As the UND Aerospace fleet continues its transition to the Cessna-172, exacting standardization across our large group of flight instructors and students is the main concern of the flight department. The latest episode entitled “Checklist Procedures and Resource Management” is designed to start every UND pilot off on the right foot the first time they show up to fly these brand-new airplanes. Using this episode in conjunction with the expanded checklist procedures from the UND C-172 standardization manual will be the perfect primer for any pilot getting ready to fly the Cessna.

As you watch the video, don’t be afraid to pause along the way in order to study different animated flows and checklist procedures. If you are a student new to the C-172, use this video in conjunction with the UND Aerospace online checklist procedures trainer so that you have your flows down by the time you show up for your first lesson. Knowing all of your flows will make your first flight smoother and a lot more fun.

Thanks to everyone who submitted fan photos - keep ‘em coming. If you have any comments about the episode or the series in general, as always, let us know what you think by leaving a comment on our iTunes page.

Enjoy the episode, and have fun on your next flight!

Let’s face it, as we begin our flight training, most, if not all of us will be doing quite a bit of flying in small, single-engine aircraft. At UND Aerospace our entire fleet is maintained to meet the highest standards of airworthiness and safety. In other words, we could not feel more confident in our machines every time we fly. Still, those machines are powered with one engine, and so this video is dedicated to that highly-unlikely event that every pilot keeps in the back of their mind each and every time their wheels leave the ground. Though extremely rare even the best-maintained aircraft is susceptible to an engine failure during flight in which the pilot must rely heavily on previous training and experience in order to successfully execute a forced, power-off landing. UND CFI Anthony Bottini takes you through the necessary steps that should be in the back of YOUR mind the next time you fly, because the best pilots will ALWAYS have a plan.

For the viewer’s convenience, this latest High Definition (HD) AeroCast episode has been released in two versions, a “Large” and “Small”. (”Large” and “Small” refers to the file sizes) The Large will work great and look great on your computer, while the Small version is meant to really “pop” on that iPod/iPhone while taking up less storage space. Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget, we on the UND AeroCast staff loooooovvvvveee the attention, so hop on iTunes, go to our “UND AeroCast” page and tell us what you think by leaving a comment and a rating - every little bit helps:)

Smack dab in the middle of our 40th Anniversary, UND Aerospace has let the cat out of the bag and introduced the addition of the newest member of a fleet of over 100 aircraft. As of July, 2008 UND Aerospace started the process of transitioning its fleet of primary trainers, comprised of the Piper Warrior, over to brand-new 2008 Cessna 172SP’s. This latest AeroCast episode gives an inside-out look at UND’s new single engine trainer. This episode also marks the beginning of the UND AeroCast being presented in HD. (Now you won’t have to waste screen space on those cool new iPhones and iPod Touches when you watch the AeroCast.)

In keeping with our recent traffic pattern/landing theme, the UND AeroCast has released the Warrior Standardization episode for the Soft-Field Approach and Landing. Mike Lents is filmed in this episode demonstrating Soft-Field Landing techniques that every student must practice and master prior to operation into any airport that doesn’t have pavement. If you have any questions or comments about this or any other UND AeroCast episodes, send them to undaerocast@aero.und.edu Enjoy the episode!

OK, so its been awhile, but the UND AeroCast is back at it and this time UND Aerospace Lead Flight Instructor Mike Lents teaches the UND Warrior Standardization procedures for performing high performance Short-Field Approaches and Landings. In this episode, Mike draws upon his years of experience teaching students the Short-Field Landing technique in both tailwheel and tricycle-gear aircraft and discusses the key points involved with performing a safe and successful Short-Field Approach and Landing. A huge thanks goes out to Steve Kulhman for sending in his video sign-off from Ontario and to Stephan Gerhardt for the amazing flying photos. Keep sending ‘em in, we’re running low! Whether watching from your computer, iPod, iPhone or whatever, enjoy the latest UND Aerospace AeroCast training addition and stay subscribed for more great aviation video-podcasted episodes.

Hurry up and wait!!! That’s right its time to learn the UND-Standardized IFR Holding Pattern. Even though most people fly airplanes to go fast, there are times that we are required to fly those airplanes fast, but in a racetrack pattern over and over again. A while back, “gerchagrin”, left a comment on our iTunes Music Store page requesting a video on holding patterns. gerchagrin, here you go buddy, and thanks for the comment - we always value the viewer comments on our UND AeroCast iTunes page. If you like what you’ve been seeing (or have some critiques), head on over to the iTunes music store and tell us what you think about the series and what you would like to see in the future. Contributing to this episode are Rob and Matt who sent in another funny video sign-off and Jeff, a UND Alum, who sent in some amazing flying pics from his time flying a Cessna Caravan. Thanks a bunch guys. Enjoy this newest IFR episode and as always, stay tuned for more UND AeroCast video flight training episodes from UND Aerospace and the University of North Dakota.