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All the snow has melted, birds are chirping, and the sun is shining. For weeks you’ve been anticipating the final melt so you can get your plane out, clean it up, and head back into the skies. Before you start cruising, don’t forget the most important part: checking your aircraft for maintenance essentials. After sitting in the hangar for months, your plane is likely going to need a thorough check through before getting in the air. What are the spring aircraft maintenance checklist essentials that you should go over this season?

Annual Aircraft Maintenance Checklist

Since it’s spring, you’re probably looking to perform an annual check on your plane before going wheels up again. You probably know the basics of an aircraft maintenance check, but a refresher is always beneficial to ensure safety.

Clean

A simple wash will not only make it look nice but clear out any dirt or debris that could clog up the functionality of the wings and tail.

On Paper

Just like a vehicle, make sure the registration is up to date. Look through the maintenance records to see what was performed recently, or if anything has been postponed. The records should detail a description of the work, the date, the certificate number and type of the mechanic, as well as their signature. This is especially essential regarding airworthiness directives (AD). These are set by the FAA and render the plane as not worthy for air until fixed or replaced.

Basics

Checking the oil and fuel are simple first steps. You wouldn’t drive your car without gas or with old oil, so don’t try to fly your plane that way either. Inspect the fuel and oil quality, making sure that there are no contaminants and be sure that the fuel and oil tubes are intact.

Look at the tires in case they’re low on air or have cracks. Make sure the brakes are working properly, and of course, do a proper walk around to inspect the aircraft for broken parts, damage, or wear and tear that could cause issues in the air. Look for any signs of corrosion as this causes many safety risks.

Safety

A fire extinguisher (unexpired) and first aid kit are necessary in case an emergency or injury happens.

Aircraft Maintenance Checklist Tests

Electrical functions are imperative to a successful flight. Check out the magnetos and generator. Are they working properly? Go through all the flight controls to ensure that everything is functioning well and there are no errors that pop up. The batteries might need to be replaced, so examine those as well as the mounting apparatus and leads. Make sure the radio, antenna, wiring, circuit breakers, and circuits are functioning safely.

Aircraft Maintenance Preflight Checklist

Commercial pilots are required by the FAA to perform a preflight check before each trip. This allows them to catch any maintenance issues or discrepancies and report them to maintenance. The issues will either be fixed immediately or later; in which case a new plane will then be needed for the current flight. The same goes for small plane pilots.

Exterior

Check for corrosion, dents, damage, dirt and ice. Test the operations of the landing gear doors, landing tear, wing flaps, tail fins, ailerons, rudder, stabilizer, and propeller. Make sure nothing is loose or damaged.

Interior

Here’s where detail becomes even more important. Check the fuel and oil pressure, radio settings and transponder code, health of the navigation instruments, operations of flight controls, database currency, and flight plan entry.

Types of Aircraft Maintenance

There are different forms of maintenance that can be performed by the pilot if they have proper FAA certifications, or by a licensed aviation maintenance technician.

Preventative Maintenance

This includes basic operations or small repairs. It’s like checking your vehicle for holes in tires, adding windshield wiper fluid, or replacing a worn-out band, except there is more detail and a certain certificate is required. Once this is obtained, a pilot can repair landing gear tires, service wheel bearings and shock struts, replace defective safety wires or cotter keys, replenish hydraulic fluid, replace safety belts, bulbs, reflectors, lenses, or spark plugs.

100-hour Inspection

This inspection is required for any plane that carries any person (other than a crew member) for hire or for aircraft that are provided for giving flight instruction for hire.

The person performing the inspection will check the fuselage and hull group for fabric and skin deterioration, defects in the system and components, and the condition of the gas bags. They will search for any loose equipment, damage, or deterioration of the windows and windshields, defects in the seats and safety belts, problems with the operation of the instruments and flight controls. They will also test batteries to ensure proper installation and charge.

The landing gear will be inspected carefully to check for improper fluid levels, excessive wear, improper operation, cracks in the wheels, improper adjustment in the breaks, and defects of the floats and skis.

The propeller will be checked for cracks, leaks, improper torqueing of bolts, and issues with the control mechanisms.

Finally, the radio group will be examined for any improper installation or mounting of equipment, improper routing, or poor condition of the antenna, shielding, or wiring and conduits.

Aircraft Maintenance at J.A. Air

At J.A. Air, we strive to be your aircraft maintenance experts! As you gave your plane a thorough inspection, did you find issues that need attention? Are there parts of your aircraft maintenance checklist that you might have forgotten to look over? Bring your aircraft to us and we’ll perform an in-depth inspection and repair and issues that have been found by you or us. We have a variety of parts on hand and our shop allows your aircraft to be serviced with limited downtime.

We also sell parts, supplies, and even planes! Don’t hesitate to contact us for any of your maintenance needs, questions, or if you’re looking to have a new avionics system installed. Or team is knowledgeable, licensed, and factory trained. We’re excited to work with you and get your plane ready to fly the skies in no time!

With the new year well under way, you might be considering career changes or additional schooling. Are you fascinated in aeronautical industries? Has flight school crossed your mind? If you have a passion for flying and wish to one day become a pilot, now is the perfect time to consider a career in aviation. Below, we discuss three top considerations as you decide when is the best time of year to start flight school.

Seasons and Inclement Weather

Is your local flight school currently amidst a wintery season or other period of inclement weather? Though it may sound contrary to popular belief, don’t let the weather or current season impact when you begin your enrollment process at flight school. The licensing path to becoming a pilot can take some time, ranging from 12 months as part of an accelerated program to 30 months in a traditional program. Regardless, any flight school program requires at least 250 hours of flight time which could include flying through multiple forecasts.

Furthermore, before even beginning to test your piloting skills in an actual cockpit, there are many precursor tasks, lessons, and flight trainings you must complete in the months prior. As a result, the time of year you enroll in will not have too much of an impact on your impending flight scheduling.

Your Pre-Commitments

Sometimes, your schedule or preferences revolve around seasons unrelated to weather. Your life may currently feel like you are in a season of balancing your work, home, and social responsibilities. Having a full schedule of commitments may cause your time at flight school to feel inundating. However, if you have the time and energy to commit to flight school, then this is the perfect time to begin the process of enrollment!

Current State of Finances

With receiving any format of higher education, cost of attendance always becomes a considerable deciding factor. Obtaining a commercial pilot’s license can cost a pretty penny without any form of financial aid. Therefore, if your existing funds cannot contribute to flight school, it’s best to wait until you accumulate enough savings to pay the remaining tuition that other financial aid cannot cover.

Begin Your Flight Training with JA Air

If now is the best time of year for YOU to start flight school, start looking at next steps!  J.A. Flight Training is conveniently based in Chicago’s western suburb, Sugar Grove. No matter which career path you follow, you can count on experiential learning with the most up-to-date equipment, flight simulators, and aircrafts available.

We are proud to offer world-class training that prepares our students for a successful future as a pilot through flexible classes and affordable programs. If you would like to receive more information about our flight training program, contact us today to get started on your new career path!

Making the commitment to enroll in an aviation school is a decision that can lead to great, unexpected adventures. As you decide which aviation school to attend and compare the various programs, you may have a hard time selecting the right one. Which program offers the best benefits? Should you choose a local facility? We hope to guide your decision-making process. Below, we discuss the benefits of learning to fly at a local or domestic aviation facility.

1. Accelerated Training Programs

Aviation schooling requires the commitment to learning. Through various programs, schools wish to help develop your skills. If you decide to attend a local or domestic school within the United States and have reliable transportation and housing, you may be able to enroll in an accelerated training program. With classes meeting five days a week from 9am to 5pm, this would reduce your overall time spent in the classroom and help you become a commercial or private pilot sooner. Typically, an accelerated program will complete training in 30 to 60 days, leaving students with flight hours to record and certifications to complete. For those who are ready to avoid an abundance of training and a year or more of schooling, this program might be best suited for you.

2. High Quality Training Fleets

The United States offers some of the top aviation training programs available worldwide. With a blend of both flight simulators and real aircraft training, students can obtain optimal flight competence.

Flight Simulators

Flight simulators are a great educational resource for aviation students. Before settling into the cockpit of an airplane, flight simulators prepare the student with what to expect in flight. With beneficial outcomes of learning how to properly utilize landing gear, understanding every button and switch in the cockpit, and adapting to weather conditions, students can safely receive hands-on experience while staying on the ground. Throughout the entire training program, flight simulators also aid maintaining skill proficiencies.

Aircrafts

As another benefit of learning to fly at a local and domestic aviation school, students have access to multiple airports for training, including controlled ATC (Air Traffic Control Tower) and uncontrolled non-ATC. Local programs expose students to various practical situations such as learning to fly at busier airports and safely practicing take-off and landing procedures at airports without ATC assistance. Most of the airports have other servicing facilities, making multiple domestic flights more practical.

Though the type of aircrafts used in aviation institutions are chosen with a degree of personal preference, safety is always priority. Local aviation institutions take pride in their top-notch programs, facilities, newest aircraft, and technologically advanced simulators. With exceptional aircrafts maintained by FAA Certified repair stations and service centers, you will find an efficient fleet supported by trusted and proven technicians. This creates the foundation for a world-class flight training school that prepares students for a successful future in piloting with flexible classes and affordable programs.

3. Geographical Familiarity

Whether you decide to train as a commercial or private pilot, you will likely direct a plane over international waters on several occasions outside of your logged flight requirements in training. However, learning to fly locally will extend your appreciation of the bird’s eye view over domestic land. When flying over astonishing landscapes such as the Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon, you will be able to enjoy the views as you grow accustomed to domestic flight paths.

Initially Avoiding International Waters

When your aviation training transitions out of flight simulators and into true takeoff, in-flight, and landing procedures on aircrafts, you may be more comfortable doing so in a familiar geographical location. Attending a local flight school allows more time to grow confident with domestic flights before taking off to international locations.

Shorter In-Flight Distances

Since domestic flights remain within the country, your in-flight hours have a shorter duration. This allows you to continue practicing take-off and landing procedures as you gather your 50 hours of cross-country flight time prior to moving onto overseas destinations.

4. Weather Mastery

Though flight simulators help you grasp how to navigate various weather conditions, domestic flights across the United States allows you to physically experience multiple weather types. In sunshine states with consistent forecasts and reliable weather, you will learn in-flight basics. However, with all climates from snow to desert available in one country, you can quickly grow accustomed to turbulence brought by various forecasts. Especially during winter and spring seasons, this will allow you to learn how extreme a storm needs to be before canceling or delaying an unsafe flight.

5. Flexible Private and Commercial Pilot Programs

Learning to fly locally allows you to easily explore the programs for commercial and private piloting.

Commercial Pilot Aviation Programs

Becoming a commercial pilot allows for multiple piloting avenues. With a commercial pilot license, you can transport cargo, pilot tours, or even become a flight instructor! You will also be able to operate blimps and helicopters in addition to planes. Enrolling in a commercial pilot aviation program through a local institution prepares you for any piloting direction you wish to take.

Private Pilot Aviation Programs

A private pilot’s license allows you to fly non-commercial air crafts. Obtaining a private pilot license permits you to fly an aircraft for recreational purposes – however, you cannot pilot a commercial aircraft with passengers or cargo. For your benefit, you can travel domestically and abroad on your own and also apply to become a flight instructor. A private pilot aviation program also equips you with the skillset to navigate aircraft maintenance.

Aviation Training at Its Finest

Flying is not taught solely through classroom activity, requiring a significant amount of personalized mentoring. At J.A. Flight Training, we focus on equipping our future pilots with the best aviation certification through advanced training methods. All our ground and flight training sessions are completed one-on-one with your instructor. Regardless of your choice of aviation school, J. A. Air Center is here to help you with any questions or aviation needs. Contact us for more information about our pilot training programs.

As a commercial pilot, you need a specific knowledge base and set of skills. Aside from what you learn through your pilot training, there are a few other skills that are helpful for a commercial pilot. Even though they may sound like character traits that you are either born with or without, it’s important to remember that anyone can improve in them. They are just as much skills as being able to read or draw—some people have more of a natural ability, but with time and practice, anyone can excel.

Keeping Calm Under Pressure

This skill is hugely important for pilots. While you hope that you never encounter emergency situations while in the air, you cannot guarantee it. So, being able to keep a cool head and work through the procedures you know or come up with a new course of action is crucial. If you are able to stay calm, you have a much easier time thinking though the best plan to keep your passengers, staff, and yourself safe.

A few ways you can improve in this area include knowing the emergency plans inside and out and practicing in lower stakes situations. If you are familiar with the emergency procedures, you will be better able to stay calm and do what you know is the best thing in that situation. However, even the best laid plans might not work in every situation, so you can practice remaining calm by putting yourself in stressful, but risk-free, circumstances. This could be timed puzzles or problems to solve.

Quick Thinking

Like keeping calm under pressure, being able to make snap decisions at a moment’s notice is incredibly valuable for commercial pilots. Again, while you ideally are never in this situation, it is still important to be prepared if something ever happens. Being able to make quick decisions, especially under pressure and with limited time, makes you a better equipped pilot. These skills are important if you have to go off-book in a situation where you don’t have a protocol, or the protocol is not working.

There are easy ways to work on improving this too. You can practice with things that may seem silly, like timing yourself to make quick decisions about what to eat or wear. Like with staying calm, it’s a good idea to become very familiar with the emergency procedures, so in the moment you can decide which parts are helpful and which need to be adapted for the circumstances.

Leadership

Leadership is a skill that will serve anyone in any workplace but is especially helpful for commercial pilots. If you hope to become a captain at some point in your career, this is a skill you need to be deliberately develop. You need to be able to lead your whole crew smoothly and effectively. The most effective way to be a leader is to cultivate respect among your peers—if they like you and view you as competent, they are more likely to follow where you lead. This is important if you become a captain, as you will oversee the plane.

Though this may seem like a harder to obtain skill, anyone can become good at it. It is important to remember that an effective leader shouldn’t be commanding or controlling but should work with his or her staff to come together for the right result. Also, a good leader knows when someone else has more authority or experience than him or herself and will step out of the way when needed—don’t try to run the plane if you haven’t been given that responsibility.

Teamwork

Teamwork is another good life skill that is especially useful in the cockpit. As a commercial pilot, you work with your co-pilot, the in-flight crew, and the ground crew. It is vital for the success of each flight you take that everyone can work together. As the pilot, you are a key part of this. You work with the ground crew prior to take off to make sure the plane is all set for your flight and making sure you land in the right spot at the right time. You work with your in-flight crew to ensure that passengers have the best experience possible.

Becoming a great team player is not something you can do alone. Ask your family and friends—or better yet, your coworkers—to do teambuilding exercises with you. Games like human knot, where your group works together to untangle yourselves, or a scavenger hunt are great options for this.

Communication

Of all the skills listed here to help commercial pilots succeed, this is the one that is invaluable for everyone. Communication can make or break your success in the workplace—if you have fantastic credentials and stay cool in a crisis but struggle to communicate effectively with coworkers and employers, you are less likely to succeed your career. Being able to communicate with everyone on your team, from your copilot to your in-flight staff to your ground crew is essential to each flight running smoothly and landing safely.

To practice this skill, you need to bring in other people once again. Work to make sure that what you say to the people you interact with makes sense and conveys what you mean. If you don’t do it right the first time, talk with them to figure out what went wrong and how to do it better next time.

J.A. Air Center

To succeed as a commercial pilot, you need not only a pilot’s license and extensive flight training, but a variety of personal skills that will help you in the field. From being levelheaded no matter the circumstances to effectively working and communicating with your team, your skill set should expand beyond what you learn in the classroom. At J. A. Air Center, we want to help you become the best pilot you can. Don’t hesitate to contact us about our training programs.

So, you’re thinking about getting a commercial pilot’s license. Fantastic! Flying is incredibly freeing and it’s easy to love going to work every day when you get to travel. Commercial pilots’ licenses are the base requirement for almost all piloting jobs, including airline pilots, cargo pilots, traffic reporting, agricultural pilots, and more. Once you’ve decided to get your commercial pilot’s license, you have another choice: accelerated training or traditional training.

Timeline

Accelerated commercial pilot training is, as the name suggests, much faster than traditional programs. Accelerated programs are, on average, between 30 and 60 days. Because of this set up, they are much more intense than a traditional program, often requiring students to be in classes from 8:00 or 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, five to seven days a week. This schedule ensures that students finish the program in the allotted time, but the pace can be stressful or overwhelming. However, the lack of days-long breaks between classes may help students better remember the materials. Ultimately, it is important to know your own ability to study and react well to pressure.

Traditional commercial pilot training programs, on the other hand, generally take between six months to a year to complete, although this varies from program to program. Part time pilot training will obviously take longer. Some schools don’t include flight hours in the completion time, so they seem to take less time. The lessons and training in a traditional program are more spread out, typically meeting a few times a week. This can help students by alleviating some of the stress of a faster paced program, or it can be easier for students to forget the materials.

In terms of timeline benefits, it comes down to the individual student. If you can handle, or even thrive, in a fast paced, intense learning environment, then accelerated programs are worth the look. But if that would stress you out or the idea of having more time is appealing, a traditional program may be the best fit. But timeline isn’t the only consideration.

Cost

Both accelerated and traditional commercial pilot training is expensive. Though it varies from program to program, most run upwards of $40,000. This covers your in-class and ground instruction and sometimes tests and flying hours. The biggest difference in cost between these program options is the payment timeline. Because accelerated programs are faster, the payments are closer together, if not all upfront. Payments in traditional programs cover more time, and you may pay separately for your flight hours.

Flexibility

Because of their pacing, accelerated pilot training programs have a much more rigid schedule than traditional options. In order to meet all the requirements in such a short time, there is little to no flexibility when it comes to class times and flight hours. However, you will be done with this option faster than you would be with a traditional program, so it’s less overall time of inflexibility.

Traditional programs are often more flexible options because they take up less time each day. They are also more flexible when it comes to flight hours—you’re generally able to get your training hours in the cockpit done whenever you and the instructors are available. This is helpful if you are getting your pilot’s license while working or attending school but can be frustrating as you’ll need to coordinate your schedule with the flying instructor’s instead of being assigned the hours as part of your program.

Requirements

Ultimately, the requirements for both entering and graduating from accelerated commercial pilot training are the same as traditional commercial pilot training. No matter how long it takes you, piloting is a job where knowledge and attention to safety are important.

Prior to starting either training program, you will be required to pass a medical exam and receive a certificate ensuring you are physically able to fly. You’ll also need to be at least eighteen years old, and—if you’re in the U. S.—fluent in English.

Once you’re in the course, you’ll need to attend classes and score well on the tests. You’ll need to pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s written exam before you can fly. It’s a good idea to do this early so you can start your practice hours as soon as possible.

In order to get your commercial pilot’s license, you’ll need 250 flight hours. This is required regardless of your training program. If you’re looking to become an airline pilot, you need 1,500 hours before being certified by the FAA.

Important Things to Note

Before deciding on your pilot training program, there are a few things you should make sure to know about your program and yourself. First, is the program reputable? This is important for students going through accelerated and traditional programs alike. If a program seems too good to be true—especially in terms of time commitment—be careful. It’s a good idea to research the company, especially testimonials from former students. Another good sign is their hiring rate in your field of choice. Do their students get jobs in your target field? If not, you may want to look somewhere else.

Another factor to consider is you. Can you handle the timeline? Would an accelerated program be too fast for you, or a traditional program too long? Knowing your learning style is important. You’re dedicating a lot of your time and money to this, and you should succeed. Will you be able to keep up with the amount of class time per week in an accelerated program? Will having classes more often be helpful for learning the content or would having classes more spaced out give you time to fully absorb your new knowledge?

No matter which path you take, getting a pilot’s license is a rewarding experience. Whether you decide to enter an accelerated commercial pilot training program or a traditional one, your end goal is the same: to fly. Regardless of your choice, J. A. Air Center is here to help. Feel free to contact us for more information about our pilot training programs.

Flying is a fast and reliable way to travel. But, being stuck in business class again can get tiring after a while. Fortunately, you have a great alternative: private plane charters. Private planes are not just for the rich, famous, or television characters anymore. You can book one for your next trip and enjoy the luxury—and extra leg room.

Know Your Options

When you are looking into private plane charters, the first step is to understand your options. Once you know where you are flying, you can use online booking systems to see what flights are departing and returning at the times you want. But on top of just comparing prices—which you would do when using a standard airline anyway—you have a few other outside the box options.

Shared Ride Flights

Many private charter companies offer shared ride flights, which tend to be cheaper than a standard private plane charter. They do require you to share a private plane with strangers, but it can make the ride more affordable, and you would ride with strangers on a commercial jet anyway.

Empty Leg Flights

Another option in the plane charter world is empty leg flights. Empty legs are flights where the plane has been chartered to either pick up or drop off another passenger, and the company doesn’t want to waste the flight going the other direction. Since the plane is already going on the trip, these flights can be cheaper than a standard plane charter. However, empty leg flights are less flexible because the plane already has a set destination or departure.

Ask Questions

Before you decide on your private plane charter, make sure you ask the charter company a few basic questions. If the company is reputable, they will be able to answer these questions if the information isn’t available on their website already.

Pricing

While the basic price should be easily found online, talk to the company about the actual cost. Ask what the minimum charter time is—you might only be flying for an hour but end up paying for an hour and a half or two. Another potential added cost is taxi time—the time the plane spends moving on the runway before and after flying.

Safety

This is a huge factor in deciding on your private plane experience. You should ask what the required flying hours for pilots are. The national requirement for licenses is 150, but many companies have higher standards. You may also want to ask if the plane model has had issues with accidents in the past.

Weight Limits

Weight limits are a key logistical issue, because they affect how much luggage you can bring with you and may affect how many passengers you can bring. The company will need to seat passengers and store luggage in the most balanced way possible, so be aware of their expectations when packing.

Pets and Kids

Some privately chartered planes will allow pets, but you should ask first. Traditional pets will vary from airline to airline and even from plane to plane, depending on the model and the staff. Exotic pets are less likely to be allowed. You should also ask about children, as the plane may need to be childproofed before flying a party including children.

Photos

If you can’t find them on the company’s website, you may be able to ask for photos of the plane. While this isn’t necessary, it can be helpful for you to get a feel for the age and general upkeep of the plane—though you can just ask about those as well. Photos of the plane’s interior may help you decide if your choice is purely the cosmetic difference between two equally good options.

Budgeting

If you’re interested in using a private plane charter, but you aren’t sure how you can afford it, don’t worry. There are ways to experience the luxury of a private plane without paying an arm and a leg for it.

Shop Around

You can ask a few different companies for quotes and then use the companies’ prices to get a lower quote from their competitors. This is a common tactic when buying a car, and the reverse—where you find out how much someone will pay for something in order to make the most profit—is common in selling houses, business stocks, and more. While this isn’t a foolproof plan, it won’t hurt.

As mentioned above, using alternative options for private planes can save you some money. Booking an empty leg or a shared ride flight are both great options to cut down on some of the costs involved in charting a private plane. It’s not the same exact experience, but for the price difference, it’s worth it.

Charter Memberships

Some plane chartering companies offer memberships with deals. You pay an enrollment fee upfront, plus a flat monthly membership fee, and then you get discounted—or sometimes free—private plane tickets. The exact cost and benefits vary from company to company, this is a good option if you fly regularly and are tired of having no leg room. Be sure to research the company first, as some may offer flights as shuttle-like services, only to and from specific locations. Still, this is an attractive option for a frequent flier or a flier who regularly goes to the same places.

Group Pricing

A final budget friendlier option is group pricing. If you and several friends or colleagues are all going on the same trip, splitting the cost of a private plane can seem appealing. Be careful, though. While splitting the bill certainly helps, the cost is still relatively high. You should make sure to compare your pricing and experience options before deciding to share a plane. But with the right company, this can be both cost-effective and fun.

If you are interested in booking a private plane charter for your next trip, please don’t hesitate to check out our charter services or contact us. We’d love to help you experience flying at the next level.