Its all about balance ... and the Mean Aerodynamic Chord ....

Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface  - Confucius

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony. - Thomas Merton

Today we began our day with our 2nd test this week. This one was on ATC procedures and Airports. I hit the ball outta the park with a 98. I'm a tad mad at myself for getting one wrong as I had studied quite abit and my one error was not on my "careful with this one" list.

We move on ....

We began our day talking about Security measures in aviation. Sky Marshals, NTSB Reporting requirements, declaring an emergency etc. Every company I have worked for so far in my career has made this issue a close #2 right behind the always #1 Safety. It was a good session.

Now the fun begins .... a big deal job of a Flight Dispatcher is load planning, that is, the weight and balance of the aircraft. In my world of corporate aviation this is not the giant issue, as the acft are spacious and do not haul a great amount of weight, but for those in the airline and cargo world, its a giant big deal. The fun thing about learning how to properly load an aircraft, using M/W=CG and (CG - LEMAC)/MAC = % of MAC type of equations is that in the "real world" the computer systems already in place in the Dispatch office do all of this work for the Dispatcher. Learning how it all happens gives you an appreciation and understanding of the final product that comes from software, allowing the user to be able to make sure that the result "looks right".  

I have alot of homework this weekend .... definitions of the various weights of an acft, calculation Center of Gravity for our Beech 1900, trim settings etc.

I have a Lear 35 and Hawker 800 flight manual with me so I'll be able to compare the math of our Jeppesen Airlines Boeing 737-800's with these 2 corporate jets..... that's my idea of fun !!!!!

Did I mention I got a 98 !!!!

Later

DeltaFox

Stars and Teardrops....

We're wrapping up the ATC, Airspace and Airport section of the training, test tomorrow.

There are 2 distinct study methods to go by in this course ... "Student Notes" is a binder of notes, a text if you will, of the course provided by Jeppesen. We write our own notes along side whats there ... its a great reference. The "Gleim ATP FAA Knowledge" book is the test-for-the-test book. The Gleim comes with software so I can constantly test myself, chapter by chapter. 

We had a test on Tuesday ... I got an 86. I had studied too much on the "student notes" side of the house, less Gleim. Lesson learned !!

If you're going to take the Flight Dispatcher (ADX) course, get the Gleim and begin studying. The Student notes are important too and will prove invaluable for the Oral & Practical test at the end.

I've gained a great appreciation for the AMOUNT of knowledge a pilot needs to know. Aside from all of this, s/he has to fly the acft too !!!

This class is alot of study. I'm averaging 3-4 hours a night. I'm really enjoying the experience and I'm glad I'm here.

BTW ... Stars are Standard Terminal Arrival Routes and teardrops are an entry proceedure into a holding pattern.

coming together....

Today is Day 1 of Week 2 on my quest to get my Flight Dispatcher rating at the Jeppesen Academy in Denver.
We start off our Dispatch class day going thru a simulated flight set-up and the Federal Regs Part 121 associated with the actions taken .. .what do the regs spell out what is reqd on a Dispatch release ... who is responsable for operational control.... do we need a departure alt if the wx is such and such, do we need destination alts...what reg calls for that .. where do we find the required minimum landing criteria at our destination?  .... what about wet runways .... what about if an engine goes inop on a 2 engine B737? on a 4 engine 747? How do our Ops Specs fit into all of this ?  Do I need a 2nd alt?
Today we spend our day continuing a discussion on text weather products like Pireps, UUA's, Operations in known icing, Area forcasts, TWEBS. We discussed in-flight advisories: Convective Sigmets, Sigmets, Airmets, Center Wx Advisories etc. we went onto graphic weather products... Wx Depiction Charts, Sfc Analysis, US Low Level Sig Wx Prog charts, winds and temps aloft. We then learned how to interpolate winds at levels not reported on......

IS THIS ALOT OF STUFF OR WHAT !!!!!!!!
I have to tell you though, I'm enjoying every minute of it.
Once I get back to my room, I do about 3 hours of study, rewrites, homework, reading ahead ....
It's Monday, and I'm already thinking about how I'll be able to sleep in on Saturday...
Of course, like last Saturday, I'll spend the afternoon and early evening studying.
Sunday is a day of (mostly) rest, at least for now.
... but I'm DEFINATELY off SuperBowl Sunday night .... Go Steelers.

The student Flight Dispatcher and a great NFL Sunday.....

Well, all work and no play ....
Watching 2 great NFL games today ....all the time studying Pireps, determining destination alt requirements, the 3585 exemption, yum, another buffalo wing please .... GO GREEN BAY .... definations of gust and Squall, VFR/MVFR/IFR/Cat2... can I have another slice of that pizza ... STEELERS STEELERS .... RVR reports .... RVR 2400 is a 1/2 mile ???  ..... STEELERS WIN !!!!!!!!!! .... Isotachs on the 200 and 300 mb charts..... convective SIGMETS .....

love it

Test #1 (of 11 !!) completed

Today, Day 4 of the Flight Dispatcher class began with a 2 part test, Meteorological Theory and AeroMedical concerns.
I got  a 98 and a 100 !!
About the 98 ... I actually talked myself away from my initial response, a response that was correct !! Rats !! But I wont complain. 98 and 100 are pretty good considering I havent been in school for 100 years !!

Our next test is in 4 days, Weather Reports, Forcasts and Graphics. So, for the next few days I'll be up to my pocket protector in TAF's and Metars, examining the 850, 700, 500, 300 and 200 mb, looking for evidence of upper level conditions like turbulance and the location of the Tropopause.

It's alot of studying, but I have to say, I'm having alot of fun !! Our instructor Steve is great ... he has alot of good experience that he shares.
My classmates are a pretty bright group of people.

I'm off to examine some charts on the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center's website !!!
Thursday night fun !!!
Later !!

Day 1: Monday Jan 17, 2011

Monday January 17^th 2011

Well, today was Day 1 of classes at the Jeppesen Academy at Denver’s Centennial Airport for me as I go after my FAA Flight Dispatchers rating (ADX). There are 16 persons in my class, all contributing quite a mixed bag of resumes. Some people fresh out of college, adding to their Aviation Management degrees to VIP’s with United to a retired Air force guy. We’ll have 2 instructors for the class, each teaching in their specialties. All toll, the class is near 6 weeks long. I’ll be done at the end of February.

Day 1 involved a lot of housekeeping details: making sure we had the right books and study aids, a tour of the facility and class introductions. The afternoon started off defining the role of a Flight Dispatcher (FAR 121.463) in the Flight Department and an interesting discussion of the various functions performed. We then started into the Meteorology section of study; the make-up of the atmosphere, temperature, density, pressure, the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) and other related subjects. The Gleim ATP Test Guide and the Gleim Aviation Weather and Weather Service are the principle texts for the class. I have a few hours of homework ahead of me …rewriting my notes, creating flashcards, reviewing tomorrow’s subject.

It was a good day.