Advance Weather Planning

Keeping a Lookout For You

KHPN 081737Z 0818/0918 28008KT P6SM FEW060

     FM090100 VRB04KT 6SM BR SKC

     FM090500 VRB03KT 3SM BR SKC

     FM091300 30007KT P6SM FEW250 NOT SKED

Does that mean anything to you? Because to us it means it’s a great day for flying!

That is the actual aviation forecast taken on June 8^th at 1:30pm ET for Westchester County Airport according to the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast – more commonly known in the aviation industry as the TAF. Current conditions: unlimited visibility, light winds, few clouds.

Ever wonder why mainstream meteorologists are often so far off on their 10-day forecasts? The reality is: weather is extremely hard to predict with accuracy more than a few hours in advance. The FAA is well aware of the unpredictability of weather and gives hour-by-hour forecasts only for the next 14-24 hours ahead, and general trends for time spans beyond that. While your local weather guy may think you will like him better if he can deliver good news for the next few days, the FAA is motivated to be extremely realistic for safety’s sake.

At Fleet Aviation, weather management is inextricably linked to ensuring you the highest levels of safety as well as top quality customer service. Our weather planning begins on the ground the day before your trip. We monitor weather trends by tracking actual conditions at airports at and near your destination as well as watching the aviation weather forecast. We have access to a variety of aviation weather tools that measure surface conditions as well as the weather in the air, and most airports report actual weather conditions every couple of minutes.

Our pilots have completed extensive hours of online coursework, classroom instruction, simulation and real time in-aircraft training regarding interpreting weather reporting and navigating the safest route under any circumstance. Furthermore, we mandate semiannual seminars for our pilots to review and reinforce seasonal weather procedures. Expert weather management is woven into the fabric of Fleet’s operation.

Some of the many measures we look at include:

• Surface Weather Analysis: Tracking weather fronts which dictate the best times of day to travel and assist with optimal route planning.
• Visibility: Looking at both departure and arrival airports to determine our ability to take off and land within FAA regulations at the desired time.
• Wind Analysis: Examining the winds at different altitudes to understand their implication on flight time, turbulence, instability in the atmosphere, and which runways are best for landing.

By monitoring changes, we start to build a comprehensive picture of what the weather will likely be at the time of your planned departure. This gives us plenty of time to inform you if there is any possibility that the flight might need to be delayed, canceled, or even need to leave early to ensure the safest, quickest flight possible. Our goal is that you will never leave for the airport uninformed of potential weather concerns. We’d much rather have you waiting in the comfort of your own home, if a delay is necessary.

And, while you can assume no news is good news with regard to weather, you are always welcome to call our operations or your personal pilot directly to discuss any weather concerns you may have.

Navigating Summer Weather

In the summer time, there are two main concerns relating to weather: Fog and Thunderstorms. Below, we summarize the regulations, the technology and our procedures for keeping you flying safe in the summer season.

Fog

Fog typically occurs late at night or early in the morning and it affects visibility for take off and landing. The FAA mandates specific visibility requirements that are much more strict for charter operators  than for private pilots. These requirements vary by the number of engines on the aircraft, whether you are taking off or landing, and the type of guidance systems in place at the airport.

Most major airports (such as HPN, MVY, ACK) have something called an Instrument Landing System (ILS) that allows aircraft to land in low visibility. Smaller airports (such as MTP, CQX, UUU) have an array of guidance systems that have different visibility requirements, all of which are higher than ILS. This means that if you had wanted to fly into a small airport but there is dense fog restricting us, we may be able to fly you into a nearby, larger airport that has better approaches.

Landing

Visibility is determined automatically at airports by a transmissometer that sends out a signal along the runway to a receiver that determines the Runway Visual Range or RVR. For landing, as a charter operator, we are able to land only if visibility is 1800ft RVR or better for an ILS approach. (Keep in mind that a mile is 5280 feet.)

Taking Off

For take off, in a twin engine like our Baron you need 1800ft RVR, and in a single engine such as the Cirrus, you need 5000ft RVR or approximately 1 mile visibility. Essentially, in dense fog, per FAA regulation you might not be able to take off, but you likely will be able to land if needed.

The differences between take off and landing requirements come in to play when we see fog at your destination airport but we are clear to take off from your departure airport. If the fog is burning off and visibility is forecast to be okay by expected arrival time, we may give you the option of taking off before the destination airport is above minimums in anticipation that visibility will be above requirements when we arrive. In those cases, we make sure you know if the visibility doesn’t improve as we approach, we will have to divert or return home.

Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms happen typically in the afternoon because they are caused by rising columns of hot air that build as the earth heats up over the course of the day.  Our only option is to navigate around thunderstorms.

In addition to our preflight weather planning (outlined in the above post) all of our aircraft are outfitted with the latest in weather technology. They all contain XM satellite receivers that display real time weather information superimposed on a geo-referenced map. This allows our pilots to see the complete weather system – all locations, how fast it is moving, in which direction is it headed, and when and where there have been lightening strikes. This enables us to fly around an entire system or to decide there is no way through and we must land.

Furthermore, our Baron aircraft have on-board radar that allows the pilot to independently evaluate the storm when pointed toward it, up to 80 miles away. Combined with satellite weather, this allows us to see front after front to evaluate not only what is right in front of the aircraft, but also what is continually along the desired path to your destination. So we can make weather related decisions well in advance as well as on the go.

And, no matter what the circumstances, we make it our duty to provide you with options and invite you to be a part of the decision making process. You can have peace of mind knowing that, as much as possible you remain in control over your travels. And unlike the airlines, if we have to cancel or deeply delay your flight due to weather, your fare is completely refundable. It’s all a part of flying smart with Fleet.

Fleet Makes Headlines

Fleet Aviation’s Computerized Maintenance Tracking Program for piston aircraft — the first of its kind — has made the general aviation news. Aero News Network reports on how Fleet’s program could help aircraft owners maximize resale value.

Full text copied here:

Computerized Maintenance Tracking Program Established For Piston Aircraft

Tue, 01 Mar ’11

Accurate Records Could Help Shore Up Resale Prices

Among aircraft owners, it is commonly accepted that aircraft records make up 25% of the value of a plane at resale, yet until now the most advanced systems for record keeping have only been available to owners of jets and turboprops. As part of its comprehensive maintenance program, Fleet Aviation has become the first provider of a Computerized Maintenance Tracking Program specifically for piston aircraft.

Previously, small aircraft owners were left to personally track the maintenance of their aircraft through the tedious coordinating of reams of papers and binders of logs – documentation that is crucial to confirming the condition of a plane. Missing data affects resale value, can impact insurance rates, and can create troublesome questions regarding the safety of the aircraft.

Now, owners who join Fleet’s program will have all of their aircraft records centrally organized. Easy remote access enables detailed tracking and transcribing of aircraft management and maintenance, eliminating the insecurity of manual pen-and-paper tracking and increasing confidence in safety.

“We utilize the same system we employ for our FAA regulated Part 135 charter operations which requires incredibly thorough and exact record-keeping,” Fleet Aviation’s Director of Maintenance, Chris Szabo, elaborates. “The comprehensive tracking we provide allows us to advise our CMTP clients of any safety concerns such as upcoming maintenance events, mandatory inspections, optional service bulletins, and Airworthiness Directives. A quick login prior to any flight gives a real-time snapshot of flight-worthiness and impending maintenance timelines – something piston aircraft owners have never had the option of before.”

Fleet’s CMTP is part of the company’s larger Aircraft Services division that includes Aircraft Management, Database Management, and Piston Aircraft Maintenance performed out of their hangar space at Westchester County Airport (HPN). Fleet Aviation is a Limited Cirrus Service Center offering airframe and powerplant services and inspections for all piston engine aircraft, with a specialization in TCM and Lycoming engine maintenance. Additionally, Fleet offers Aircraft on Ground (AOG) and on-call emergency aircraft maintenance services around the clock.

Fleet CEO Doug Brennan notes, “One of the great things about our CMTP is that you don’t need to be on-site to use it. No matter where you are in the country, we can save you money and time by avoiding foreseeable maintenance problems and potentially lowering your insurance premiums. Moreover, you will increase the value of your aircraft when it comes time to resell it.”

Pilot Training

Fleet Aviation is an on-demand airline and the regulations we follow regarding safety, record keeping, maintenance, and pilot training are the same as the commercial airlines. Clients who fly with us regularly acknowledge that our pilots are not only extremely professional but clearly experts in the field of aviation.

In addition to having thousands of hours of flight time under their belts, our pilots undergo an additional 50 hours of training led by our Chief Pilot, Karl Liang.

1. Basic Indoctrination. (2 days) This includes a review of all airline regulations and procedures, as well as  Emergency Drill Training. A test of applied operational knowledge is issued and all pilots must score 80% or above.
2. Baron Ground School. (2 days) This training includes detailed instruction regarding the operation and function of the Baron aircraft. Pilots are then required to pass two tests specifically about the Baron.
3. Limitations and Memory Items Exam. Pilots have to memorize every limiting speed and weight of the aircraft and all emergency procedures. Pilots will only pass this exam with 100% accuracy. Failure to score perfectly will disqualify a pilot from further training.
4. Line Operations Field Test. (LOFT) This is a 12-hour, scenario-based simulator test.  Pilots must complete all tasks – including paperwork – as though this were an actual charter flight.  They are also presented with emergency events from which they must recover.  Three different scenarios are presented and a validation test is given.
5. Airplane Field Test. Pilots are put through more than six hours of actual flight testing in the plane. Two or more possible scenarios are presented, to which the pilot must react and handle accordingly.
6. FAA Part 135 Captain’s Check Ride. With FAA Evaluator , This exam requires the pilot to pass both a written test and an in-airplane flight evaluation.
7. Steps 2 through 6 are then repeated, this time focusing on the Cirrus aircraft.
8. Steps 2-7 must be repeated every 6 months.

Your safety is our number one concern, and we train our pilots to confidently handle every situation, from the ordinary to extraordinary. For more information regarding our pilot requirements and training, please contact us at 866-862-9509, option 1.

Yes, We Fly All Winter!

Providing Value Part 2: Differentiation

On Friday, I loaded in a post about how providing value to clients sometimes means turning them away, that was inspired by an article I read in Forbes’ “Wheels Up” column.  As I read through the post I found myself thinking about providing value in other ways that require a sense of impartiality. One really sticks out in my mind: differentiation.

If your company really stands out in a way that matters to prospective clients, you will be confident that when you find folks that value your particular way of doing things they will not only become clients, they will most likely become repeat clients. Sometimes, after assessing a prospect’s needs, it makes the most sense to point them towards someone else. Or, at a very minimum, readily admit that you can’t offer them what they are looking for (which is more related to the last post).

In order to confidently sell your services/products, you have to really believe in what you are doing is different and special. When someone asks you why they should buy from you and not the next guy, if you don’t have a quick and succinct answer then I would start wondering why you are in business. (And if perhaps you should just allow yourself to get acquired by your competitor). Without articulated differentiation between providers, the market becomes fragmented and difficult for new prospects to understand — which may ultimately lead to complete indecision, or a haphazard decision that doesn’t meet the client’s needs and results in them not returning to the industry again at all.

It isn’t enough for you to declare your difference — it has to make sense and be relevant for the audience you are targeting. In aviation, a lot of providers differentiate based on the type of aircraft they fly — but does that really matter to the flier? If their comfort experience is the same on both of types of aircraft and the pricing is the same, I would guess few people would actually feel invested in which manufacturer made the aircraft.

Of course, when you are comparing jets to the small aircraft we fly, then the type of aircraft does make a difference. But once you have already convinced a prospect of the dramatic cost difference of using a small aircraft for regional travel (at little-to-no travel time penalty) — how do you make your company the most attractive one for them amongst all of the small aircraft providers out there? It is that information that will close the sale for you. At some point, you have to stop selling the category and start selling yourself.

We, at Fleet, take care to educate everyone – not only our business development staff – on what makes us different versus competition. Let’s take a quick look at Fleet as a case study in differentiation…

Fleet’s differentiation in the small aircraft market comes in a variety of ways:

1) First and foremost, our locations are what set us apart. Close to Manhattan in New York and the Cape/Boston in Massachusetts – we eliminate repositioning fees and parking fees for passengers coming from those areas, keeping costs low. We also end up with more time slots available in a day for folks who want to fly out of our base airports — each trip becomes a “there-and-back” instead of a 3-legged “repositioning-to-there-and-back” itinerary that keeps the plane away longer for each individual trip.

2) The second thing that sets us apart is the young age of our aircraft. Of our fleet of 4 aircraft, our oldest is a 2005 and the others are 2008, 2009 and 2010. This not only provides a nicer experience for clients, but increases confidence in the safety of our aircraft. Furthermore, all of our aircraft have glass cockpits, ensuring we have access real-time situational and weather related information during all flights — allowing us to safely navigate around weather patterns that might ground some of our competitors.

3) The third thing that I think is really important is our 5+ year history operating in this region. Our pilots and our management team has a unparalleled depth of local/regional experience that helps clients build optimal itineraries. We urge clients to call us simply with where they want their final destination to be, and we can select the best airport given projected weather, traffic, and ground travel distance. Of the 500 or so airports in the Northeast, we’ve likely been to each one at least once. And, in a time when charter companies pop up and die out, it’s nice for folks to know they can depend on us to be there for them.

There are other pieces that support our differentiation in the market — responsive service (some of our competitors are literally impossible to reach after hours or on weekends). Highest levels of safety (We have a specific position that oversees that our operations are air-tight and extremely safe). A willingness to organize ground transportation, so we are a one-stop shop for getting from point-A to point-B. … and so on.

Knowing this information allows us to put together a profile of an ideal client:

• Someone who lives, works, or needs to travel to a location in proximity to one of our bases
• Someone who values the comfort of the aircraft
• Someone who is concerned about the safety of their flight
• Someone who needs to travel to a hard-to-reach location, perhaps for the first time

Assuming the prospect is already sold on the idea of charter, we are able to immediately assess whether Fleet Aviation is the ideal provider for us.

If someone lives in Baltimore, MD and wants to fly to Lancaster, PA – we would be happy to provide them a quote. But we will do so with the warning that it might make more sense for them to find a local provider. It does nothing in our favor to convince someone to take that trip with us, only to have them disembark and feel like it was a waste of resources. That’s not the purpose of charter in the first place! Although closing a sale always feels great… in the end, it doesn’t do us any favors if the client feels ripped off. We have to believe in the unique value that we can provide, and be confident enough to hold out for the “right fit” clients. They are the ones who will reward us by returning again and again.

In order to do business most effectively, you have to know who you are and who your services/products appeal to. If you don’t know that information, how can you expect anyone else to?

Enhanced Vision System

Photo courtesy of Cirrus Aircraft