Aeromedical Part 2: Hypoxia

Captain Judy Rice and Navigator Fred by their Cirrus SR22T during the National Tour Captain Judy’s Corner: Aeromedical Part 2 – Hypoxia “Are my lips blue…?” Hypoxia aeromedical awareness matters. The Cirrus SR22T effortlessly reached the altitude of 8,500 MSL. The turbocharged airplane had a built-in oxygen system for higher altitudes. The maximum altitudes along our 3-month national tour would not exceed 10,000 MSL. It seemed unlikely we would be using the Cirrus oxygen system according to oxygen requirements when flying 12,500 MSL for over 30 minutes as stated in FAR 91.211. We had reached our crossing altitude before approaching the Arizona mountain ridges. I focused on clearing the ridges with ample altitude if encountering turbulence. We were safely on … Read more

Mar 1

Aeromedical Part 1: Motion Sickness

Captain Judy’s Corner: Aeromedical Part 1 – Motion Sickness “I alerted my aerobatic instructor…” My earliest memory of riding in a car was leaning out the window for fresh air and positioning my head carefully into a brown paper bag while my stomach was churning. My parents reassured that eventually I would outgrow these queasy moments. At a very young age, I learned to avoid looking down, such as looking at picture books, if I were inside a moving vehicle. I also always had water, sat next to a window, and if all of these precautions did not work, then the brown paper bag was nearby. Can flying a plane cause motion sickness? My first experiences as a student pilot … Read more

Feb 1

Technology and Problem-Solving

Madrid, Spain: Captain Judy Rice with Madrid students Captain Judy’s Corner: Pilot Technology and Problem-Solving “Our fuel stop was forecasting ceilings (clouds) at the lowest landing minimums and a slow moving line of thunderstorms…” Pilots rely on technology and problem-solving skills. My crew met me in the lobby for a quick cup of coffee before checking weather and then pre-flighting the Citation. We had our flight plan on file from our departure: Regina, Canada (CYQR) to Churchill, Canada (CYYQ) for a fuel stop, and then to Iqaluit, Canada (CYFB). This would be our final destination on our second night of this world flight voyage. Our fuel stop was forecasting ceilings (clouds) at the lowest landing minimums. There was a slow-moving … Read more

Jan 2

The Importance of Visas

Captain Judy’s Corner: The Importance of Visas for Pilots “I did what I could, and it’s out of my control…” I’d been asleep about two hours before being awakened by the call. We had a long day and an early departure in the morning for Saudi Arabia. “I did what he could, and it’s out of my control,” said the heavily accented voice on the other end of the call. Our landing permit was denied due to a visa issue, according to our caller. What happens when you don’t have a visa? The Saudi Arabia Visa office had now denied our entry for the third time. I was in the United States for the first two denials, allowing time to … Read more

Dec 9

Shared Goals, Shared Knowledge, Mutual Respect

Shared Goals, Shared Knowledge, and Mutual Respect Captain Judy’s Corner What do shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect have to do with a major airline, a world flight, and Epic Flight Academy? “Citation N178SF, do you need assistance?” The Sakhalinsk air traffic controller gave us a straight-out departure on Runway 19. I was flying left seat, and my first officer, Edwin, was busy with communications. I had almost thawed from the biting Russian cold. The Citation climbed effortlessly at 3,000 feet per minute. As we climbed through solid gray clouds, the advanced avionics technology displayed on our glass cockpit went blank! Both displays were totally dark, leaving us with no instruments or navigation aids. We were in the ‘soup,’ … Read more

Mar 23

Women in Aviation

When people hear the phrase “women in aviation,” they inevitably think of Amelia Earhart, the famed aviatrix who was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. However, Earhart is most remembered for disappearing on a 1937 flight across the Pacific Ocean when she was just 39 years old. Earhart’s disappearance has been a staple of mystery fans with dozens of theories about her fate. In March 2017, new research suggested a plausible conclusion to the mystery, although it’s the kind of story people will likely debate for years. Regardless of her fate, her legend endures. She has served as an inspiration for female pilots for the better part of a century, such as Elissa Figaro who trained … Read more

Jan 24

Aviation Safety

Aviation safety is the most important topic in pilot training. In 2019, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that 925.5 million passengers flew on U.S. flights. Globally, 4.5 billion passengers took to the skies in 2019. In terms of aircraft, the FAA handled more than 16 million flights in 2019, more than 44,000 each day. These statistics represent a lot of happy landings in an industry whose primary focus is safety. Flight training is no different. Safety remains the number one priority for flight schools, and Epic Flight Academy is proud to be at the forefront with its “Safety First” policies, procedures, equipment, and maintenance. Pilots who train at Epic learn on Day One that the emphasis of all flight … Read more