North Pole Under fire for Flight Dept.

Santa Called Out for Using General Aviation Aircraft
An unidentified internet-based watchdog group has challenged Santa Claus' use of a privately operated sleigh on his annual rounds. In an unwritten statement, the group maintained: "Why should he be entitled to that wasteful perk? He could be flying coach for much less than it costs him to operate his own private, luxury aircraft." The group further stated that it had received support for its position from several members of Congress (representing both sides of the aisle) and at least one of the Big Three automakers, who wrote: "He doesn't use it that much anyway. It'll save him a lot of money to get out of this business." (One of the congressmen interviewed by the group is reported to have asked, "Santa who?") Radar tracking of the sleigh's overnight flight last night revealed multiple, multiple WAAS approaches to non-ILS-equipped rooftops. Claus was reached early this morning, just after completing his annual marathon flight in the vintage, reindeer-powered STOL-craft and asked to comment on the challenge. Obviously peeved, he responded:
"What a crock of caribou-poop! Please, ask one of those think-tank geniuses to explain to me how I'm going to manage this one-of-a-kind itinerary on the airlines. Geesh!
"Oh, and Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a goodnight."


I have not been very good at updating the blog lately. Still a lot going on that I need to get straightened out before I fully go into detail here. I did want to share a wish for a MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy New Year. As I/WE celebrate the Birth Of Jesus Christ I want to thank everyone who has stopped by and taken the time to read my blog. Thank You

A beautiful day to fly!

Friday was just Beautiful! Unfortunately our planes are still grounded for Maintenance so no flying with my Students, but I did get a call to fly with my Father-in-law. He had a mission to complete. We needed to fly to Fredricksburg TX to pick up a piece of equipment for the auto pilot in his Baron. The night before a cool front came through (we don't have COLD fronts in South Texas) and the air was so clear! There was a bit of light chop (a little wind shear) but nothing to bad! Once I arrived at the airport Jimmy had already the Cessna out of the hanger and pref lighted (now that is nice!). He offered to let me fly left seat, something I have not done in a while. I decided to take him up on the offer since as a cfi I don't get that chance very often. Then He pulled out the low enroute chart and approach plates for T82 and said I needed to fly the VOR-A approach and do a hold so I could keep up my currency. If you don't know what this means, Basically I put on a view limiting device (so I could not see outside the airplane) and shortly after Take-off I began flying the airplane only by looking at the Instrument inside, no outside reference! I flew it OK, the hold wasn't to bad, and the VOR approach brought me out right on target. It was funny I looked up to search for the airport looking straight out and thought I was off course because it was actually between my 10-11 o'clock position, then he reminded me of my 25 degree wind correction angle! Its funny how soon you forget stuff when you are not using it! So, one hour after engine start we arrived. Its also funny that for 10 minutes prior to our arrival there was nothing going on at the airport. No sooner then we begin our final approach into the field we had two aircraft coming in behind us and 3 wanting to take off.
So we get on the ground and go to the avionics shop to take car of business. After a little small talk and looking at some really really cool new airplane gadgets (which ranged in price from $10,000 to $15,000) We decided we better get out of there! Just about the time we get back to the airplane we spot a Cessna 190 behind us with engine running...Nothing had to be said, we both new we where not going anywhere until this beautiful airplane was off the ground. There is just something about an Airplane with a radial engine. The sound they make to me is like music! I have always said if there was another time in history that I should have been born it was the late 30 early 40's. I love the airplanes, I love the music, and even the look of that time! People just seemed to have more respect for themselves and one another.

Isn't she a beauty...



Now, listen to her singing...It does not sound nearly as good as it does in person, but you might get the idea.


OK, so now that she is gone we can get in and fire up. I'm back in the right side, and Jimmy has this leg...so I get to look out the window and take some pictures! T82 Otherwise known as Gillespie county airport is nice airport in the Hill country of Texas. Located in Fredricksburg Texas it is a favorite place for pilot's to come and have a $100 Hamburger. Also on field is a very nice hotel, The Hanger Hotel. It has a balcony on the second floor so you can go outside and watch Planes coming and going! My wife and I will be spending a night there real soon. I look forward to it. Here is a view of the Hanger Hotel

Here is another view with the Diner sitting just to the right...Look at the nice crowd of planes sitting on the ramp outside the diner on a Friday afternoon.

The diner has a 40's feel to it. They play old swing/big band music and have it decorated like a 40's diner. They even have a banquet hall dressed up the same way. It's a fun place!

Waiting for takeoff we watch another 172 coming in for a touch and go. This plane is also based at KSAT.

Finally our turn to go, departing runway 32, watch as I pan to my right you will see the diner, the hotel, and a DC-3 sitting on the grass on the right side of the ramp.


The ride home was nice, a little bumpy but nothing to bad. The clear skies and cool temps where a welcome relief for us here. Sometimes we forget just how fortunate we are here the United States. We have such freedom and opportunity.

Arriving back a KSAT On Final 30R KSAT

Flying the Baron.

I got a chance to go fly the Baron a couple days ago. I never pass up that opportunity! There is just something about sitting between the engines instead of behind one! It was a nice day. We departed KSAT and flew up to HYI to meet a friend and check out a Mooney he is working on. This guy had to rebuild nearly half of each wing. Someone had run the Mooney off a runway and in a fence. He built new spars and ribs by hand, and it was amazing to see how they looked like factory new parts. After looking over the work progress we all decided we needed a $100 hamburger, so of to the airport cafe'. It's just a small little place there at the San Marcos airport, but it has a pretty good burger. From there we hopped over to KBAZ for some "cheap" fuel...$4.35 a gallon. When you burn nearly 30 GPH cheap gas is a must. After our fuel stop we departed KBAZ and made our way back to KSAT, it was my leg and everything was going fine. We had been told to fly to the SAT VOR which is typical when arriving from the north east. Once we made it to the vor things took an interesting turn. Over the VOR I expected a turn to the south for a 12L landing, but the call didn't come When the guy (ATC) did call he sounded all freaked out telling us to switch to another approach frequency and that we had radio problems. We switched back and forth to the two radios we had, all the while approach was turning us back to the north away from the Airport (we could hear them they couldn't hear us). Finally the turned us back south to the field and cleared us to land runway 12L. I went ahead and let Jimmy have control of the airplane (since it is his and he is more familiar) and just like that they could hear again...come to find out it was just a push to talk issue. After regaining radio communication with ATC they calmed down a little and everything went just fine from there!

Getting paid to fly!

FINALLY, the time has come...I am getting paid to fly!!! It seems it has taken forever to get to this point. I have started working for a flight school that primarily has foreign students. My first day I was assigned 3 student, a couple days later I picked up a forth. All of them have been flying for a while. They are all Private pilot students. I have not yet had a new 0 time student. I think taking on these students who have been flying already has been more of a challenge. There is a certain amount of time that it takes to get to know the student, learn where their book knowledge is and what their flying abilities are. They are an interesting mix. One is a young guy from Saudi Arabia, another is a girl from India, and then I have two guys from Mexico.
We have had only one full week of flying so far. My second week they grounded all the planes so the maintenance personnel could get all the planes back into perfect condition. Airplanes used for primary flight instruction usually are not the best looking planes out there. They tend to get abused. The FAA started ramp checking us pretty hard so the Owner of the school decided to self ground the fleet and ask the FAA to come in and inspect the planes and tell him what they wanted him to do. We are in our second week of being grounded. While I am thankful to see the owner is being responsible, it really stinks not being able to work!
So far it has been a good experience. You learn real fast how to make rules for the students, you also learn to never take your eyes off them. Even though you are not actually flying the airplane you are watching everything and keeping yourself ready to take over.
I can tell already that this CFI thing is going to be a very interesting experience.

TFR's an outing to see the prez

Monday here in sunny San Antonio we had a TFR (temporary flight restriction). GA pilots just love tfr's...yeah, like a headache. So I found out that President Bush was coming to town so I called my Father-in-law to see if he wanted to go watch air force one land. He has a hanger that us maybe just 150 yards off the touch down point of KSAT 12R. So of we go to the airport, get the lawn chairs and scanner out and get ready. Well, until we found out the center of the tfr was 16nm off the SAT vor on the 194 radial. Pull the sectional out to verify what we already knew in our heads and yup...Kelly AFB, Ok Lackland AFB what ever they are calling it now days.
Then we heard it, Air Force One calling San Antonio Approach, letting them know they were landing runway 15 at Kelly. Oh well, cant win them all. We did catch just a glimmer of the plane as he passed behind a SWA that was on approach to international. Whats worse, The flight path to Kelly is right over my house, I could have been sitting in my back yard with a ice cold beverage and watch him fly right over!

We decided to go ahead and just stay at KSAT, and take a chance, because usually when the Prez comes to San Antonio he does land at KSAT.

While we sat there of course we had to do some plane watching!
I caught this SWA 737 just as the mains touch down


Then watched as this citation and a couple more taxi by for takeoff








Than right after this Aero mexico connect landed

I spotted a military Helicopter approaching towards runway 21. I was surprised to see that and decided to wait to leave to see where he was going. The transient military aircraft usually park near us, so landing in 21 would be a really long "taxi".

Well, after some time I was really amazed to see what was actually landing/parking right next door.





Marine One. I thought that was pretty cool! I am assuming he flew in from Austin which is where the president had been just prior to his arrival. Imagine the 747 making a trip that short! It seems that would be a large workload. Austin to San Antonio in a 172 is a short flight, maybe half hour or so.

Well, after all the excitement and disappointment wore off we headed home. I was loading my car up and talking with Jimmy about possible going by Kelly to see Air force one take off when I hear a plane approaching from an unusual angle. I could tell it was a large plane, so I grabbed my Camera and managed to snap off a couple of pictures.





So after all of that we finally got to see it! Not up close and personal like we had hoped, but it was a fun adventure! Of course, airplane, and airports are always fun!

PLANNING

The word Planning is a BIG word in aviation. we are taught to make plans for everything we do. I wonder if 'flight planning' is an Oxymoron? If you have been around aviation long enough, you know nothing ever seems to go exactly as planned. There is always something that changes things up a little. Weather, Maintenance, cfi's canceling, another renter not getting back on time with the airplane, the list is endless. If you are a student pilot, or pilot working on advanced rating you definitely know what I am talking about. One of my favorite saying regarding GA (general aviation) is, If you have time to spare, go by air!
Time and again I have had to cancel flights for numerous reasons. One day I was preflighting the Mooney for an Instrument lesson and I found some pretty bad damage to the landing gear doors that one of the partners had done, and NOT reported to anyone. Talk about mad!
I try to plan things out. I like to know where I'm going in life. One of my goals for my Aviation Career is to fly for an airline. My top number one pick for a regional airline was Express Jet.


Not only where they one of the best regionals to work for, they had a base in San Antonio! How awesome that would have been! Well, as of Sep 1 2008 Express jet (branded service as pictured above)will be no more! i hoped they would make it through the "OIL CRISIS" because I wont be ready to make the move to a regional until probably this time next year, but they didn't. Of course express jet will still be around as Continental express, I Hope. Just like anything else in aviation, your Planning does not always work out. In reality your planning for best case scenario. Each person has there own way of looking at life. I have a Faith. I believe My path will be planned out for me and I just need to walk it. Just like right now, I am down for a little while and cannot fly, but I have faith that their is reason for it, and I will just keep moving forward working toward my destination. Just like a flight plan, The weather might delay you for a while, even though your planning did not include the delay, you will eventually get there!


The picture of the Express jet was taken yesterday while I was at KSAT. I was checking out some work being done on the 172. While there I managed to check out a couple more of the neighbors. Across the field was a Trade Winds Boeing 747 sitting at Sino Swearingen.

I thought it was an interesting photo, with the heat rising off 12R blurring the picture.

Sino Swearingen if you are not familiar with them are building a new light jet here in San Antonio the SJ30-2

Great looking plane, isn't it!

A couple more of the neighbors.

An arriving SWA


And a departing Delta. I really like the MD-80 series. It's such a shame they wont be a round much longer!

Aviation is just an indescribable thing. It can drive you crazy with all the up and downs but if it's in your blood you just can't shake it! You know what I'm talking about...don't ya! ;-)

A Day at the airport

Have you seen the bumper sticker a bad day fishing is better then a good day at work? I think that's the same as being at the airport. I was at the 172 Hanger at KSAT, which is abeam the touchdown point of 12R (san antonio's main runway).
It's fun sometimes to just pull a lawn chair out and watch the planes come and go. We have all types, GA, corporate, Airline, Freight, Everything from the smallest GA to 747's. It always interesting to see whats coming and going. We even have a p-51 p-38, and a f-4 corsair that frequent SAT.







The only downside to being at a large field, is there usually is no one else around...close by. It doesn't have that small field feeling, where people are sitting around a picnic table telling "there I was 35,000 feet, in the soup, inverted" stories.






But it sure is fun to sit and watch the "neighbors".


There is just something about being at the airport!

MEI on Hold

Well, the MEI is hold for a little bit. Maybe I will have have a chance to get it early Aug! Getting the CFI and CFII at Career Pilot School was a lot of fun, and hard work! I will come back soon and add a few photos to this post of the school and planes. I want to say thanks to Michael, Adam, Mark, Jake, and Ron. What a great bunch of guys! I'm ready for another wally's burger! It was really a good experience, It was sad to leave as quick as I did! Hopefully I will get back up there soon to finish up! Now, all we need is that new Career Pilot School Location 3 in San Antonio TX!

UPDATE, while I'm holding I figured I would post a few pics!

Here is a shot of a newly minted CFI flying back to IXD from GHP. I was debating about flying back from the left, since it had been so long since I had flown from the left. But I decided to fly from the right!


I couple of shots of downtown Kansas City




The Arrow I took the CFI initial in.



The archer II (the plane I used for the CFII) and the Arrow



My buddy Trevor "teaching" a lesson in prep for one of his checkrides!


Career Pilot School, their IXD
New Century Location


It was a good time up there, I look forward to going back and finishing up my MEI!

Next up...MEI

Well I got my first hour in N125RJ today. I like flying the twin comanche, aka the twinkie. Its a fun plane to fly! The plan is for me to fly monday and tuesday, and hopefully a checkride on wednesday...I just hope and pray to be done by then! It has been a good experience, and even though it is 100 in San Antonio, I'm ready to go home! So for now its study time again. It is amazing I have been studying for months and I still feel like I dont know much of anything! Things are starting to come together though I look forward to instructing! Ok, study break is over, time to get busy!

CFII OH YEAH!

It has been a busy week since passing my CFI initial. I was not real current on my Instrument, so I had to spend a little time getting some basic instrument skills back! Not to mention, my instrument skills never were really all that great. Anyway, after a lot of study and about 13 hours in the air I took my CFII ride yesterday and passed! Oh yeah! WHAT A RELIEF! On the way to the airport I was so nervous I was actually happy that I was driving in a thunderstorm! I figured maybe it was my out for getting out of taking the ride I didn't feel I was ready for! Once Again I had to lean on my faith, and put it in His hands. So the DPE says well, let just do the oral and we can fly another day(the day was forecast to be thunderstorms all day!). About 2 hours later we get done with the oral, we look out side and the rain had stopped the clouds pulled out to 12K and it was suddenly flyable! Aside from the winds aloft 230 at 46 kts at 3000 it was clear and unlimited visibility. Despite the winds I decided to just fly, I figured it was made available to me so I had better take it. Two hours later I was a CFII! What an experience...Now just one more ride my MEI and I get to go home...I am so ready to go!

CFI!!!!

YES I AM NOW A CFI!!!! Wow, All I can say is what a relief! I stressed so much over this one, and have crammed so much into my head over the last two weeks that I think I have a permanent head ache! But I passed today and that's all that matters!

I had to fly to KGHP Midwest National In Mosbey Missouri to meet the KC FSDO examiner. It was an uneventful flight direct through Downtown Airport airspace. The air was smooth, there was a light fog over the river. I flew probably the best Pattern I have ever flown, by the numbers all the way to touch down which was picture perfect! Of course NO ONE SEEN IT! which is always the case when you grease one on! We started the Oral about 8:45 went to about 12 then broke for lunch! Came back got in the airplane! flew about 1.5 my flying left something to be desired, but hey, I passed! came back finished up at 5pm. It was a long day! I am just thankful it is over! I am thankful that I have a God who gives me the strength and ability to do this, there is no way I could do it on my own!

Now I am on to do the CFII and MEI, all within the next two weeks! OH GEEZ, the stress just came back!!!

Congratulations Trevor

Well, one of our class members took the CFI-A ride today and Passed!!! Trevor was the first to go, and he did very well! Congratulations!
My ride is scheduled for Tuesday! The nerves are starting to kick into high gear. Its been almost two weeks since arriving, we have learned a lot, but it just does not seem like enough! Sometimes you are so tired from studying it hurts! Tomorrow I start a mad rush to get the flying done. I only have about 2 hours so far for this course, so I have a lot to catch up! I hope the weather holds. It has been pretty bad around here, very strong thunderstorms, tornado not to far away. I talked with Michael today, he says I should still be on schedule to finish all three CFI, II, MEI by around the 28th. again weather permitting!
I hope so, Its been two weeks since I have seen my Family and i miss them and Home! This has been a very good experience so far, I do not regret coming back to flat land (KS) to finish my training up! Well, Its Study time!

GEAR UP!!!!

What a day! I went for my spin training today with Tyler another CFI student. Just after he got back I loaded up, strapped on a parachute, and strapped into the Super Decathlon.


So after getting ready to go, engine started and requesting taxi from ground, I hear "gear up" coming from my CFI I am a bit puzzled until I look out the right window and there about 200 feet away is a Mooney 3ft off the deck with his gear up!
Man I just felt helpless, I wanted to do something but there was nothing to do! I watched as he bobbed the nose up and down a little "looking" for the runway and then he settled in, it was all over. He slid about 30 yards turned about 30deg to the left and stopped. We were not going anywhere! The airport was closed!

I had ever witnessed anything like that so close, it seemed like it was happening in slow motion.

So anyway, after lunch and a couple hours pass we are finally strapped back in and ready for departure! We head out, climb to 6000(agl) and start our spin training. WOW, I had never done a spin before. I was amazed how fast you roll over and next thing you know the earth is just a blur! If you are a pilot or a student pilot and have never done a spin, find a GOOD spin instructor and go do one. I don't think an average pilot could get out of one without having some spin training! I think your average pilot would get Killed if inadvertently getting into a spin!

After the spin training we did a few basic aerobatic maneuvers. It was fun. Some aileron rolls, a loop, inverted flight. It was very cool!
Well, I'm a little over a week into the CFI-A training and The check ride is scheduled for a week from today. So, I better get busy studying!

Doom and Gloom

It's so sad to hear people almost daily talk about how bad the aviation industry has become how terrible the economy is...blah blah blah! There is a popular aviation website/forum I like to participate in, but lately it has become so negative it just makes you sick to look at it! Yeah, high gas prices are kicking our butt right now, but I think a lot of our poor economy is self professing prophecy! If you believe it, it will start to come true! Yes the airline industry is taking a hit with high fuel prices. Yes there have been some smaller operations go down. But really what Major airline has gone out of business? at least which one that was not ALREADY on the way out, like skybus??? that was a terrible operation with an even worse operating plan that was losing money! I know the Legacy's are all crying the blues making threat of domestic reduction (i.e. stop service to small town USA), but why are they making these "threats"? Look no further than you local politician! They are already ringing the subsidies for the airline bell. This is exactly what the airlines want!

Aviation will continue, it will recover from this oil situation and it will continue to grow as is forecast! I for one plan on being there, and ready when the hiring starts again, and if I plan it just right I will be there with just the right time and experience when hiring kicks in!

The Tornados are coming!

You just have to love the weather! We had really really bad storm in the forcast last night, everyone thought we would have tornado, I heard some thunder for a little while, but that was about it! Which is good, Today is day 5 of training! I dont need a weather set back right now! Its been a really fast 5 days! It feels like I have not learned anything, but I'm sure I have! I feel pretty confident so far actually. I like Michael (the owner of the school) who is teaching us! Things are pretty laid back, but he seems pretty good at teaching us! I'm just over a week before taking a check ride for the CFI! It doesnt seem posssible.

How?

Day three is now behind us. We have been writing and teaching ground lesson plans. I don't mind the teaching part, but I really don't know how you get all this information into your head! There is just so much to know! Sometimes it seems impossible. The nerves have finally settles down, it's not easy to pack up drive half way across the country leave your family behind for a month, and spend a LOT of money doing it. Like anything, you just have to jump in and do it, if you let the fear control you, you will never get anywhere! I met one of the DPE's yesterday. Ron, will also be giving us our spin training in a super decathlon

The Decathlon is an aerobatic airplane, and we will be learning some basic aerobatic maneuvers. This will be on Monday! I'm excited about that!
Well, back to study time!

Im Here!

Well day two is in the can. I made into town (new century ks.) on Sunday. We just finished up day two of FOI (fundamentals of Instruction). Things are going well so far, it has just been class room training. Tomorrow we might be doing spin training! a spin is when you stall an airplane and a wing falls over and you enter a nose down spiral! Not sure how that will go, I will update later!
I must go study now!!! My Brain hurts!

I can see the light!

Tomorrow is the day! I will be pulling out about 4am for my 12+ hour drive north to Kansas to begin CFI school. By the end of June I should be a CFI, CFII, and MEI. It is supposed to take 25 days! That is an awful lot of stuff for only 25 days! I hope it will go as planned. I hate being away from home for nearly a month! I have to admit I'm pretty nervous about it at this point! I have never been good at dealing with the "unknown". I like to be in control, and things like this makes me feel like I'm just a long for the ride. I will try to keep things updated on my progress, but it will depend on how much time I have. It is good to know its almost here. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm almost there! Lets do this!

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

By LCDR Kelly Strong, USCG
I watched the flag pass by one day, It fluttered in the breeze. A young Service man saluted it, And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform So young, so tall, so proud, With hair cut square and eyes alert He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him Had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea? How many foxholes were soldiers' graves? No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of Taps one night, When everything was still, I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times That Taps had meant "Amen, "When a flag had draped a coffin Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children, Of the mothers and the wives, Of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea. Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

Thank you to all those who have died for our great country. Thank you to those families who have given the greatest sacrifice, Father's, Mother's, Son's and Daughters, Brothers and Sisters

Thank you to all past and present that have proudly served our great nation.

THANK YOU!

Spreading your wings

One of the greatest things about flying are the people! There are just a great bunch of people in the aviation circle. Flying is something that bridges any gap. You could be 20 and they can be 80 and you can sit and talk for hours and completely understand each other. Back at Christmas I attended a Christmas party hosted by the owner of the airport where I fly out of. My wife and I grabbed a table and then went ti get some food, when we returned we found another couple sitting there. After some small talk and getting to know each other I finally realized who it was and thought how funny. Here is this guy who owned a rather large aero space company and I'm sure is REALLY well off, and here I am this reg joe who does ok for himself, but is definitely is a different economic class. Funny thing was it didn't matter. We just talked had a great time shared some airplane stories and had a great time. That is aviation! I have been at the airport before just hanging out wishing I could fly and before long someone would invite you for a ride. I have done that myself many times! It's always fun to share the experiences we have while flying!
Well today I met a guy who needed to do some Instrument currency flying so I volunteered to go along! Besides I had never flown in a Cirrus and have always been interested in them. It was a great time and I actually got some stick time! It was an awesome aivrcraft and a pleasure to fly!





I was amazed at how much space it the plane inside. Since I'm used to piper and Mooney types this thing felt huge inside!



We had about two and half hours of flying. We went Into Kerrville TX (KERV)


(KERV) Is also Home to Mooney aircraft. One of my Favorite planes!


It doesn't look like much, but that is where they are built!

All in all it was a fun day! Its nice to spread your wings and try new things now and then, and I'm glad I did today...I'm definitely a new fan of the cirrus!

CFI...The next phase begins!

Well, I'm back to studying again. More John and Martha...I swear they need to put me on their payroll! John did you hear that? This blog has had hits from over 13 country's and This is about the 3rd plug you guys have gotten...haha Yeah, like I would expect to hear from them. Anyway, I have been studying, there is obviously a lot to study. Now is the time that you actually have to make it all stick! Before you only had to do multiple choice, now you have to really know your stuff! Today I went out to practice flying from the right seat! It went well, I was please with my performance! We departed San Antonio international and went to T89 for some Touch and Go's!

I am very fortunate that my Father in law is a pilot and has a 172 which I can fly once in a while. Saves me from hiring a cfi to go fly with, just so I can get the motor skills down.
After Take off we were vectored around Kelly AFB, ok Lackland AFB or whatever they wanna call it now days. Normally they let you fly right over it, but today the clouds were still down a little low so we had to fly at 2500. They had 2 C-5's "in the pattern".

We passed over one later on our return at 3500 and he was at 3000 it was so huge it looked like we were way to close. Just an awesome airplane!

Once we took our little scenic tour of the new toyota plant we finally made it to castroville. The winds were supposed to be out of the south east which would have been just right with their runway 15, however, as with any flight things never are exactly as planned. The winds were a straight cross wind so my first real chance at right seat flying was going to be with a cross wind! All in all I was pleased the landing were pretty good and I didn't feel to out of place. Which is the goal, because as a cfi you have to be comfortable sitting in the right seat!
We did about 5 touch and go's and headed home, an uneventful flight back to KSAT a last minute sidestep from 12R to 12L because of traffic, no big deal, and we were down and taxiing in behind the "traffic" a 737-800 that Miami Air on in. So now I am home and trying to get some ground studying done. I'm also trying to make final preparations for the CFI course I plan to attend! I just hope this time things go a little smoother!

I'm Back part two!

It has been awhile since I last posted I know, but I have been very busy with studying. I do have some great news to report FINALLY!!! I am now a commercial multi and single engine pilot!!! Last week a hopped a plane to Siler City NC to go fly with Oscar at OS Aviation. I did my training in a twin Comanche


I will say this NC is beautiful country! It was a lot of fun to fly out there!



I would highly recommend going out and visiting Oscar if you are working on your commercial! My only regret is not going there first!

It was an interesting week, I flew out on American Airlines

We flew an interesting approach into St Louis (My home town)


I will say this about AA, even though they had a really bad week with the faa, They did a great job! I even managed to get home early!

The twin training went very well. I loved flying the "twinkie". I had heard rumors that she was hard to land, but I thought she was great to fly and land!

Oscar is all about real training! You do actual engine outs! None of this pull the throttle and simulate stuff! He makes you really learn it. We even feather the prop so we could practice air starts!
The single engine portion was done in an alaurus ch2000 I think...I'm not to sure about that airplane! It seems a little to...cheaply made. I didn't feel real safe in it, however it does fly nice. It is fun to land and do engine out 180 maneuvers in. For as small as the wing are it is very responsive, and will float forever if you carry to much airspeed!
All in all, it was a great experience! Greg the DPE was awesome. This guy has more experience flying then a human should have! Retired airline capt, current corp pilot in a c650, current corp helicopter pilot (eurocopter) dpe fixed wing and helo. the list goes on!

It was great and now I can move on to the next phase the CFI, and already I am having "fun" trying to find a place to go for the school!