought was a “bargain”, it did not include the price of “a seat”!  Now I ask you, short of finding another airline, is there anyway I can take advantage of this sale without a seat?  As a consumer, I would appreciate it if the airlines would stop trying to find ways to squeeze more money out of us.  To appear credible, I would advise them to include everything they can possibly think of in the price of their ticket and leave the demand to the market.  The law of “supply and demand” will determine who stays in the air and who gets grounded!

Cheryl Homer-Wilson

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