Avionics
Q: What equipment is required to
be checked for IFR Flight at the Biennial Inspection?
A: Altimeter, encoder,
transponder, and static system. If you will only be
flying VFR then only the transponder and encoder
correspondence test needs to be performed.
Q: Why is the altitude readout on
my transponder different from what my altimeter shows?
A: The readout on the transponder
is only pressure altitude and is uncorrected for current
barometric pressure. You can see if the readout
correlates with your altimeter by setting the altimeter to
29.92.
Q: Why does ATC tell me that my
transmissions are garbled out of both radios?
A: This is usually a headset issue. Check that all
headset and hand microphones are plugged in correctly.
Maintenance
Q: Do we seal Mooney fuel tanks?
A: No.
Fuel tank sealing is a very time- consuming process and
is quite expensive due to the extensive labor and sealants
required.
Q: What kind of aircraft do we service?
A: Cessna, Mooney, Cirrus, and Piper.
Q: Do you have many parts in stock?
A: Yes;
and if we do not have the required part, we can get it.
Q: Do we service oxygen systems in aircraft?
A: Yes.
Q:
Can we do interior
work?
A:
Yes, we can do small
jobs; however, new interior installations are outsourced
Charter
Q: What is the cost of
booking a charter?
A: Charter costs are based on many factors, some of which
include
your flight destination (you pay a flat rate for two pilots and an
hourly Hobbs rate of the aircraft flying roundtrip,
applicable federal passenger facility tax and local airport
taxes, plus length of stay, pilot wait time and overnight
expenses.
Q: What amenities are provided?
A: Light snacks, coffee, bottled water, and soft drinks.
Catering is available at an additional cost.
Q: At what point does the customer have to confirm a charter
booking?
A: To ensure the
aircraft availability, as soon as feasible. A charter
can be booked up to the trip date, provided there is an
aircraft and crew available.
Q: What type of
payment is required to book a charter?
A: If the individual or corporation has an account with
Virginia Aviation, the account will be billed. All
others must be paid by credit card or approved check prior
to the charter departure.
Customer Service Desk
Q: Where
is Virginia Aviation located on the airport?
A: Northwest side of
the field below the control tower.
Q: Can we arrange a car
and hotel reservations?
A: Yes.
Q: Can we make catering arrangements?
A: Yes.
Advance notice is recommended.
Q:
What is the availability or use of the company courtesy car?
A:
The company courtesy vehicle is for our customers to go to
local restaurants and should only be used for a limited time
so others can have access as well. Owner permission is
required for the vehicle to be let our for extended hours or
overnight use. Rental vehicles are available.
Q:
Is there a
restaurant on the airport?
A: No;
however, there are many close by.
Testing Center
Q: What
are the days and hours of operation?
A: Monday-Friday,
10 AM-3 PM.
Q: What
is the cost of FAA Exams?
A: $100
each.
Q:
Is the Testing Center ever open on weekends?
A: No.
Q:
How can I schedule a test?
A:
Call our Testing Center at 434-237-8432 (direct) or
1-800-543-6845 Monday through Friday from 8 AM-4 PM.
A&P School
Q: What
is an A&P mechanic?
A: A & P
stands for Airframe and Powerplant. With an A & P
certificate, a mechanic can work unsupervised on all parts
of an aircraft from small single-engine aircraft up to
airliners and including helicopters.
Q: Where
do A & P mechanics work?
A: A
& P mechanics work for small, medium, and large repair
centers located throughout the country. They work for
airlines and airfreight companies, for aircraft and engine
manufacturers, and for research companies like NASA.
Q: How
long is the A&P program?
A: Our
program runs 18 months with time off for major holidays, spring and
summer breaks, and four weeks for winter break in December
and January.
Q: How
much does the program cost?
A: Approximately
$20,000 with some aviation scholarships and loan programs
available. We are also V.A approved for the qualified Veteran.
Q: How
are the classes conducted?
A:
Approximately one half of the course is spent in the
classroom and one half is spent in practical training.
The practical side is time spent "hands on" with actual
aircraft, engines, and parts with instruction on inspection,
troubleshooting, and repair.
Flight School
Q: How old do I have to
be to start flying lessons at Virginia Aviation?
A:
You must be at least 16 years old.
Q:
Do I need to have a medical examination before taking flight
lessons?
A:
Yes, it's a good idea to have passed your flight physical
before you invest money in flight training. However,
many people do take an introductory flight lesson just to
see if they like flying.
Q:
What is the basic, starter license Virginia Aviation offers?
A:
Virginia Aviation offers the private pilot certificate for
single-engine land aircraft as our starter certificate.
Q:
Does Virginia Aviation offer advanced certificates?
A:
Yes, above the private license, we offer the instrument,
commercial, multi-engine, both the single and multi-engine
Airline Transport Pilot certificates as well as the basic,
instrument and multi-engine flight instructors rating.
Q:
Do you have modern up-to-date trainers?
A:
Virginia Aviation uses Cessna 172SP with G-1000 panels for
the private and instrument rating.
Q:
Is there any tuition assistance available to the flight
student?
A:
Yes. If you are a Veteran of the U.S. Military, you
may be eligible for V.A. educational assistance.
Line Department
Q:
What types of fuel does your FBO offer?
A:
Jet A and 100LL.
Q:
Do you have Military Fuel?
A:
Yes, we have a DOD contract.
Q:
What are your hours of operation?
A:
5:00 AM until 10:00 PM daily and additional hours by
request.
Q:
Do you have a GPU?
A:
Yes, a mobile GPU with 1000 amp output.
Q:
Do you have hangar space available for overnight transients?
A:
Yes, in most cases we will have available space.
Q:
Do you have a forklift?
A:
Yes, and the equipment will take up to 8,000 lbs.
