Flying the Web

Aviation has come of age on the Internet. Now, there's so much Information about flying available on the Net, you can't afford to ignore it.

With almost every key manufacturer or supplier providing Web site access to their products and services, a consumer with Internet access can let their fingers-and mouse-do the walking. The Internet provides an amazing opportunity for consumers to save time and money, have instant access to an almost unlimited supply of consumer and product information, make more intelligent purchase decisions than ever before, and ultimately, be what all pilots want to be: better pilots.

Imagine the following scenario to illustrate the point.

Alan Armin, having finally finished graduate school, decided it was time to learn how to fly. With a busy life, and without the resources of Bill Gates, Alan needed to find flight training that met his schedule and his budget.

Alan had already used the Internet to purchase CDs and books, so he decided to see what he could find about learning to fly. instantly, the browser returned a wide range of training options from all over the world, from live-in academies which take zero-hour students all the way through airline pilot training, to independent instructors who have their own Web sites, to learn-to-fly Web sites from the U.S. Air Force. Alan found Web sites for some of the FBOs at the airport near his house, one that even allowed him to book his training sessions over the Internet.

Since he didn't intend to become a professional pilot and didn't have enough vacation time to learn to fly in Sweden, Alan quickly narrowed his choices to the local training sources. Telephone numbers on the Web sites allowed him to arrange interviews with the chief flight instructors before making a final decision. In 30 minutes, Alan had shopped for information from 28 flight schools, all without leaving his chair.

Next came an Internet search for groundschools. While Alan originally thought he wanted a typical classroom program, he read the presentations from companies that offer home-video study, another that uses an interactive CD-ROM, and two different certified ground instructors who would travel to his home. Ultimately because of schedule conflicts, Alan selected a groundschool that's entirely online, so he could work at his own pace whenever he felt like it.

Before starting the actual flying, Alan wanted to purchase the equipment his instructor recommended-headsets, E6B, knee board, charts, logbook, etc. A search on the Internet came up with nearly 100 places that sold the supplies Alan was seeking. One company was even having a sale, and another offered a special promotion. With the Internet, Alan had shopped more suppliers than he realistically ever could have done in person. He even saved some money.

After his first few flights, Alan knew that flying was for him. He decided he had to own his own airplane, and quickly found the-Web sites -of every major airframe manufacturer. The-re, he was able to compare equipment, specifications and performance quietly at home. With the help of his instructor, Alan decided to buy a new Cessna 182.

After reviewing his financial statements, complete with student loans that still loomed large, Alan decided that his first airplane should be "previously owned." He immediately found that the world is full of companies and private individuals who sell airplanes over the Net. After comparing information and prices on 23 used Cessna 182s from all over the country, Alan determined that maybe he had been a bit too enthusiastic, and perhaps a Cessna 152 would be a better choice to start out.

That is, if he could get the necessary loan. Alan had already joined the AOPA, and while visiting their Web site (www.aopa.org), Alan found information on financing. He also found that the AOPA provides information for people planning to purchase airplanes, create partnerships, etc. Another search turned up a number of other sources for financing, including a site that would even allow him to compute his airplane payments amortized over ten years. After a couple of calls to check interest rates, Alan realized that he might actually be able to afford to learn to fly in his own airplane!

Another search on the Internet and Alan brought up information on aviation insurance. One site suggested that the independent flight instructor who was teaching Alan to fly could be named as the primary pilot until Alan had a private license and 100 hours in the aircraft. Another insurance agent recommended a policy that would allow any current private pilot to fly the aircraft with Alan@s permission, and Alan could fly under the supervision of a CFI.

Flying his new airplane, Alan passed his check ride (after scheduling the designee over the Net). As his instructor shook his hand, he said what all CFIs are supposed to say@that Alan should consider his new ticket "a license to learn."

Alan did exactly that. And as he gained experience flying, he began to make a list of places where he could learn on the Internet:

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): www.aopa.org

AVweb (aviation magazine and news service): www.avweb.com

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA): www.eaa.org

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): www.faa.gov

FAA Office of Accident Investigation:www.faa.gov/avr/aai/ aaihome.htm>

FAA, NTSB, DOT Links: http://avialex.com/links.htm>

Flight Standards Aviation Information: http://av-info.faa.gov

Landings: www.landings.com

National Transportation Safety

Board (NTSB) Aviation: www.ntsb.gov/ aviation/aviation.htm>

NTSB-Aviation Accidents-Index of Months: www.ntsb.gov/aviation/ months.htm>

NTSB-Aviation Accident Statistics: www.ntsb.gov/aviation/ stats.htm>

NTSB-Home Page: www.itsasafety.org

Office of Accident Investigation: www.faa.gov/avr/aai/iirform.htm>

PilotAge Southern California Pilots: www.PilotAge.com

PLANE & PILOT: www.planeandpilotmag.com

The more Alan learned, the more he was amazed by people who really knew how to fly. He became an avid attendee of air shows, and bookmarked Web sites like these whenever he found them:

AeroWeb: www.aero-web.org

The Airshow/Airshows Database: www.airshows.com

AIRShows.org-The Airshow Authority: www.airshows.org

www.airshowpics.com.

The Official EAA AirVenture Web site: www.fly-in.org

The Official Patty Wagstaff Airshows Home Page: www.pattywagstaff.com

Sean D. Tucker PowerAerobatics Airshow Performer, Airshows: www.poweraerobatics.com

Alan found groups on the Internet with whom he could have real-time conversations about flying; visited the air museums of the world; found articles on making better crosswind landings; received aviation legal advice; discovered fly-ins with pancake breakfasts and associations of people who dressed alike and all owned the same kind of airplane. So it shouldn't surprise you to learn that Alan found his next job on the Internet-in aviation.

Everyone agrees that it's a great time to get into aviation-but it's an even better time to get into aviation on the Internet.

[Sidebar]

For The Internet-Challenged

1 The basic requirements are a computer, modem and phone line, access to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a software Web browser.

2. Most new computers come out of the box ready to go onto the Internet

3. The Web site is an electronic location that contains and makes information available to browsers.

4. Browsers also connect with "search engines," which allow you to type in what you want it to find. Searches are world wide and can return hundreds of examples of what you're looking for.

5. To prime the pump, pick up 5200 Best Aviation Web Sites (And 100 More Worth Bookmarking) by John M. Merry.