Avionics News November 2013 - 41

lanta. As I looked to my right (south), I could see two F-16s from the Alabama Air National Guard holding over the city. Both had live AMRAAM
and Sidewinder missiles loaded underneath. When do you see that on
any given day? In retrospect, it was really surreal.
Needless to say, this flight was the quickest Atlanta to Washington,
D.C., trip I had logged - no delays, no holding and no changes en route.
We took off, checked into departure control, and were cleared directly
to Davison Army Airfield, just southwest of the city. Under different circumstances, this would have been a miracle of ATC coordination. The
general was dispatched in record time.
Afterward, we requested to fly to New York to see the remains of the
World Trade Center. Unfortunately, because the aircraft did not have a
secure transponder aboard, we were denied. It was a somber trip back
to Atlanta, a day I will never forget.
How long have you been flying?
I started flying in 1980, as a student at Michigan State University,
attaining my private pilot's license in 1983. It's ironic that one of my
colleague's grandfather (a former U-2 pilot) gave me my private pilot
check ride. I have been fortunate to have flown in the military, general
aviation and corporate sectors throughout my career. So, in short - just
more than 30 years.
What aircraft do you fly?
I currently fly a Beech A36 and Cirrus in the central states region for
sales calls. This type of flying really solidifies the utility, flexibility and
benefit of GA aircraft for both business and pleasure. It would be hard
to replicate the frequency of dealer visits within a given week using airline and rental car assets.
What is your favorite aircraft to fly?
It is hard to single out just one airplane, but if I had to, I would choose
the Citation X. You can really see the advantage of its speed when on
a trip from one coast to the other. The jet is challenging, yet really fun
to fly. It looks great on the ground, and in the air - Russ Myer got this
one right.
When did you know you wanted to become a pilot?
It was during the 1968 air show with the Blue Angels performing in
F-4s. I was 7; after the show, my parents stayed, and I was able to meet
some of the pilots and get their team picture signed. My dad, who had
no interest in flying, used to take my brother and I to watch aircraft fly at
local airports and attend other air shows, as well. I'm really grateful he
"scratched the itch" in my desire to fly.
After college, I joined the Navy, flying F-14s as a radar intercept officer
(I have 20/25 vision with my left eye), but nonetheless, kept the dream

alive by gaining all of my ratings while on active duty. Additionally, I was
fortunate to be qualified on the C-12B. This led to employment with
several companies in Michigan after my Navy retirement in 2003.
How does being a pilot impact your job?
First, it allows me to fly the company Bonanza and Cirrus for sales
calls. Additionally, I have used many of our products in corporate jets
and can convey that tribal knowledge to current and new customers.
It grants credibility, and I can convey in "pilot speak" how our products
work. Moreover, I can fly a customer in the aircraft to demonstrate
the equipment in real time.
What are your current ratings?
*
Commercial, Single Engine Land
*
Airline Transport Pilot
*
Airplane Multiengine Land
*
CE-750, 500 Type Ratings
As a pilot, what are your thoughts on new technology?
I love new technology. I love my iPad. I love my digital camera. I
love my Bose noise cancelling headphones. I love planning and filing
a flight online. I love FMS systems and flying glass cockpits - heaven
knows I would never want to go back to steam gauges.
But that all transcends into one major theme - technology must
enhance safety while reducing pilot workload and increase situational
awareness - simultaneously. If that cannot be accomplished, then
"technology for the sake of technology," especially in the cockpit, is
just like texting and driving - keep it out.
I believe the industry has made great strides to build on this
theme. Pilots can display weather, traffic, airspace, obstacles and
myriad of other optional data on PFDs and MFDs with intraconnectivity that was never before available. It is great now, and poised to
get even better.
My concern is that pilots (me included) get too complacent with
what is available in the cockpit - kick the tires, light the fires and go -
the PFD/MFD can display it all. Just remember that, as reliable as this
is, technology still can fail, and we all need to have a backup way to
maintain our situational awareness. Maybe an iPad (that is what I use),
maybe paper charts; whatever works for you, but when the GPS Integrity light illuminates (yes, I have seen this), you better have a chart in
hand, or a game plan in mind on what to do and where to go. 

Would you like to be featured in AEAviators? Contact Jenna
Kramer at jennak@aea.net or 816-347-8400 to discover how.
AVIONICS NEWS

*

NOVEMBER

2013

41



Avionics News November 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News November 2013

Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View From Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
Mid-Continent's New True Blue Power
Member Profile
Counting Beans
Avionics News Through the Years
Aviation Aces
AEAviators
A Conversation With...
Member Profile
The Team Effort Behind TSSA
Audio Panels in the 21st Century
Business Basics
Jeppesen Makes Headlines at AirVenture
What's New
Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News November 2013 - Intro
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover1
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover2
Avionics News November 2013 - 1
Avionics News November 2013 - 2
Avionics News November 2013 - 3
Avionics News November 2013 - Point of Communication
Avionics News November 2013 - 5
Avionics News November 2013 - AEA Now
Avionics News November 2013 - 7
Avionics News November 2013 - 8
Avionics News November 2013 - 9
Avionics News November 2013 - 10
Avionics News November 2013 - 11
Avionics News November 2013 - 12
Avionics News November 2013 - 13
Avionics News November 2013 - The View From Washington
Avionics News November 2013 - 15
Avionics News November 2013 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News November 2013 - 17
Avionics News November 2013 - 18
Avionics News November 2013 - 19
Avionics News November 2013 - Mid-Continent's New True Blue Power
Avionics News November 2013 - 21
Avionics News November 2013 - 22
Avionics News November 2013 - 23
Avionics News November 2013 - Member Profile
Avionics News November 2013 - 25
Avionics News November 2013 - 26
Avionics News November 2013 - 27
Avionics News November 2013 - Counting Beans
Avionics News November 2013 - 29
Avionics News November 2013 - 30
Avionics News November 2013 - 31
Avionics News November 2013 - 32
Avionics News November 2013 - 33
Avionics News November 2013 - Avionics News Through the Years
Avionics News November 2013 - 35
Avionics News November 2013 - Aviation Aces
Avionics News November 2013 - 37
Avionics News November 2013 - 38
Avionics News November 2013 - 39
Avionics News November 2013 - AEAviators
Avionics News November 2013 - 41
Avionics News November 2013 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News November 2013 - 43
Avionics News November 2013 - Member Profile
Avionics News November 2013 - 45
Avionics News November 2013 - 46
Avionics News November 2013 - 47
Avionics News November 2013 - The Team Effort Behind TSSA
Avionics News November 2013 - 49
Avionics News November 2013 - 50
Avionics News November 2013 - 51
Avionics News November 2013 - 52
Avionics News November 2013 - 53
Avionics News November 2013 - Audio Panels in the 21st Century
Avionics News November 2013 - 55
Avionics News November 2013 - 56
Avionics News November 2013 - 57
Avionics News November 2013 - Business Basics
Avionics News November 2013 - 59
Avionics News November 2013 - 60
Avionics News November 2013 - 61
Avionics News November 2013 - Jeppesen Makes Headlines at AirVenture
Avionics News November 2013 - 63
Avionics News November 2013 - 64
Avionics News November 2013 - 65
Avionics News November 2013 - What's New
Avionics News November 2013 - 67
Avionics News November 2013 - 68
Avionics News November 2013 - 69
Avionics News November 2013 - Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News November 2013 - 71
Avionics News November 2013 - 72
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover3
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover4
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