Com Pilots

MiG-21 aircraft, once known as ‘flying coffins’, are now not only among the safest flying machines but are more lethal for the enemy.

The number of mid-air crashes is now almost zero since these have been upgraded. And induction of a training schedule for pilots has brought down human error while maneuvering.

This year, 2 combat aircraft have crashed, but none of them is MiG-21 Bison, the upgraded version of the old MiG-21. IAF officers said “The MiGs are safer than ever before. Only 4 MiG-21 Bison aircraft have crashed since their induction in 2002. IAF plans to fly the Bisons – which it describes as an almost brand new fighter, with the latest avionics, improved gearboxes, and other advanced systems – till 2017.”

The latest technology in aviation registers 0.5 accidents every 10,000 hours of flying and the old technology touches 1.75 crashes in a similar number of flying hours.

MiG-21 Type 75, MiG-21 Type 93, and MiG-21 Bis have been upgraded to MiG-21 Bison with altogether new avionics and onboard electronic systems apart from night-vision devices and mid-air refueling capabilities, making it more competitive than American F-16 Fighting Falcons, sources in Western Air Command added.

The introduction of a new training schedule for pilots to improve man-machine relationships has helped bring down human errors.

“The main reasons for aircraft accidents are human error and technical defect. A continuous and multi-faceted effort is always underway in the IAF to enhance and upgrade flight safety. Measures to enhance the quality of training to improve the skill levels, ability to exercise sound judgment, and situational awareness of pilots are being pursued,” sources said.

One fine hot summer afternoon there was a Cessna 150 flying in the pattern at a quiet country airfield. The Instructor was getting quite bothered with the student’s inability to maintain altitude in the thermals and was getting impatient at sometimes having to take over the controls. Just then he saw a twin engine Cessna 402 5,000 ft. above him and thought, “Another 1,000 hrs of this and I qualify for that twin charter job! Aaahh.. to be a real pilot going somewhere!”

The 402 was already late and the boss told him this charter was for one of the Company’s premier clients. He’d already set MCT and the cylinders didn’t like it in the heat of this summer’s day. He was at 6,000 ft. and the winds were now a 20kt headwind. Today was the 6th day straight and he was pretty dang tired of fighting these engines. Maybe if he got 10,000 ft. out of them the wind might die off… geez those cylinder temps! He looked out momentarily and saw a B737 leaving a contrail at 33,000 ft. in the serene blue sky. “Oh man,” he thought, “My interview is next month. I hope I just don’t blow it! Outta G/A, nice jet job, above the weather… no snotty passengers to wait for …”

The 737 bucked and weaved in the heavy CAT at FL330 and ATC advised that lower levels were not available due to traffic. The Captain, who was only recently advised that his destination was below RVR minimums, had slowed to LRC to try and hold off a possible in-flight diversion, and arrange an ETA that would helpfully ensure the fog had lifted to CAT II minima. The Company negotiations broke down yesterday and looked as if everyone was going to take a dang pay cut. The F/O’s will be particularly hard hit as their pay wasn’t anything to speak of anyway. Finally deciding on a speed compromise between LRC and turbulence penetration, the Captain looked up and saw Concorde at Mach 2+. Tapping his F/O’s shoulder as the 737 took another bashing, he said “Now THAT’S what we should be on… huge pay .. super fast… not too many routes…not too many legs… above the CAT… yep! What a life…!”

FL590 was not what he wanted anyway and he considered FL570. Already the TAT was creeping up again and either they would have to descend or slow down. That dang rear fuel transfer pump was becoming unreliable and the F/E had said moments ago that the radiation meter was not reading numbers that he’d like to see. Concorde descended to FL570 but the radiation was still quite high even though the Notam indicated hunky dory below FL610. Fuel flow was up and the transfer pump was intermittent. Evening turned into night as they passed over the Atlantic. Looking up, the F/O could see a tiny white dot moving against the backdrop of a myriad of stars. “Hey Captain” he called as he pointed. “Must be the Shuttle. “The Captain looked for a moment and agreed. Quietly he thought how a Shuttle mission, while complicated, must be the-be-all-and-end-all in aviation. Above the crap, no radiation problems, no dang fuel transfer problems…aaah. Must be a great way to earn a buck.”

Discovery was into its 27th orbit and perigee was 200ft out from nominated rendezvous altitude with the commsat. The robot arm was virtually U/S and a walk may become necessary. The 200ft predicted error would necessitate a corrective burn and Discovery needed that fuel if a walk was to be required. Houston continually asked what the Commander wanted to do but the advice they proffered wasn’t much help. The Commander had already been 12 hours on station sorting out the problem and just wanted 10 minutes to himself to take a leak. Just then a mission specialist, who had tilted the telescope down to the surface for a minute or two, called the Commander to the scope. “Have a look at this Sir, isn’t this the kinda flying you said you wanted to do after you finish up with NASA?” The Commander peered through the telescope and cried Ooooohhhhh yeah! Now THAT’S flying! Man, that’s what its all about! Geez I’d give my left arm just to be doing THAT down there!”

What the Discovery Commander was looking at was a Cessna 150 in the pattern at a quiet country airfield on a nice bright sunny afternoon.

A Palm Beach luxury club is suing the troubled Jet 1 Charter Inc., alleging the Naples charter company fraudulently leased it a plane that was repeatedly grounded due to problems.

But Jet 1 owner Scott Phillips branded the matter a contractual dispute, saying he grounded the plane because Legacy Club didn’t pay its bills. He called the lawsuit’s allegations false and said Legacy Club’s founders, who both have past legal problems, concocted the allegations to avoid paying leasing costs.

“The guy is broke and can’t pay his bills,” Phillips said of Thanos Papalexis. “He was trying to use this airplane as part of his smoke and mirrors routine to lure investors. … This lawsuit was filed to try to stop me from filing a lawsuit against them. This guy’s background is pretty bad. I’m not the only one going after him.”

The lawsuit, filed March 30 in Collier Circuit Court, alleges fraudulent misrepresentation in the leasing and sale of the plane and seeks damages, including return of the club’s $100,000 deposit; compensation for the cost of flights to and from New York; and reimbursement for the loss of business opportunities, frequent delays due to the plane’s poor condition, and overhead expenses due to delays.

Grand Legacy is a private residence club that requires members to pay a more than $200,000 fee and nearly $1,000 monthly to use a mansion there and another on Legacy Cay, a private island in the Bahamas. Members get full access to a “world-class spa,” pools, beaches and dining.

Its Web site says membership provide owners with the “opportunity to live life on a grand scale, reminiscent of the golden days of opulence.” But records show both its owners —Papalexis and Daniel Gorman — have had past legal problems involving fraud and that seven years ago, Gorman, who was hired to operate a national citrus program, pleaded guilty to defrauding the Florida Citrus Commission out of $85,000.

The lawsuit is the latest problem to hit Jet 1. In March 2006, a federal court judge approved an agreement that put Jet 1 Center in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, prompting a trustee to liquidate its assets. The agreement also called for the Naples Airport Authority to take over Jet 1 Center at the Naples Municipal Airport property, so Phillips moved his operations nearby and set up Jet 1 Charters.

Description

The A-22 ‘Foxbat’ is available as a Ready-To-Fly factory built aircraft or as an advanced kit. Building time for the kit is 300 to 500hrs. Designed by former Antonov design engineer, Yuri Yakovlev , the A-22 is one of a line of many aircraft produced by Aeroprakt in the Ukraine. Construction is aluminium with some parts of the wing and control surfaces covered with Ceconite.

The A-22 is powered by the reliable Rotax 912 or 912S engine, and the 3-blade composite ground adjustable propellor from KievProp is very quiet. A cabin width of 120cm (128cm at the elbows) ensures ample room for pilot and passenger. As a comparison, the cabin with of a Cessna 172 is 100cm and a Jabiru SP is 97cm (107cm at the elbows).

Transparent doors with convex sides allow for excellent downward visibility. The instrument panel has room for a generous instrument layout. Dual controls are standard with options of either conventional control yokes or a centre stick. A centre stick with a “Y” grip is also available. Basic VFR flight and engine instruments are included with the ready-to-fly aircraft. A stall speed of 50kph (30mph) using the full span flapperons puts the A-22 safely into the microlight category. The all round visibility from the A-22 is spectacular. Rick Piper.

I am trying to make connections with pilots in the area that might want to participate in the pilot program through Civil Air Patrol – USAF Auxiliary (CAP – USAF). In addition to what I have noted below, they can become qualified to do orientation flights for our cadets 12-21 years old.

Serve Your Community by Doing What You Love CAP pilots fly reconnaissance missions for homeland security, search and rescue and disaster relief, and even counterdrug reconnaissance at the request of government or law enforcement agencies. They transport medical personnel and supplies, blood and live tissue. In times of disaster, they assess damage and transport emergency personnel from site to site.

The Civil Air Patrol’s aircraft are hangared at strategic locations throughout the nation to be readily available when missions arise. CAP members maintain these aircraft at the highest levels of safety and efficiency and have access to specialists at CAP National Headquarters for maintenance, safety and training questions.

You’ll have to satisfactorily complete a flight check and pass a written exam. You’ll also need to complete aircraft questionnaires for each plane you’re qualified to fly. As a CAP pilot, you perform some of the organization’s most important work. CAP is also a great place for you to meet and work with people who share your interest in flying and want to use their skills in a meaningful way.

If anyone is interested they can contact me directly or for more information visit www.CAP.gov.