Recent Media Coverage of the Manassas Aviation Center
From: Discover – Manassas, Haymarket & Gainesville
Business Writer: Kathryn Gendreau
Publication Date: 2005
“Learn To Fly” at Manassas Aviation Center
Manassas Aviation Center started in 1963 as a mail-order
business and evolved into a retail store in Fairfax selling flying
supplies-charts, books, training materials, pilot and aircraft
accessories, and computers.
Through
the store, a group of flying enthusiasts developed a “flying
club,” and in the late 70’s, the club moved with the store to its
current location next to the Manassas Airport.
Although the flying club eventually dissolved, the store
remained… along with three single-engine trainer planes.
A stockholder corporation, Manassas Aviation Center was taken
over by Jim Stone, Ken Richardson, and Sue Yarid in 1998.
In addition to the shop, Manassas Aviation Center now offers
flying lessons from the ground up-teaching beginners through those who
have gone in to become commercial pilots for US and international
airlines. The company has
now grown to a fleet of thirteen planes.
According to Sue Yarid, the average student takes private
lessons once or twice a week.
At this rate, it takes about six to nine months to get licensed.
She adds that it can be accomplished in as little as a month if
the student is willing to devote full time and attention.
“The number of students enrolled really fluctuates,” Ken
Richardson says. Although
students (both men and women) have ranged in age from as young as 15
(for instruction only) up to 75 years old, he explains that because of
the expensive nature of the hobby, the average age for learning to fly
is around 40.
In addition to flying lessons, Manassas Aviation Center is a
LaserGrade Computer Testing Center for the FAA or any organization
that requires certification testing-from Lamaze instruction to funeral
directing. It is also an
FAA-approved flight school with a government contract to conduct
initial flight screening for military personnel.
Manassas Aviation Center’s crew consists of unique
individuals who share a passion for flying and are skilled at
“wearing different hats”.
Jim Stone is more on the “people side” of the business.
He worked in the safety office for Fairfax County’s Virginia
Department of Transportation (VDOT) for many years, began flying in
1970, and started to teach flying as a hobby. When he retired from VDOT in 1995, Jim began working full
time at the Manassas Aviation Center-teaching and doing whatever else
needs to be done.
Sue Yarid has been with Manassas Aviation Center for eight
years and is an “Advanced Ground Instructor” (AGI). She began flying in 1997 by taking lessons with Jim Stone and began working part time at the counter the following year.
Sue now works full time at the Center where she teaches flying.
“This is where I live,” says Ken. It is a part-time position for Ken (he works full time as an
officer for the Prince William Jail), “but it is ALL of my part
time,” he jokes. Ken
says he walked into Manassas Aviation for an “airman check,” which
was performed by Jim, and wound up taking flight lessons and
eventually “minding the store.” The others refer to Ken, a computer whiz, as “the
web-master,” which is obvious to anyone who visits the Center’s
rebuilt and frequently updated web page.
Buddy Swift, a licensed pilot for 10 years, says he wanted to
fly from the time he was a little kid.
Now he owns his own plane, which he leases back to Manassas
Aviation, and he’s studying to be a plane mechanic.
From: Wings of Gold
Writer: Unknown
Publication Date: 2006
Introductory Flight Screening
One of the innovations to improve efficiency of Naval
Aviation flight training is the Introductory Flight Screening (IFS)
program. It has existed
in various forms in the past, but the current program was some new
wrinkles.
Before students commence actual flight instruction they now
get a solid taste of aviation via the IFS syllabus. The Air Force also employs the system.
The U. S. Navy's IFS Program utilizes FAR Part 141 certified
pilot schools to screen prospective Naval Aviators for the skills and
attributes necessary to successfully complete Navy primary flight
training.
IFS provides Student Naval Pilots (SNP) with 25 hours of
civilian aviation flight training and associated ground training prior
to beginning the Naval Aviation training pipeline (Preflight
Introduction).
Student enrolled in IFS must meet the following program
requirements: solo with 26 days (commissioned officers) or 60 days
(pre-commissioned); solo within 15 flight hours of flight t ime;
complete at least three solo flights; complete one solo cross country
flight; fly a minimum of 2.0 solo flight hours; fly a minimum of 24.0
total flight hours; complete the program within 60 days (commissioned
officers) or 100 days (pre-commissioning).
All prospective IFS students are required to register online
after their local military supervisor has confirmed their eligible for
pilot school to begin training.
IFS
program applicant should contact their local military supervisor.
-- ARTICLE INSET--
IFS Instructor
NAF member and retired Naval Aviator, CAPT Howard Stoodley,
8,000 flight hours in his log book and instructs prospective U.S.
Marine Corps Aviators in Cessna 172's at the Manassas Aviation Center
in Virginia. He has
trained over 22 students and easily logs 20 hours of flight time a
month in this choice job.
"I try to evaluate whether or not the individual can
make it through the flight training program. I'm interested not only
in his or her ability to handle the aircraft but their attitude and
the way they handle pressure situations.
Roughly 90 percent successfully qualify and go in to the Naval
Air Training Command flight syllabus."
CAPT Stoodley added, "I'm the Assistant Chief Pilot in our organization and fly mostly check rides. These young people are extremely impressive and highly motivated. In fact, they are so good they reassure me that our aviation forces are in the best of hands."