WTC Pilot Programs

Advanced Pilot Training

The purpose of offering Advance Pilot Training, to our WestWind Captains, is to provide supplemental education that may not be found within your current version of Microsoft Flight Simulator. The Advance Pilot Training program can offer you aeronautical theory as well as real life lessons learned by our contributing pilots and aviation educators. Please remember to leave a critique after you have completed each lesson. Through your feedback, we can improve the Advance Pilot Training Program for future WestWind, VA Captains.

Meet Ed Ward,Jr…

WestWind is fortunate to have Ed Ward, Jr. as our Chief Pilot & Executive Vice President of Training. He has agreed to share his knowledge and experience with us and with his background in aviation, it is considerable!

Ed is a retired international Line Captain for a major firm and has flown in excess of 7000 high performance jet hours along with 3000 hours in most of the general aviation light piston aircraft. He holds an ATP (Airline Transport Pilots License) and is typed rated in the Cessna Citation, IAI Westwind and Astra corporate jets. He also has logged time as a Gulfstream II corporate jet First Officer. Ed holds a current Certified Flight Instructor's license with Instrument and Multi Engine endorsements. Also, he has obtained an Airframe and Powerplant License with an Inspector Authorization. Ed is a former US Marine Corps Captain and lives in the US in the state of Virginia. Ed is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with a Master's Degree in Education

Meet Ken G…

Ken is our Executive Vice President of Aircraft and Scenery and has been involved with painting aircraft and working flight dynamics since FS 5.1. He has agreed to share his unique perspectives on aircraft here.

Ken is a current Instructor Pilot flying various models of King Air's for the government. He is certified in both airplanes and rotorcraft-helicopters and is a trained International Captain. Ken has over 1,800 hours of flying experience and is a FAA rated Commercial Pilot Airplane single and multi-engine land, rotorcraft - helicopter, instrument airplane and helicopter and is currently working toward his Airline Transport Pilot certificate for Part 121 airplane. Ken has flown a large variety of civil and special aircraft including: Cessna 152, 172, 172RG, 182RG, 210T, 320C; Bell 206B, 212; S70A/L; and the Beechcraft King Air 200, 200T, 300, and 1900. Ken also holds a Bachelors Degree from Northwestern State University in Aviation Science.

Meet Ed Turner,Jr…

Ed is a long-time WestWind pilot dating back to 1996. As one of our most active members, Ed serves as Hub Manager in Atlanta where he "spices things up" by sharing his knowledge and frequently quizzing his pilots on various aspects of aviation. Ed is also a Vice President, Pilot Programs for WestWind.

Ed's real world flying experience includes ground school and ongoing lessons in the Cessna 172, the Piper Cherokee and the Baron Twin 58. Admittedly, Ed says: "Everything I learned about flying, other than jumping with the elite 82nd Airborne during the Korean War , I learned from WestWind Airlines". Ed's real world career was that of Chief Engineer for Simon Corp, where he oversaw the design and operation, or submitted design changes for the construction and operation of power plants at various shopping malls and office towers throughout the country.. His latest projects before retirement were St Louis Centre, and Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. In addition, Ed is also a retired Police Sgt. His military career included: US Air Force Reserve, US Marines Reserve, US Army Reserves, US army 82nd Airborne/Special Ops, US Navy Seabee/UD, US Navy Boiler Technician and US Navy Reserves Instructor.

Advanced Training Programs

Please select from one of the options below for more information.

  1. Emergencies - Dealing with Emergencies both on the ground and in the air. Hang on for a wild ride.
  2. International Flights - A step by step guide to flying from New York to London, across the North Atlantic.
  3. The Stabilized Approach - The ultimate way to arrive. Impress both co-pilot, passengers and cabin crew.
    **Cliff Notes** An abbreviated version for quick study or reference.
  4. Wake Turbulence - "Captain Ed" explains all about Wake Turbulence and Wing Tip Vortices.
    **Cliff Notes** An abbreviated version for quick study or reference.
  5. Living with "I.S.A." and the "Three Cruises" - High altitude flying and three ways to fly an airliner in cruise flight.
  6. Flying the Cabin - "Captain Ed" explains all about cabin pressurization.
  7. More About Turboprops - Captain Ken G. provides "basic" lessons on the B1900 turboprop and propellers.
  8. Advanced FS Techniques Part 1 - Ed Turner, Jr. begin his series of lessons with "Recovering From a Bad Attitude"
  9. Advanced FS Techniques Part 2 - Ed Turner, Jr's second lesson explains "Airway Flying".
  10. Advanced FS Techniques Part 3 - The series continues with Ed Turner, Jr's third installment: "Flying the Checkerboard Approach".
  11. Advanced FS Techniques Part 4 - The forth installment is titled "What are those lights/What do they mean?
    **Cliff Notes** An abbreviated version for quick study or reference.
  12. Advanced FS Techniques Part 5 - "Advanced Takeoff and Landing Techniques" is the subject of Ed Turner, Jr's fifth installment.
  13. Air Transport Future - Ed Ward, Jr. scored an "A" in graduate school for this Power Point Presentation, which he agreed to share with us. Thanks Ed and congratulations!
  14. Fuel Management - Ken G. shares a lesson he worked on while in training for his ATP (Airline Transport Pilots License). Thanks Ken!
  15. Advanced FS Techniques Part 6 - Ed Turner, Jr's sixth lesson teaches us about aircraft performance as determined by weight and balance.
  16. Putting Checklists In Their Place - A research paper by Ed Ward, Jr. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where Ed is a graduate student. Thanks again for sharing Ed!
  17. More International Flight Planning - Ken G shares some lessons learned while attending a formal course on instruction on International Flight Planning.

NOT TO BE USED IN REAL WORLD FLIGHT. NO PARTS OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE REPRINTED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.

If you want to discuss any of these training lessons with other WestWind Captains please remember we have a very active WestWind Discussion and Tech Support forum.

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