Where are you located?
We're in Southern California, on the Santa Paula Airport
(SZP), in the small agricultural town of Santa Paula.
We're about 65 miles NW of Los Angeles International
Airport (LAX) and12 miles East of the coastal city of
Ventura, CA.
How do I get to Santa Paula?
By Airlines -- check for flights into LAX, Burbank,
or Santa Barbara airports.
By Car: From LAX (90 minutes) -- Take the 405 Freeway
(Santa Monica Freeway) Northbound, to the 101 Freeway
(Ventura Freeway) North/Westbound, to the 126 Freeway
(Santa Paula Freeway) Eastbound. Exit the 126 Freeway
at Palm Avenue. Turn right at the stop sign, then
left onto Santa Maria Street. Follow Santa Maria
Street to the parking lot.
From Burbank (60 minutes) -- Take the 210 Freeway
Westbound, to the 5 Freeway Northbound, to the 126
Freeway (Ventura Freeway) Westbound. Exit the 126
Freeway at Palm Avenue. Turn left at the stop sign,
then left onto Santa Maria Street. Follow Santa Maria
Street to the parking lot.
From Santa Barbara (50 minutes) -- Take the 101
Freeway Southbound, to the 126 Freeway (Santa Paula
Freeway) Eastbound. Exit the 126 Freeway at Palm
Avenue. Turn right at the stop sign, then left onto
Santa Maria Street. Follow Santa Maria Street to the
parking lot.
You can also take the Roadrunner Shuttle round-trip
door-to-door from LAX to your hotel in Santa Paula or
Ventura. For rates and other information, contact Roadrunner
at 800-247-7919.
If I fly in, where can I park
my airplane?
Transient tie-downs are available at mid-field, east
of the Chevron fuel island. Tie-down fee is a few
dollars per night. If you prefer -- and if space is
available -- I can look into hangaring your airplane
elsewhere, subject to availability and price.
Are there local
accommodations?
Santa Paula has a few places from which to choose.
This one is a few blocks from the airport -- Santa
Paula Inn (bed and breakfast),
805-933-0011. This one is also a few blocks from the
airport -- Glen
Tavern Inn (historical landmark), 805-933-5550.
This one is a few miles from the airport -- The Fern
Oaks Inn (bed and breakfast), 805-525-7747. If you
prefer to stay along the coast, see Ventura, CA.
Can I rent a car in Santa
Paula?
Contact Enterprise Rent-a-Car at 805-933-0068 (if no
answer, or if in Ventura, call 805-485-0088). Arrange
to have them meet you when you arrive at your hotel
or at CP Aviation here on the airport.
What's the weather like
there?
The weather is generally nice (i.e.: flyable)
year-round. Winter temperatures range from 40 to 65
degrees F with clear skies; summer temperatures
generally range from 65 to 90 degrees F with hazy
sunshine. The rainy season is usually late January
thru March; however, rain is typically shower
activity, allowing us still to be able to get most of
our flights accomplished. June and July can be foggy
in the morning, usually burning off by around 10:00
AM. Spring and Fall can have three-day periods of
East winds called Santa Anas. Even during the
strongest Santa Ana condition (winds 30 mph +), we
can usually fly on two out of the three day wind
cycle.
Where do we meet?
At CP Aviation, Inc., the small white building next
to the restaurant here on the airport. If possible
for your first lesson, try to arrive a few minutes
early to fill out the requisite paperwork (the first
law of aerodynamics states, "An airplane cannot
generate Lift unless the paperwork is
complete...").
Do other schools offering
similar training?
Several schools offer their own brand of spin and
unusual attitude training -- some are good; some, not
so good. To help you evaluate other schools and
programs, be sure to read my article, "How to Shop for Quality
Aerobatic Training." You can also
get a Directory of Aerobatic Schools from the International
Aerobatic Club (IAC) (select "How
to Begin," then "Aerobatic Schools"),
or by calling 920-426-6574.
Do I need to have my Private
Pilot license to sign up for the Program?
No, but I do recommend having your PPL beforehand --
I don't want this unique training to confuse any
issues related to passing your Private check ride.
Consider the EMT® Program as your reward to yourself
for all the hard work it took to earn your PPL.
Do I need any prior aerobatic
experience?
No. The majority of pilots I fly with have neither
previous aerobatic experience nor tailwheel
experience.
I have no tailwheel
experience -- is this a problem?
Not at all. In fact, 95 percent of the pilots I fly
with have no prior tailwheel experience. Don't worry,
I'll coach you through the take-offs and landings!
Consider the exposure to tailwheel flying as an added
bonus!
Does the Program have
regularly scheduled class dates?
With the exception of training clinics conducted at
other locations throughout the year, I schedule
training on an individual basis year-round here in
Santa Paula.
Are you the only instructor?
CP Aviation here at Santa Paula also has instructors
who are capable of teaching per the EMT® Syllabus.
If you want to train sooner than my schedule might
allow, consider contacting CP Aviation
at 805-525-2138.
What airplane(s) do we train
in?
Unless you specify otherwise, training is scheduled
in a Decathlon -- a tandem seat, aerobatic-capable
taildragger. Other options include using a Citabria
(basically a lower performance version of the
Decathlon), or even a Cessna 150 or 172 where
appropriate in the Program. Using these airplanes
where appropriate can reduce the overall cost
somewhat.
Can I bring/use my own
airplane?
Yes! We can do some of the training in your own
airplane under the following conditions: Upon
inspection, I can decline to conduct training in the
particular airplane; we will only use the airplane as
is appropriate, performing only those maneuvers
approved in the airplane; your insurance company must
issue a "Waiver of Subrogation." At a
minimum, you can plan on using your airplane for at
least half of the Lessons in Modules I and II.
How long does it take to
complete the training?
The Program is divided into three stand-alone Modules
-- Stall/Spin Awareness, In-Flight Emergencies, Basic
Aerobatics. Each Module includes three hours of
ground instruction and three hours of flight
instruction, spread over four separate Lessons. As a
result, each Lesson consists of about 45 minutes on
the ground and 45 minutes in the air.
If you schedule two Lessons per day (the maximum
recommended for most), you can complete each Module
in two days. Therefore, plan on a minimum of two days
for Module I; four days for Modules I & II
together; six days to complete all three Modules.
Can the Program be stretched
out over several weeks, or even weekends?
Yes it can. But to avoid the possibility of large
gaps between your lessons, be sure to reserve all the
flights needed for a Module when you call (or e-mail)
to set up your schedule.
Can the training count as a
Flight Review?
Yes. And if you complete Modules I & II within a
12 month period, you can also qualify for the FAA's
Wings Program (pending the new Wings Program
requirements).
Can I get a spin endorsement
as part of the training?
Completing Module I more than satisfies the intent of
the spin endorsement required of Flight Instructor
Applicants. Instead of a meager one or two spins,
you'll perform on the order of 20-24 spin entries and
recoveries in this Module alone!
Does the Program include a
tailwheel endorsement?
In general, no. The emphasis of the EMT® Program is
air work, whereas the tailwheel endorsement focuses
primarily on pattern work. Yet several pilots have
combined the EMT® Program with a tailwheel
endorsement by adding a few tailwheel-specific
sorties to their schedule.
For example, by scheduling one tailwheel-specific
flight followed by two EMT®-specific flights per day
(that's certainly a full day of flying!), pilots have
gone away from Santa Paula with a tailwheel
endorsement, a spin endorsement, a flight review, a
Phase of the FAA Wings Program, and a whole lot of
new experience!
See the Tailwheel
Transition FAQ for more information on
this.
Can a friend/spouse and I
take the Program simultaneously?
Yes, schedule permitting. Two or three of you can
participate in the ground school sessions together,
followed by the individual flights. This will save a
few dollars in the end.
Do you ever conduct training
at other locations?
Yes! So keep an eye on my Calendar
for details. If you are interested in discussing the
logistics of a training clinic in your area, please
let me know and I'll send you a planning guide.
What does the Program cost?
Budget $700-850 per Module if you train with me. The
budget price includes approximately 3 hours of ground
time and 3 hours of flight time with me, plus 3 hours
of airplane rental. The price range reflects the use
of different airplanes in each Module, based on
availability (e.g.: Citabria and Decathlon mixed, or
the Decathlon exclusively). The cost will be less if
we use your own airplane for the appropriate lessons.
If you elect to train with one of the instructors at
CP Aviation, the cost will be somewhat less as well.
The final cost will depend on the actual number of
hours flown, so it could end up being a bit more or
less than the budget numbers.
Do you offer group rates?
If you train with a friend/spouse at the same time,
you can save a few dollars by sharing the ground
school sessions. For larger groups or on-site training clinics
(away from Santa Paula), please contact me for
details.
Does the cost include your
book and video?
The EMT® book and video are optional (but of course,
highly recommended). Many pilots find it useful to
order the book and/or video to review before taking
the training. For more information, visit the Pilot Shop.
How do I pay?
We accept cash, check, Visa, and MasterCard. If you
are training with me, please note that I am an
independent contractor. Therefore, you'll be making
separate payments to CP Aviation, Inc. for airplane
rental and to Rich Stowell Consulting for
instruction.
Do you require a deposit?
No, but if you have to cancel your appointment, we
ask that you contact us as soon as possible.
How far in advance do I need
to schedule?
My schedule often books 60-90 days in advance, and
sometimes as far as 4-5 months ahead. So the more
lead time, the better in terms of coordinating
schedules and airplanes. If you're looking to train
on shorter notice, you can usually arrange to fly
with one of CP Aviation's instructors on a couple of
weeks notice.
What's the best way to
proceed with scheduling?
To train with me, fill out the Scheduling
Worksheet or call 800-869-6627. I will
then work up a training schedule based on
availability and send it to you.
If you want to receive training sooner than my
schedule will allow, please email CP Aviation
or call them at 805-525-2138. Ask for owner/Master
CFI-A Judy
Phelps.
What's the best time to reach
you by phone?
I'm usually out flying during the day, so your best
bet to reach me by phone is to call between 7 and 9
PM California time. The answering machine is on after
9 PM.
What can I do to prepare
before I arrive?
You might consider picking up a copy of the EMT®
book and/or video to review before we train. The book
and video provide far more detail than we can cover
in a few hours of ground school. Visit the Pilot Shop.
Will I get airsick?
A common question; however, the reality is that very
few pilots actually get airsick. Most pilots are
usually just fine physiologically. In any event,
we'll train at your pace -- you call the shots in
terms of how far to go on each flight.
If you have a particularly sensitive stomach,
consider the following: eat in moderation before
flying, drink plenty of fluids throughout the day,
and look into one of the various "relief"
products on the market (patch, wrist band, etc.).
Ginger also seems to have a calming effect (sipping
ginger ale or nibbling on raw ginger before and after
flying often helps).
See the "Survivors"
Page for
EMT® in action!
