James’ World

I hung out Saturday afternoon at Reid-Hillview Airport to see what has changed since last year, and where to do CFI training in a Cessna 172.

The biggest change I noticed was that ASA training, next to the Aiport Shoppe, had moved out and that the space was being renovated. A mechanic from Air Accord said they moved to Castle Airport a while ago. The Airport Shoppe has a great selection of supplies and a friendly counter. I also noticed a few pilot supply stores I hadn’t noticed before on Robert Fowler way. Likely I’ll wait to end of October to buy new charts since the update day is October 27.

Talked to a member of Amelia Reid who recently did some float plane flying in Alaska and was waiting for his gf to finish her first lesson.

Apparently instructors are in demand since many have moved on to regional airlines like American Eagle.

The questions I wanted answered regarding CFI and recurring training were:

• Do you have Cessna 172’s available on the weekends?
• Do you offer CFI training?
• After completion, can I instruct here?
• How many CFI instructors are available on the weekend?
• Do you have twins?
• Can I solo in the twins after a checkout?
• Any membership fees?

Air Accord (408 258 6321)

No 172s, just 3 x 152s, 2 x Beech Sundowner 34 and 1 x Beech Sierra 24G singles and 1 x Seneca I twin (need 20 hours of training in school to solo the twin). 2 CFI instructors available (Yuzo and Tim) for $60/hour. CFI graduates from AirAccord only can train there. (Yuzo says it’s a lot of work to train outsiders.) $300 one-time membership feed. Block rates are kinda high for a 152, cash-only. Atmosphere is Japanese and foreign school plus locals.

Amelia Reid (408 251 4939)

1 x 172, a 4 x tailwheel airplanes. $350 annual membership fee or $50/month. Good block rates, cash preferred.

Nice Air (408 729 3383)

8 x 172s, 10 x 152s, 1 x 182P, 2 x Piper PA28, 1 x Arrow, 3 x twins including a Seneca I (maybe can solo), Beech TravelAir and a Baron, Frasca 1 single sim and 3 helicopters. Offer CFI training but a little short on pilots this month since they moved on to the regionals. Can instruct, pay is about 50% of listed instruction rates. No membership fees. Two 172s with GNS430. Atmosphere is Japanese and foreign school plus locals. Manager is an informative guy who has flown pax in twins.

Manager mentioned taking CFI ground school with Mike Shiflett.

Squadron 2 (408.272.0518)

Several 172s (including 1 x 172R and 2 x 172S, a twin, etc. All instructors are members who freelance and prolly don’t want the hassle of CFI instruction. Any member may instruct if rated to do so, pay is negotiable with pax. Wireless internet, nice patio, sim. Must pay aircraft rental by credit card. Usual restrictive agreement: no grass fields, must have mountain checkout above 2500 feet. Membership fees. A member mentioned that bookings were down since the increase in gas prices.

Mike Shiflett, DPE (408 666-3133)

Mike has been teaching a successful CFI instruction ground school for over 10 years with a very high pass rate.

• CFI Nov 21, Monday to Friday (2weeks), 9 am - 4:50 pm, about $1350
• pilottraining.com
• checkrides.com
• cficourse.coursehost.com
• working on PP online course for Feb 2005

So far my plan is to take the ground school with Mike Shiflett, time permitting, and train at Nice Air and become a member at Squadron 2, since I can instruct at both as a freelancer.

I was in the vicinity of Eastridge Mall today, so decided to drop in and see how the renovation is going (looks good - not a construction project anymore with most of the stores occupied) and go to Todai for dinner. It is one of a chain of two dozen large Japanese all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants.

It’s been a few years since eating lunch there, but since I barely remember it, I guess it wasn’t too inspirational.

Todai’s serves a buffet of Japanese sushi and cooked items, plus some Chinese menu items. I’m from the school of “less is more”, so I seldom like all-you-can-eat buffets. I’d rather have a sit-down meal with balanced, freshly-cooked items. However, the buffet has enough choices and the traffic is high enough to make for a fresh, interesting selection. The choice of sushi is limited with respect to fish compared to a sushi bar (and tuna was out), but there was salmon, mackerel, snapper and shrimp. There was a variety of cold salads, including shiitake, seaweed, and shredded vegetables.

The cooked section has egg and fried rice, steamed rice, noodles, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, beef ribs, chicken, tempura, crab, jumbo shimp, clams and other cooked seafood.

There is also a soup section with miso and noodle soup and a dessert section with fruit-adorned cake and mini Rice Krispie squares.

Service was fine, though not much to do when a buffet is involved. The dinner buffet is moderately priced at $24.95 plus $1.50 for green tea. I normally spend less in a non-buffet restaurant and get more sushi choices, so this was no bargain for me. If I go again, I will be more choosy about the items to keep the number of plates down.

Todai
388 Eastridge Mall A-21
San Jose, CA 95122
Tel: (408) 270-8301

I had an Indian buffet lunch at Amber India, Mountain View location, on Thursday with the gang. This restaurant was recommended by an Indian friend as one of the best in the area, and I can see why.

The food was delicious, the service prompt, and the decor nice and exotic.

The various buffet chicken curries and potato/pea mix (aloo mater) were excellent.

There is not enough parking in the lot immediately outside the restaurant, so plan to arrive before noon.

Amber Indian Restaurant
2290 El Camino Real,#9
Mountain View, CA 94040
Phone: (650) 968-7511
Fax: (650) 968-1820

Arstechnica has an interesting article on music device fashion, past and present: The iPod Mini… from 1954