Well hello fair readers, it’s been a while since I’ve updated you!

My Spring semester was one of the most challenging so far in my time here at Riddle, Primarily because of Physics II, but I passed, and we’re on to better things. I’m staying in Daytona beach this summer to finish CFI and CFII, I’m almost done with CFI and then I can apply to work here at Riddle as a Flight Instructor! that’s something I’ve been looking forward to since I got here in Fall of 2011 as just a student pilot with 17 hours. I’ve learned so much since then, and grown in my knowledge and experience.

I’m also here to start on my SENIOR YEAR. How wild is that? I could have sworn I was moving into Doolittle hall just a few weeks ago as a freshman

I’ll be taking AS408- Aviation Safety, and AS402-Airline Operations. They are both senior level courses teaching the higher level correlation of knowledge. In Safety we report on Aircraft accidents, our presentations analyze the accidents from a Crew-Resource-Management standpoint. It’s a sobering project, as we see the mistakes that led to a breakdown in control and the subsequent crash.

“A Smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others”

In Airline Ops we study the structure of  part 121 air carriers and management techniques. We answer questions like, How does an airline run? How does it make money? what makes an airline successful? why do airlines fail? It’s also a really fun class. I feel like these courses are pulling together all that I’ve learned over the past few years and testing it.

I got the chance to go flying in the Piper J3 Cub again the other day with my friend Michael Breshears. He’s the same guy that took me flying in my last blog post from Early April. We left from Deland Airport (KDED) and flew to our home airport at the Spruce Creek Fly-in (7FL6). I moved into the flyin at the beginning of May, and it’s like a dream come true. The Spruce Creek Fly-In is a community of homes built around a 4,000 x 150 foot runway. There’s also an 18-hole Championship Golf course too! too bad I’m not really a golf fan.

While flying we practiced some fun turns and maneuvers, as someday I’m gonna get my tail wheel endorsement. He let me take the controls and soar around. And boy, It’s a real airplane!  My days of being lazy with the Rudder in a 172 are over. It’s essential in a more basic plane like the Cub. We floated above swamps in the golden sunlight of a passing Florida Summer day. The air was cool, and the wings willing to take us wherever we wanted.  We then flew back to Deland as it was getting dark. The J3 can’t fly at night, as it has no lights and would violate 14 CFR 91.209!

I’ll also be working as the Editor-In-Chief of The Avion Newspaper this summer. I was the only one who was qualified and wanted to stick around for the summer. It allows me to bring a little bit more of my personal creativity (and lots of airplanes) into the Newspaper. I really enjoy writing, and I hope to include it in a career someday. The Avion has been instumental to my growth while here at ERAU, it’s given me real-world experience in dealing with organizations outside of school such as the Kennedy Space Center, United Launch Alliance, and the Daytona Beach Rotary Club. I’ve learned a lot of practical skills too such as professional photography, editing copy, and working with Adobe InDesign. More than that, I just love it! work hard to find multiple passions while here at ERAU, it’s not just about getting a degree, it’s about forming yourself into a well-rounded individual. A professional!

Does anyone know of any jobs from traveling Pilot journalists? ha, I guess I’ll dream on for now.

The Flight line is just about to get a replenished fleet, so I’ve spent a lot of time communicating with the head of the Flight Department about the arrival dates and information on the aircraft. I visited the hangar to get some photos of the new Piper Arrows! we’re getting 5 new Piper Arrows with Garmin G500 glass cockpits. We’re also getting 21 new Cessna 172 NavIIs with Garmin G1000’s. After the new planes arrive, the fleet will be all glass for the very first time.

If you’re coming to Embry-Riddle this fall, or soon, you have an amazing array of great experiences lined up for you. All you have to do is go after them! If you have any questions, feel free to email me at wilkinsz@my.erau.edu and i’ll help you out. This is truly the best university in the World!