Harv's Trains 'Em Up

The following is a sort of travelog on Harv's Aviation's training program for Royal Canadian Air Cadets. The Cadets are between 12 and 19 years old, serving in an organization that has many similarities to the US Civil Air Patrol.

This is the flight program's diary for the 2003 session:

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets June 28, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Coming in from across western Canada, 15 Cadets are arriving tonight for the start of their Private Pilot Training! Over the weekend cadets will be getting settled and organized for the next 6 weeks of intensive training. 

Cadets participating:

• Michelle McLellan
• Megan Hartwick
• Whitney Fox
• Hilary Anderson
• Samantha Fuhr
• Chelsea Stephenson
• Angela Comer
• Jenna Autet
• Jodi Gough
• Pamela Birt
• Lindsey Murphy
• Sarah Craig
• Karri-Anne Neima
• Gabrielle Bouchard
• Desirea Ciother

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets June 30, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Today the cadets where given a introduction to aviation. The rules where reviewed, paperwork completed, and then ground school started. Students covered the air exercises 1-15 which includes exercises such as climbs, turns, slow flight, range and endurance, stalls, spins and spiral dives. Students where then given time to read and review the procedures for their first flight which starts tomorrow!

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 1, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Weather was hot and sunny + 31 C. Happy Canada Day! No holiday for these cadets, they are starting to fly! The group has split into two. One group will fly in the morning, the other group will take ground school. In the afternoon it switches with the morning fliers in ground school and the the other group flying.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 2, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Weather was hot and humid + 30 C Thunderstorms went by to the south in the afternoon. In the air students completed "upper air work". Including exercises such as range and endurance, slow flight, stalls, spins, and spiral dives. On the ground, students are working on air regulations, and the solo flight requirements. Weather today is cooler, with a high of 26 C forecasted. Visibility is unlimited, winds are about 15 knots from the north west. Cadets are doing very well. Some are starting circuit practice, others are practicing upper air work.  Topics covered in ground school include airspace, fuel requirements, weather minimums, and basic airmanship. Currently the plan is to write the PSTAR (Pre Solo Air Regulations) on Monday.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 4, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Weather: Sunny, scattered clouds around 7000 feet, visibility 50 miles. Winds light in the morning, then increased to 30 knots out of the west in the afternoon.

Cadets are practicing circuits. They are practicing take offs and landings, touch and goes, low and overs, stop and goes, and overshoots. In the afternoon some cadets where not able to due to cross winds. The plan is to get more time on Saturday. Ground School is continuing the pre solo air regulations topics.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 5, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

A fantastic Saturday, with light winds, and high cirrus clouds. High of 25 C. Cadets are all working on circuits, working on perfecting flairs, takeoffs, and circuit procedures. Some cadets are starting to practice emergency procedures. A short ground school class to review the PSTAR questions for the exam on Monday.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 7, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

In the morning the cadets completed the PSTAR (Pre solo air regulations). All cadets passed, average mark was 97%. Due to low ceilings, and high winds, the cadets decided to work ahead in the ground school. They have completed Pilot Decision Making, and then will start into practice with the Flight Computer.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 8, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Morning fog burned off by 0900, 21 C, Scattered clouds. Cadets are fine tuning their circuits and emergency procedures. Ground School is covering topics such as performance, weight and balance, and navigation. Early evening we had a first solo!! More to start shortly!

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 9, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

8000 Broken, + 23 On the eastern and northern edge of showers all day, we still managed to get in a good day of flying. Cadets continue to practice takeoffs and landings. Five  SIX students went solo today! Ground School is covering navigation, and performance problems. The second stage exam will take place on Friday.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 10, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

High scattered clouds, + 22 C, light winds. After just 10 days of arriving at Harv's Air, ALL 15 Air Cadets have successfully completed their first solo! Congratulations!!

First Solo Air Cadets where given a certificate that states: "Without disruption of air traffic, this fearless, forthright, indomitable and courageous individual did venture into the wild blue yonder in a flying machine.
Furthermore, this skilful individual did safely land said flying machine at Steinbach South airport incurring no significant damage to self or machine. Thus completing a first solo flight!"

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 11, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Weather was unsettled with showers in the morning and thunderstorms in the afternoon. +25 C. Cadets continue to perfect their landings both solo and with a instructor. Ground School is almost half way complete, cadets are completing navigation and performance problems. The navigation stage test will be completed on Monday.

Cadet Sarah Craig:

Well, it was July 10th, 2003 just prior to 10pm when the Flying Scholarship Girls at Harv's finished the last Solo. I, Sarah Craig was the last to take off into the wild blue yonder all by myself.  Completing 1 circuit at Steinbach South in a Cessna 152 GKTJ off of runway 35. The nervousness flowing through my body until I keyed the mic and boldly called "Steinbach South this is Kilo Tango Juliette rolling on 35". 

Without an ounce of fear I took control of the aircraft and gently led it to the sky.  Not realizing until about half way on downwind that I was alone, I did everything automatically not needing as much thought to make everything come together as one.  Coming in and landing on the narrow yet comforting strip I slowed to a stop down the runway and taxied back to the hanger to put the airplane away for the night.  This marks the beginning for us pilots, our first solo in a powered aircraft, and the entry into the wonderful world of aviation.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 12, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

A great day for flying, clear, winds light and variable. + 25 C. No ground school today. Cadets are practicing short and soft takeoff and landings. Some cadets are getting their hand at instrument flying and improving their upper air work depending on the conditions at the time.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 14, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Unstable day, + 27 C, thunderstorms and showers all day. Depending on conditions students are practicing "specialty" takeoff and landings, upper airwork, or even instrument flying. Ground school is covering meteorology, both theory and reports and forecast. We were pushing airplanes into the hanger just before/during a thunderstorm and the cadets and instructors got very wet. Thus some decided it was time for a line dance in the biggest puddle...I didn't get it either... :-)

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 15, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Morning fog burned off by 9am. Fantastic flying day. Light winds, clear skies, unlimited visibility. Students are gaining solo experience in the circuit and outside the circuit. Students average  15-17 hours total time and around 2-3 hours solo flight time. Navigation exam was completed with a average mark of about 85%. Students are working through meteorology and preparing for the met test on Friday.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 30, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Not a great day for a solo cross countries. Rain showers, turning into thundershowers as the day progressed. + 26 and very unstable. Two cadets manage to complete their small cross countries, the rest had planed to complete their long cross countries but due to thunder showers nobody completed the cross country...so we try again tomorrow. Some managed to complete instrument flights well dodging rain showers. Major Dean Gillarie, and Captain Brent Cook came by to see how the cadets where doing, and we had a good time showing off the new Citabria and comparing Belanca aircraft notes. The Air Cadet league is likely the world's largest operator of Belanca Scouts.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets July 31, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

More rain delays. There is a high pressure moving into the area which will keep things clear for the next few days. Local training flights are commencing like normal. The pressure is mounting on these students. Their skills as pilots are already excellent. They can fly the airplane better then the average student pilot.

The thing they need is confidence. They need to change their mind set from being a "kid" or a "passenger" to being a captain of an airplane. They have to make decisions confidently, promptly, safely and correctly. They need to use the knowledge that they have learned and put it to use.

They also need to realize that flying rarely work out exactly as planned. Pilots have to be ready to go to plan B, C or even D when things change...and they always do. Encourage them to roll with the punches, don't get stressed and DEAL with it. Calm, cool, and collected. The pressure for the next 16 days will get very intense.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets August 7, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

Another great day. + 29 C, light winds, unlimited visibility, no precipitation. Success! A month less 2 days from first solo the first cadet completed her Private Pilot Flight test! Congratulations! The rest of the cadets are hard at work preparing for their flight test.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets August 13, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

A very hot day, + 33 C, windy out of the south. In just 45 days, over 740 hours of flying, and almost 800 hours of ground school, flight tests, and written examinations, the Air Cadets at Harv's Air have completed their Private Pilot license!!! HAPPY DAYS!! YAHOO!!!! Tomorrow the cadets will prepare for their graduation parade, as well as finish the paperwork.

Progress report for Harv's Air Cadets August 14, 2003 Submitted by: Adam Penner

A very hot day, + 35 C, windy out of the south. A fantastic day for the Cadets and Harv's Air! Record attendance, a great group of cadets, the news media, and dignitaries made for a fantastic evening. A very proud evening for our company. Final attendance figures was over 170 guest! Special thanks to our Provencher MP, Vic Toews, Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen, deputy Mayor of Steinbach Dwight Reimer, Fred Petrie of the Manitoba Aviation Council, and leaders the from Women in Aviation. Top cadet is Whitney Fox, who got a Pitts ride the next morning!

FMI: www.harvsair.com