Jump to content

Introducing the latest Commercial Pilot

aviatoreb

By aviatoreb
in Miscellaneous Aviation Talk

 Share

Recommended Posts

aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
Posted

Introducing the latest Commercial Pilot - ME!

 

After 6 weeks since my sign-off...and SEVEN cancel flight tests for bad weather from ice, to snow, to low ceilings, and yesterday was cancel number 7 due to winds gusting to 38kts 80 degrees to the runway.....  Honestly the hardest part was the repeated waiting, restudying, and waking up each time hoping it was the day but then cancelled.

 

But!  All done and I got the new certificate in my pocket.  :-)   All the training and then check ride in my own N10933 Mooney Rocket.

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites
aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ooooh - and to top off a good day - I flew from KPBG (site of the check ride - boy its just sorta funny demonstrating "short - soft field landings" on a 11758 by 200 runway) across Lake Champlain to KBTV to drop off good ol 933 to avionics to upgrade my edm700 to a full edm830.  Happily TODAY it was 6000ft vfr in PBG while just 5 minutes flight away across the lake at BTV it was proper IMC I got to forge through for the drop off - but which held off from PBG or that woulda been cancel number 8.  Got a rental car (25 minutes fly to BTV and 3.5 hrs drive home) and brought home a huge pile of sushi for the family.  We live in a small town - no sushi.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

Way to go, Erik!

 

That's a step that I have also been debating. But the flight school around here won't teach in any planes but their own . . . and learning lifesaving maneuvers in a Cessna when I don't fly one, and all the speeds and angles will be different, just doesn't have much appeal to me. The $180/hour has even less appeal . . . . .

 

Now it's time for you to celebrate with a good dinner and a nice adult beverage!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MooneyBob Mentor

MooneyBob

Posted
Posted

Introducing the latest Commercial Pilot - ME!

 

After 6 weeks since my sign-off...and SEVEN cancel flight tests for bad weather from ice, to snow, to low ceilings, and yesterday was cancel number 7 due to winds gusting to 38kts 80 degrees to the runway.....  Honestly the hardest part was the repeated waiting, restudying, and waking up each time hoping it was the day but then cancelled.

 

But!  All done and I got the new certificate in my pocket.  :-)   All the training and then check ride in my own N10933 Mooney Rocket.

Congrats. That's my next step. How many hours you have spent with the CFI practicing maneuvers?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rbridges Grand Master

rbridges

Posted
Posted

Way to go, Erik!

 

That's a step that I have also been debating. But the flight school around here won't teach in any planes but their own . . . and learning lifesaving maneuvers in a Cessna when I don't fly one, and all the speeds and angles will be different, just doesn't have much appeal to me. The $180/hour has even less appeal . . . . .

 

Now it's time for you to celebrate with a good dinner and a nice adult beverage!

 

the local school let me use my own plane for the instrument rating but charged an extra $5/hour for the instruction.  The logic of the extra charge didn't make sense to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Congratulations!  I to am on the quest to become a commercial pilot.  I've passed the written, and am working on the practical.  Unfortunately, life really gets in the way sometimes.

 

Thank you!  Life does get in the way - 15 months ago when I started studying for the written I thought I would knock the whole thing off in about a month.  I passed the written within two months - but by golly it took like a year to coordinate just a few hours with the CFI and get it done.  In December I was sure I would have it done in a week or two (two good days of dedicated flying was "all I needed.... finally got that two days in by beginning of September - then of course.....six weeks of seven cancelled checkrides).  Wow I was so close to quiting and saying oh forget it.  That made it so much sweeter to actually successfully complete it!

 

I must say - there is no doubt that all this practice has made my feel for my flying precision sharper.  Undoubtedly.  And my FARS....ask me one...I dare ya.  :-) (Ok don't...but feeling good).

 

Erik awesome way to go! It had to awfully cold up there since its cold and snowing in De....hopefully it's between semesters for you..

 

It WAS cold!  8F and that mild 6 knots of wind down the runway sure made my hands cold during the checkride. Luckily my plane has good heat. And with a minus 3000 ft density altitude, with my rocket climbing out at >2000fpm my DPE remarked it was like flying a jet.  Yup - between semesters - barely!  Semester starts Thursday so sorta stepping on the toes of the pre semester rush but good to have it done before.

 

Way to go, Erik!

 

That's a step that I have also been debating. But the flight school around here won't teach in any planes but their own . . . and learning lifesaving maneuvers in a Cessna when I don't fly one, and all the speeds and angles will be different, just doesn't have much appeal to me. The $180/hour has even less appeal . . . .

 

Thanks Hank!  Yes - one of the major motivations was to learn to be better with my own airplane - the one I fly.  I am told it is harder in a high performance slick airplane vs a Cessna 172rg, but this is the airplane I use and I want to have.

 

If I had not done it here - and it dragged out as I said - I think if i were to do it again I would seriousy think of one of those - knock it out in 10 day sort of programs - fly somewhere like Florida or Arizona in your own airplane for a vacation and fly home with a new rating in your pocket.

 

Now it's time for you to celebrate with a good dinner and a nice adult beverage!

 

Already doing it Hank.  Red wine...  Here's one for you Hank! And for all of you guys!  Thank you all!

 

 

Congrats. That's my next step. How many hours you have spent with the CFI practicing maneuvers?

 

I would have to look it up but I would say not that much - like 12 to 15 hrs or so.  It was just hard to get mine and his schedule to line up.  And probably 150% of that again in solo dedicated to the commercial maneuvers practice.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

Thank you all! - Now who wants to hire me for some crop dusting? 

 

Or a little banner towing anyone?  Line patrol?  Parachute jumping pilot?  I wonder if SpaceX is looking for me?

 

Good luck with that! Not sure anyone on the ground could read the banner as you zoom past! Ditto for you being able to spot anything around a pipeline at 200+ knots.

 

SpaceX, though, is an idea. You already go about halfway there, don't you? And a significant portion of escape velocity? It's not called "Rocket" for nothing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Congrats, Erik!

 

Thanks!

 

 

Congrats Erik. Did you find this easier or harder than the IFR rating?

Yves

 

Thanks Yves.  It is a lot more fun than the IFR since it is a lot more time flying and being able to see where you are going (no foggles) and also learning some aerobatic-like maneuvers.  It is a lot like a highly souped up VFR lincense mostly - more maneuvers and you are expected to demonstrate everything to a more professional rather than a PPL standard - that takes some stepping up your game.  And the knowledge is expected to be at a higher level for the oral.  For the written - really there were quite a lot of IFR/instrument questions and I think that would have been a lot harder without an IFR>

 

Congrats!

 

Thanks!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.