The Write Flyer

Only a few flights left, and then I’m finished with this phase of training. After this, I go on to multi engine training.

I’m currently waiting to do my spin training flights, and multi engine ground school. I have 2 cross country flights left, and a few dual flights.

Today I got my official certificate in the mail! Very exciting to see the real deal. I guess I don’t get to keep it for very long though. Soon as I get my multi private, I get another temp, and they take away my current one.

The weather has been pretty much perfect lately. There have been a few days that it was bad, but other than that- perfect. Clear skies, 70 degrees, calm wind.

I know, I know. It’s been way too long. It seems the gaps between updates has been getting longer. It’s not exactly by choice, I’m just so busy lately.

Right now I’m in the latter part of step two. This is the phase of training where I build my x-country required time for commercial, and build night proficiency, as well as single engine commercial maneuvers. There is a step two stage check, but not for any FAA rating, just a progress check with Flight Safety.

I only have about 10 flights left in step two, and then I will be going into the Seminole, which is the twin engine. I’m pretty excited about that, except for the cost! Goes from $100 an hour, to $300! Yikes! However, I hear the Seminole is tons of fun to fly.

I have in the mean time finished CRM(It’s called ‘Error and Risk Management’ but everyone calls it CRM), and Zlin ground school.

CRM exposes you to a lot of NTSB incident and accident reports. They show you how some could be avoided, and some you have to adapt to the situation. There is no page in the instruction book about what to do when the roof flies off.

The CRM class was very informative about common mistakes, and the instructor had a lot of personal tips and tricks to stay safe in the air. I think the class was only three of four days long, but there is another segment of the class later on in the training. I enjoyed the class, and it changed the way I fly, in some ways.

The Zlin ground school was in preparation for my spin training. It was about a three hour brief on the maneuvers you will perform in the Zlin, as well as some advanced aerodynamics of a stall, and spin.

There are four flights in the Zlin, each one hour long. I haven’t yet had one, but I’m super excited to get to go. Can’t wait to do some spins, and loops.

Flight Safety has been building a new maintenance hanger to replace the one that was damaged(destroyed) by the hurricanes last year. They have the building up, and have started framing the interior. Today I noticed they were attaching the hanger door. They have told us that it should be finished by March.

Also- they flight line building has been undergoing remodeling as of late, and I think that is set to be finished in April. Hopefully it is done soon, because right now we have to brief in trailers, and it’s not the greatest environment. Flight Safety has done they’re best to make it the best possible, but a trailer is a trailer.

In other news, they have installed wireless internet access on campus. I haven’t tried it out, but I know a few people that are currently using it, and I haven’t heard any complaints. Even though they claim it’s ‘Free’, they raised our rent in the dormitories a few months ago. The .50 cent raise per day, affected all on campus housing, to the best of my knowledge.

I think that covers most of what has been happening lately. I will try my best to keep this site more updated.

It has been an inordinate amount of time since my last entry. For that I apologize.

The holidays have left me in a daze of sorts. I went home for a few weeks to visit family, and friends. It was really great to see my parents again, and have dinner somewhere other than Taco Bell, or crappy canned food.

I came home to a very cold Florida. No, I don’t mean 50s cold, I mean 30s cold. Almost as cold, if not colder than home. Idaho. Think about that statement. Anyway, after the initial shock, I got my sweatshirt and jeans out of my suitcase, and wore them. Wasn’t exactly expecting that, but whatever.

Going back to work, really slapped me in the face. After a few weeks of hanging out with my friends, and not working, it really sucked getting up at 5 am to go to work.

I got back in Florida on the 3rd, and I haven’t flown since I’ve been back. I’m feeling a tiny bit apathetic about it. I’m not really sure why.

I start Zlin ground school tomorrow, as well as Crew/Cockpit Resource Management. I’m excited for that, and hopefully I can get motivated again. I’m just in a rut right now. I feel like I’m on the outside looking in.

Anyway, I will try to take lots of pictures of my Zlin flights, and keep the site updated about my progress. I know a lot of prospective students look to this for a kind of ‘in the trenches’ view, and I apologize for not being around lately.

Today I flew to Venice, which is located on the west coast of Florida. It was my first destination to the west coast. It was a really smooth, and clear day, so the flight was perfect. Got to the field, had lunch, and left. Got to see some great coastal scenery, and then the rest was pretty boring crossing the state. Not much in the middle of nowhere, just rows of orange trees, and swamps.

Well I have started the next step of my training. After officially having my certificate in my possession, I set out on my first solo flight as a Private Pilot. I probably couldn't have picked a more challenging flight.

About 75 miles south of Vero, along the east coast of Florida, is Boca Raton. Boca is just south of West Palm Beach, which is class C(charlie) airspace. This isn't like your typical airport, as it requires a little bit of finesse to get into it. Not as much as B(bravo) airspace, but close. Basically you just need to let them know you're coming, and if they acknowledge you, you're in the clear. Well they told me not to come into their airspace, must have been a busy day.

This started what was a fairly long, stressful flight. Staying clear of the airspace meant I had to navigate around the airport, about 20 miles away from it. I had to be very precise in knowing exactly where I was, so I didn't in-advertently enter the airspace.

I never got 'lost', but there were a few moments that I was unsure. However, after a few minutes, I started picking up some landmarks again. Once I made it around the airspace, I called up the tower at Boca, told them I was coming in! Since I was unfamiliar with the area, I had no idea what the field looked like, except for my airport diagram.

The controllers there were extremely helpful, and very patient with me. I told them I was having difficulty identifying the field, and they gave me suggestive headings, and progress reports of where the field should be. I eventually picked up the field about 2 miles out, and was cleared to land, never have words said to me been sweeter.

Once the wheels squeaked on the runway, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I made it. I went somewhere I had never been. I traversed multiple controlled airspace areas, and didn't hit anything! Success!

Once off the active runway, I made my way to an FBO on the field. I went inside for a soda, and to cancel my flight plan, and file my plan back home. I stayed inside for a few minutes, as it was a very warm day outside, and the air conditioning was helping me feel better.

I kept thinking about the way back, and wether I would try going through the airspace again, or divert around it. I decided to file a flight plan around the airspace, just in case I couldn't get in again. I jotted down some headings, and marked some checkpoints on my map, and headed out again.

The departure was good, and the cloud layers had risen, so I got to climb a little higher. This time when I called up Palm Beach approach, they acknowledged my request, and gave me some vectors for a transition. This made me feel a lot better. I wouldn't have to worry about busting airspace, and they gave me traffic advisories.

It was pretty uneventful on the way back, and before I knew it, I was on the ground, and out of the plane. After a very rewarding flight, and long day, I headed home. Very pleased with the way I flew, and the way I handled everything.

There will be many experiences like this I'm sure, and I can't wait to go through em!