Interesting PIREP

This is an interesting PIREP from Eastern Alabama:

   PIREP 16:31Z 01/27/12
   BHM UUA /OV VUZ090030/TM 1631/FL320/TP E190/TB SEV/RM ACFT ROLLED 12-15 DEG. ZTL
  

Night Cross Country - Athens' Style! 1/24/2012

Today was my first night cross country to Athen's. Originally, it was suppose to happen tomorrow, but due to the possibility of rain, my flight instructor came in on his weekend so we could go up tonight. Beautiful night! Pretty much cloudless until we were about 25 miles coming to KRYY, and then I just saw some high cirrus clouds. Couldn't figure out which planet it was, but heading west, towards the Southwest was this bright star, it was beautiful! You can see a lot more stars up in the air, than on the ground at night. A lot more easier to see other aircraft too. Atlanta, and northern Atlanta is beautiful at night (wish I could say the same for the day, lol!) Who's ready to join me in a flight at night?

Coming out of KRYY we took off from runway 27, so about 300 feet from pattern altitude, we started to make our right turn to get on course and to get to our altitude of 3,500 feet. At first, it was difficult for me to find Gwinnett County Airport, but I finally spotted it. Overflew that (as planned.) Flew south of the Winder Airport; was able to turn on the runway lights via our radio, which is pretty cool. Made it to Athens with no problem. Landing was kind of fast, but the recovery from it was pretty good. We landed on Runway 9, and took off from runway 27. The air traffic controller sound so sleepy. I felt sorry for her. According to my flight instructor, most of his students have a problem landing for the first time at night, as they are wary of where the ground is (making sure they don't crash into the ground,) and do a high flare. He said besides the fast landing, it was overall impressive. Coming back we were at 4,500. Going and coming, smooth as silk up there, didn't feel a single bump. (I know this might sound weird, but turbulence, within reason, is kind of fun, but there's a limit of course.) Landing on 27 at KRYY was pretty much flawless. Flare was good, and smooth touchdown. Winds were very light.

So, what's next? Next Wednesday (weather permitting) is another night flight. This time, we are staying local. Per FAA regulations, you must get at least 10 night landings completed, well, I've gotten 2 down, and my night cross country completed. So, I have to do 8 more. The plan is for us to do 4 at Cartersville, and 4 at KRYY. After that, I have to do a cross country stage check with Hutch (who is our ground instructor,) to make sure I know how to do a flight plan (all students have to do this.) After that, will be my first solo cross country, which I think will probably be to Chattanooga.

Bookwork is coming along. I'm still having problems with the mathematics of it all. I will have to take my time, and go step-by-step/equation-by-equation to get it. Still planning for late-March or April to get my license. First trip: Myrtle Beach, SC. Anyone wanna join me?

Jet outside the gate to get into the airfield. N227LA - 1976 Gulfstream Stream II... has 22 seats, weight is over 20,000lbs. Two Rolls-Royce engines, horsepower: 1140 (Turbo-jet.)

Notice the military helicopter in the distance, he took off while we were preflighting our plane at 6:45PM.

Got Grounded Due To Weather

Well, I was really hoping to go play in the land of the birdies today, but weather has grounded that idea.

As of 1650/1655Z
KRYY - Temp 54; Dew Point 52; Winds ESE @ 12 Gusting to 17; Visibility 2 miles; ceiling 500AGL
KMGE - Temp 54; Dew Point 53; Winds E @ 12 Gusting to 17; Visibility 10 miles; ceiling 300AGL.

As of 1748/1755Z
KRYY - Temp 54; Dew Point 50; Winds ESE @ 15 Gusting to 21; Visibility 2 miles; ceiling 500AGL
KMGE - Temp 53; Dew Point 53; Winds E @ 15 Gusting to 21; Visibility 6 miles; ceiling 300AGL.

So, I'll be staying on the ground today. Gives me more time to study I guess... :-(
Next flight will be on Tuesday, staying in the area, and next flight lesson is on Wednesday. We will see what happens.

To Athens and Back - 1/19/2012

We went to Athens, GA yesterday in good ol' 707PD, but I marked a first yesterday, as it was the first time I had a passenger (besides the instructor) with me... my buddy Adam. God bless his soul, he is a nervous flier, but he got up the nerves and flew with me to Athens. Going there, we were cruising at around 3,500 feet (non-autopilot.) It was a bit choppy, but not the worst chop I've been through. The Flight Service Station was having major issues yesterday, and apparently they were going old school when we called to get our Weather Briefing, and took one hell of a long time to get them on the radio to open up our flight plan. We flew out of KRYY on Runway 9, headed East, south of Roswell, just north of KPDK, right over Gwinnett's airport, south of Barrow County airport, and landed on Runway 27 in Athens. We decided to take a quick break at the Athen's FBO, Athen's Flight Center. The lineman was very nice, and so was the young lady at the front desk. Usually on cross-countries we don't make a stop at the FBO, but I'm glad we did this time. For some reason, my back was getting very tense, so I need to get out anyways. My instructor informed me, that this was the busiest that he's ever seen Athens. A bit later we took off from Athens Runway 27 and went to a cruise altitude of 4,500. Much smoother ride at that altitude, and I decided to engage the autopilot for a bit. We did some autopilot work all the way till we got about a mile from runway 27. Atlanta Center was one of the busiest that I've heard it in awhile, no issues though, but we had to pay extra close attention while listening for our call sign. We had a nice crosswind landing, and a smooth touchdown. Pretty nice in my opinion.

We saw a Mitsubishi MU-2 at KRYY, that thing is so freaking cute! It was on the South Ramp.

Looks like some nasty weather will be moving in the next several days. Rain moving in this afternoon, and a chance of rain all the way up until Monday night. A chance of storms tonight, and a better chance of severe thunderstorms tomorrow. I have some solo work on Sunday (707PD, I believe) but with the rain chances, I might just can it, and do some extra studying. The written test is getting much closer, but even though I've been studying and using practice test, I'm still not happy yet with my score. Right now, we do seem to be on track for taking the test in March or April (I'm hoping March.) I'd love to start the second phase of everything before June.

There is a concern that I'm having though... I'm wanting to go commercial with my pilot's license. The thing is, you need to build up hours. I've been reading post, that people say the best way to do this is via CFI. Well, I don't think I would be a good teacher, so this brings up a concern on what would be the best way to get my hours built up. I'm wouldn't say no to doing "regional" cargo flights, to build up the hours at first.

Skycrane @ Cartersville

Skycrane N4037S taken at Cartersville, GA Airport on 12/10/2011.

Instructor took this photo.

Interesting METAR

   ----------------------------------------
   METAR KPUJ 03:15Z 01/18/12
   KPUJ 180315Z AUTO 33017G25KT 4SM RA BKN004
   BKN012 OVC029 A2998 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE AND W
  
  
   ----------------------------------------
   METAR KVPC 03:21Z 01/18/12
   KVPC 180321Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW015
   OVC033 12/10 A3001 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW RAE04 P0000
  
  
   ----------------------------------------
   METAR KMGE 03:25Z 01/18/12
   KMGE 180325Z AUTO 20007KT 10SM BKN008
   OVC025 15/15 A2998 RMK AO2 RAE0323DZB0323E0325
   SLP150 $
  
  
   ----------------------------------------
   METAR KFTY 03:21Z 01/18/12
   KFTY 180321Z 21007KT 5SM RA BR SCT009
   BKN047 OVC085 16/14 A2999 RMK AO2 TS P0007
  
  
   ----------------------------------------
   METAR KATL 03:26Z 01/18/12
   KATL 180326Z 23005KT 2 1/2SM +TSRA BR
   SCT008 BKN020CB OVC055 15/14 A3001 RMK AO2 TSB12
   OCNL LTGIC W TS W MOV E P0017
  

Planning for Thursday...

On Thursday, January 19, 2012, I'll be taking my first passenger up into the bird's playing field with me. My buddy Adam will be joining my instructor and I on a cross-country trip to Athens, GA. Even though I have satisfied all flying hours needed for Cross-Country Daytime Travel, I wanted to do one more, so Adam could come along. He's a nervous flier, so I hope that with me piloting he will feel more comfortable. We will be using 707PD for our trip. Will be using 707PD for all Cross-Countries as it seems it likes it more. Next Wednesday my flight instructor and I are planning a Cross-Country trip to Athens again, but this will be a night flight. Very first night flight, excited about it.

I've already gotten our route mapped out for Thursday, and am going to finish the Weights and Balance. Based off early estimates, it looks as if we will be just under the max weight, so we will probably take a tad bit less fuel... still plenty to get to Athens and back. I've been keeping an eye on the winds, and early indications are showing that we will have winds from the West to Southwest. Speeds around 5-10 with gust up to 15. At the higher levels, can expect winds at around 20 or so. Will have a nice tailwind going there, but coming back there is a possibility of some chop. Will focus on this more as we get closer.

Very excited to be taking my first passenger up...

Introduction and Background

So, who am I? What am I doing here? Why do I have a picture of a burger on the wall?

This was suggested by several people that I start a blog, blogging about my new hobby. I've read a couple blogs from people who are getting the wings, and decided to start my own.

I've been flying at Superior Flight School in Kennesaw, GA since 8/11/2011. I love the school, and have a great flight instructor. It started off as a hobby, but the bug has bit me pretty badly. I've always been interested in flying. I've thrown up twice on a plane before (once when I was 5, and another back in '04... I was sick on a flight.) So it kind of scared me from going into that field. Recently in my life, I had discovered that I wasn't doing anything. It was just: wake up, dinner, shower, go to work, go to bed. Pretty much the same on my weekend too, minus the work. My life felt stalled out, and I really wasn't accomplishing anything.

In early August of 2011, I decided to start looking at flying again. I had looked at several schools, but since I only had planned for this to be a hobby, I decided to go with a school down the road from me.

The following are based off my log book pages. Anything else I can remember, I'll add.

On August 11, 2011, my (future) instructor and I took a Cessna 172 (N802NM) up for a flight. We were in the air for about an hour or so, as an intro flight. We did turns, and slow flight. I was hooked!

August 13, 2011, I decided to join Superior Flight School, and my second lesson began. We learned about preflight and securing a Cessna 172

August 19, 2011: Preflighted N653KB; normal takeoff procedure, climbs, descents, turns, straight and level, use of trim, attitude flying and general flying procedures

September 10, 2011: Introduction of climbing and descending turns, pattern work and low approaches.

September 16, 2011: Introduction of slow flight with and without flaps, and also crosswind takeoffs.

September 18, 2011: Due to bad weather, we used to flight school's simulator. This involved crosswind landings... which is a pain, but must be done. Also got signed off to pre-flight the plane by myself! Yay!

September 23, 2011: Did crosswind landings for the first time at our home base airport: KRYY. We had winds from the Northwest at 10kts. I was having an issue with my flaring.

September 25, 2011: The one thing a pilot never wants to do... stalls. We stalls just south of Cartersville. Good news is, that I didn't spin the plane, as spinning is a bitch to get out of.

October 7, 2011: Got rained out, but that doesn't mean we still can't get work done. We did radio communications with tower and non-towered airports, and emergency procedures.

October 8, 2011: I got to talk on the radio with KRYY Tower for the very first time. Exciting, but nervous. Also did steep turns... got a bit motion sickness on this one.

October 16, 2011: Did turns around a point and S-turns. Both are my favorite actually.

By now, I have 10.3 hours logged in the cockpit.

October 19, 2011: We got rained out, again. Still, was able to get a ground lesson in. Today's ground lesson was one of my favorites: Weather! We talked about VFR/IFR conditions, weather interpretation, winds, METARs, and TAFs.

October 22, 2011: Emergency procedures. Something you really need to learn, and know by heart, and pray that you never need to use it. By this time, we were preparing for my 1^st solo. I got my medical exam done, and have my 1^st Class Airmen's Certificate.

October 26, 2011: Slips to land, go around, and crosswind take offs and landings. Slips are pretty fun as you are just looking out the side wind (pretty much) while landing.

October 30, 2011: Most days, we use KRYY (Cobb County Airport) or KVPC (Cartersville Airport), but today we went to Paulding County (KPUJ.) We did normal landings, slow flight over the runway.

November 2, 2011: Today was a big wrap-up day preparing for my pre-solo stage check with one of the head people of Superior Flight. We did slow flight, stalls, steep turns, simulated engine out, turns around point, s-turns, go around, and crosswind landings.

November 10, 2011: Had a great day for crosswind landings, so... we did crosswind landings.

November 11, 2011: Had my pre-solo stage check today. We discovered several areas that needed improvement: 1 hand on yoke, 1 hand on throttle, and not looking at my instruments as much. Otherwise, very successful day!

November 19, 2011: For the very first time, I piloted an aircraft over my hometown in Virginia. That was a blast! My hometown is so pretty 2,000 feet in the sky, but on earth, it's a different story!

November 27, 2011: We did more reviewing to prepare me for my first solo!

December 1, 2011: Still having a bit of an issue when it came to my roundout, so we worked on it. Big improvement. On Solo Watch... meaning, anytime I could be solo'ing.

By now, I have 21.9 hours logged...

December 3, 2011: (Solo Watch Continues) Hold on to your hats! It was one of the windiest days in a long time. We went up, but we were getting bounced around by the chop. The winds were right down Paulding County's runway, so we did some high wind landings.

December 7, 2011: (Solo Watch Continues) Got rained out, but we went into the simulator and practiced lost and diversion procedures, also, since we were in the sim, my flight instructor decided to kill my engines all of the sudden to see how I would handle an engine failure. Did pretty well.

December 10, 2011: (Solo Watch Continues) Winds were too high for solo'ing so we did some crosswind take-offs and landings.

December 14, 2011: VERY FIRST SOLO! Ta-Da! I did 3 solo landings at Cartersville Airport (KVPC!) I received 0.6hours as Pilot-In-Command. It was preformed in a Cessna 172 – N653KB.

December 21, 2011: Had a ground lesson due to weather. We reviewed METARs, TAF, and introduced BAI flying, unusual attitude recovery, VOR operation and use.

December 23, 2011: I started instrument training, which means I wear foggles over my face. They block out everything but my instruments. While landing on runway 27 at Mc Collum Field (Cobb County,) I had to extend my downwind a bit, so I flew over Town Center Mall... you could hardly find a parking space, I've never seen it this crowded before. My instructor said that in '08 when the recession first hit, at this time of year, the mall wasn't even half that full.

December 29, 2011: Bloody Hell! The crosswinds were really kicking my ass today + unusual high amount of traffic. Not best flying day. Still got some experience in though. My instructor could tell I was getting very frustrated, so he reminded me: You know how to fly and land. I know you know how to fly and land. You just had a bad day, we all have those!

December 30, 2011: I did my second supervised Solo in a Cessna 172. Which means the instructor was on the ground, and I was flying the plane alone and did 3 successful take offs and landings. I can really understand why they say landing is the most stressful part of the flight. Winds were 7-10 knots, no crosswinds though.

January 3, 2012: It was freaking freezing today! By the time I was done preflighting the plane, my head was pounding, and I couldn't feel my fingers. I actually had gloves on too! We did more instrument training, also landed on KRYY's Runway 27, via localizer.

January 5, 2012: 3^rd and Final supervised Solo! 6 landings at KRYY with a slight but steady crosswind of 8kts. I can now go out and fly on my own, but within a 25 mile radius of KRYY and VFR weather conditions.

Logged flight time: 33.6 hours, 1.9 instrument hours, 2.1 Pilot-In-Command hours

January 6, 2012: More instrument flying and unusual attitude recovery. Did a fly by of KVPC via localizer on runway 19, and landed RNAV on 27 at KRYY.

January 8, 2012: Got rained out, did ground lesson on planning our very first cross-country flight to KCHA (Chattanooga, TN.)

January 13, 2012: Friday the 13^th. We did our very first cross-country flight. It was amazing. We flew in N707PD, a Cessna 172. The weather was beautiful. KCHA is a Class-C airspace, so we had different procedures in which we needed to do. Plus we dealt with Atlanta Center, and Atlanta Approach on the radio. While flying to and from KCHA, we actually saw some tornado damage from several months ago. Going to KCHA we were at 4,500 feet, coming back we were at 3,500. Very little chop.

January 15, 2012: We flew to KGAD (Gadsden, AL.) Nothing really in Gadsden to see. Nice to fly to, but wouldn't want to live there. Almost landed on the wrong runway, was suppose to land on 6, but almost landed on 18. Why? I forgot to draw a diagram of the airport. We were still far away from landing, but I was preparing. For landing. Coming back from GAD we had a bit of chop coming back into KRYY. While flying past 4A4 (Polk County,) we had skydivers above us at 15,000 feet. So we were advised by Atlanta Center to keep an eye out. So pretty much, we were looking for falling bodies.

So, that's what has happened since I started flying. The bug has bit me, and I've decided to go ahead and go for my instrument ratings, and even after that, go commercial. It can't hurt to have a backup plan in case more layoffs affect my company and I get affected by it.

After every flight, I'll try to update this blog with the going-ons. Hope you enjoy.