Jun 1, 2012 - Earlier this week, the FAA designated long-term CJAA member Zach McNeill as a new Experimental Authorization Examiner (EAE) for the AV-L29, AV-L39, BAC-167, CM-170, MIG-15, MIG-17, Provost, and SO-G2. Zach's designation helps fill a gap in EAE coverage in the Midwest and will be appreciated by large numbers of CJAA pilots needing checkrides and 61.58 proficiency rides.

May 26, 2012 - No one argues keeping current in our jets isn't expensive - As if maintenance and hangar weren't enough, there's the cost of the fuel and the cost of recurrency and instruction/examination. So if there were a way to save money, would you be interested?

If you're within a few hundred miles of St. George, and if you're free for the June 1-3 weekend, come up to St. George (KSGU) and join us for 2012's second Jet Blast. There we will have instructors and examiners, plenty of E and G space, and, believe it or not, $4.20 Jet-A!

May 24, 2012 - The Celebration of Life Service for Doug Gilliss has been finalized.

Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 1300 hours

March Field Air Museum
22550 Van Buren Blvd
Riverside, CA 92518

In lieu of flowers, an aviation scholarship fund has been established by the Curran & Curran Law Firm in Encinitas. Donations can be made to "Curran and Curran Law In Trust for Gilliss Aviation Scholarship Fund" and sent to Curran and Curran Law, 90 N. Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas, CA 92024. All donations are tax deductible.

May 22, 2012 - While we were focusing on the DeKalb Jet Blast, preparations for next week's St. George Jet Blast were underway. The Jet Blast starts Jun 1 at 9:00AM (Thursday arrivals encouraged) and runs through Saturday evening. As is standard, there will be plenty of instruction and flying opportunities available.

One caveat: The hotels are going to unblock rooms very soon. Please don't wait until the last minute to make your reservations.

Useful links:

May 22, 2012 - The AIR-230 branch of the FAA is revising their procedure for Experimental Airworthiness Certificate issuances. Essentially, because of the special nature of "Sophisticated and High-Performance Former Military Aircraft," the process will be controlled in Washington rather than at FSDOs across the country.

May 20, 2012 - Sunday was good for one last set of sorties before pilots and aircraft returned home. There are some sore muscles and derrieres (Russian parachutes aren't the most comfortable!), but also a lot of pride in skill improvements between Friday and Sunday. While Friday's sorties exhibited a bit of winter rust, Sunday's sorties more closely resembled ballet.

May 19, 2012 - The numbers are astounding - 14 jets, 20+ pilots, 49 sorties, two 61.58 proficiency rides and six new or recurrent FAST rides. Our examiners and instructors have been busy. And we still have another half day to go!

The three line boys have been working double-time to keep the jets fueled and the weather has cooperated - One flight group had to raise their floor 1,000 feet, but other than that the weather has been flawless.

For those that missed it, the first pictures have been posted in the CJAA gallery.

May 19, 2012 - 19 pilots representing 11 aircraft (so far) attended range, flight, weather and safety briefings at 0730 this morning. Hosted by Steve Kirik and complemented by others, they lasted an hour followed by individual group briefings. Before flight ops began, we assembled for a quick group photo.

May 18, 2012 - The 2012 DeKalb Jet Blast kicked off earlier today and by 4PM, nine L-39s, two MiG-21s and a T-33 were already in attendance. And we're expecting a couple more tomorrow. The planning put into the event by DeKalb Municipal Airport employees and our Jet Blast host, Paul van den Heuvel, really showed off as pilots were flying two and three times during the afternoon.

May 18, 2012 - Earlier today the aviation community and CJAA lost an experienced aviator, a passionate instructor and a good friend when Doug Gilliss died in a crash in the Nevada desert. Doug was a long-time CJAA member and served the community as a Director, FAST representative and as the author and photographer of numerous, safety-related Jet Journal and website articles.