September 29, 1999

40 pilots participate in 'Wings for '99'

By Garret Leiva
Herald editor
       After 300 hours of flying time, pilot Tom Larson flew his Cessna 172 airplane into Cherry Capital Airport Saturday morning for a refresher course; on takeoffs and landings.
      The Montague, Mich. resident was among 40 or so pilots taking part in "Wings for '99," an all-day safety program offered at the Northwestern Michigan College Aviation Division. During the Federal Aviation Administrations Pilot Proficiency Award Program, licensed pilots could take to the air with a certified flight instructor, sit in on two safety seminars or do both. They could also earn their wings; whether they be bronze, silver or even gold tone with a mounted rhinestone.
      To participate in the flight portion of the Wings program, pilots needed a recreational pilot certificate or higher and a current medical certificate noted event coordinator, Judy Monaco. A number of pilots brought their own planes, but aircraft such as the Cessna 152, 172 and 172RG were available for rent by the hour at a solo rate.
      Wing training requirements include three hours of dual instruction in specified subjects and maneuvers in either airplanes, rotocraft, gliders, lighter-than-air aircraft or ultralights. Earning wings also required at least one FAA sponsored or sanctioned aviation safety seminar. Topics offered at Saturday's safety seminars were "Operations at Towered Airports," and "What Smart Pilots Won't Do!" lead by Christine Winzer, FAA Aviation Safety Program Manager.
      Monaco noted that these safety programs often cover issues a pilot has not addressed since earning their license.
      "Many pilots are used to flying into small grass strips and are unfamiliar with the procedures of flying into a control tower environment," said the assistant to the director of the NMC Aviation Division. "These are safety related topics that pilots needed to know when they received their license, but may not have used much since."
      Outlining the Pilot Proficiency Awards further, Monaco noted that the Wings program is now a 20-phase program. Upon completion of each phase, pilots become eligible to wear a distinctive lapel or tie pin (wings) and receive a certification of completion. If a pilot satisfactorily completes a phase of the wings program within the period specified by FAA regulations, they can also substitute that training for a biennial flight review required every two years.
      Helping pilots earn their wings Saturday was John Stewart, one of 10 on-site flight instructors. Offering each participant one free hour of training, Stewart noted that pilots could choose from takeoffs and landings, airwork or instrument work. Takeoffs/landings cover approaches, cross wind, soft field and short field techniques; airwork explores basic airplane control, stalls, turns and emergency procedures; while vision-limiting glasses create a situation where pilots fly using instrument gauges.
      Enamored with flying since first sitting in the cockpit, Stewart earned his pilot wings through the NMC Aviation Department. The college offers a two-year associate of applied science degree, a bachelor degree transfer program through the University Center or a non credit program for those solely interested in obtaining a private pilots license.
      Monaco noted that the FAA minimum requirement for a private pilot's license is 30 hours, although the national average is 60 hours. Cost of earning a pair of pilot wings, with ground school and flight training, runs between $3,000 and $3,500.
      While learning to fly can be both a financial and academic endeavor, flight instructors and pilots agree that once you've taken to the air, it's hard to come back down.
      "It's very addicting once you're in the airplane. I was simply out to do it for the recreation, but once I got started I was taken by the whole thing," said Stewart, a flight instructor with NMC for more than a year.
      Pilot Tom Larson has also found the wild blue yonder his favorite spot on - or above earth.
      "It has been a life-long dream of mine to do this," said the automotive repair technician who flies with the West Michigan Flying Club out of Muskegon. "If I could fly everyday I would."