Aviation Student Resources

Classes start in less than 2 weeks for me at K-State Salina. The summer has flown by but the excitement of this new venture has been on my mind since spring. I enrolled I have been reading, studying, watching YouTube videos and collecting tools for use at school. I want to share with you some resources I have collected over the summer that any aviation student may find useful.

My student advisor started me off by directing me to faa.gov to pick up three manuals in PDF form that are used to develop the oral, written and practical exams for the aircraft and powerplant certification exams:

FAA Aircraft Handbooks and Manuals – is library of interest to both mechanic and pilot students. The mechanic students should download FAA-H-8038-30, –31, and –32.

I acquired the free Adobe Reader ready or my iPad for the app store, opened these manuals in that specific reader and the reader saved them to my iPad. You can do the same with a laptop or desktop machine.

An industry resource I found was in the iPad Newsstand, a magazine called Aviation Maintenance. This is a free bi-monthly magazine that reports on the heartbeat of aviation maintenance around the world. They report on what's hot, new ideas and how to improve business and productivity. The issues can be downloaded for free to your iPad/laptop. The editors put together an annual collection called Repair Center Directory which to me, is an extensive list of potential employers. The list includes US and international repair stations and aviation service providers. Its not all inclusive, but it it extensive.

Another free, iPad available magazine, is Avionics Magazine who’s website is Aviation Today.com reports specifically on the avionics industry with emphasis on military, UAV and avionics development programs. Today the jobs board included over 1200 postings in the aerospace industry for non-pilot positions.

Taleo jobs database includes many aviation maintenance related military and government positions that are available. The link is into a secure server so click the “All Jobs” tab, then the “Basic Search” tab to view listings.

YouTube is a wealth of interesting, time killing nonsense. There are also some magnificent independent video producers creating informative and useful training videos. I want to share some of my favorites that I follow. These will be of interest to both maintainers and pilots:

kstatesalina – Who wouldn’t like a peak at what’s going on at the best aviation school in the country! The AVM aircraft assembly video superb.

mjlorton – specializes in teaching basic electricity, electronics, multimeter use, circuit design, ohm’s law with mathematic tutoring

mzeroaflighttraining – A certified flight instructor creates short videos of flight training with fantastic multi camera photography and his website includes an online ground school.

riveteer – University of the Fraser Valley aviation maintenance school  individual has created a few videos relating to sheet metal work and their school.

textsa – This user has one video that is of interest, it is an hour and a half long video of the oral private pilots exam. It highlights many areas to concentrate preparation.

undaerocast – The University of North Dakota’s aviation department has created a collection of videos primarily directed to student pilots. These are safety, instructional and recruiting videos.

There are many tool resources, you mechanics are going to need them. I picked up a nice chest toolbox from Harbor Freight for a few hundred dollars. I spent some time in an actual shop and realized the tall cabinets sometimes hold more but have two distinct disadvantages, 1) you can’t see in the top drawers unless your 6 1/2 feet tall; 2) when I roll my chest style tool box up to an aircraft in a large hangar bay it provides me with a work bench with which to place parts, screws, tool etc that I am using on the project to I don’t have to leave them laying on, in or under an airplane between operations. Do yourself a favor and get a large chest style box to start with, you’ll thank me later.

For hand tools, if you are starting out I found Lowe’s has most of what I need, they are guaranteed forever, cost a fraction of what Snap-on and Matco tools and will do the same job. If your Snap-on tool breaks, you have to wait a week for the local supplier to come around and replace it, if you got it at Lowe’s you can replace it the same day. The expensive tools are good tools, and yes will want them eventually, I have bought a few specialty tools (because I was working in the real world on real airplanes) and they make life easier.  Getting started I recommend saving your money until you are working in the real world and can justify the expense.

If you have any other favorite websites, YouTube producers or info to share feel free to comment.

Technorati Tags: Aviation,K-State

Extreme Tree Trimming

 

Last month we decided to trim some trees in the yard, it got a little out of hand. We obtained bids from several companies and decided to go with Arbormasters of KC. We were very impressed with their work.

This is the front of the house before trimming….

 

The back of the house before trimming….

The job….

And after a little trimming…

 

Three guys spent five hours removing five trees, one bush and grinding eight stumps for us. Total cost $945.00. It gave us quite the upgrade to our curb appeal.

Jim Fix - Propeller Repair Extraordinaire

This past week I had the opportunity to attend a presentation on constant speed propeller refurbishing and repair. Our local Experimental Aircraft Association hosted Mr. Fix at their June meeting in Olathe, Kansas. Fix-It Prop Shop, Inc was established in 1973 at Lincoln Air Park in Lincoln, Nebraska. Today they are a certified repair station specializing repair of 2024 grade Aluminum props.
      
Mr. Fix's  slide presentation took us thought the processes he uses to measure and correct the pitch, track and bow in a propeller. He explained that it is rare to find a perfectly matched prop from side to side, even brand new ones with factory certifications are typically less than perfect from inconsistencies in the manufacturing process. Each prop tells a story, if the back of a prop is splattered with chips, the nose gear strut is most likely lo, or was low at one time, allowing the debris thrown up from the front wheel to reach the prop tip. We were presented us with a collection if prop tips that had been gathered, showing us what types of damage looked like, we saw gravel pits, cracks from strikes, what a water strike can do, even one that was damaged with buckshot.
Many things can effect the performance and lifespan of a propeller. Some of the most common issues are damage from gravel, wear of the leading edge and bowing. Chips in the blade, even bugs plastered to it can cause it to be out if balance and cause vibrations. Propellers need to be matched to the particular engine they are to be run on. A unit too large or small can have significant consequences.
Bending and straightening a prop is as much of an art as it is a science.  The tools he uses are homemade. The primary bench is a large piece of one inch steel, about 12 feet x 2 feet, precision etched with stations at one inch intervals similar it those used to measure weight and balance in an aircraft. With the prop placed on a steel shaft in the middle of the table he can measure the pitch, bow and track at each station interval along the prop for accuracy and consistency from side to side. Pitch can only be measured with scribes placed on the flat surface from station to station.
Adjustments are done cold, the prop is not heated prior to being adjusted. Adjustments are made by hand using home made tools and long steel bars. Bending and twisting of a blade is done by feel because the temper on blades differ. The equipment will allow a pitch to be adjusted at any point along a blade that is not exact. The procedure is to repair and tweak the worst blade first to perfect, then change the opposite blade to match. He can re-pitch a prop, a three tenths of a degree change in pitch equates to 50 rpm. Each engine manufacturer has a table of recommended prop configurations to go with it.
Mr. Fix talked about periodic maintenance. All props have a lifespan established by the manufacturer plus inspection and usage limits. That doesn't mean one can put on a prop and forget about it. Over time a unit will develop a dead spot in the middle of the blade that effects the harmonics of the vibrations created as it travels through the air. Harmonics normally will travel on the surface to the ends of the blades, over time the dead spot will force the vibrations deep into the prop and potentially cause fractures inside the aluminum piece. For this reason, the dead spots need to be ground out periodically. It should not be universally concluded that any prop will just last it's lifespan. Periodic inspections of a prop by a knowledgeable A&P can help reveal when a refurbishment should be considered. A simple metal straight edge run up and down a blade can reveal bowing and twisting that can be seen with the naked eye.
Leading edge maintenance is a very important part of maintaining the integrity if the aluminum blades.  A blade is in effect a twisted wing that creates lift, the force of the lift creates the airflow that is pushed rearward over the aircraft and its wing allowing powered flight. This "wing's" shape is just as critical as the shape of the wings attached to the fuselage. If the pitch or cord line of the prop gets out of shape, lift is lost and efficiency deteriorates. An aircraft mechanic can make surface only corrections to a damaged prop edge but they must stay within limits set by the directives. If large chips or chunks are missing from a blade, the blade must be replace or repaired by a certified propeller repair station technician.
Each propeller is balanced horizontally and vertically before it is ready for surface prep. Once a propeller is repaired and refurbished, sanding of the surface is completed, the entire prop is dipped in alodine, then anodized. The units gets dipped again to neutralize the anodizing process before it goes into the plating tank. This last process will expand the raw metal revealing cracks.
The final surface preparation of a finished prop consists of alodining  and etching the edge, the application of epoxy to protect the surface and finally a lacquer finish that may contain color.  Mr. Fix warns against ever using a powered buffing wheel on a propeller, it creates heat, weakening the unit. A propeller should never be oiled he insists, instead the recommended coating is a good quality automotive paste wax.
When asked about service costs, he explained it varies on the work needed. An average refurbishment with blade alignments takes 20 man hours plus one day for the finishes to dry and runs around $600. He does not repair wood or steel props. He encourages owners to visit his shop and deliver their props in person so he can explain in depth the process. He can be contacted at 402-470-2346.

The New DMV Experience

The Johnson County Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles has become a new local meeting place for early risers. Months ago the DMV purchased a new computer system that has brought the county motor vehicle department to its knees. The time it takes to access the personal information for transactions runs at a fraction of the speed of the old system. Any typical business day there are 100 people in line at the door when it opens at 7:30am. They do have a service, for a nice $9.50 fee you can call an automated service and get a spot in line and avoid the early morning event.

As I sit in line for the second time in as many weeks, I realize how calm and cordial everyone is. The weather is nice, that surely helps. It's interesting to listen in on those type A personalities who deftly start up conversations to pour our their opinions and ideas on the issue to anyone within ear shot.

Most people stand or sit on the sidewalk and stare off into space, it's their first time here since the new system came on line. The experienced victims are easy to spot, books, large coffee mugs, folding chairs, mostly positioned very close to the front of the line. They know to ensure getting in and out before noon, they need to be in line an hour before the opening.

Standing in line, trapped like folks needing food, they wait, patiently, on their best behavior, saving the rage, unfortunately, for the anonimity of road.

K-State Day at the Kansas City Royals

The sun took a breather to provide excited Kansas State University Wildcat fans a chance to enjoy a special day at the ballpark. Sunday June 3rd, 2012 was K-State Fan day at Kauffman stadium as the Kansas City Royals took on the Oakland Athletics. The excitement started at 11:30am when the gates opened with free purple and white KC Royals hats to the first 750 fans with KSU discounted tickets.

Our family met in Lee’s Summit at 11am, seven of us made our way to the stadium in short order. We walked up to the gates just as they opened. Purple blood runs deep with us so the excitement was thick in the air as we jumped in line for the ever-coveted hats. The lines went fast with the K-State Cheerleaders handing out wildcat tattoos to those waiting in line.

Game time was 1:10pm so with a few minutes to use we headed to the Royals Hall of Fame and took a wonderful 20-minute tour with a 10-minute video presentation. It was one of the highlights of the day. The original Kansas City team was formed in 1888 and was called the Kansas City Blues.

Afterward we stopped for a quick family photo with Kyle Jacobs (K-State Alum and Debbie’s #1 son), Debbie (K-State Alum) and myself (current K-State Student).
 
The Athletics put up a good fight but ultimately the Royals prevailed with a 2-0 victory. Scoring highlights of the game included Johnny Giavotella bringing around Jarrod Dyson with a single to right field and a homer in the 5th by Eric Hosmer to round it out. Defensively Alex Gordon picked a fly ball off the foul line wall and connected with catcher Brayan Pena with one out and A’s on second and third to get them out of the fifth inning.
 
A warm but cloud filled sky allowed 21,111 fans enjoy a fantastic day at the park. Sunburns were nowhere to be found. The only point of contention during the day was the final winner of the mini-hotdog race. It was a photo finish between mustard and relish, but in our hearts we know the mustard won. The family had a great get together and purple pride prevailed again.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

It is with wonder and amusement I step into this world of higher education so late in life. My mind spins with excitement as I dream of all the new things I will learn as I read through the 4 semester curriculum required for the Aircraft Airframes and Powerplants certification I am pursuing. My first assignment has nothing to do with aircraft but does have to do with expanding the mind, which is the whole point of higher education. Our assignment to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a perfect place to start. This is, what could be called, a book report. It’s a collection of notes of my thoughts on the book. It will be very interesting to hear the discussions from the viewpoint of my 49 years of life to that of an 18-year-old mind.

A book report; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By Steve Gish

In 1951, there was a discovery, not by chance, but by the tireless deicated efforts of one Dr. George Gey to reproduce human cells in the lab. The reason there is a story here is because one sample, of the thousands of cells he tested, did not die. They began their immortal life as Henrietta Lacks. Scientists around the world have cloned and used these cells ever since to discover cures for diseases such as polio and create medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and other ailments.

Henrietta Lacks was born into poverty in 1920; she lived a life of hardships from childhood thru motherhood. A black woman dedicated to life and family, it was not until after her death that her life took on extraordinary meaning.

The author has taken this one scientific anomaly (discovery) and spun a riveting tale of how it revealed to medical science unknown possibilities. She provides a tactful and in depth look at the life and family of the Henrietta and has given us much to ponder as our growth into a more interactive multicultural world continues.

It is often directed discoveries that provide progress for mankind. It took a whole string of discoveries to get the Wright brothers off the ground, from the discovery of fire to make the steel, to the discovery of the theory of lift by Bernoulli, to the concept of the combustion engine that lead to powered flight.

In 1950 it was common practice to conduct medical tests without fully informed patient or family consent, today we would not dream of it. This practice and its consequences are discussed through the eyes and words of the donor’s family as the author paints a picture of the personal side to this story. The controversy surrounding the collection of Henrietta's cells were part of the precursive events that lead to the adoption of the patient’s rights practices we know today.

Cultural maturity allows us to recognize past events that may not agree with the way we think today. It also provides us with a pool of knowledge and ideas to analyze and evaluate as we move forward with towards future discoveries.

As culture changes and time marches on, our view of events changes. Three hundred years ago a seventeen-year-old unmarried woman was an old maid, today in America the consenting age is eighteen. This book examines some of the growing pains of civilization, as we know it.

As I read this book I could not help but wonder how cell science applied on known "uniquely" qualified individuals such as Stephen Hawkins mental abilities, Ozzie Osborne's drug resistances, or athletes abilities to develop and generate tissue could further medical science to places we haven't even considered yet.

There are many questions that are raised in this book from racism, to ethics, to legalities within medical science and cultural differences even stimulating thoughts on religious views. It touches on a variety of topics perfect for inviting an active mind to engage. Congratulations are in order for the university staff for picking this piece to prime the incoming minds.

Of the many things a person could take away from this read, I was most impressed with the tireless efforts of the author that went into researching and preparing this piece. Many years in the making, Rebecca Skloot hit a home run with a complex subject matter. Her dedication to factual accuracy contributes greatly to the historical and entertainment values she develops. The last fifty or so pages of documentation at the end really revealed what this author put into this and how it enveloped her attention for ten plus years in the process. This book is more than just a page-turner from the storybook point but a riveting peek at an area of science that muddles along day by day making miraculous discoveries in relative obscurity. This is an outstanding piece of work!

Enrollment Days

In April I attended the Open House event at K-State Salina and enrolled for fall classes. I have never been excited about education in my entire life, but now I am. A bit apprehensive of the unknown sure, but I am comforted by the thought that my maturity will help me navigate this new endeavor. Increasing the average age of the aviation curriculum student by several years tickles me greatly. This time next year I may be the only fulltime student at K-State Salina with an AARP card.

 My student advisor Associate Professor Andrew Smith and I had much to talk about. We got acquainted on Saturday, discovering we had served in the US Navy, at the same base in Hawaii during the same time frame in the 1980’s. We were both there but did not know each other at that time. The other highlight of the four-day trip was when I received my student ID.

During Monday early enrollment orientation we were given our first “assignment” as incoming freshman to the fall semester. We are to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and be prepared to discuss the topics involved the first days of classes.

Events

The events in life are never late, or early, they seem to show up exactly when they intend to. My apprenticeship over the last 6 months has been an event, that for reasons unknown, did not follow the path I had intended. The promised training in the aircraft maintenance realm towards certification did not take place. I agreed to work for this company in exchange for the training, they got my work, I did not get their training, in the end they decided they would not honor our agreement and sent me on my way.
I still have a strong desire to work on and around airplanes, I love the challenge of the puzzle, the troubleshooting, the sense of accomplishment when the job is done. Not one to back down from a challenge I have taken another route. At 49 years old, I have enrolled as a freshman at Kansas State University Salina to attend their Aviation Maintenance Certification curriculum.