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! ;-)