Bonjour Santa Barbara Tower

 

How long does it take a pilot to accumulate 25,000 landings?  For local pilot and flight instructor Yves Bajulaz (pronounced EEV bah-ZHULE) it has taken only 24 years of flying. Bajulaz, 44, is a professional pilot from Los Olivos and has flown more than 70 different types of aircraft with 9,000 hours as pilot-in-command.

The first thing that is noticeable about Bajulaz is his thick French accent.  When asked if this was a problem in communicating with controllers, he replied that, “I stick with standard phraseology.” Using the FAA mandated terminology aviation speak allows complete and unambiguous communication between a pilot and air traffic controllers.

Bajulaz first became interested in flying when growing up in Geneva, Switzerland.  His parents often traveled on vacation to the Santa Barbara area during the mid 1970s and Bajulaz moved here in August of 1980.  After attending an Airport Day event at Santa Barbara Airport, Bajulaz began training in 1984 and obtained his private, commercial, and flight instructor ratings in short order.  In 1985, Bajulaz started instructing at Santa Ynez Airport when Santa Barbara Aviation had a satellite office at the local airport.

 

Today Bajulaz operates ABC Airsports, providing flight instruction and pilot services out of Santa Ynez Airport. 

After obtaining advanced ratings that include Airline Transport Pilot certificates and being type rated in the Cessna Citation 500 business jet, Bajulaz flew for a local developer and provided pilot services.  Surprisingly when asked what the most difficult aircraft was to fly, Bajulaz indicated that flying a tandem and high performance hang glider was the most difficult!

It was interesting to note that Bajulaz provides pilot services to individuals who own their aircraft but do not fly them.  Often an aircraft owner will contract with a professional pilot for services or will feel more confident with an experienced professional pilot/flight instructor in the right seat.  Other times, weather considerations that would ground a pilot from flying will lead owners to have a professional instrument rated pilot fly their aircraft when they must make important business or personal appointments.

 

Not all Bajulaz’s flying is done in an airplane.  As part of ABC Airsports, Bajulaz has a sophisticated Elite computer simulator that allows a pilot to log-in and become proficient in instrument flying procedures. 

This simulator has the ability to mimic the instrument panel of many single-engine, twin-engine, turboprop, or jet aircraft.  The simulator includes a complete yoke, throttle quadrant, rudder pedals, avionics stack, and even autopilot.  Using a simulator for emergency procedures allows the pilot to practice emergency checklists multiple times in short order to become proficient in handling a multitude of emergency situations from loosing engine power to complete electrical failures.

Being a certified flight instructor in instrument and multi-engine aircraft, Bajulaz is able to “fill the void in training in advanced instrument procedures.”

Bajulaz can be contacted through his website at www.abcairsports.com or locally at 688-0343.

 

 

Odd airport occurrence

Those who frequent Santa Ynez Airport sometimes witness strange occurrences and unusual events. 

Strong winds sometimes cause hard and exciting landings, unusual airplanes arrive, and cattle from the neighboring pastures sometimes even get loose and wander onto the airport property.

Valentine’s Day brought one of the most unusual occurrences to the airport for a considerable time. 

Twelve members of the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale appeared at Stan Peternel’s hangar to serenade a group of airport “bums.” 

The group was on a fundraising tour and group member Mimi Walston donated $40 for a Valentine’s Day song to her honey, airport “bum” Carl Walston.

The Santa Ynez Valley Chorale is comprised of 70 singers of all ages according to group member Charyl Benton.

On this day, the group had more than a dozen stops and provided singing Valentines for those who were fortunate enough to have especially thoughtful lovers.