Saint John's Aviation Club
At the end of a long day in classes, the last thing a student might expect to do is pilot a several-ton aircraft onto an airport runway. However, once a week, after courses end, this is exactly what might happen in the Saint John’s Aviation Club. Mr. Michael Novick of the Saint John's faculty leads the Club. Aviation Club members gather weekly in Room 217, The Curtis Center, on Thursday afternoon, for a diverse series of Aviation-related activities. Among other activities, the Saint John’s Aviation club provides the opportunity for students to become the pilots of simulated aircraft ranging from four-seat Cessnas to several hundred-passenger Boeing 737-400s.
Students often fly in groups of two, with one student taking the place of the pilot and the other the copilot. Each member of the cabin crew conducts tasks that are crucial to the flight. Simulated situations that pilots encounter provide fun ways to further knowledge of aviation as well as quick thinking, group work, and leadership skills.
In addition to weekly meetings, a club member might also find themselves within several hundred feet of aircraft touching down after similar flights to the ones that they were simulating after classes. The Aviation Club has conducted trips to the New England Air Museum and to the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Through the Club, members interact with a wide base of aviation related careers. Former Saint John’s club members, many of whom have moved to careers in aviation, are still active in support to the Club. This year, the club received the gift of a donated Instrument Flight simulator and a presentation on the University of North Dakota (one of the foremost flight schools in the nation) both from former students who were once members of the Aviation Club. The Saint John’s Aviation club provides a place where students can come together to have learn and have fun in the skies.
Aviation Club Washington Air Adventure 2009
This year, the Aviation Club embarked on its biennial Washington Air Adventure. From June 8 to June 12, Aviation Club students, accompanied by faculty moderator Mr. Michael Novick, visited museum and historic sites in Washington, D.C. Thanks to the efforts of senior student Christopher Zeller, who planned the entire adventure, highlights of the trip included a Capitol Tour, a tour of the FAA facilities at Reagan National Airport and visits to the two Air & Space Museums of the Smithsonian.
Capitol Congressional staffers from the office of Rep. James McGovern arranged a tour of the Capitol complex, beginning in the newly completed Capitol Visitor Center. Led by McGovern staffer Christine, students visited both the House and the Senate, along with the historic parts of the Capitol building.
At Reagan National Airport, students visited the new Air Traffic Control simulator, where they witnessed the system's ability to simulate any and all possible scenarios that might involve the airport. As students watched, the instructor took the system through a snow squall, followed by a low-level pass by Air Force One. The impressive realism produced by the complex computer-driven visual effects produces traffic controllers who have already gained situational awareness about the complex structure and sightlines present at the tower cab of National.
Students joined traffic controller Cindy, whose enthusiasm for her work was apparent and infectious, as the control staff managed two difficult airport traffic delays. With aircraft holding on the taxiways in increasing numbers, the staff maintained professionalism and a sense of humor, balancing the ground-bound aircraft in a ballet that eventually saw all planes departing with minimal fuss.
A highlight of the trip was watching the control process from a point at Gravelly Point Park, just outside the airport perimeter fence on the famous Potomac River approach to National's Runway 19. In a scene reminiscent of the movie Pushing Tin, students joined local aircraft enthusiasts as they watched and literally felt the turbulence of airliners approaching National, after following the river course approach into the airport.
Between the aircraft-enthusiast activities, students also visited the White House, the National Gallery and Sculpture Garden, the Newseum and Union Station for their Food Court. Heading home, Chris Zeller polled the group on the trip. No one would change a single thing about the itinerary. Mission accomplished!
The White House By Night
On Pennsylvania Avenue
Stunning New Glass-Roofed Capitol Visitor Center
Capitol Tour: Christine and the Club Members
Thanks to Congressman McGovern's Office!
Under The Capitol Dome
Model For Figure Atop The Dome, New Capitol Visitor Center
Sean Moynagh, Chris Jarry, Chris Zeller and Chris Kelleher, Air & Space Museum, The National Mall
Air & Space Collection, Spanning The Decades of Flight
New Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 Exhibit
Northwest 747 Flight Deck, Just Like In The Simulator In 217!
Generation Next Aviators Take A Break, Mid-Collection
Working Across The Museum, Contrasting The Decades of Air Travel
Waiting Out A Torrential DC Thunderstorm At The McCafe, Air & Space Museum
At The Metro Stop: Reagan National Airport
Ready For The FAA Tower Tour!
Thanks, Joanie, Cliff & Cindy!
The Tower At National Airport, MANY Stories Tall....
What A View From The Cab!
Thanks, Guys!
Changing Of The Guard: Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetary
Chris And Chris, Staying Just Out Of Trouble
Chris, Sean, Chris And Chris At The JFK Memorial, Arlington
At Arlington, With The Mall And Washinton Monument In The Background
Lunch Break At The Cascades Cafe, The National Gallery
Subterranean Lightshow, National Gallery Connector
The Moving Walkway Is Now Ending....
At The Newseum, Pennsylvania Avenue
Television Mast, World Trade Center, 9/11 Memorial, Newseum
The Cascades At The National Gallery, From Street Level This Time!
In The Observation Tower, Dulles International-Based Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian Museum
Chris, Sean, Blackbird SR-71, Udvar-Hazy
The Utterly Enormous Space Shuttle At The Smithsonian
Air France Concorde, Nestled Amid The Collection
Boeing's First American Jet Airliner And "American Jet" An Air Race Aircraft
Mars Lander, Earth Version
At The End Of The Visit: The Gift Shop!
Lyndon B. Johnson Park, On The Potomac River
On THe Potomac, Gravelly Point Park, Approach To Runway 19, National Airport,
The Potomac River Approach
Getting Close To The Aircraft, Gravelly Point
Boeing 757-200, Seconds From Touchdown, Runway 19
Joining The Line At The FDR Memorial
Waterfall At The FDR Memorial
Sean Takes A Close Look At The Pool
Does That Look Straight To You?
Preparing To Say Goodbye To DC, For Now!