Most people don't know this, but the Toledo Express Airport isn't the only airport owned by the Toledo Port Authority. Toledo Executive Airport is as well. I know, Toledo Express and Toledo Executive... It does get confusing from time to time. However, the two airport are vastly different. Toledo Express is more of a commonly known airport, with private jets and commercial airlines coming in and out. Whereas, Toledo Executive is more of a general aviation airport. What is general aviation? Well, general aviation is lesser known than commercial aviation. I laugh when people complain about a 50 seat jet being a small aircraft. Usually the aircraft in general aviation have two to eight seats. The Piper Cherokee 140 that I fly has four seats including the pilot and copilot, but the backseat is that of a Ford Mustang: small, cramped, and uncomfortable. Yes, even less leg room than that of a commercial aircraft.
Beside the point, the Manager of the Port Authority at Toledo Express had to meet a bunch of contractors, an engineer, and other members of the Port Authority at Toledo Executive. There was a meeting for a pre-bid on expansion of a taxiway, to make progress for new hangers on site. I found this fascinating. I was able to sit in on the pre-bid as they discussed what materials were going to be used, the way they're going to set up for construction, ways they're going to accommodate current tenets, and much more. The meeting was efficient and everyone seemed on board with the process. We then went out to view the site and expand on the plans. After the meeting ended, The Toledo Express Port Authority manager and I talked with a few of the tenets who were at their hangers to see what upkeep needed to be done and if there were any issues or concerns. I met an older man named Bill. In his hanger was a wood frame, tail-dragging Cessna in US forces paint, most-likely used by the US forces at one point during or after World War II. In addition to a tail-dragging, yellow biplane. Bill was very well knowledged in flying, and spoke from experience. It was a pleasure to meet him, and I hope to see him and his yellow biplane in the sky someday soon. After Toledo Executive, we ran downtown to the headquarters of the Toledo Port Authority, where I got to meet many people like the CEO, people in charge of train operation, people in charge of boat operations, and more. We stopped by to pick up mail for the Toledo Express airport and were on our way. Unfortunately, my day there ended a little early, as the Port Authority Manager had to drive down to Columbus for a board meeting. So I returned home and got a program for online private pilot's license ground school. I would have logged some time, but I had to meet my instructor out at the Wood County Airport for more flight time. I logged an additional two hours tonight making me about a third go the way there for flight time. Before we departed, I had to make a plan on navigating our way to Fostoria where we would do more practice with landings and takeoffs. I pulled out a sectional chart and my instructor pointed out a VOR near Wood County and a heading that lined perfectly up between there and Fostoria. He walked me through how to use a VOR, which helps a pilot find a magnetic heading from a longitudinal/latitudinal heading. I was able to correctly work out our heading as I leveled off from climb out, and maintained communication over the frequency of my departure from the traffic pattern. I was quite pleased with how I preformed there. We managed to make to Fostoria in a quick few mounts and started to practice my landings and takeoffs. There was a slight crosswind today at 50 degrees to the runway, so I had to ever so slightly crab into the wind to fly a straight path. The before touchdown, take the crab out with a maneuver called a slip, yawing the nose straight with rudder, and dipping the opposite wing for additional drag to keep the aircraft flying straight. I practiced about ten or so landings and used the VOR navigation to work our way back to the Wood County Airport, where I flew a beautiful approach into runway 10, but was still a little off on my flare. It's definitely a part where I struggle, but I'm sure with a little more work, I'll be able to solo in no time at all.
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Today I arrived at the airport a few minutes early. When I arrived there was only one other person in the Port Authority office. The airport was very calm with a small turboprop aircraft taxiing down the runway. It was a relaxing morning, one where you want to sit back with a cup of coffee and listen to the radio watching the air traffic. However, the day soon picked up and airport management never rests. The Guard called to report Foreign Object Debris (or FOD) on taxiway November. FOD is essential to keep out of aircraft's paths as it could cause damage being sucked into, or kicked up by, the engines. F16s, like that of the Guard's, are very expensive and delicate aircraft that clearing FOD is important before the taxi and take off. So the Port Authority Manager and I ventured out onto taxiway November, and found a few pieces of FOD on the runway. We later called maintenance to bring out a street cleaner like vehicle to sweep the FOD off the taxiway.
After our encounter with checking taxiway November, the Port Authority Manager took me to the various hangers along the ramp. Toledo Express has three FBOs (Flight Base of Operations) which is a lot more than most busier airports have, like that of the Omaha airport, which has more than double the annual traffic and has two FBOs. Toledo also houses multiple jets for Owens Corning and Owens Illinois. In addition to having a superb jet maintenance business called Toledo Jet, which had at least seven or eight jets being worked on in one hanger. Toledo Express also hosts a branch of the Toledo Public Schools system, where high school students can take classes on aviation maintenance. Many people know about the pilot shortage, but not too many know that there is also a severe aircraft mechanic shortage as well, which make flying even more expensive. Later, an intern for the Port Authority and I went around the wilderness surrounding the airport. There he showed me the different ecosystems surrounding the airport, which was mostly swampy, wet lands. But another thing the Port Authority has to weary of is the wildlife. He demonstrated two types of methods to ward off wildlife like birds, coyotes, raccoons, and so forth: screamers and bangers. The screams make a loud, high pitch sound when fired from a flare gun. Whereas the bangers make more of a chain of bangs, kind of like gunshots to scare the wildlife away. He then took me over to where the airport is building a new road and office spaces to lease out to companies. This is a method to create, attract some new jobs to the area, and generate some revenue for the airport to make some renovations. On our way back to the terminal, we stopped to check how the painting of the taxiways and runways was panning out. The crew was just setting up to get started on taxiway delta. Repainting the lines at the airport is curial for safety and communication. It has to be done every year without fail. Although it makes it difficult as you have to coordinate flights so that aircraft don't taxi over wet paint. We finally made it back, and finished our day by taking measurement throughout the terminal where customers and passengers commonly walk for advertisements. The airport is going to pitch to a few companies that advertising in the terminal will generate more consumers for their product. We measured out a few walls, pillars, and other locations for the presentation. Overall it was a busy day, and there's a lot more to talk about, like the Guard helicopter that came in with Hungarian Diplomats. Needless to say, the pilot was taxiing the helicopter suspended on it rear wheels with the front wheels off the ground. That was an incredible sight to see, and probably very challenging for the pilot to do. But I learned a lot today, and hope to tomorrow as well! Today kicked off a long awaited journey. I've been looking forward to job shadowing at Toledo Express Airport. I've been on flights in and out of Toledo Express before, and even taken a plane off from a runway at Toledo Express as well, but today I got to see a whole new side of the airport. A behind the scenes type experience that not too many people know or think about. I got to experience every flight normalities from a different perspective, like how the baggage claim is run or even how luggage is taken from the ticket counter to the aircraft. It was fascinating.
I spent my morning with a Port Authority Police Officer. He let me ride in the front of a cop car as we drove up and down taxiways and runways checking for debris, damaged signs, malfunctioning lights, wildlife, and so forth. The Police Officer had to continually communicate with a lady in the control tower for clearance to drive off the ramp, onto taxiways, and on to runways, much like a pilot would have to do. He then took me back to the on site police station, which also served as a fire station as well. The Officer told me that if needed, he can serve as both a dispatch for fire and police. I thought this was pretty cool, he could be both a firefighter and a police officer if needed. However, he told me that most airports now have their police and fire departments separated, and that the combination of both is a dying breed. It's just something that make Toledo Express Airport that much more unique than its counterparts. I later had lunch and toured with the Manager of Airport Operations and Airline Affairs. He and I discussed a lot about the history of the airport since it opened in the 1950s, and some of the airlines that have come, gone, and continue in the region. He gave me a insight to the business aspect of commercial flight, and what it takes to set up a route from one city to another. It's hard work. A lot of effort, research, and time go into thoughtfully planning pitches to multiple airlines and airports trying to attract them to your market. Then comes the aspect of marketing your new route to the public. Making people want to travel from your airport. Which is difficult to do when the bustling Detroit Metropolitan Airport is an hour's drive north of Toledo Express. In all, today was a very educational day. We even checked out different maintenance hangers where they store the machines used to plow the runways of snow and debris, drove by the air force base as F16s took to the sky (they're louder up close... too loud), examined some ecological aspects of the airport with all the rain and standing waters, and more. I learned a lot about this airport and can't wait to return tomorrow. A bit after I finished at Toledo Express, I met up with my flight instructor down at the Wood County airport. By the evening, the conditions were perfect to go flying in. I showed early and pre-flighted the aircraft by the time my instructor arrived. We then pulled the aircraft out and ran through our checklist to star it up. The traffic was a little busy at 1G0 (the callsign for Wood County Airport), so we decided to fly down to the Fostoria Airport and work on flying the pattern ( a standard procedure used during takeoffs and landings, used universally by all pilots). The Fostoria Airport was vacant other than a single aircraft who landed and parked in the hangars. Perfect for practicing touch and dos, where a pilot lands and then takes off without stopping and circles around using the pattern for practice. My instructor, on the way to Fostoria, handed me a sectional map of the area and asked me to fly us to the Fostoria Airport and find the right frequencies we needed to set out radios to. This caught me a little off guard, as I had done this before. Its kinda like trying to read a paper map while driving, except there are no roads, only designated airspaces, and there are no towns, only airports. However, I managed to get us to the Fostoria Airport and find the right frequencies, so I felt accomplished. My landings could still use a little work though. I can fly my approaches perfectly, to a T. However, it's before touchdown that I struggle with. Finding the right time to pull the nose of the aircraft up and let it sink is difficult and something you have to get a feel for. I did fifteen landing tonight, and I still need to practice. However, my instructor is son confident in my approaches, he stopped to take photos of me as we were coming in for our final landing. So, today I logged another 2.2 hours to bring my total up to 27.0 hours of flight. A small step closer to the 50 hours needed for a private pilot's license. I'm finally past the half way point. |
AuthorIt's been a school year, and I've matured both as a person and as a pilot. This is my, Rory Hopkins, continued journey to becoming a pilot. A precedent to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL where I will pursue my degree in flight. This intensive is to open my mind to other jobs in the aviation industry and work towards my private pilot's license. I hope one day, we can meet some where in the sky. ArchivesCategories |