Private/Instrument Training in Los Angeles

We had the astute pleasure this weekend of speaking to many Los Angeles locals this weekend at the Palos Verdes street fair. One thing that I could not help but notice, what stood out the most, was broaching the subject of what many called "being half a pilot", Private pilots without an Instrument add on.

Frankly, I couldn't agree anymore. ( Not to knock anyone's accomplishment of a Pilot's License, (I believe) we make up 1% of the population)

But certainly, especially in Los Angeles, not having an IFR certification can prove to be quite troublesome. We're all aware of "June Gloom", of which takes literally 2 seconds to pop in and out of, or the storms we can incur during the winter that march down from the North. These, what might be considered, simple phenomenon, can quickly make a no-go decision evident. It was but a couple summers ago that 3/4's of the season Los Angeles was covered under a thick blanket of fog. Can you imagine...not flying for most the summer, in time to be grounded by winter storms?

Not to down play it, but that sucks...little sarcasm there

With the advancement in technology, the proper training, and the right aircraft, your IFR certificate is much simpler than you think. Ask many of our Los Angeles based students that have taken their check rides ( at FAA minimums non the less) and easily passed, it's as doable as you'd like it to be.

 

 

 

Besides, being sandwiched in between layers isn't the worst thing you'll ever see!

Call us or visit www.calaironline.com to complete your license today! We're here to help

Palos Verdes Street Fair

If you happened to stop by the Palos Verdes street fair this year, you might have ran into CalAir along side Cirrus promoting Cirrus flight training and the Cirrus brand all together.

Thank you to all that attended to show your support and we where more than happy to get a chance to inform many Los Angeles inhabitants to the wonder world of Cirrus.

If anyone would like to follow us as we continue to pave the way for debut flight facilities in Los Angeles, check out www.calaironline.com today!  

Father's Day in LA

Looking for something different to do this year in Los Angeles for Dad on Father's day?!

Why not gift the experience of flight this year?

For less then $200 dollars, he'll be flying himself over Los Angeles with one of our knowledgeable, safe, and friendly flight instructors. He'll be taking in the bird's eye view and experience the sheer joy of flight.

Call us today for a gift certificate and give him something he won't forget this year...a flight with CalAir, Los Angele's debut Cirrus training Center!

Go to www.calaironline.com for more info

Los Angeles' Cirrus SR-22 Turbo

As Los Anelges' top notch Cirrus training center, we're happy to introduce the newest member to our family, N567PA. She's a 2007 SR-22 Turbo, fully loaded with air conditioning, XM Radio, Traffic, TAWS (Terrain), Digital auto-pilot, AM safe seat belts, and a De-Ice system. Truly a remarkable airplane, and we're happy to have the only one for rent in Los Angeles.

It's a great addition in our program as it provides the "next step" to many Los Angeles based pilots and a great goal to look forward too after completing various stages of your flight training. To make Las Vegas in under an hour or take off into flight levels in general aviation's finest aircraft is something that all potential pilots dream about. It's airplanes as such that bring back the absolute majesty to general aviation, and we'll get you there.

For more information on how Los Angeles' premiere Cirrus training center can help you achieve your flying goals, contact www.calaironline.com
  

Fly a Cirrus, Change Your Life

In a recent coversation with one of my students, who became interested in flight training out of Los Angeles to accomadate his work schedule, he said something that I found very compeling. "I could buy a nice car or a nice house and these things won't nessesaliy change my life, but buying a plane and learning how to fly does". And, he's right.

It was after our flight lesson departing Torrance out of the Los Angeles basin for 29 Palms that he exclaimed this. Now instead of getting up at 4 in the morning to make the drive through the trecherous morning rush hour across the LA basin just to handle a couple hours of work, he slept in until 7 showed up with his cup of coffee that was still warm 45 minutes later when we landed in 29 palms.

"It's hard to believe that we're here already". What a game changer he thought. With plenty of work for his business over the next few years, flying is the only way to go. "I'm not moving my family from Palos Verdes out to where work is. And now that I've begun flying, the commutte's completly manageable".

I've always known that learing to fly can change your life, it does. And I love hearing when it effects someone first hand that I've personally had the pleasure of flying with.

For more information on Cirrus flight training in Los Angeles check out www.calaironline.com

Flying Catalina

With a little over 3,000 hours putting around Los Angeles' airspace aboard the best aircraft general aviation has yet to see, the Cirrus obviously, I've been able to teach my self "the ropes" around the area and have come up with a few techniques that have, so far, tremendously helped my students and renters alike. One such place is Avalon, California...Catalina.

It's been said by several students visiting the Los Angeles area, that Catalina looks like a knock off of the Caribbean. Maybe the Caribbean is knocking off Catalina, but who's counting? Owned by the Wrigley's, the island was used as a training camp for the Cubs between 1921-1951. Catalina's "Airport in the sky" was completed in 1946. In 1975 Wrigley dedicated 88% of the island to the Catalina Island Conservancy, which it remains today as. The island is full of wild life including the popular buffalo's which roam the island freely.

The flight itself is great, a short 15 minute hop from Torrance, over open water with land in sight the entire route of flight. Depending on how high you fly, and your glide ratio, you can easily ignore the 91.205 requirement of keeping floatation devices aboard. The airport itself is quaint, nestled atop a ridge line, with an uncontrolled 3000'' paved runway with an entertaining yet tricky apex 3/4's of the way down the runway, if your landing 22. There's a guy in the tower, used to be an older guy who seen a few pilots in his day who would give anyone a hard time who called out the wrong runway, who helps with unicom procedures. I preferred the old guy giving everyone a hard time though, reminds me of my grandfather. There's a landing fee of $25 which goes to the conservancy and I'm always more than happy to pay.

The winds usually favor Runway 22, which dictates us using right traffic. Departing from Torrance, I usually suggest flying straight to Two Harbors. You can't miss it in flight as it's biggest valley on the horizon flying due west out over open water. From there you can easily join a 45 into the downwind and it allows time for you to sort out, what's usually, a free for all of aircraft joining the pattern form all over the place. Besides, Two Harbors is beautiful.

When joining the traffic pattern, ensure your at 2600'' when you join and prepare yourselves to "fly the numbers". The runway is perched atop the ridge with drop offs at each end. There's no strong visual cue of a glide slope, so fly what you know at your local airport as far as power settings and airspeed's in the pattern. The only exception I recommend is extending your final a bit to ensure that your lined up properly with the desired approach speeds and configuration.

Depending on what your flying, keep in mind, it's a 3000' runway. Should be plenty. I see guys all the time aim straight for the numbers, which in my opinion, can put you smack dab in the cliff the runway sits on with unfavorable wind conditions. Don't "sell yourself short". Also, keep in mind, and read your AF/D for goodness sake, there's a giant apex in the runway! Try not to let it freak you out. I'll guarantee your almost certainly making a go around the first time you eyeball the thing in ground effect, I did at 200 hours, but there's still runway left. Aim to touch down the first third of the runway, the runway's uphill, so you should have plenty of breaking power. If you feel the need, bring up the flaps after assured touch down like a short field landing to ensure max breaking power. You'll be fine. And one last bit of advice, although they've recently redone the runway it's a bumpy roller coaster as ever. Keep back pressure on the controls until your clear of the runway, might save you a flat nose tire.

Los Angeles, Southern California in general, is full of fascinating destinations. Explore freely and smartly, your logbooks certain to contain that many more memories...as long as you keep it updated!

   



For more information on flying Los Angeles, Southern California, or Cirrus, check out www.calaironline.com. We're glad to help!

CalAir's Offsetting Program

Sometime around November, we were pleased to announce our partnership with Carbonfund.org, making us the only Cirrus training center in Los Angeles involved in a carbon offset program. Frankly, CalAir is the only "carbon free" flight school in Los Angeles, period. Since then, however, there have been several comments and concerns about our involvement in a carbon offset program.

There's been a bit of an opinion that this is an attempt to create a "guilt free" flight environment, as if CalAir's marketing strategy was to entice future students by easing their pending environmental guilt's. Also, there's been several references to political figures and our perceived involvement with. This now requires a little clarification, please pay attention.

First of all, CalAir is in no way catering to any individual that has his or her reservations about the environmental impact of their own personal doings. That is, as implied, a personal issue that we'll leave the individual responsible for tending too.

Secondly, CalAir , as a Limited Liability Company, does not associate with any political figures to include any left or right winged ideals or beliefs. This, as well, is a personal preference that is of no importance to our company and our product delivered, quality flight training.

CalAir's mission is provide quality, safe, proficient, and in-depth flight training in a safe, organized environment that's free of outside influences that would otherwise hinder the safety, growth, and performance of our pilots and staff.

When I started this company, I vowed it to be based and operate on proper moral, ethical, and honest ideals. Frankly, when leaving another local company and knowing their inner workings, I was absolutely disgusted that doors were kept open in every vain effort to obtain the next almighty dollar. There was absolutely no passion for flying and all that a small community based business should entail.

This company is ran with a dedicated passion for flying, teaching, and I devoutly make every effort within my means to share the sheer joy of flight. Aviation is a long standing American tradition. Aside from that, I'm personally extremely proud of any individual that has the fortitude to step outside their personal comfort zone to learn something new, especially flying.

Prior to this company, my resume was everywhere offering my piloting skills to non-profit organizations in countries such as Africa, South America, and elsewhere. I will run this company knowing it's done morally efficient, and will partake in any program that is perceived to cater to such.

So if you'd prefer flying with other institutions that cut corners on maintenance, lie about training costs, charges you for every thing they can in every penny pinching effort, and could care less about you as an individual pilot, by all means feel free to fly anywhere else but CalAir.

Otherwise, contact us at www.calaironline.com for information on our continued efforts in our community and for that of general aviation