Future pilot, need advice.

JDean3204 said:
You are correct about being covered for a full 36 month period. Here is where you have to be able to crunch numbers to figure out the 80% coverage. For example, say your first flight class is private pilot with a 100% coverage of 10,000. Since you are entitled to 80%, the VA will only cover 8,000, which means you may need to cover the difference if you go over that 80% each term. The VA rep at UND should be able to tell you by now what the VA coverage is per term for each class ( they do vary). Then just take 20% of each term or if not the whole program and that will be what you will need to cover.

At the school I am attending, they have a very thorough breakdown of the coverage that is provided by the VA on a class by class basis for the Aviation Science Degree. Maybe that is something you can ask a VA rep next time you are talking to them. My buddy was entitled to 60% coverage, he is covered for 36 months, just not in full each term, only 60% of the total tuition each term. He did not previously use any other benefits that I know of, but I may not be correct as we did not talk in detail about his benefits other than what he is currently entitled to.

You should have a letter from the VA that states what your entitlements are for the 36 month basis, I am guessing that is where you got the 80% from.

http://www.studentservices.aero.und.edu/pdfs/Individualflightcoursecosts.pdf

The above link is a program cost for UND, this should give you an idea of what you will need to cover the difference if the VA does in fact cover 100% at UND for those entitled to full benefits. Hope that clears is up some for ya.
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Much appreciated, Thank you!
 
If you do end up at UND and fly during the winter don't be one of those students or some instructors crying ICE when its really cold....yes you can fly in snow (provided it doesn't obscure visibility) and it wont stick to the aircraft in flight at that temp. Heard a CFI panicking to tower that he was in snow and it was "accumulating" on the plane. Other aircraft (UND and other non UND) also reported snow but no ice or accumulation, that sure ruined his creditably.
 
Oldschool Pilot said:
If you do end up at UND and fly during the winter don't be one of those students or some instructors crying ICE when its really cold....yes you can fly in snow (provided it doesn't obscure visibility) and it wont stick to the aircraft in flight at that temp. Heard a CFI panicking to tower that he was in snow and it was "accumulating" on the plane. Other aircraft (UND and other non UND) also reported snow but no ice or accumulation, that sure ruined his creditably.
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Probably me, sounds ridiculous and by policy we have to report it. If you have the live ATC I challenge you to find the "panic" in my voice. Go ahead, do it.
 
New policy? The only "accumulation" I've ever seen from cold snow in flight has been a little bit of white on the tire...

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Yes there is a difference between impact snow and ice. No, UND and most of the instructors/students do not differentiate. It's quite unfortunate. Especially considering the chance of icing in temps less than -10C is slim to none.
 
First off, Dave, you weren't on the plane with me. There WAS, albeit small, accumulation occurring on the wing leading edges. Furthermore, that night, there WAS a fairly strong temperature inversion as evidenced by aircraft higher up (6,000' MSL over 3H4) reporting moderate rime. It is possible then, that the precipitation is warmer than ambient as it descends through colder air. Had I been flying through the cloud at the temp it was at (-18C) I wouldn't have expected anything to stick, in fact I've been in clouds at those temps and seen as much. However, with precipitation it's a little bit different, remember it doesn't matter what the ambient temperature is for icing, what matters is the temperature of the droplet itself, and the temperature of the aircraft surface.

And secondly, the policy I'm referring to is what they preach in every flight ops meeting in the wintertime: "If you see it, say something." That doesn't mean everyone has to be full stop on whatever piece of ground is below right meow, that means "Hey guys, heads up so you know what to expect."

All I reported on the radio was that it was snow, in good visibility, some of it appeared to be sticking but at a slow rate. If you're flying in behind me would you rather have that information or would you rather I keep it a secret so you get surprised by it like I was?

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For the record, I wasn't talking about anyone in particular. Just seems to be the general idea that if a snowflake is blowing around, the airport goes into full nuclear shutdown.
 
FAYEV said:
For the record, I wasn't talking about anyone in particular. Just seems to be the general idea that if a snowflake is blowing around, the airport goes into full nuclear shutdown.
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I agree--I experienced the "sky is falling" effect every winter while I flew at UND. A little common sense goes a long way. I would hazard a guess that a decent chunk of reports of icing from "impact snow" are CFIs who accidentally blundered into a cloud and wanted to cover their tails. Not saying that there isn't ever liquid mixed in at warmer temps, but when it's -20 at the surface with a pretty consistent lapse rate, odds are pretty low. I was stuck over 200nm away from GFK one day when someone in a practice area reported exactly that: icing from impact snow. When I called to re-dispatch after dinner I got the news that they were no-fly. Turns out there was exactly one PIREP of ice, and somehow every other airplane in that practice area stayed ice-free. I think this should be required reading for all CFIs before winter flying season begins: http://www.flyingmag.com/safety/weather/whats-new-icing
 
FAYEV said:
Yes there is a difference between impact snow and ice. No, UND and most of the instructors/students do not differentiate. It's quite unfortunate. Especially considering the chance of icing in temps less than -10C is slim to none.
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Maybe over the Dakotas, but I can show you inches of ice from OAT's around and below -10C.
 
Not saying it's impossible, just rare. +2C to -10C seems to be the common icing zone. I know there's a temperature where icing is scientifically impossible, but I don't remember the value...
 
FAYEV said:
Not saying it's impossible, just rare. +2C to -10C seems to be the common icing zone. I know there's a temperature where icing is scientifically impossible, but I don't remember the value...
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-40C seems to be accepted, but it's probably closer to -20.
 
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