Time to Head Home; What an Experience

Jan. 27, 10 p.m.: Friday was our final day at Skyport. I went up for the last time to make sure that when I return I will be able to perform the standard maneuvers and landings needed for my check ride. The great news was that, while I was not perfect, I fell within PTS standards for the check ride.

Marty Fass has been a great instructor; I feel blessed to have worked him, as do Franklin (Pillcorema) and Ryan (Barren). My last days were amazing; I got to do a solo cross country flight to Gillespie, Texas and back for a total of 160 nautical miles. I even collected souvenirs from every stop. On my return, I landed at San Marcos, taxied to Skyport and was welcomed by Marty and congratulated. It truly has been the experience of a lifetime and one that I will never forget. 

Roger Sharp, Skyport’s general manager of flight operations, has been amazing to us all. He helped us to succeed in every way. Roger is a very funny and kind person, but when it is time for business he is sure serious. 

Mr. Emerson Allen, a 757 captain for Continental Airlines returned with his wife, Allison. He is a great mentor, and his many years of experience have helped us to study and understand the challenges and responsibilities that come with being a pilot. I look forward to working with them all again four weeks from now and successfully earning my private pilot certificate. Special thanks also to all Vaughn College faculty and staff who came down to Texas during our training. It truly meant a lot to have familiar faces around.

—Erika Barcenes

Vaughn student Erika Barcenes with Continental Airlines

757 pilot Emerson Allen.

Proof That a Dream Can Become a Reality

Jan. 26, 10 p.m.: I can't believe it is already time to leave Skyport and San Marcos, Texas. It seems like we arrived just yesterday. The four weeks we spent at the facility were full of hope, fear, excitement and achievement. Mastering the speed and feel of the airplane was the goal, and it was a time when being stuck at the airport was a great reward. Learning to fly while being surrounded by extremely nice and decent people sharing their expertise and passion was unforgettable. The four weeks of experience gained at Skyport proved to me that yesterday's dream to fly could be a reality tomorrow. It is amazing and I am so thankful. I feel blessed and I am so eager already to come back.

—Margarita Cholakova

Challenging Conditions, but Great Day of IFR Flying

Instructor Marty Fass,
a valuable teacher  

Jan. 21, 11 p.m.: Today was an amazing experience for me. The weather in San Marcos, Texas was bad, but it was below ceiling, not above, so my instructor Marty Fass flew IFR (instrument flight regulations) today with me. He actually let me fly IFR up to 6,500 feet. It was amazing. It was the first time in my life in which I flew above the clouds; it was so beautiful that I flew on instruments halfway to Gillespie County, which is where I will do my solo cross country in the next couple of days.


I flew to Gillespie County, Texas then did a stop and go, continuing to Llano County. At Llano, I did one normal landing and then did a soft field, or turf, landing. It was amazing; I really enjoyed my flight today. But the best part was returning to San Marcos. The weather conditions were still really bad below so we set up for an IFR entry to approach for landing; the best part was that I got to do it with Marty. We were both flying as if we were in an airline, calling out minimums and decent rates. At 900 feet, we saw the runway and Marty and I landed together. I never stop thinking of how lucky I am to have an instructor as great as Marty.

—Erika Barcenes

Solo Flight: A Dream Come True

Jan. 19, 7 a.m.: I soloed.

To say that leaves me speechless. But I did it.

After a rough start Wednesday morning that left me feeling like crying from disappointment, my instructor, Martin Fass, took us out of Skyport and the San Marcos airport for lunch and gave us a ride in his BMW convertible. It gave me a chance to think about the mistakes made during the morning and how to fix them. So after lunch we returned to the airport and I did my preflight checks. Off we went back into the sky for traffic pattern and landings again. I did five landings, which was great.

After my last landing, Marty asked me for my log book. As I was unplugging the headset and packing my equipment, he said: "You don't need to pack your stuff. You can leave it all in the airplane. You're going to be coming back to solo."  

I had the biggest grin on my face and could not believe what he had told me. So I headed back inside to refresh myself. When I headed out for preflight, the winds had picked up. After practicing in the simulators with Marty, we got word that the wind had died down a bit. I walked out to 170RB, my favorite airplane and the same one Franklin Pillcorema soloed in. I began my engine start and went over my checklist carefully. Ryan Barren, also from Vaughn, was so excited for his flight he was racing on the taxiway to get to the runway. I was more cautious and took my time, thinking, "well, I finally am leaving Skyport." 

Erika Barcenes with instructor Marty Fass 

I remember my taxi instructions: "170RB taxi to runway 17 via A,B cross runway 08, and continue on Juliet and hold short of runway 17." My heart dropped I was so excited. When I pulled that yoke and the airplane flew off the runway I couldn't believe I was in the air by myself. I was so full of joy; my dream finally happened, at least a part of it, and a new chapter began in my life. 

When I came around my first landing I was a little nervous. I didn't want to break the airplane. I was precise with what I was doing, and as I touched down my heart was speeding. As I landed, I said: "That was incredible. Let's do this again, two more landings to go." 

On my last landing I taxied back to Skyport and received a beautiful compliment from the air traffic controller. Marty and Roger Sharp, another instructor, pulled me out of the plane with a huge hug and congratulations. I wanted to break into tears. I still could not believe that I did it.

After my solo, Ryan, Frankin, Marty and I did a two-hour, night cross-country flight to Gillespie, Texas and back. My experience here has been incredible. It is a skill and a gift to be able to fly and I have so much respect for all professional pilots.

—Erika Barcenes

Where the Weather's Wonderful

Jan. 18, 12 p.m.: What is it about the area near San Marcos, Texas that makes it so flight-friendly? 


The San Marcos area, in south central Texas, equidistant from Austin and San Antonio, boasts more than 300 near-ideal flying days annually, defined as the number of days in which the flight ceiling exceeds 3,000 feet with unlimited visibility.


All flight students know that flying is weather-dependent, and few places in the country can boast of the weather commonly seen in San Marcos. High temperatures average a robust 63 degrees in December and January, eliminating any possibility of snow and ice. Summertime highs often exceed 90 degrees but even then monthly precipitation averages less than 2 inches. Indeed, humidity is significantly less than in Texas' coastal cities and the absence of a true "rainy season" makes for a year-round "flying season."


The ever-present south Texas wind can present issues, but flight instructors prefer that to dead calm. Some wind enables instructors to grade students on changing stimuli as they learn. Vaughn's eight students have faced windy conditions in their two-plus weeks in Texas and for the most part come out ahead.


"The weather here is wonderful, especially for flying," said Vaughn's Jaen Villalvir.   

— James Stephen Smith,
Director of Public Affairs

Vaughn's Margarita Cholakova takes off into

the San Marcos, Texas morning.

Back in the Air on Friday

Delayed by high winds for much of Thursday, Vaughn College's eight flight trainees were back in the air on Friday. Chilly temperatures lingered in south central Texas, but at least the winds were down.

Margarita Cholakova goes
through preflight checks Friday.

Depending on the skill level of the student-pilot, some instructors prefer a bit of wind; according to one instructor, 10 knots seems to be ideal. That enables the instructor to gauge the student's ability to adapt to changing stimuli such as he or she might encounter when flying solo.

On Thursday morning, gusts exceeded 30 knots (35 mph), occasionally blowing the doors open at Redbird's Skyport facility and isolating the students on the flight simulators.

By the afternoon, the winds had tempered a bit, allowing some students a chance to take off. Better weather was expected for later Friday and ideal conditions are anticipated for Saturday. 

-- James Stephen Smith,

Director of Public Affairs

Inspiration from Vaughn Visitors

Jan. 13, 8 a.m.: It has been a stressful time for everyone here the last three days: The training has become more challenging and everyone, including me, seems to have hit that point of feeling down and upset. Certain things just take longer to understand and perform. For my part, I could not perfect some of the maneuvers Thursday and started to feel as if I could not do this. Nevertheless, I strive to maintain a positive attitude and it helps so much to see familiar faces from Vaughn here to support us.

On Wednesday, (Director of Admissions) Celso Alvarez and (Associate Vice President) Vinny Papandrea arrived. I was glad to see them here, supporting us in every way possible. On Thursday, Vinny actually helped us study and tested us in emergency procedures during the afternoon. Our biggest surprise was the arrival Thursday of (President) Dr. John Fitzpatrick and the return of (Senior Vice President) Dr. Sharon DeVivo. Like children missing their mother, we all truly missed her while she was gone. In fact, we performed better today than when she was back at Vaughn. Dr. DeVivo even joined us in a little competition on the Xwind SE simulator, making a safe landing with no wind conditions and scoring an 859 out of 1,000. We are hoping to solo sometime next week; that is going to be a bigger challenge for all of us, but with a positive attitude comes great success.

-- Erika Barcenes

 

Dr. Sharon DeVivo on Redbird's crosswind simulator on Thursday.

Perfect Performance

Jan. 12, 2 p.m.: Thursday hasn't been the best day for flying, but good things still are happening at Redbird's Skyport facility.

Vaughn College sophomore Ryan Barren carded a perfect landing score of 1,000 on Redbird's challenging crosswind simulator. For his efforts, the 19-year-old Barren was greeted with "hail" in the form of ping-pong balls as he exited the simulator.

"It's exciting; now I just have to do it in real life," Barren said. 

The crosswind simulator is among the most challenging pieces of Redbird equipment. It places pilots in gusting wind conditions for extended periods in the hope of teaching proper landing techniques. Vaughn students have done rather well at it; Barren's 1,000 was a touch better than Franklin Pillcorema's 990.

Real wind interrupted Thursday's morning flying schedule, forcing the students indoors. A break enabled some flying in the afternoon with the promise of better conditions on Friday.

--James Stephen Smith,

Director of Public Affairs

"Hailstones" tossed from his classmates and instructors cascade

down on Ryan Barren after his perfect crosswind simulator score.

A Few Words From Redbird Owner Jerry Gregoire

Jan. 12, 1 p.m.: Vaughn College's interest in Redbird Skyport is simple enough to understand. But what about Redbird's interest in Vaughn?

What is it about Vaughn College, 2,000 miles from San Marcos and Skyport, that is so appealing to Redbird?

"To find a college like Vaughn, that wanted to develop a high-quality flight program was ideal for us," Gregoire, a former top executive at Dell and Pepsi who founded Redbird six years ago, says. "At the same time, we get to use Vaughn's students to test everything here, from the simulators right down to the customer service representatives."

The Vaughn-Redbird partnership dates to mid-September, when the College and simulator manufacturer signed an agreement enabling Vaughn students to pursue private pilot certification at Skyport, in south central Texas. Students complete academic studies at Vaughn, then enjoy three weeks of intense simulator and in-air training from Redbird's staff of instructors.

Both parties believe this will revolutionize flight training, making it less costly for students, particularly those from, say, New York, where high fuel and maintenance costs coupled with a limited number of ideal flying days are a deterrent. 

"Flight instruction is a very expensive process," Gregoire said. "Here, we have 300 days a year where the ceiling is above 3,000 feet with unlimited visibility. Still, this represents a real sacrifice on Vaughn's part to do it here because we're not around the corner."

Despite its $2.7-million investment in Skyport, Gregoire says Redbird still primarily considers itself a simulator manufacturer. While Vaughn students can take advantage of Redbird's top-of-the-line training equipment, they also provide Redbird with "test pilots" for the entire facility, key to Skyport's growth potential.

"When you peel everything away, Skyport is essentially a laboratory," Gregoire says. "The feedback I have received is that Vaughn students are well-prepared and we have been able to collect so much data on the facility from them." 

-- James Stephen Smith,

Director of Public Affairs 

  Redbird Chairman Jerry Gregoire, left and Vaughn College

President Dr. John C. Fitzpatrick.

Southwestern Hospitality

Jan. 12, 10 a.m.: I have been here a little more than a week now, and I have to say I can definitely get used to this. San Marcos, Texas is a beautiful town; the hotel and Skyport facility are very close to Texas State University. The people here are among the nicest I have ever come across. We have all heard about Southern and Southwestern hospitality; I am fortunate to experience it hands on. The San Marcos area has an abundance of restaurants at affordable prices. If there is one thing for certain, it is that Texans are very serious about their burgers and iced tea. We are housed in the Country Inns and Suites, which is also really comfortable, with a gym, pool and a hot tub in which to relax. The hotel is situated about five minutes driving distance from the Redbird training facility. This opportunity means a lot to me, and I will never forget this priceless experience.

-- Gagandeep Munder

Ryan Barren, Erika Barcenes and Gagandeep Munder

go over the day's lessons.

Surprise Visit and More

Vaughn senior Erika Barcenes

Jan. 12, 8 a.m.: The recent visit of Martha and John King (and their letter of encouragement) was a great surprise. They arrived at Skyport in their Citation Mustang, which was awesome. I was pleased to meet them once again, and just in time, too: I had just completed their ground school online course and received my certificate of completion. The best part was their autograph of my certificate. After meeting the Kings, we went back to Skyport on our day off to work on our pre-solo exams really hard. Mr. Ken Kaplan of Vaughn arrived and has been such a wonderful resource. It is very kind of him to help us out in our time of need.

-- Erika Barcenes

A Bit of Aviation History



The "Yellow Rose" of
Texas, from World
War II, above,
and "Glacier Girl" 
replica, below. 



Jan. 11, 5 p.m.: History buffs take note: Less than a mile from Redbird's Skyport facility is one of the Southwest's leading aviation museums, where tales of Jimmy Doolittle and his World War II raiders echo through generations.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) museum is situated on the grounds of San Marcos Municipal Airport, walking distance from Redbird Skyport. While Redbird and its Vaughn College guests look into the future of aviation, the CAF reminds of a time in the not-too-distant past, when Naval and Army aviation galvanized the country to win World War II.

Open four days a week and staffed by World War II veterans, the CAF museum boasts vintage aircraft that include a P-39 Bell Airacobra, P-40 Warhawk, Lockheed T-33 jet trainer, a PT-17 Stearman and more. Replica aircraft include a Japanese "Kate" torpedo bomber and a Japanese Zero, built for the Pearl Harbor film Tora, Tora, Tora.

The museum pays particular tribute to Doolittle, the Army lieutenant colonel, whose brazen raiders were the first Americans to retaliate against Japan, in 1942. Doolittle's group did little lasting damage, but did provide a valuable morale injection at a time when Americans were wondering if Japan was vulnerable at all.

Included in the Doolittle exhibit is the B-25 seatback used by the raid leader and uniforms of raid members donated by family.

Another exhibit recognizes the contributions of San Marcos area residents in the recovery of the P-38 "Glacier Girl," which was downed over Greenland. In 1992, 50 years after its downing, the frozen remains of the aircraft were unearthed from under 25 stories of ice a mile from its original location.

-- James Stephen Smith,

Director of Public Affairs

Vaughn's First Soloist

Jan. 11, 3 p.m.: Franklin Pillcorema emerged from the cockpit exhilarated and a touch exhausted on Wednesday, but he has the honor of being the first Vaughn College student to complete a solo flight at Redbird Skyport. 

Under the clearest of skies, Pillcorema, a Vaughn junior, took the pilot's chair for about an hour, completing three landings. Upon finishing, he was greeted enthusiastically by Redbird instruction staff and his fellow Vaughn students.

"It was amazing," Pillcorema exclaimed. "It felt real different than flying in New York. The view was incredible."

It was a learning experience for the 20-year-old Pillcorema, who is from Ecuador and now lives in the Bronx. His landing form wasn't perfect, but that only gives him something on which to build.

"My landing flaps were a little off," he said. "They were at a 10 percent angle and they need to be at zero percent. It gives me something to work on."

-- James Stephen Smith,

Director of Public Affairs

Franklin Pillcorema completed a solo flight on Wednesday.

Congratulations from King Schools' John and Martha King

Jan. 11, 2 p.m.: You might already know this: When people learn to fly, it changes who they are and how they feel about themselves forever.

That’s why we were so pleased recently to stop by Redbird Skyport in San Marcos to congratulate the students from Vaughn College for passing their ground school and starting flight training.

As Vaughn and Redbird Skyport work together to determine the most effective use of simulators in private pilot certification, the goal is to turn out a pilot who is not only physically proficient but a good risk manager truly ready to be in command.

The accelerated program at Skyport uses the latest computer-based software from Cessna, developed by King Schools. Instructors introduce flight maneuvers in a full-motion simulator, and then have students practice what they have learned in an actual airplane. The folks at Skyport aren’t worried about how much or little credit the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will give for the simulator time; they’re just interested in providing the most thorough, cost-effective training. (Very few finish private pilot training in the FAA minimum time anyway. The average flight time is about 73 hours.)

Skyport also will be testing the Redbird Parrot program (interactive air traffic control) with the Vaughn students as well as its GIFT program (Guided Independent Flight Instruction, which provides video instruction from the simulator before and after practiced maneuvers) to see what changes should be made to provide maximum help to students. Skyport also will test the results from a fun, competitive cross-wind simulator.

Experimentation with these Vaughn students and others who follow will establish the best ratio and sequence of simulator time to airplane flight time. That’s why Redbird calls the Skyport a "flight training laboratory." More good news: Skyport will publish its results and conclusions so every flight school in the country can benefit from what Skyport learns.

You might be asking: Are these Vaughn College students handpicked and special? They’re special only in that everyone in love with aviation is special – they are excited, enthusiastic and motivated.

So congratulations to these groundbreaking, soon-to-be-pilots from Vaughn.

-- Martha King, co-chair and co-owner, King Schools

Click here for more information about the Kings and King Schools.

Martha and John King visited Vaughn students in San Marcos earlier this week.

Thought of Everything

Jan. 11, 8 a.m.: Arriving for the first time in Redbird Skyport in San Marcos, it is hard to underestimate the size and scope of the facility nor its potential value to aviation students such as those at Vaughn. At more than 27,000 square feet, its expanse is that of a small, planned community; a newly built community as well.

Clean, uncluttered and well-designed, it's no wonder Vaughn students have to be, in the words of Skyport General Manager Randy Clark, "ushered out of the building at the end of the day." Who would want to leave?

For those interested in dimensions and statistics, Skyport boasts two 5,000-plus feet runways and another in excess of 6,300 feet. A hangar, similar to Vaughn's, anchors the center of the facility, which Skyport officials plan to use for alternative revenue generation. Imagine a wedding reception in May or a vintage car show in October!

A state-of-the-art simulator lab and conference rooms dominate one end while classrooms and even a restaurant sit on the opposite side. In between is a computer area open to all, so a laptop or iPad is hardly a necessity.

Redbird seems to have redefined state-of-the-art. Still, it is hard to conceive of such a facility wholly constructed in less than five months, but the partnership between Redbird, Texas Aviation Partners, which manages the facility, and the city of San Marcos seems to have benefited all parties.

"We wanted a location that was near our corporate headquarters in Austin," Clark explained. "Here, we're only 40 minutes away."

Link to the Redbird Skyport homepage here and discover more about the facility.

-- James Stephen Smith,

Director of Public Affairs

 

Vaughn students from left, Cajetan Ferrao, Ryan Barren, Erika Barcenes

and Gagandeep Munder discuss assignments. Below, 

Margarita Cholakova reviews her morning's work.

Sunny Day; Support from Home

The Cessna 172S that awaited Vaughn's Jaen Villalvir; below, Jaen with

fellow Vaughn student Daniel Turner.

Jan. 10, 11 a.m.: Waking up to a sunny day and a temperature of 65 degrees was thrilling, considering the 20-degree weather in New York City. Tuesday continued to improve as we drove into San Marcos Municipal Airport. I was elated when I saw the myriad of aircraft lined up and waiting to be flown, and was greeted by a cheerful, smiling flight instructor, who said:  “Go preflight your aircraft.” 

Walking dutifully over to the new Cessna 172S, I realized I was accomplishing my childhood dream. We flew up in the air and performed the maneuvers that I had worked on in the simulator. We ended the training day by studying, followed by a hearty dinner at Gordo’s Burgers. (By the way, the burgers were affordable and made with the restaurant’s own homemade recipe, which was delicious.) The football fans in the group watched the game on the restaurant’s television and the food enthusiasts such as myself were occupied devouring the messy goodness. We ended the night in our hotel room and used the additional time to call our families and loved ones, who are motivating and cheering us on from home.

-- Jaen Villalvir

Hard Work, But Worth It

Jan. 8, 10 p.m.: Today was another successful day in blissful San Marcos, Texas. The weather was pleasant and warm, very different from what I am used to in New York at this time of the year. Today was especially satisfying for me because it was the first time I got to fly since arriving here. I have been most looking forward to the experience of flying the aircraft. Besides flying for the first time, today was also very special because we had a visit from legendary flight instructors John and Martha King, who stopped at Skyport while on their way home to San Diego. They were kind enough to sign our ground training completion certificates that we stayed up completing the night before. Although we were very tired from hard work in the past couple of days, we knew that we had to complete the course and that our efforts would be worth it. All of us here are grateful to Senior Vice President Sharon DeVivo and pilot Emerson Allen for being great motivational speakers and supporting us on our journey through this process. I am having a great time surrounded by people who share a common goal and who love the same things I do. This has been a very fulfilling experience and I look forward to learning more as time progresses.

—Cajetan Ferrao

Vaughn flight training students with renowned flight instructors 

Martha King, left and John King after receiving their course completion 

certificates on Saturday, Jan. 7.

Never a Dull Moment

Vaughn's eight flight training students flank longtime Continental 
Airlines pilot Emerson Allen in the Redbird Flight Simulations 
Skyport hangar area. 

Jan. 8, 8 p.m.: The talk around the breakfast table on Sunday was how world-renowned flight instructors John and Martha King flew into Skyport to welcome our students and sign their certificates of completion. These courses are part of the integrated simulation flight training. Nice.

Even in great flying weather areas such as San Marcos sometimes the weather tanks. One of the great aspects of simulation-centric flight training is that when the weather turns bad, as it did on Sunday, you still can fly the simulators. The few raindrops were no match for the eight motivated Vaughn flight students who decided to head back to Skyport on their day off. Why? To fly the simulators and accept flight instructor Roy Good's offer to discuss how best to read METAR and TAF weather reports.

The students say everyone is pulling in the same direction to earn their ratings. The flight instructors, Redbird staff and the students are all committed to this goal. At the end of the day, there is nothing as satisfying as hearing the stories and seeing the smiles of our talented students who are working hard to achieve their goals. As one student said, "this is serious and fun at the same time!"

You know there is an abundance of aviation passion in the air when students choose to spend their downtime learning more. This drive for success is going to pay off big time.

—Ken Kaplan, managing director

Vaughn Aviation Outreach Initiative

Great Weather for Flying

Saturday, Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m.: It has been four days since I arrived in San Marcos, Texas. Despite being jet-lagged and tired from travel, on the first night we received a warm welcome from Vaughn College and San Marcos Municipal Airport staff. We were welcomed with a nice steak dinner, which I enjoyed greatly. Every day since then, we have risen bright and early, at 8 a.m. sharp, and have worked hard on the online course, practiced flying on the simulators and studied preflight and safety procedures. Luckily, I completed the online coursework and was able to fly on Thursday (Jan 5). I was also given the chance to fly again on Friday (Jan. 6). I spend most of my time studying, reviewing safety and preflight procedures and flying on the simulator. I am very excited to continue learning and flying throughout my time here, even moreso because the airplanes are brand new and the simulators and other equipment are top of the line. The weather here is wonderful, especially for flying. I get to practice everything I learn in class in a manner that is hands on, putting all that I have done in school into perspective. Thankfully, the staff at San Marcos Municipal Airport is well trained, supportive and very helpful. I miss home; however, I am thrilled to have been given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is very challenging, but I am certain the hard work and studying will be worthwhile in the long run.

--Jaen Villalvir

Jaen Villalvir with his Cessna on Friday.

Another Exciting Day

With help from a Redbird instructor, Vaughn's Ryan Barren does some prep work before his initial flight. Below, Dr. Sharon DeVivo, left, in the cockpit after a thrilling ride; Franklin Pillcorema readies his plane.

Friday, Jan. 6, 11:30 a.m.: On Thursday, three Vaughn students were able to get in the air with flight instructors for their first in-flight lessons. The morning began with Chief Flight Instructor Roger Sharp in the hangar with a 2011 Cessna 172 demonstrating a pre-flight check that every pilot conducts before taking to the skies. From checking the gas, oil and tires to running a finger across each leading edge, students learned the importance of knowing your aircraft before flying. It was then time for students to practice in the simulators and continue to study procedures.  


After lunch, it was time for  Franklin Pillorcema, Jaen Villalvir and Ryan Barren to get in the air. After conducting pre-flight checks, they headed out with an instructor to spend an hour in flight. A small group of us looked on excitedly, snapping lots of photos as they taxied away and took off. We were ready when they returned to gauge how it went; each student seemed to exit the cockpit with a smile the size of Texas.

While in the midst of watching Barren get ready to taxi away, Sharp walked over to me with a pair of headphones and said, "Let's go." I instantly said "Yes!" and got nervous.  The whole experience was an absolute thrill as we soared over the central Texas countryside. While my skills on the ground left a lot to be desired (you use your feet not your hands to turn the aircraft on the ground--not easy) I did get to turn the airplane several times in the air and felt more comfortable at each opportunity. When I got back to the Skyport facility, I told the students I completely understood their desire to do this--the feeling of exhilaration is incredible!  Thank you Chief Sharp for a taste of what our students are experiencing.

—Sharon DeVivo, Senior Vice President 

In Love with the Facility

Friday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m.:  As I arrived in San Marcos, Texas on Jan. 3, Roger Sharp was very kind to take Vaughn college students out to dinner. On Wednesday,  we got down to business,  at 8 a.m. We began by discussing the program stages that we will complete before we move on. The people here at Skyport are friendly, funny and serious about getting the work done. They have taken care of us, as if we were their children, with lots of love and respect and have fed us a great lunch and dinner every day since our arrival. I feel I am in a nice and relaxed environment in which I can get work done. The facility is amazing. I love it—my favorite part is the pilot lounge. I love being in there on the nice leather recliners, cable, WiFi flat-screen HDTV. I cannot complain. Today,  I will be going up to perform the first stage of my simulator training in the actual Skyhawk 172 aircraft. 

—Erika Barcenes

Images from San Marcos, First Day of Training

First Flights

Francisco Pillcorema, above, and Jaen Villalvir , below, in the cockpits of brand-new Cessna 172s just before taking off on Thursday (Jan. 5). Redbird Flight Simulations fleet of Cessnas is turned over every year, or after about 1,000 hours of flight time.

About San Marcos

About San Marcos, Texas

The Red Rock Express, above left, and San Antonio Missions, right, play in the San Marcos area.

Fun Facts

Eight Vaughn College students are taking part in an innovative flight training program in San Marcos, Texas. Here are a few unique things you might want to know about the Austin suburb.

Population:    34,700

Location: 40 miles southwest of the capital of Austin

Available Flying Days: 300-plus

Shopping: There is a Tanger Outlet center (much like the one on Long Island) in the heart of  town.

History: San Marcos is the home of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Museum. LBJ was the nation's 36th president, serving from 1963 to 1968.

Culture: San Marcos is also home to Dick's Classic Garage, one of the nation's leading vintage auto rental facilities and museums.  

Sports: The San Marcos area is home to two minor-league baseball teams, the Round Rock Express, AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, and the San Antonio Missions, AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Day One at Redbird Skyport

Day One in San Marcos

The hangar area at Skyport in San Marcos, Texas.

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m.: Eight Vaughn students are excited to begin flight training at Redbird's Skyport here in central Texas. Vaughn has entered into a partnership with Redbird to provide students with their private, commercial and certified flight instructor certificates as well as the instrument, certified flight instructor-instrument and multi-engine ratings. Students will train here for the next three weeks. Redbird, a leading simulator manufacturer, has taken its innovative and simulator-centric approach to flight training.

As an administrator at Vaughn for the past 16 years, it is incredibly fulfilling to see students pursuing their dreams of flight at such a beautiful location. This brand-new facility opened in November, and students will be training in 2011 Cessna 172s that will be replaced each year (after about 1,000 hours of flight), providing students with the optimal training tools. As students walked through the front doors this morning they were ushered into a conference room and given the training materials they will study extensively over the next three weeks. Roger Sharp, the chief flight instructor, discussed the importance of each student asking questions and practicing with all of the technology and simulation tools available. After lunch, students were paired up with their flight instructors. Students and instructors got right to work in the simulators.

This roughly 30,000-square-foot facility is spectacular. A training center sits on one side and the flight-based operation occupies the other, with a 12,000-square-foot hangar in the center. The weather in San Marcos has been clear and in the mid-60s, and several students will be ready to go up for their first flights Thursday (Jan. 5). In a quick chat in the hotel lobby this evening, the students talked about how thrilled they were with the first day, felt very comfortable and were excited to get in the air. Looking forward to another great day Thursday.

—Sharon DeVivo, Senior Vice President