Congratulations to Tyler Susong who completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with Eagle Flyers on May 1, 2013 at Indianapolis Executive Airport!!

Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including two brand new Cessna 162 Skycatchers, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22 for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.  

Visit our website at: http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/Eagle-Flyers/

Congratulations to Sunny Jani who passed his Private Pilot Checkride in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with Eagle Flyers on April 26, 2013 at Indianapolis Executive Airport!!  Below are some pictures of his outstanding achievement, way to go Sunny!

Sunny with examiner, Harold Sommer

 Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including two brand new Cessna 162 Skycatchers, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22 for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.  

Learn more at http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/eagle-flyers.

Today, Perry Worth Elementary Kindergarten classes enjoyed a fun filled, educational day at the airprot!  Carl Winkler, did a fabulous job teaching them all about the different types of airplanes.  He showed them all the moving parts of a Piper and explained to them why they were very important in the flight of the aircraft.  The kids were so very well behaved and had a great interest in learning about aviation and flying airplanes!  Maybe this trip will inspire some of these kids to one day become a pilot!!  Aviation education at a young age is important to continue the growth of general aviation, we always are willing to host field trips for our local schools and organizations.  Thanks again, Carl for a wonderful event!

Congratulations to Glenn Kirkpatrick who completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with Eagle Flyers on April 15, 2013 at Indianapolis Executive Airport!!

Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including two brand new Cessna 162 Skycatchers, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22 for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.  

Learn more at http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/eagle-flyers.

Congratulations to Ettore Rodaro who completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with Eagle Flyers on March 29, 2013 at Indianapolis Executive Airport!!

Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including two brand new Cessna 162 Skycatchers, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22 for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.  

Learn more at http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/eagle-flyers.

Congratulations to Justin Hollingsworth who completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with Eagle Flyers on March 28, 2013 at Indianapolis Executive Airport!

Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including two brand new Cessna 162 Skycatchers, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22 for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.  

Learn more at http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/eagle-flyers.

Congratulations to Elliott McGregory who completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with Eagle Flyers on March 22, 2013 at Indianapolis Executive Airport.  Elliott and his son, Mike (who soloed in February), are both students of Master CFI Jack Vandeventer. 

Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including two brand new Cessna 162 Skycatchers, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22 for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.  

Learn more at http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/eagle-flyers.

Congratulations to Mike McGregory who completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 162 Skycatcher with Eagle Flyers on February 24, 2013 at Indianapolis Executive Airport.

Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including a brand new Cessna 162 Skycatcher, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22, and a Beechcraft Bonanza for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.  

Learn more at http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/eagle-flyers.

Did you know that our Redbird Full Motion Simulator can be used for Instrument Proficiency and Currency??  Well it can!  J.C. Buehler, a FAA Examiner explains how this can be done:

The Redbird can be used it two ways:

1) to maintain instrument proficiency; and,

2) for an Instrument Proficiency Check, there are simple answers to both issues

In short:

1. The Redbird can be used to maintain instrument proficiency under FAR 61.57.

2. The Redbird can be used for PART of the Instrument Proficiency Check. The AATD Redbird does NOT qualify for the Circle to Land requirement, nor the Instrument Practical Test Standard (PTS) requirement for a landing out of an approach. [The Redbird is not presently authorized for any landing proficiency or currency requirements.] 

The IPC is, of course, conducted in accordance with the Instrument PTS. Only one (1) landing is required during an Instrument Practical Test and or during an PIC conducted by a CFI-I, Examiner or FAA Inspector. A circle-to-land approach is also required. Therefore, according to the AC guidance—and input from the Indy FSDO—the IPC must include at least one circling approach and a landing from an approach. Everything else required in the practical test/IPC- unusual attitude recovery, approaches, holding and nav tracking procedures-can be done in the Redbird. [This does not mean that I can administer part of an initial Instrument check ride. The full check must still be given in an aircraft. Part of the IRA test can only be done in an AATD or sim under a Part 142 certificate where the Redbird (or sim) is evaluated and authorized for use by the school certificate holder.]

The instructors can refer to AC61-139, issued by AFS-800, the FAA office responsible for simulator and AATD certification and authorizations.

Below are some excerpts from the AC, along with industry comments.

“On August 21, 2009, the FAA published revisions to 14 CFR Part 61 (the rules that govern the certification of pilots and flight instructors), including the use of (AATDs) and flight simulators for training and to maintain instrument proficiency. …

The new rules (specifically §61.51) offer greater flexibility in the use of approved AATDs* and flight simulators in training for certificates and ratings and to maintain instrument currency. The FAA's comments in the Federal Register…clarify the agency's interpretation of the regulations.

For example, §61.51(b)(2) and §61.51(a) require that an authorized instructor must be present in the flight simulator, …or AATD when instrument training time is logged for training and aeronautical experience for meeting the requirements for a certificate, rating, or flight review. The instructor must sign the trainee's logbook and verify training time and session content. 

The FAA's comments on the new rules, however, clarify several points. First, the FAA explains what "present" means in this context. 

Examples of situations in which an authorized instructor will be considered present would be where an authorized instructor is seated at a center control panel in a flight simulation lab and is monitoring each student’s performance from control panel display. Another example would be a situation where an instructor assigns a student several instrument tasks and then leaves the room. In such cases, if the flight training device has a monitoring and tracking system that allows the authorized instructor to review the entire training session, the instructor need not be physically present. Another example would be a situation where one authorized instructor monitors several students simultaneously in the same room at a flight simulation lab.

The new rules also change §61.57(c) "to allow use of aviation training devices (AATD), flight simulators (FS),for maintaining instrument recent flight experience." 

The new rules also change §61.57(c) "to allow use of aviation training devices (ATD), flight simulators (FS), for maintaining instrument recent flight experience." 

The FAA is allowing different means to maintain instrument currency. The pilot may use whatever method best suits his or her needs to maintain instrument currency by using the actual aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or aviation training device, or a combination of all.

The FAA's comments on the new rules: 

Subject to certain limitations, a pilot may choose completing his/her instrument experience requirements in an aircraft and/or through use of an…AATD. The simulation devices must be representative of the category of aircraft suitable for the instrument rating privileges that the pilot desires to maintain. Under new §61.57(c)(2), a person may use a flight simulator or flight training device exclusively by performing and logging at least three hours of instrument recent flight experience within the six calendar months before the month of the flight.

Under new §61.57(c)(3), a person may use an AATD exclusively by performing and logging at least three hours of instrument recent flight experience within the two calendar months before the month of the flight. (The FAA has) deliberately established differences between the use of an AATD, and flight training devices because use of an aviation training device to maintain instrument recent flight experience is a relatively new concept. The FAA wants to further evaluate its use before we allow use of AATDs equal to that of flight simulators and flight training devices. Under new §61.57(c)(4), a person could combine use of the aircraft and AATD to obtain instrument experience. When a pilot elects to combine use of an aircraft and simulation device, FAA requires, under new §61.57(c)(4), completion of one hour of instrument flight time in the aircraft and three hours in the FS, FTD, or ATD within the preceding 6 calendar months. Under new § 61.57(c)(5), a person may combine use of an FS or FTD flight training, and an ATD to obtain instrument recent flight experience. 

The new hourly requirements for the use of flight simulators and approved FTDs are offset, however, by allowing, in specific circumstances, a pilot to log simulated instrument time in a flight simulator or AATD without an instructor. 

A person would not need a flight instructor or ground instructor present when accomplishing the approaches, holding, and course intercepting/tracking tasks of §61.57(c)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) in an (AATD) or flight simulator. Only when a person is required to submit to an instrument proficiency check must a flight instructor or ground instructor be present. A person is not required to have a flight instructor or ground instructor present when performing the approaches, holding, and course intercepting/tracking tasks in an aircraft. If the person is using a view-limiting device when performing the approaches, holding, and course intercepting/ tracking tasks in an aircraft, only a safety pilot is required to be present. 

Note: If a person is performing approaches, holding, and course intercepting/ tracking tasks in an aircraft in IMC, it is permissible to log the tasks without a flight instructor being present. Therefore, a person who is instrument current or is within the second 6-calendar month period (See § 61.57(d) for currency) need not have a flight instructor or ground instructor present when accomplishing the approaches, holding, and course intercepting/ tracking tasks of § 61.57(c)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) in an approved flight training device (AATD) or flight simulator.

DOES THE FAA ALLOW YOU TO LOG TIME IN AN AATD?

Absolutely! Depending on the rating or certificate you are seeking, you may log creditable time spent training in the AATD. 

The FARs allow for:

Logging instrument flight experience and proficiency with an Instructor

•Instrument rating (maximum 20 hours) 

•Instrument rating practical test (per FAA-S-8081-4 (circling-to-land not authorized)) 

•Instrument proficiency check (per FAA-S-8081-4 (circling-to-land not authorized)) 

•Private pilot certificate (maximum 2.5 hours) 

•Commercial pilot certificate (maximum 50 hours) 

•Commercial pilot practical test (per FAA-S-8081-12) 

•Airline transport pilot certificate (maximum 25 hours) 

•Airline transport pilot practical test (per FAA-S-8081-5)

CAN I USE THE AATD FOR MY INSTRUMENT RATING CURRENCY REQUIREMENTS?

Absolutely! In fact it is a fantastic way to not only meet the currency requirements, but to maintain proficiency as well. You can meet the FAA currency requirements in about one hour in the simulator. The equivalent work in the aircraft would require about double that time. Of course, you must have an approved instructor assist you during your flight simulation

WHY SHOULD I USE THE AATD INSTEAD OF THE AIRPLANE?

The AATD is an enhancement to the aircraft. The AATD is a much more conducive classroom than the aircraft when many concepts and maneuvers are being taught. If you are having difficulty with a concept or maneuvers, for instance navigation problems with VORs or visualizing the landing flare, you can practice the maneuvers many more times in the AATD than in the aircraft. Then when you go to the aircraft, you will easily apply what you’ve learned in the simulator. In many cases, the AATD is more difficult to fly than the real aircraft. This is by design. So when you’ve mastered a procedure or concept in the simulator, you will frequently find the same elements much easier to perform in the aircraft.

Congratulations to our very own Operations Manager, Bobby Beem who passed his Commercial Multi checkride in a Cessna 310  with Eagle Flyers on February 12, 2013  at Indianapolis Executive Airport.  He is flying high and passing checkrides practically every month it seems!! Way to go and keep up the hard work!

Eagle Flyers flight school is a certified Cessna Pilot Center near Indianapolis offering flight training for sport, private, instrument, and commercial certifications.  Eagle Flyers has the region's most diverse aircraft rental fleet including a brand new Cessna 162 Skycatcher, several Cessna 172 Skyhawks, a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Cirrus SR20 and SR22, and a Beechcraft Bonanza for rent.  Eagle Flyers prides itself in employing experienced, top-notch instructors who share the same passion for flight instruction as their students do for learning.