http://www.air-pros.com/blog/View Aviation Insurance Resources's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.air-pros.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:b3bf2882-95fe-4d2b-9c7c-32653f14a351urn:uuid:f962f68e-bff7-4510-b463-fa2de59d41ebWorking at Aviation Insurance Resources is like working with family.&nbsp; In the coming weeks, we look forward to introducing our family to yours! Chris Wolbert Regional Vice President What made you want to become a pilot? The love of airplanes ...Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:26:31 -0600Working at Aviation Insurance Resources is like working with family.&nbsp; In the coming weeks, we look forward to introducing our family to yours!<br /> <br /> <strong>Chris Wolbert</strong><br /> <img alt="" src="/img/%7Ewww.air-pros.com/CW%20Pic%203%20sm.JPG" /><em><br /> Regional Vice President</em><br /> <br /> <p><strong>What made you want to become a pilot? </strong><br /> The love of airplanes and aviation. I would look to the sky every time a plane flew over.&nbsp; I still do&hellip;</p> <p><strong>When did you first begin to fly? </strong><br /> 1990</p> <p><strong>What is your most memorable flight? </strong><br /> Two flights stand out: a Cessna 195 on floats on Moosehead lake, Greenville, ME and a Piper PA23-160 Apache flight to the Bahamas in my early flying days.</p> <p><strong>What is your favorite airplane you&rsquo;ve flown?</strong> <br /> Cessna 182</p> <p><strong>What is your dream airplane?&nbsp; </strong><br /> North American P51, what else??</p> <p><strong>What is your favorite airport you have flown to?</strong>&nbsp; <br /> Marsh Harbor, Bahamas</p> <p><strong>What is the best piece of aviation advice you have received?&nbsp; </strong><br /> Plan ahead and never underestimate weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p><strong>What do you like best about working at Aviation Insurance Resources? </strong><br /> Being surrounded by a group of people who love aviation!</p>urn:uuid:c18bdf70-a75b-487c-91de-278541ac462cDon't forget, AIR is on Facebook and Twitter!&nbsp; Visit our pages daily for fun surveys, aviation tidbits, and more!&nbsp; Come join the discussion!&nbsp; We'll see you there!Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:56:51 -0600Don't forget, AIR is on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Aviation-Insurance-Resources/262954357053">Facebook </a>and <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/airpros">Twitter</a>!&nbsp; Visit our pages daily for fun surveys, aviation tidbits, and more!&nbsp; Come join the discussion!&nbsp; We'll see you there!urn:uuid:5b71c76c-45df-4bef-8be1-639b078323fe<img src='../img/%7Ewww.air-pros.com/Aircraft%20Insurance.jpg' align='left' />by Victoria A. Brown Reprinted with permission from FAA Aviation News We have all seen it in the movies&nbsp;&ndash; that grand exit of the main character of any typical action flick, the glorious take off of the courageous leading man in a small, bu...Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:28:36 -0500<p><strong>by Victoria A. Brown<br /> Reprinted with permission from FAA Aviation News</strong><strong></strong></p> <p>We have all seen it in the movies&nbsp;&ndash; that grand exit of the main character of any typical action flick, the glorious take off of the courageous leading man in a small, but capable, plane. As the plane ascends, it flies right through a flock of birds and our leading man flies side-by-side with our winged friends and eventually soars off into the horizon for a perfect ending. Yes, we have all seen it, but we know life isn't like the movies. As much as Hollywood would like you to believe it, <strong><a href="http://www.air-pros.com/get_a_quote/default.aspx" title="Aircraft insurance">aircraft</a></strong>, no matter how big or small, are not invulnerable to birds. A bird strike can be very dangerous and damaging to the aircraft &ndash; not to mention the bird.</p> <p><img alt="" src="../img/%7Ewww.air-pros.com/Aircraft%20Insurance.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 7px;" />Wildlife or bird strikes aren't a new phenomenon. They have occurred since the beginning of flight. The first ever bird strike was recorded by Orville Wright on September 7, 1905. His plane struck a bird (believed to be a red-winged blackbird) over a cornfield near Dayton, Ohio. Although bird strikes are the most common, they are not the only wildlife threat posed to aircraft. Pilots must always be cautious of ground animals like deer, rabbits, bears, and even reptiles, such as alligators or turtles. According to the July 2007 <strong>U.S. Department of Agriculture/Federal Aviation Administration report</strong>, Wildlife Strike to Civil Aircraft in the United States 1990-2006, the state of California has the most bird strikes on record with 6,184 reports since 1990. New York and Texas reported the most mammal strikes on record with 134 and 147 strikes respectively, and Florida reported 46 reptile strikes. Surprisingly, New York came in second with 21 reptile strikes. Figures from the FAA Mitigation Web site show that just in the first five months of 2007 there have been more than 2,200 wildlife strikes reported for civil aircraft in the United States.</p> <p>The majority of wildlife strikes aren't reported. However, since 1990, there have been 83,315 reported wildlife strikes. Of those, 75,731 reports involved civil aircraft and 7,584 reports involved military aircraft at joint use <strong>airports</strong>. Wildlife strikes cause an estimated $603 million in damages to U.S. civil aircraft annually.</p> <p>Bird strikes are most frequent during migration seasons in the fall. With the fall migration season approaching, <strong>FAA Aviation News</strong> wants to remind you to be extra vigilant. As always preparation and strategic action can help you mitigate wildlife encounters. Here are some tips to help you avoid run-ins with birds and other wildlife.</p> <p><strong>For Bird Encounters (no matter what shape, size, or number):</strong></p> <ul> <li>Keep all external aircraft lights on. Somehow birds are able to sense <strong><a href="http://www.air-pros.com/get_a_quote/default.aspx" title="Airplane insurance">airplane</a></strong> lights and try to avoid them.</li> <li>Unless close to the ground, pull up and gain altitude whenever possible around birds. Normally, birds tend to dive down to avoid the aircraft.</li> <li>Allow more than the minimum recommended altitude over bird sanctuaries/refuges/national parks. By having more altitude, the aircraft has a larger buffer zone, which provides more reaction time. The more reaction time the pilot has the better the chance to mitigate or avoid an unplanned encounter. You can find this information along with the locations of sanctuaries at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <a href="http://www.fws.gov/">http://www.fws.gov</a>.</li> <li>Whenever possible, wear protective eyewear. Even a small piece of debris can cause a major problem to your eyes.</li> </ul> <p><strong>For other wildlife (i.e. deer, elk, moose, fox, coyote, rabbits, wild dogs, and bear):</strong></p> <ul> <li>At airports that have active control towers, you should report any animals spotted in the airport environment. Tower personnel should pass the information to the airport manager's office, which should send someone in a vehicle to chase the animal away.</li> <li>At non-towered airports, if wildlife is spotted inside the perimeter, you should contact the fixed based operator (FBO). Someone may be available to chase the animal from airport boundaries. Also, listen to the radio at least 10 nautical miles out. There may be someone ahead of you who has already spotted wildlife. This is also good advice for general situational awareness.</li> <li>During night operations, the FBO is still your best source of information. If no one is available, then carefully and safely announce your intentions.</li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>Before takeoff, taxi down the runway to try and scare any animals around the runway away. </li> <li>When landing, make a low fly-by down the runway. This will allow the pilot to see what may be on the runway and, hopefully, scare away any wildlife grazing along side the runway </li> </ul> </ul> <p>Of course, the best advice is to be cautious. During migration seasons for our feathered friends, it is wise to be extra vigilant and cautious. The same applies for our four-legged deer friends, especially during the fall mating season.</p> <p>For extra help, you can check out the FAA wildlife mitigation Web site <a target="_blank" href="http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/public_html/index.html">http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/public_html/index.html</a>. This Web site contains data and reports on wildlife strikes that date as far back as 1990. Another Web site that will be very helpful to you is the Avian Hazard Advisory System <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usahas.com/">http://www.usahas.com</a>. This Web site is a risk assessment tool that provides the user with a standardized measure of bird strike risks for low-level routes.</p> <p>The United States Bird Avoidance Model <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usahas.com/bam">http://www.usahas.com/bam</a> is the primary assessment tool for the U.S. Air Force. It is an historical archive for bird strike information.</p> <p>The Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) is good way to see where bird strikes have occurred for that particular day as well as any flight restrictions. These can be found on the FAA Web site <a href="http://www.faa.gov/">www.faa.gov</a>. The information is available to help you navigate your way against bird strikes.</p> <p>Although we can't always have the heroic Hollywood take-off, we can ensure a smooth and safe flight by being mindful and careful of the wildlife that surrounds us.</p> <p>Thanks to Sandra Wright, manager of the FAA Wildlife Strike Database, for her help and contributions to this article.</p> <p>Victoria Brown is an FAA summer intern. She is a communications major at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.<br /> <br /> <em><strong>Aviation Insurance Resource</strong></em> specializes in a full range of aircraft, airplane &amp; airport insurance to clients of all sizes. We are licensed in all 50 states. Get a free <a href="http://www.air-pros.com/get_a_quote/default.aspx" title="Aircranft insurance"><strong>Aircraft insurance</strong></a><strong></strong> quote or contact us at&nbsp;877-247-7767 for more information.</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>urn:uuid:8b69088c-01f4-483f-bb86-e70035e936d1We had a great time meeting everyone who came by our booth this year at Oshkosh and look forward to seeing you again next year!&nbsp; We didn't stay inside behind the booth the whole week, though, we made it out to the Pioneer Airport to go for Bell ...Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:46:29 -0500We had a great time meeting everyone who came by our booth this year at Oshkosh and look forward to seeing you again next year!&nbsp; We didn't stay inside behind the booth the whole week, though, we made it out to the Pioneer Airport to go for Bell 47 helicopter rides!<br /> <br /> <center><iframe width="425" height="349" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jZ0ESBkHmYE"></iframe></center>urn:uuid:b20e737d-40ce-494e-81f4-d7d7dda9fc0cAviation enthusiasts were awakened by dark skies and rain this morning, but don't let this dampen your fun at Oshkosh.&nbsp; Stop by our booth in Hangar A to stay dry and get a quote while you're at it!&nbsp; Thanks to all who have come by to say "hi...Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:55:54 -0500Aviation enthusiasts were awakened by dark skies and rain this morning, but don't let this dampen your fun at Oshkosh.&nbsp; Stop by our booth in Hangar A to stay dry and get a quote while you're at it!&nbsp; Thanks to all who have come by to say "hi" so far, it has been great getting to know each of you in person.&nbsp; We look forward to getting to know you better in the coming years!<br /> <br /> The employees at Aviation Insurance Resources know how to have fun, too!&nbsp; After exhibits closed yesterday, we all went over to Pioneer Airport to enjoy rides in Bell 47 helicopters.&nbsp; The sky offered an excellent view of the Aeroshell team's performance as well as the launch of the United State's largest airship! <br /> <br />urn:uuid:67ce4eb7-d20e-4d43-b737-e984aa34405d<img src='http://www.air-pros.com/img/%7Ewww.air-pros.com/airplane_people.jpg' align='left' />It&rsquo;s that time of year again!&nbsp; Come visit us at the world&rsquo;s largest airshow, EAA AirVenture 2011!&nbsp; Stop in to meet our staff and look forward to some hangar flying at our booth in Hangar A, booth #1141!&nbsp; Fell in love with...Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:49:40 -0500<span style="font-size: 16px; color: #244061;"><img alt="Airplane with People" style="width: 232px; height: 181px; float: left; margin-right: 7px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin-bottom: 0px;" src="/img/%7Ewww.air-pros.com/airplane_people.jpg" />It&rsquo;s that time of year again!&nbsp; Come visit us at the world&rsquo;s largest airshow, EAA AirVenture 2011!&nbsp; Stop in to meet our <a href="http://www.air-pros.com/employees.aspx" title="Employee Directory"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #244061;">staff</span></a> and look forward to some hangar flying at our booth in <strong>Hangar A, booth #1141</strong>!&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Fell in love with an aircraft for sale at the show?&nbsp; <br /> Stop in and compare insurance rates (or <a href="http://www.air-pros.com/aviation/aircraft_quote_form.aspx" title="Get a non-commercial aircraft quote"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: #244061;">get a quote now</span></a>)!&nbsp; We are excited to meet you, safe flying!</span><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <h2>What is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh?</h2> <br /> For 51 weeks a year, EAA is an international community of more than 160,000 members that nurtures the spirit of flight through a worldwide network of chapters, outreach programs, and other events. <p>But for one week each summer, EAA members and aviation enthusiasts totaling more than 500,000 from more than 60 countries attend EAA AirVenture at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they rekindle friendships and celebrate the past, present and future in the world of flight.<br /> <br /> Learn more about <a href="http://www.airventure.org/about/" target="_blank" title="EAA AirVenture 2011">EAA AirVenture 2011</a>.</p>urn:uuid:5f0cde40-0b9c-4325-b8ce-fd38fd8ddf76If you are attending the world's greatest airshow, be sure to stop by our booth #1141 Building A&nbsp;to meet our staff!! July 25-31st.Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:55:21 -0500<span style="font-size: 18px;">If you are attending the world's greatest airshow, be sure to stop by our booth #1141 Building A&nbsp;to meet our staff!! July 25-31st.</span>