The light, it's very bright

Just a hint, I'll have more details soon!

Would You do it again?

I have been asked this question several times. Of course the question is in regards to making a career change to aviation.

Let me start with a little back ground. After High School I went into the U.S. Air Force. Did one tour with them and got out. On the civilian side I figured I would either go Equipment Operator (Bull dozer, cranes, backhoes etc) which is what the air force trained me to do, or I would get into transportation, which is what both my father and grandfather did. The first call I received was to drive for a corrugated paper company, also known as card board. So for the next 18 years I worked transportation. Pretty much every aspect of it. From Dock worker to driver to supervisor/dispatcher positions. I had two separate companies go out of business on me, one had 18,000 employees. The last one I worked for is the largest LTL carrier in the US. However, that company is also not doing very well, and I would be surprised if they are still around in 2012.

After seeing the writing on the wall and after being laid off I decided maybe it was time to make a change. My wonderful wife told me I should pursue flying, commercially. At that time people were being hired at the regionals with 300 hours TT. So I quit and decided to go back to training full time for my commercial, Multi engine commercial, and CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates. Fast forward a couple years and the aviation industry is still suffering from the economy collapse. Flight Instructing is still slow. Hiring is starting to show signs of recovery, but I'm still in a place I suspected I would be out of a year ago.

There have already been so many up's and down's since I made this change, but the question still remains. Would I do it Again? Yes. I'm still very excited to find out what awaits me. It still amazes me every time I take off and watch the ground slip away.

1000 and a new year!

It has been awhile since I have been by to update the blog. Things have been very busy, which is a good thing. Most importantly just before Christmas I finally passed 1000 total flying hours. It has been such an amazing journey. At times it has been exciting and just an amzing experience. Other times it has been stressful and tiring.

So hear we are in the new year. I'm sitting on 1000 total time and 82 multi engine. I'm at 555 hours as a flight instructor. I enjoy instructing, it's challenging, and very rewarding. However I'm ready to make the next move. I have been giving some consideration to applying to a regional Airline. I just recently came across another website www.oneflyingleap.com It's another great story of a guy who made a career change and successful made it to the airlines. It is a great story.

I think 2011 will be interesting, I just need to slow my self down a little and smell the Jet A exhaust along the way!
Happy New year!

Exciting Times!

It's been a busy couple days. Yesterday I had two Instrument students go for there checkride. I knew they were ready,. but you know there is always that chance something could happen. I think it's almost as hard on your nerves as it would be if you were the one taking the checkride.

I was gone when the first one got back, and when I returned to the airport the second was already in the oral exam with the DPE. I asked Alejandro how he had done. He said ok, but made a couple mistakes. I asked if he passed, he said he didn't know. I asked did the examiner say you failed...he said no. OK, that's good they have to tell you if you fail, and they have to tell you the moment you fail a maneuver..

So, finally the DPE came out of the oral. I managed to pull him aside to find out how things were going. He said both were very strong in their oral and the first flew pretty well, but did make a couple mistakes, but not out side of PTS standards.

Finally the second flew. Arturo did a great job and even received a compliment from the examiner. So two passing checkrides in a day...what a great feeling!

So now day two of the week. I have a 15 year old private pilot student who wanted very badly to solo on his birthday. I told him we would do our best, but this is aviation and you cannot expect it. He is a great Student pilot, and I knew he would be capable if things worked out.
We missed a couple lesson last week due to the tropical storm, so I wasn't sure.
So finally the arrived...today...He shows up, I can see the anticipation in his face. The weather was ok, but not great, and then right when we got ready to take off the glider positions on the runway, and it was a glider checkride.
So now we have to compete with him and he has right of way. eventually the glider finishes and moved of the runway...we have 10 minutes left in out lesson. I ask if he is ready, he say he is. I have him stop at the FBO and out the door i go.
I walked over to where his mother was standing. I think I was more nervous then she was.
After just a couple minutes, there he goes. Now we're committed. he has to fly the pattern and land. He sounded great on the radio, his pattern looked great and his first landing was flawless! what a relief
He took one more hop around the patch and was done. what a 16th birthday. I'm sure he will sleep with a smile on his face tonight...

Congratulations to Arturo, Alejandro and David...you guys all did fantastic!

Students cancel, Planes break, Tropical storms happen...yes even in San Antonio. This week has been a wash on the flying front. Tuesday Tropical Storm Hermine rolled through, and we have had two days of lingering storms and low clouds. Not really what I would call flying weather for a c172.

It did allow me the time to take care of a few things that needed to be done. Had to change my car battery (notice the image above, I was changing my battery right under the eye). There was no hiding under the hood, as the eye passed over the rain was coming in sideways around the hood.

I did get the chance to review some ground work with two Instrument students who will be taking their checkride...as soon as the weather clears.

However I'm ready to get back into the air, lets hope we get some better weather soon.

Time Fly's

It has been an interesting journey so far. Aviation has proven to be a cruel mistress, and I have just begun. I shouldn't say it's only been cruel, I love it. The days seem to run together a bit sometimes, but it has not been that horrible grind that my old "time punching" JOB was. I have not done so well with keeping the blog going. I find it has been difficult to keep up with all the things I must keep up with. Not only flying, but even making myself study to keep the knowledge fresh in my mind. It's amazing how fast you start forgetting things after you stop studying.

The flying has picked up. Thankfully this was summer has been busy. I have been working with two brothers from Mexico that have kept me busy. They both passed their Private pilot check-ride and now are only days away from taking their instrument check-ride. Next I will take them through Commercial and top it off with the multi add-on in the Cessna 310R.

I have also started working at another school in the San Antonio area. It to has been rewarding. I don't have as much business there but it is picking up.
One of my students there is 15 years old. David is a sharp young man, and is progressing nicely! His birthday is Sep 14. He is excited that he should be able to Solo on his birthday! I'm excited too! I just hope it all works out, aviation is hard to plan. It seems there is always something that forces you to change your plans.

This new school is one that I have been pushing for over two years to get on with. For two years I have heard we just don't have enough business, we need to make sure our current instructors have enough work. I agreed with this whole heartily! I could appreciate that. Most p[laces could care less about their cfi's they would bring on to many so their "students could be taken care of". Well, two year later I finally get the nod from the chief CFI. He said "we finally need another cfi". Finally! I was ready too. So I try to come in without pushing to hard, because they had a shortage of planes. Then out of nowhere two more CFI's pop up and just start pushing their way in. I have always tried to show respect to others. I try to respect their "seniority" excepting that I am the "new guy". I just never thought it showed much integrity to stand there like a leech and try to force you way in. Not paying attention to the rules and basically just doing what you want.

I realize sometimes to get a head you have to be aggressive, I just don't think it should be at ANY cost.
I do appreciate the new position, It is going to be a great new addition to my aviation Journey. I'm still excited to see where it takes me!

The Next Chapter, or just a new page?

Have you ever read the book Who moved my cheese? It is a great book. It really makes you think about life, and keeping up with the change you go through. More importantly it talks about what happens when you don't adapt when you go through change. I found out the flight school I'm working at was being forced out of our building at San Antonio International. The airfield they have in mind to move to is way to far for me to travel to, especially for the little amount of students I have. Right after I found out about the move I went to the owner. I asked him if they had any discussions going with a local small airport that had no flight training. He said he had, but they were not interested in having the entire operation move there but they would accept a small satellite office. I told him I would be interested in helping out, and moving to that airport. This was a couple months ago. Two days ago the owner comes to me and ask me if I could fly to Castroville and deliver a paper. I said sure, so I grabbed a student and flew it out. The papers where a lease agreement for an office and ramp space.
Once I returned He told me it was a done deal and we could begin planing a move of 3 airplanes.

So now I will be moving to Castroville TX Airport (CVB) and will be starting up new flight training operations. That is the catch, We will need to find a whole new clientele. The foreign students we currently have at KSAT will have to stay there.
So it is kinda like starting a new business, luckily my only investment is my time.
On one hand its exciting, on the other it is a little stressful knowing there will be a period of time without much income! However, if you don't go look for more cheese, when someone moves your cheese, you might just lose it all!