Hello everyone! This is my second to last journal for the school year. 
I’ve received many comments and made many connections while writing to you about my first-year experiences.
I’m happy to say, I’ve successfully completed my instrument training and I am now a Instrument Rated Private Pilot. I started the course in January and with my availability this semester, as well as my instructor’s, I was able to complete 47 flight activities (Flight, Simulator and Ground Lab). I took the Check-Oral exam on Monday (4/19/10) and took the Check-Ride flight on Wednesday (4/21/10). I passed both tests with an FAA Part 142 Examiner. Coincidentally the two examiners were brothers.
Sneak Preview day is coming up this weekend (4/24/10) and I will be there to cover the event for our newspaper, The Avion. If you see me feel, free to stop and chat.
Finals are approaching and the final projects that I discussed last journal have been completed and on both I got an A+.
On campus we had guest speaker Michael Durant. The movie Black Hawk Down is based on his experiences. He spoke as part of Veteran’s Appreciation Day, last Monday.
Most recently, this past weekend (4/17-4/18) was the annual Sun ‘N Fun air show in Lakeland, Florida. On display were static aircraft, which were mostly the same airplanes from the AOPA AirportFest, however there were a few I haven’t seen before. In addition, there were exhibits in the hangers which consisted of representatives from King Schools, Garmin, and Beechcraft. My friends and I stayed overnight in town and returned late Sunday night.
Finals are approaching, and I’m also figuring out how I’m going to finish my Private Multi. Hoping to finish that before I head home.
Over and Out.
This is one of my favorite quotes because it reminds me to be happy every moment and, while this isn’t always possible, I wish it were. My birthday was this month and I had a great time celebrating and hope that the year to come is just as wonderful as the last. Some reasons to be happy: I picked up my cap and gown, I’m going home for a few days before graduation, and school is almost over! Of course, this month has had its moments that weren’t the greatest, but that just made me realize how great my family is. Going to college over a thousand miles away from home and everyone I knew hasn’t always been easy, but everyone is just a phone call away!
Graduation is fast approaching! I’m happy that I will be able to fulfill another dream of mine when I walk across the stage! Classes are starting the process of winding down, which means projects are coming due and the last test is approaching. I’ve lucked out and for the first semester since I have been at ERAU I don’t have any finals during finals week because they are all taking place the last week of classes. For this reason, I’m able to fly home for two days and then make the road trip back to Florida with my mom and sister. I know that I won’t be home for long but it will be nice to breathe in the Illinois air for a day or two! There is just something special about the smell of corn and soybeans growing in the fields. Most of my projects that are coming due are group projects and the hard part with those is trying to find a time when everyone can meet. Lately, we have decided to do sort of an open house meeting where some people leave early and some come late. It’s hard to keep everyone up to date, but we have found that it’s the only method that will work for now!
This past weekend I attended Air Force Dining Out, which is basically a dinner and the celebration of another year completed. We all get dressed up in our service dress, eat dinner, watch a video of the year in review, have an award presentation, and then the announcement of next semester’s cadet wing leadership positions. I had a good time and enjoyed spending the evening with some of my friends. The rumor was that I along with others would be finding out our AFSCs (Air Force jobs), but it didn’t happen. So, we are now supposed to find out on Monday…guess I’ll just have to be patient and keep waiting, which is easier said than done! Next journal entry, I’ll be able to let you know what job I will be doing in the future.
There is no better way to wake up on a Monday morning than with a shuttle launch in your own backyard. Space shuttle Discovery blasted its way into orbit on a mission to rendezvous with the International Space Station. I rode down with some friends to a dock over the beach in New Smyrna and had a great view of the pre-dawn launch. We were fortunate to be looking up at the moon when we started to see this tremendous glow in the sky. I thought at first it was Venus but then realized the planet was only starting to rise above the horizon. Also, planets do not streak across the sky so rapidly and I figured that the only object that could be glowing brighter than Venus and traveling that fast was the ISS. Sure enough, it was the ISS and some photographer sent in an image on NASA’s website and captured the station transiting the Moon.
‘Humans are the most curious species on this planet and space has allowed us to apply that curiosity. It is part of our nature to explore the unknown, to expand our capabilities and technology, and to inspire the next generation to disprove the meaning of the word impossible.’
For those of you who are starting ERAU in the fall, look out, as I just might be your Orientation Team Leader!
Next semester’s flight, I’m registering for Commercial Multi in the Diamond Twin Star (DA-42-L360). That will be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Have you ever seen those shirts that say “I ? NY”? Well, I’ve always wanted one of those but thought I probably shouldn’t get one till I’d actually been there. I’m now the proud owner of one and can’t wait to make my next trip to New York!
As I mentioned before, I went on a three-day trip to New York with six other students sponsored by the Alumni Association. The purpose of our trip was to attend the Wings Club Luncheon. The Wings Club is a group of aviation leaders that come together once a month to discuss issues in the aviation industry. At the luncheon we met lots of people, including their current president and he asked our opinion on how to get young people involved in aviation. He understands the importance of investing in the younger generation and is seeking advice from all students. Also, the speaker at the luncheon was Mr. Bruce Nobles, the President and CEO of Air Jamaica. The luncheon was wonderful and a memorable event.
The night before the luncheon we had dinner with the New York City Alumni Chapter. Surprisingly, one of my friends who graduated last May has an internship in New York at Dassault Falcon Jet and I got to meet up with him at the dinner. I was so glad to see him again! To meet some alumni and hear about what they are doing now was wonderful. It was also interesting to hear their perspective of the industry and most of them are positive that the economy will begin to improve soon.
We did get to do some sightseeing while we were there, including Times Square, Grand Central Station, Staten Island Ferry, and the Statute of Liberty. I couldn’t believe how busy Times Square was and it looked exactly like it does in the movies! We were supposed to get to climb the Statute of Liberty but we missed the last ferry by fifteen minutes. Next time, that will definitely be at the top of my list! I was glad that I finally got to see her! The streets in New York are so crowded and I felt like if you weren’t paying attention that you would get trampled. One night we went to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theatre and it was wonderful! I couldn’t believe how much detail went into the costumes and the set design. All in all, it was a whirlwind trip, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.