Brush Up flights

With the weather being bad towards the later half of the week I didn't get as much practice I wanted for my single engine commercial manunvers. On friday evening, I felt ok about the manuvers after struggling all week but would have desired more time. But the date was set!   So today I took advantage of the sun today and drug Steven to the air once again to boost my confidence and ensure the manuevers to perfect for tomorrows flight portion of my check-ride.  So times God is looking down on ya!

After a couple hours flying around and bouncing I felt much better, and feel ready for the flight portion  tomorrow. Lets hope the weather is good!  Good night for now!

CASEL Checkride!

What a great day.. today I sat for my Commercial Single Engine check ride. With the weather being bad, we knew we were just going to knock out the oral exam and then delay the flight portion for Monday, Memorial Day! Already being a commercial rated pilot, all the PTS required was that I'd  tested on will be performance and systems of the aircraft being used for the check ride and performing the single engine maneuvers. In my case the might Cessna 172!

Cessna 172M

My designated pilot examiner (DPE) Russ, a gentleman I've known for awhile. He was my examiner for my Instrument check ride, so I'm familiar with his philosophy and how much he cares about ensuring I'm the best pilot I can be. 

We meet after a classmates checkride and dove right into the systems on the mighty Cessna 172M, the chosen plane for the ride!  Compared to the Seminole and the 737, its super simple for me so he asked the obligatory questions. Soon we were discussing performance and personal minimums. I shared with him, that my background in the 737 and other jets as instilled a foundation of not ignoring any performance calculations and how I approach a flight.   Lastly we discussed some techniques to being a better commercial pilot, while flying passengers. It is great being able to pickup tidbits from his experience.

 Finally the questions were done, phew.. I passed the oral exam and now I'll knock out the flight portion on Monday. 

Back from Bahrain!

Finally back in my own  house tonight, after 37 days on the road. The deployment was fun and busy, but I'm happy to be home. I love being on the road, but also enjoy my own bed and couch!  No its time to knock out my Commercial single engine checkride.  I'll hit the ground running tomorrow, as a commercial pilot the check ride for single engine priveleges is considered an add on. So as a result the check ride oral exam should be short, and will cover single engine performance and specifics.  I can't wait to go flying again!

Off to Bahrain for Navy Duties!

Well I'm off to Bahrain for detachment with the Navy. The det should be fun, the weather is cool, the riots are at a minmum and I've got the best seat in the house... In the middle! First stop today is Andrews AFB!

First flight with the Civil Air Patrol

Today was awesome.. I was privileged enough to take my first flight with the CAP Sq 57.  We flew up to Borrego Springs to drop two other pilots for training in a G1000 equipped Cessna 172.  The Sq flys a Cessna U206G, basically a utility version of the 206. The flight was planned to allow me to see what a flight is like with the CAP and get accustomed to the plane. Since I'm familiar with the 210, a retractable version of the 206. I've flown the airframe before.  However CAP has their own signoff requirements and I wanted a "familiarization flight" before taking a flight review in the plane.

One thing I didn't take in account was that I was hoping into a plane with three flight instructors. When we all got to the plane they looked at me like I was the pilot in command (PIC), something I wasn't planning for. Once airborne, and on our way I started to laugh, what was i thinking! They were nice, and I pulled off an awesome landing so the flight ended on a great note. I'm hoping when I get all done with the Navy and ATP in August I'll be able to start flying more with the Sq.

Loving Simulators & Dallas

Today didn't go as well as I hoped in the simulator, but this afternoon and evening was awesome!  We spent the day practicing engine out practice, all sorts of emergencies were throw at us. Loss of a cargo (going in to the #1 engine), loss of hydraulics, etc. Unfortunately, on one of the landings / crashes (lost a main mount)  for one of the pilots, the simulator crashed (windows!!!). So the time required to restart the sim, ate into any time they were going to give me. Darn!  With the day over, we headed out or some exercise, and relaxing. We ended up at the Katy Ice House, which is on the Katy trail which winds it way thru down town Dallas.  I was shocked with how many beautiful women we saw! I'm loving TX!  Later we ended up at sFuzzi in uptown Dallas, again so many beautiful women, the food was awesome as well. I'll be visiting again!   I've loving being in Avatition!!

Logging 737NG Simulator time!

Well the past few days have been fun, and educational.  However today was awesome, today I had the chance to get behind the controls myself and try landing a 737NG.  The instructor started me off with a RVR 900 take off, with vectors to the final approach for a CAT II landing.  I was surprised how much control input was required, I was expecting it to be more sensitive.  I used the HUD for the first landing, helping me keep on glideslope, and teach me when to flare.  The first landing wasn't smooth or pretty, but it was on center line and effective. 

The second take off was a RVR 600! It's weird rolling down a runway now being able to see to far in front of you.  But the instruments don't lie!  The second landing was a CAT III approach and was much smoother and wasn't bad!  The last landing was a regular landing CAT I with a 200' ceiling, in the snow with a 12kt cross wind.  Again the landing was smooth, on center line, and right on the 1000' marks.  I'm ecstatic and super happy!  I've just landed a 737NG three times.  All told I logged three instrument approaches, .5 hours of time in a Level D simulator.   They told me I did well for a "novice", and they wonder if I can land with a dead engine. I look forward to trying tomorrow.  Engine out procedures on the slat for tomorrow! 

CAE 737NG Level D Simulator