Photo By Maria Blanchard | Army Sgt. Charles E. Verax, an engineer with Joint Task Force Guantanamo's 525th...... read more read more
Subscribe
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Army Sgt. Charles Verax Jr., with the 525th Military Police Battalion stationed at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, recently achieved a lifelong dream of earning his helicopter pilot license while on leave.
Verax has always wanted to be a pilot. His 20/400 vision stopped him from joining the military as a pilot, but it hasn't stopped his love of flying.
Determined to fly helicopters, Verax has made continuous steps toward his goal such as learning to fly remote control helicopters, getting surgery to fix his vision and taking lessons to get his Federal Aviation Administration helicopter license. His goal finally became reality in late September when Verax passed the FAA oral and practical exams, officially becoming a helicopter pilot.
Several roadblocks and challenges slowed Verax's progress along the way. Verax completed all the required flight hours prior to his deployment to Joint Task Force Guantanamo as an engineer early last year, but he was unable to take the exam before he left. During his deployment to Guantanamo, Verax kept his skills up by flying remote control helicopters, helping to maintain his cyclic skills and hand-eye coordination. He made plans to finally take his exam in September during his two-week leave.
With a narrow two-week window to complete his task, Verax worked to get his skills back up to speed. A low pressure system, bringing seven days of almost non-stop rain almost grounded the whole plan; but with the help of an instructor, Verax took to the skies to practice whenever there was a break in the weather. Verax used a Schweizer 300C helicopter for training, the same helicopter used from 1964 until 1988 to train Army pilots.
"The Schweizer 300C is an agile and maneuverable little helicopter and an awesome trainer," said Verax.
Many of the maneuvers necessary to control a helicopter are difficult to master. According to Verax, it takes the average person about seven or eight hours of flight time to learn how to hover.
"Hovering is by far the most difficult thing to learn because the four separate controls are very sensitive and you must manipulate them simultaneously," Verax said. "At first, it is very frustrating because it seems impossible to hold the helicopter in one spot, but after awhile, it becomes second nature."
Finally, on Sept. 19, 2009, Verax was able to take the FAA exam from a certified examiner who once flew UH-60 Black Hawks in the Army.
"The oral exam is stressful because it is similar to military promotion boards where senior NCOs make sure that [service members] have the knowledge they need to succeed at their jobs," Verax said.
After passing the oral exam, Verax was required to complete a practical exam, testing his knowledge of flight maneuvers. Verax says the most important maneuver a helicopter pilot learns is to perform an autorotation. In the rare event of an engine failure, the pilot immediately reduces the pitch in the blades to reduce drag on the rotor system. The pitch, coupled with the upward flow of air through the rotor system from the descent, keeps the blades spinning. As the helicopter nears the ground, the pilot flares the nose up to slow the speed and levels off. Done right, this maneuver will allow for a safe, controlled landing.
At 2,000 feet during the flight portion of his practical exam, the examiner slowly closed the throttle, simulating an engine failure. Verax then performed a safe autorotation. After successfully completing all of the other FAA required flight maneuvers, Verax flew the helicopter back to Denton Municipal Airport where the examiner shook his hand and told him he had passed.
Verax looks at his private helicopter license as a license to learn and build experience until he can get his commercial add-on rating. Pursuing his dreams was always important to not only him, but his family. Verax spent time with his parents in Kentucky after passing his exam. His parents were very proud of him, especially his father, who unexpectedly passed away as Verax was on his way back to Cuba.
"I am especially thankful for the precious two weeks that I got to spend with my dad because he unexpectedly passed away Oct. 9, 2009," Verax said.
Verax is currently working on his warrant officer packet with the hopes of being accepted into the Army flight training program. Because of his age, he will need a waiver to be accepted, but feels he can overcome any challenges that may lay in his way.
"I don't have anything to lose by trying and I know my dad would have wanted me to keep moving forward and to never give up on my goals," said Verax. "At the end of the day, I am still happy because I have realized one of my life's dreams by becoming a helicopter pilot. I can think of no better way to honor my dad than to live my life to the fullest and keep striving for my dreams."
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2009 08:35 |
| Story ID: | 42192 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 316 |
| Downloads: | 202 |
This work, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Service Member's Dream of Flight Comes True, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
