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June 20, 2022

AeroTV at SNF22: The Secret Lives of U.S.N. F-18 Instructors

A 'Plattle' Tale

Airshow goers curious about the day-jobs of the pilots performing overhead will be intrigued by the account of Lieutenant Commander Zach “Plattles” Drum, a U.S. Naval Aviator and instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Oceana. Monday through Friday, LCDR Drum can be found at Virginia’s NAS Oceana, where—through the high-art of Naval flight instruction in the VFA-106 Super Hornet—he converts fledgling F-18 drivers into effective strike-fighter aircrews. On select weekends, however, “Plattles” takes his skills on the road, performing in airshows as a member of the VFA-106 Rhin

Aero Linx: Airport Services Association The ground handling industry is the foundation of air transport. Ground handlers support passengers throughout every step of the airport journey and are indeed the hidden champions of the sky. Everything we do, below and above wing – from check-in and boarding to aircraft fueling, towing and de-icing makes air travel possible! No plane can take off without us. Airport Services Association (ASA) is the globally recognized trade association for the independent ground and air cargo handling industry and is the voice of the 1.6 million men and women who service the aircraft on the ground.

Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) The lowest MSL altitude at which an IFR aircraft will be vectored by a radar controller, except as otherwise authorized for radar approaches, departures, and missed approaches. The altitude meets IFR obstacle clearance criteria. It may be lower than the published MEA along an airway or J-route segment. It may be utilized for radar vectoring only upon the controller’s determination that an adequate radar return is being received from the aircraft being controlled. Charts depicting minimum vectoring altitudes are normally available only to the controllers and not to pilots.

“This flight is another vitally important step for the Beechcraft Denali program as the aircraft will be used primarily for testing aircraft systems like avionics, cabin environmental control and ice protection. The team has made great progress, accomplishing key goals in the flight test program, and the Denali team heads into the second half of 2022 with a great deal of momentum.” Source: Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering & Programs, folowing the test flight of the second Beechcraft Denali prototype to fly.