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| By Carmelo Turdo |
In Session Two, led by Wings of Hope Education Programs Manager Lee Ann Nolte and a team of volunteer mentors, the students were introduced to aircraft navigation and communication methods directly applicable to general aviation aircraft. Throughout the day, the students worked together to learn new material and work through increasingly complex navigation tasks performed by pilots on every flight. They also practiced communicating with air traffic control during simulated traffic pattern work around Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The Aero Experience coverage begins with a look at the opening remarks and review of Session 1 concepts before moving on to the new activities of the day.
The session's guest speaker was SOAR Into STEM volunteer mentor Jeff Butler. He is currently an instructor with Envision Paragliding, flying a modern aircraft that both Da Vinci and the ancient Chinese would recognize. Launching from high elevations in western states like Oklahoma and Colorado, he has flown cross-country in an unpowered paraglider at altitudes over 18,000 feet. Here he is shown leading an interactive discussion with the students.
Volunteer mentor and instructor Cathy Babis was the next presenter, giving an overview of the navigation and communication avionics equipment on general aviation aircraft. From the nearly obsolescent VOR to modern GPS, aviation navigation has progressed significantly over the last fifty years. Babis, a former air traffic controller, also gave the students a valuable preview to the group activity coming later in the session. Here we include a portion of her presentation, including a mention of her recent historic flight around mainland Australia in a seaplane.
After lunch, the students began their rotation through four activity stations, each providing a hands-on learning opportunity. Here they are given a list of items to locate on a Missouri Aeronautical Chart and note on their worksheet. Aeronautical charts present a vast amount of information using unique symbology, and attempting to interpret them can be intimidating at first glance. The chart legend was "key" to this exercise, though some expert guidance from the volunteer mentors was helpful in understanding the terminology associated with the symbols on the charts.
Another activity during the session was a navigation exercise that involved plotting a course using scale maps. A flight scenario was proposed, and the students prepared a planning worksheet containing direction, distance and flight time to various destinations. The SOAR Into STEM mentors were again available to assist in the process.
The students also applied their new skills at the desktop flight simulator station. Using the classic Cessna 172 display, they practiced the flight techniques learned in the previous session on the forces of flight and flight controls while employing basic navigation using compass headings and landmarks.
A unique activity was also included in this session - an Air Traffic Control exercise using a large airport diagram laid out on the hangar floor. The students took turns playing the parts of aircraft and air traffic control communicating during operations around the airport in a scripted scenario. The aircraft were represented by RC Spheros as they landed, taxied and took off from the airport.
Before the end of the session, the students gathered in small groups to meet with their STEM mentors for a debrief and discussion of various topics, including higher education options and aviation career opportunities. These informal small group discussions provide a positive and affirming way to conclude each session.
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