Submitted by Orcas Aviation Association.

The Airhawks Flying Club and the Orcas Aviation Association (OAA) are looking at a very busy summer of flight training and Mercy Flights.

Four Airhawks students who started their flight training last year are just completing their final qualification training flights, studying and preparing for their examinations to obtain their Private Pilot License (PPL). Six more students have just begun their flight training, and three PPL-qualified individuals are working toward their next goal – to become instrument-rated pilots.

Everyone starts training in the simulator (obtained with a grant from the Orcas Island Community Foundation) to learn basic maneuvers, procedures, terminology, and operating in a three-dimensional environment. All flights are conducted with a Certified Flight Instructor until the student has successfully completed their knowledge via a written test and demonstrated they can successfully and consistently fly all the basic maneuvers, as well as operate safely within different classes of airspace. Once proven, they qualify for a milestone event in their life – their first solo flight! This is followed by additional training and solo flights to build competence and experience before the FAA oral exam and check-ride leading to the Private Pilot License.

Most of the new pilots have committed to participate in OAA’s Mercy Flight Program to fly patients and family members to mainland hospitals and specialist appointments – at no cost. Mercy Flights increase in the summer months when more residents and guests are on the island. Some of the pilots have full-time jobs or other commitments, so a sizeable pool of qualified pilots is needed to meet the demand.

Airhawks is doing even more. It is conducting free training classes (open to any pilot) in the form of Sunday evening study sessions to keep everyone up to date, learn techniques, and have lively discussions about a multitude of subjects — all to keep everyone up to date and to operate correctly in the airspace above us. Additional special training sessions will be conducted on May 14, 15, 17, and 18 to prepare pilots for the written and oral examinations, and May 31 and June 1 for the instrument knowledge test.

Of course, Airhawks and OAA members will be at the airport directing traffic and maintaining safe conditions during the Annual EAA Fly-In the weekend of August 3. An Annual Bar-B-Que will be held on August 10 for all Orcas pilots and their families. Additionally, members of the Airhawks Board have been actively working with the community to address aircraft noise issues and to establish voluntary flight patterns to and from Eastsound Airport that minimize noise to island residents.

Information and details about Airhawks and OAA, learning to fly, Mercy Flights, etc. can be found on the Airhawks website – Airhawks.org