January 2025 Newsletter
In The News
01 / Is winter weather keeping you on the ground? Our simulators are perfect for staying IFR current or practicing emergency procedures with your favorite CFI!
02 / “Dress To Egress” – Staying Comfortable in an Uncomfortable Situation
03 / More G7s Join the Fleet
04 / Have you Met CFII Nathan Schmidt?
05 / Tackle Winter WX with an Instrument Rating
06 / Husky’s On Ice!
01 / Is winter weather keeping you grounded? Our Simulators are perfect for staying IFR proficient or practicing emergency procedures with your favorite CFI!
One of the challenges of flight training in the winter months is dealing with winter weather and high winds. To keep progressing in your training on weather days above your personal minimums, your CFI can provide you with instruction on our Flight1Tech flight simulator – and you can book that flight in either our KBED or KPYM locations. As a reminder, our simulators are FAA-certified so that you can log the training experience towards your current rating. Our instructors can give you a fun and challenging scenario to expand your training experience. We expect you will leave the simulator having undergone a productive mental flying workout and find that you can train things in the sim that you simply can’t do in the aircraft.
Check simulator availability and make your reservation on Flight Schedule Pro, or call our KBED or KPYM office to schedule your training.
02 / Pro-Tip: "Dress To Egress" - Staying Comfortable in an Uncomfortable Situation
Pro-Tip by Gordon Landale, MGAV CSIP
Two summers ago, I was flying to Oshkosh. I had a planned fuel stop in Cadillac, MI (KCAD) and we had been zigzagging through thunderstorms most of the day. We landed at CAD just behind the storm and taxied to the self-serve pump. No luck. The storm had knocked out the power to the pump, and when the power was restored, the internet connection did not come back online and there was no way to get the payment to go through. After a few phone calls and two hours of waiting, the pump was again working. We fueled up and were back on our way. Another crew, on the same trip, had a different problem: Their fuel truck ran out of gas after filling up only one side of the airplane. They had to wait for a couple of hours for another fuel truck to arrive so they could complete their refueling and get back on their way.
On a recent Friday in January, I heard about an airplane going off the runway at Plum Island and the occupants had to wait a while for EMS to arrive. What do these events have in common? Everyone experienced a multi-hour delay that was unplanned and unexpected. Fortunately, everyone had enough gear with them to stay comfortable.
This pro tip won’t be so detailed as to cover how to live in the jungle, desert, or arctic for 30 days. Instead, my goal is to provide a few gear recommendations to you should you experience an unplanned delay while on an upcoming flight.
Continue reading the Pro-Tip here.
03 / More G7s joining the fleet!
Here at Mike Goulian Aviation, one of our goals in 2025 is to continue bringing you the newest G7 Cirrus SR airplanes for you to train in. Nearly every month in 2025 we will be welcoming a new G7 Cirrus into our fleet so that you can enjoy all that the advanced Perspective Touch+ Garmin avionics has to offer. You may be surprised how quickly the touchscreen controls become intuitive, and our instructors are standing by to help you get the most out of the airplane.
Next month, we will be adding a new G7 SR20 in KPYM and another G7 SR20 will join the fleet in KBED. We are excitedly awaiting these new airplanes!
04 / Have you met CFII Nathan Schmidt?
Meet Nathan Schmidt, one of our newest Mike Goulian Aviation flight instructors, based at our KBED location. Nathan began his aviation journey at 14, and by 17, he had earned his private pilot’s license. He went on to graduate from The Ohio State University’s College of Engineering with a degree in Aviation and a minor in Real Estate. During his time at Ohio State, Nathan played a pivotal role in organizing career fairs and industry events, connecting students with leading professionals in the aviation industry and fostering valuable networking opportunities.
His internship at Schrager Hampson Aviation Insurance marked his first introduction to the Cirrus Life. Nathan authored an in-depth report on the safety record of the Cirrus SR Series, which sparked his enduring passion for Cirrus Aircraft and their innovative approach to general aviation. Nathan also gained invaluable experience during an internship with NetJets, where he was deeply involved in international flight operations. His responsibilities included filing complex permits for Cuban overflights, securing European landing slots, and navigating regulatory challenges in Indian airspace. This hands-on experience honed his understanding of global aviation logistics and operations.
In addition, Nathan is a board member of the Massachusetts Business Aviation Association (MBAA), and is an active advocate for general aviation in the state. He has led initiatives to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in aviation, mentoring young enthusiasts and promoting the value of corporate aviation.
With aspirations of becoming a corporate pilot, Nathan is eager to share his passion for flying and help clients achieve their aviation goals at Mike Goulian Aviation. His dedication to excellence and commitment to the aviation community make him an invaluable asset to the team here at Mike Goulian Aviation.
05 / Tackling Winter WX with an Instrument Rating
Often referred to as the “master’s degree” of flying, your instrument rating will open new opportunities to you, giving you more freedom to fly in non-VFR conditions, allowing you to reach destinations when clouds and visibility are lower. Some pilots can even reduce their insurance costs once they achieve their instrument rating. Most importantly, the additional flight training and experience gained will increase confidence and give you more flying days in the winter, when New England weather does not always cooperate with our travel plans.
To aid in your ability to reach more destinations, all SR22s, SR22Ts and Vision Jets are certified for Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI), giving you extra margin and capabilities if you need to transition down through a cloud deck to reach your destination airport. The added situational awareness available to you on the G7 flight deck will enhance your IFR training experience, putting critical flight and weather information at your fingertips – including approach plates and en route charts.
In addition, you can log training hours towards your instrument rating on our flight simulators at both our KBED and KPYM locations, allowing you to train when weather conditions exceed what is ideal for flight training.
To plan your instrument flight training call (774-283-1825) or email Ben Acker. We look forward to helping you achieve our 2025 flight training goals!
06 / Husky's On Ice!
LAlton Bay, near Laconia, NH is one of New England aviation’s unique attractions. This runway on the frozen lake is actually FAA approved and is only open for a limited time each winter when conditions permit. It’s a must-do on any New England pilot’s bucket list. Last weekend, CFI Ryan Tierney and Scott J landed one of our Husky’s on the ice runway along with more than one hundred of their closest friends.
Ryan said it was such an amazing experience and something tailor made for the Husky. The Husky has something for the adventure aviator in all of us. Whether winter flying on the ice or summer flying on the grass, there’s nothing quite like landing on unimproved strips using all of your piloting skills. If you haven’t achieved your tailwheel endorsement with us yet, you owe it to yourself to expand your skills and get your tailwheel endorsement before the summer comes.
Check out the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway facebook page.