This weekend I will hit 30 hours.What a long strange trip its been

[carl]

Tomorrow I should hit 30 hours in the Mooney M20 E.

This is amazing to me since I just obtained it this year. I now expect to fly 50 hours this year.

 

Money is a driving factor and I spend about $116 per month in fuel , $136 per month in hanger rent .It is insured but I will deal with that only once a year. 

 

There will be problems, I know, but I have not had those jump up and get me yet. If it is too much, then I will leave it in the hanger until I can get things fixed, I'll deal with that as it comes.

 

The story of my plane is too convoluted for this post, but as posted, I bought it in Reno, I went out there and spent a week with aviation people, eating, drinking and touring the area ,waiting for the plane to be ready. It was't and I got Charlie Davies to fly it back . I reached him through Mooneyspace.

 

I was at an airport getting cheap fuel , the pilot of the JUMP school came over and said what a great Mooney I had ( I still don"t understand ) and then was telling me about 

his job taking people up to jump,they need a pilot for the weekend at $30 /hour tach. 

Wait a minute , could I be a professioal pilot???? , me,a ready to retire teacher of respiratory therapy. 

 

So I think I need a instrument rating and a commercial rating now . I should get the Instrument rating first .

 

Don't get me wrong , I have not quit my job, but I am thinking instead of retiring and driving for Uber . I would perfer to take jumpers up and let them off at 12,000 feet or so.

 

This path and my writing, somtimes described as a cross between Joyce and Keroac,(on this site) is only because of the Mooney and Mooneyspace.   

 

I invite all responses. 

 

[carusoam]

Instrument and commercial are often bundled together for economic reasons.

At least that is what they were telling me while I signed up for my IR training.

Aviation version of Uber, air taxi may require additional ratings... CFI or ATP?

Best regards,

-a-

[peevee]

I started flying a lot more when I got into our Mooney too. 30 hours in June and July, more than I've flown in a year for a lot of years!

[carl]

there is no way to get an atp. 

 

 

Jump plane is fine, or maybe banner towing . 

[Will W]

Carl.

Glad you're still doing well and enjoying the Mooney.

Good news with the jump pilot job.  You only need a commercial which you can do in just a few flights and a checkride once you meet all the hour requirements (The maneuvers aren't really hard to learn).  A jump pilot doesn't need an instrument rating and your certificate would limit you to commercial operations < 50 nm which is the point of a jump pilot.  Hope you get it because it's a lot of fun but a lot of work all day flying sun up to sun down.

[Danb]

D Dan you working in AC 9-11 weekend

Dan

[peevee]

there is no way to get an atp. 

 

 

Jump plane is fine, or maybe banner towing . 

I've always thought either would be fun, or gliders. Don't have an in on any of the three around here.

The jump planes here are otters and king airs, not the usual ratty 182s so I'm sure a lot of competition and higher requirements.

[carl]

This is a terrible story .

 

• I have alway wanted to be a professional pilot .
•  My father told me I could not be one because I wore glass. (WWII Bombadier), so I became something else.( thats the terrible part)
• but maybe I could fly jumpers up and become a professional pilot ( defined as earning money ), a life goal attained . I am 58 , If you dont do it this year , next year you'll be a year older. 

 

     I flew today , flight following , Cleveland Center said . "Airport ahead 20 miles, 12oclock."

                      I was lost for a proper response , I did not say "well yeah" which is what I was thinking . so I said "Affirmative"  but I still don't know what the right response would be.  any ideas?

[Marauder]

This is a terrible story .

• I have alway wanted to be a professional pilot .
• My father told me I could not be one because I wore glass. (WWII Bombadier), so I became something else.( thats the terrible part)
• but maybe I could fly jumpers up and become a professional pilot ( defined as earning money ), a life goal attained . I am 58 , If you dont do it this year , next year you'll be a year older.

I flew today , flight following , Cleveland Center said . "Airport ahead 20 miles, 12oclock."

I was lost for a proper response , I did not say "well yeah" which is what I was thinking . so I said "Affirmative" but I still don't know what the right response would be. any ideas?

He was either feeling you out to determine whether he could say "no observed traffic between you and the airport, squawk VFR, frequency change approved" or being just proactive to help you find the airport.

I would have just said, "Negative contact" if I didn't see it or "Airport in sight, like to stay with you" if you did and wanted to make sure they kept you on flight following.

As for the post retirement career, if you are able to get knock out your commercial, I'd go for it.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[carl]

at ten miles out be came back and said no traffic . radar contact terminated squawk vfr .

it was agood flight

[peevee]

at ten miles out be came back and said no traffic . radar contact terminated squawk vfr .

it was agood flight

He's gigging you to cancel if vfr flight following or trying to get you on a visual if ifr.

[Bob_Belville]

There may well be some SOP for controllers that prevent them from suggesting you cancel IFR. But they can and often do hint that their screen would be simpler if you did.

[Will W]

D Dan you working in AC 9-11 weekend

Dan

Yes

[peevee]

There may well be some SOP for controllers that prevent them from suggesting you cancel IFR. But they can and often do hint that their screen would be simpler if you did.

 

I don't believe they can solicit, gently hint.... different story.

[Bob_Belville]

I don't believe they can solicit, gently hint.... different story.

Well, listen to Tampa approach @ 1:45...

 

[peevee]

Because sun n fun is all normal ops? Come on.

It's always the pilots discretion to cancel.

2-1-4. Operational Priority Note:

"NOTE - It is solely the pilot's prerogative to cancel an IFR flight plan."

[Bob_Belville]

Because sun n fun is all normal ops? Come on.

It's always the pilots discretion to cancel.

2-1-4. Operational Priority Note:

"NOTE - It is solely the pilot's prerogative to cancel an IFR flight plan."

Well, I have had hints that did not involve special events, this is one I could document and seemed to go beyond a hint. Your citation certainly does justify the pilot if he cooses to remain on his IFR plan. It does not seem to prevent the controller from trying to get the pilot to do the right thing. There are often aircraft on hold for release on the ground because of inbound IFR traffic which could be released if the inbound cancelled. 

[peevee]

Well, I have had hints that did not involve special events, this is one I could document and seemed to go beyond a hint. Your citation certainly does justify the pilot if he cooses to remain on his IFR plan. It does not seem to prevent the controller from trying to get the pilot to do the right thing. There are often aircraft on hold for release on the ground because of inbound IFR traffic which could be released if the inbound cancelled.

Sucks for them, doesn't it?

I'd like to drive to work and not hit a single red light but that doesn't happen for me either.

[Bob_Belville]

Hum, I think that's a two edged sword. Sucks for me if I'm the guy waiting. Common courtesy?

[Hank]

I had a first earlier this summer, coming back from my wife's reunion. It was dark out, I'm over nowhere, AL, descending for my new home in the flats, and ATL Center asked if I wanted to shoot an approach. I politely declined, canceled IFR and came in visual. In the past, I've had Tower invite me over if they needed ASR practice, but I didn't feel like shooting a non-loggable approach solo just because it was dark. As a student, I was required to fly at night, and didn't know how to shoot an approach.

 

Just go with the flow, and be nice to the voices on the radio; if you're not in the Northeast, they will often be nice right back to you. If you don't believe that, come on down South and check it out!

[peevee]

Hum, I think that's a two edged sword. Sucks for me if I'm the guy waiting. Common courtesy?

It's a first come, first serve system. Sometimes you get to wait. Sometimes people wait for you. Tough.