Flying With The Squawkboxing Heavyweight Champion of the World

Tomorrow morning, I have the redo for last Friday's busted check. The asst. chief pilot that I'm going up with this time is more personable and makes you feel more relaxed in the cockpit. I am sure that it will go as smooth as can be. He's a great guy and there are few people I'd rather fly with. That is...

If we actually fly. He has over 1,000 hours in Piper Cherokees and knows them inside and out. Pre-flights with him are interesting to say the least.

Two weeks ago I was scheduled to fly with him at 11am. Our fist plane was tied down at the North Ramp, which is about a 10 minute walk from our main ramp area. I saw a little oil near the rocker tubes and decided to show him. CAN'T FLY THIS A/C...HAVE TO WRITE IT UP. Ok, no problem. We'll get another plane. When all was said and done, we squawked 3 planes before finding one that had just returned from a phase inspection. He told me that he's not very popular with maintenance, but would rather be safe than sorry. I agree with him 110%. I'd rather be on maintenance's sh*t list than a first name basis with the NTSB.

I'm just glad that he filled out the squawk box. His squawks seem to get more attention. rbtl

I am thinking poisitively about tomorrow. (Deep, slow breathing...good vibes...positive a/c Karma) There will be an airworthy a/c, right T?

Bike Week

Sorry if you've just searched for Bike Week and had Harley Davidson motorcycles in mind...

This week has been bike week at my house...bicycle week that is. My middle son finally showed interest in learning to ride a bike. Santa brought him a new one for Christmas and it went over like a lead balloon. This week, he learned to ride in 2 days on the tiny little bike that started with training wheels. He's almost six and a little too big for it. Hopefully with his new found confidence, he'll have the desire to move up to the big boy bike. Then it will be time to re-attach the training wheels for my 3 year old boy (a.k.a. Mr. Hand-me-down).

My daughter has been riding a bike for 3 years now and she outgrew her little pink bike with white tires, streamers and glitter. I took her to the store yesterday and let her pick out her own new bike. It's a 22 inch mountain bike. It is still girly, but more grown up. I'm glad she likes it, yet sad to see her growing up so fast. It seems like yesterday that I was peforming first aid on her scraped knee when she crashed her new pink bike.

Becoming a pilot is great, but nothing compares to being my kid's daddy. I never knew joy until I became a father.

Plug For A Good DME in Phoenix

Just a quick note to say something nice about Walt Forred, MD. He's a really good guy, has flexible scheduling and the most comfortable office you'll ever see. Let's see...he has a fridge stocked with all kinds of soft drinks and snacks, XM Radio, leather recliners in every exam room and excellent customer service.

When I had to change my medical certificate, he made a point to open his office on a Saturday morning to accomodate me. He also has online appointment scheduling and timely reminders based on your age and certificate types.

Anyway, he's a great guy. If you're in Phoenix and in need of a DME, give him a call.
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A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.

I think one of the few things I'll dislike about being a pilot are acronyms. There are too many! Everything to do with aviation is a damn acronym. Once in a while they are helpful, but many times, it's easier to memorize the words, flow or concept on it's own than the acronym itself. Here's my acronym for acronym:

A - nti Memory

C - ounter Intuitive

R - ecall

O - verdone

N - ever Helpful

Y - eah Right

M - inutiae

Anyone feel like sharing their least favorite acronyms?

Score: Ego - 0 Wisdom - 1

Friday, I had some oral surgery and I think that's the reason I blew my stage check ride. All I could think about Friday morning was that I was a few hours away from major pain. I should have postponed the stage check. Really. I made a few really DUMBASS mistakes that I would have never made had my mind been clear. Want to know what mistakes I made? Here goes...

1. When asked to perform a power off stall with a turn to the left, I performed a near flawless power ON stall with a turn to the left. Perfect execution of the wrong maneuver. Idiot.
2. When the instructor did a simulated engine failure at 6,500 feet, I failed to realize there was an airport directly below me and tried to glide to one nearly 10 miles away. Although I still had a decent alternate site picked, I blew basic common sense. To fan those flames, I forgot to do a clean-up flow after the maneuver and left the carb heat on. Double dumbass.
3. Last but not least, when shutting down, I forgot to turn off the radio stack prior to engine shut down.
   

In reality, I failed myself before getting in the aircraft. My state of mind was a negative aero-medical factor that my ego failed to realize. That check ride proved to me that you don't have to be fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alchol to be unfit for flying. I should never have flown.

Lesson learned. To give lighthearted credit to an aviation acronym: IMSAFE (duh)

Plane Crash In Poland!

Plane Crash In Poland Today

KRAKOW (Reuters) - A Cessna 152 crashed into a cemetery early this afternoon in central Poland. Polish search and rescue workers have heroically recovered 300 bodies so far and expect the body count to rise as rescue and recovery efforts continue into the evening hours.

End Of Course, Part 1

Well, a minor sigh of relief...

I passed the 3 hour oral exam portion for my end of course. Either the person that gave me the exam has become kinder and gentler or I learned a lot in the last few weeks. Either way, I told him that I felt much more comfortable this time.

Tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. is the 3 hour flight portion. I have planned a cross country from Williams Gateway (IWA) to Sierra Vista (FHU). I optimistic that weather will be nice that early and all of my maneuvers will be as smooth as glass.

After my flight, it's a bit of minor surgery. Hopefully, I'll be feeling well enough by Monday to schedule my FAA Check ride for Tuesday or Wednesday. I'd really like to have my license!