RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Despite low visibility over the airfield here Oct. 10, nearly 60 local aviators attended Randolph's Civil Fly In to learn about flying operations of the 12th Flying Training Wing and participate in the information exchange.
Because many of the flying enthusiasts use visual flight rules, or VFR, landing here via instrument flight rules was not an option. However, nine of the attendees were able to land their IFR-equipped aircraft on Randolph's runways despite the weather.
"It was a great success because we had so many people willing to make the drive to attend the event," said Lt. Col. Douglas Hamlin, 12th Flying Training Wing chief of flying safety. "They were able to see what we do, and we could see what they do."
For Rick Lundquist, an energy trading consultant who flew from Houston, the low visibility added to his experience because he logged his flight time for his third instrument lesson with his instructor.
"I had no idea there was this much activity in this area. It gives me a whole new awareness of what I need to be looking for," he said, noting he's found himself within 1,000 feet of another aircraft on three separate occasions since he started flying in 1992. "You've got to know what's in the airspace. We're not professional pilots so we're fools if we don't ask for help and accept it when it's offered."
Mr. Lundquist's instrument instructor, Mike Meadows, was equally pleased with the event and said he learned a lot about military operations and procedure.
"I've never been to a military base before so it's kind of interesting," he said. "I didn't know anything about the slow routes. To see them up close is good [because] they're kind of buried on the charts."
In addition to flying safety briefings and presentations by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Civil Fly In featured displays from life support, security forces, the base fire department, and aerospace physiology. Randolph's assigned T-1, T-6, T-38, and T-43 were also on static display for the civilian aviators to tour.