Aviation: One Big Happy Family!

Note: Folks, at the very moment this blog is posting, I am knee-deep in a radio interview and talk, back in the town and college where I first attended flight school.  So, for today, I have turned the flight blog over to my good buddy, Michael Lothrop.

Michael, you have the controls!

—Cap’n Aux

Power Team! L-R: Rich’s wife Barbara, Rich, Jake’s wife Ashley, Jake

The Aviation Community: One Big Happy Family!

Guest Post by Michael Lothrop

Pilot and FlyMaine.Blogspot.com Author

I felt like I had stepped back into a pre-2001 time warp when I settled in with them. This is a family affair.Michael Lathrop

Warmest greetings to the Capnaux Nation, from the frosty State of Maine!

Micro drones were flying around the office. I knew I was in the presence of  true Avgeeks

During this season filled with reminders calling for us to be thankful, I am thankful for being able to talk about aviation with you here today! If you are new to the aviation community, you will quickly find that it is all about just that, community!

About a year ago, I was inspired by Capnaux’s video Livin’ the Dream to get back into writing. That decision has allowed me to meet some amazing people and make great friends along the way. Recently I had the opportunity to meet two aviation junkies who are now truly “livin’ the dream” by opening their own flight school!

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Minute Man Field is a small general aviation airport in Stow, Massachusetts, which is about 21 miles west of Boston.  Partners Jake Woodford and Richard Corley are friends who own a Diamond DA-40 together. By trade, Jake is a police officer in a nearby town, and Richard is an engineer. They each have very strong ties to the community and both have a passion for anything flying. As a matter of fact, while I was there, they received a delivery of remote control micro drones that they were flying around the office! At that point, I knew I was in the presence of  true Avgeeks.

It may surprise you to learn that Jake and Richard have only been flying for about three years, having licensed right around the same time. One day, they were talking and one mentioned to the other that the airport was loosing its flight school. The conversation drifted to “hey you, want to open a flight school?” Well, that conversation took place this October and the grand opening was November 15! Just like that, Aptis aviation was born.

The conversation drifted to, “Hey you, want to open a flight school?” Just like that, Aptis aviation was born.

Now before you think that this sounds too good to be true, let me explain some of the moving parts that make this all happen. While both Jake and Richard have strong pilot skills, Aptis employs two full time CFI’s who have both Part 61 and Part 141 flight instruction experience. This basically means they have taught in flexible curriculum settings for private persons, and more structured settings for career-minded individuals. Not only are these instructors experienced, but they are required to spend time in the simulator each month as well as to attend development courses.

So far, the decision to employ two full-time instructors was easy. They are currently working a student load of 18, with eight more in the neighboring ground school.

That leads us back into the “community” that we spoke of earlier. Jake and Richard realized that the only way to make this work well was to partner with other services on the airport. Minute Man  is a tight knit group, and the success of one business helps the other. Neighboring Magenta Flight Training conducts safety and training seminars and provides the simulator work, while the A&P (airframe and powerplant mechanic) at Alpha Bravo Maintenance provides the work on Aptis’ aircraft.

Aptis currently owns two aircraft, a Cessna 150 and a Cessna 172, and leases an Aeronca Champ tailwheel aircraft. This allows Aptis to offer instruction for the Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Tailwheel endorsement.

All of the technical aspects of the operation aside, I was most excited about the enthusiasm that Jake and Richard have for aviation. While we walked around the airport we stopped and looked at several planes and talked about their story and their owners. The planes have just as much of a story as their owners do. The fact that we were roaming around a freezing cold airport ramp willingly on our days off should speak volumes as well.

Another exciting aspect of our visit was hearing about their dedication to technology and safety. Jake and Richard are willing to go the extra mile to use technology like the simulator, computer programs, and modern training aids to train pilots the right way. Anyone who has been around aviation for any length of time will tell you that safety is always a worthwhile investment.

Jake and Richard are both rooted in the community at large and are working out the details to become more involved with the local schools to educate young people about aviation. As a police officer, Jake especially sees the benefit of investing in youth. They hope to have a group of young people build a small kit plane, to not only get them thinking about aviation, but to get them involved in aviation.

I was so excited to hear about the kit plane program. I grew up around the airport in the pre-TSA era. I didn’t need a line badge or even a car. I rode my bike there, did whatever was asked of me, and soaked up every bit of aviation knowledge I could. One of the greatest experiences I had was helping several people on kit builds, A&Ps on engine work, and even a Beach Bonanza restoration. I know that being engaged and a part of the action was what kept my heart so firmly planted in sky.

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that this is a family affair. Once I asked about the amount of time they spend at the airport after their real jobs, I was prompted to ask “how do your wives feel about this?”. The answer made all the sense in the world, their wives are just as involved and interested in the school as they are!

Despite there being a fence around the airport, I felt like I had stepped back into a pre-2001 time warp when I settled in with Jake and Richard. We spent more time swapping flying stories, looking at other people’s planes, and talking about the latest happenings than we did doing the interview. There is just amazing energy there, backed by strong years of solid business experience on both sides of the table. Just when I thought it wasn’t possible anymore, there are people still out there who are truly in it for the love of the game. Jake and Richard are helping others “live the dream” while truly “livin’ it” themselves…

Capnaux Nation,  I challenge you to keep chasing those dreams!

Michael Lothrop is a lifelong aviation enthusiast and dad, having started flying at the age of 13 and fathering 6 years ago. The events of 9/11 led him to pursue public safety, during which time he served as a 911 dispatcher, emergency medical technician, and patrol officer. These days he works in the business world, instructs firearms classes, volunteers at church , and writes for several aviation publications on topics in the New England region. He is told he is growing up, but he is not ready to submit to that yet, and nor should you be. . Follow him on Twitter.

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