Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GYWN
Dual Time: 0.0 Total: 52.1
PIC Time: 0.9 Total: 18.9
METAR CYND 281600Z 31007KT 15SM SKC M17/M25 A3053 RMK SLP345=
If you were to fly for the first time as PIC with your wife on board, you would BEG for a day like today. Take a look at that METAR! Today was my day. Rica had an appointment to have her hair done this morning so I took the opportunity to go to the club and have Simon sign off on my paperwork. (For any prospective flight test candidates you didn’t hear it from me but Simon loves a small tea from Tim Horton’s accompanied by a chocolate chip muffin.) I brought a medium!
After going over all of the required paperwork we signed the forms together and shortly thereafter I held in my hand a freshly transformed Student Pilot Permit. This one is special as it has the wording on the back “Private Pilot License, All single pilot New high performance single engine land aeroplanes” That’s a mouthful, but it’s music to my ears. I had the aircraft booked for 11:00 AM but there was a glitch. Last night a cold front came thru and brought with it wind and freezing rain. The aircraft was put into the hangar in order to melt the ice. I crossed my fingers and returned home to pick up my most special passenger. Rica was not getting her hair done as expected, her dresser flaked and therefore she was ready to go. We drove back to the airport, a pit slowly now growing in my stomach. That familiar anxiety was back but I didn’t want it! The aircraft was on the ramp, ready. I went in and picked up the keys for my first “rental”. René demanded to see my license, smart guy . The pre flight went smoothly and as I got to the engine start checklist the first “bug” happened. I turned the key and heard the starter groan against the cold engine as it spun thru about 6 strokes of the prop with no start. As I released the key to give it more prime, I heard the snap of the INST circuit breaker popping. I have not had this happen to me yet in all of my training. My brain immediately considered what is powered by this circuit? Turn coordinator, what else? I drew a blank, considered pulling the POH but realized that I was being over cautious. I chalked this up to a cold airplane coincidence. 
I resolved to myself that if the engine did not start on the next try, I would abort the flight. I reset the breaker and pulled in another shot of prime. The engine roared to life when I turned the key. Alright! Instruments checked out. I did not smell any smoke and all the remaining checks went well. As I taxied to the run up area I noticed the taxiway was pretty much 80% ice. It was the first time I have used a surface with so little friction. No real issue but it was interesting to locate a patch of rough stuff in order to perform my run up. During the run up I explained to Rica how we would depart East and what we would be doing. She was to watch for other aircraft as it was extremely busy today for VFR traffic arriving to “Moe’s annual fly in” which is a popular one day event. 
I checked the pattern and lined up on Runway 27 for my take off run. The AI came alive as the engine pulled us strongly down the slippery runway. Soon we were airborne. 
It was very clear and smooth today. No weather to worry about, just a lot of traffic. I departed the downwind for the East and climbed up to 1700′. 
Most VFR traffic was flying towards us at 2200′ and I liked the idea of a 500′ separation as a minimum. We flew along the river and switched over to 126.7 as we approached Cumberland. I was a bit tense but all was going well. Rica snapped photos and I flew along heading towards my dad’s home located on te Nation river near Wendover. We noticed many ice fishing huts arranged like a community. 
Soon we were able to spot the Nation River and shortly thereafter were performing a 180 above my dad’s place. We did not manage to get a decent photo of the house but it was special to actually see it. There was a short debate about calling him to say hi but we decided against it. No biggie, I wasn’t interested in buzzing the place, that’s how pilots get messed up. I just wanted to know that I’ve been there! With the turn completed it was time to return home. At this time I climbed up to 2200′ and announced my position to the area traffic. At this altitude there was a bit more chop but overall the flight back was blissful. There was a point for about 5 or 7 minutes where Rica and I just sat in silence, the engine purring beneath it’s cowl. I didn’t try to think about anything just to absorb the moment. The sun shining on our bodies, the smooth air, the sense of total accomplishment. It was real and it was here. It was almost overwhelmingly sweet. I didn’t bask in this moment for long, for I needed to plan my approach to the airport with a “flight of three” calling in just a couple of miles behind us. I descended to 1700′ as I neared Rockliffe and switched back to 123.5. I called for an advisory and called again as I turned to begin the overhead procedure. During the descent and turn back to join mid downwind I heard another aircraft approaching form the West. I did not see him but he soon saw us and called in for number two. I slowed up and bit and realized that I was a bit behind the aircraft as the runway passed to the right behind us. I already had carb heat active so I pulled the throttle, slowed up and dropped about 20 degrees of flap. I then began my base turn. Rica was peering out the window at her view of the river just 700 feet or so below us as a wind gust shoved us down a good 50′ or so! In my mind I went “AHHH!” but it was Rica that actually gasped aloud that snapped me to attention. That was a hefty bump, but I knew better, the aircraft is still very much flying. I spoke, “It’s ok hun, just a bit of wind there we will be done this turn shortly” I turned onto final and the runway lied directly ahead. I brought in 30 degrees of flap and considered what it will be like to touch on the ice. As we passed the fence everything came together perfectly. Airspeed 60, throttle pulled to idle, nose falls into place. The black shiny runway was soon beneath us as I pulled into a gorgeous floaty flare. We came down with a gentle touch which Rica remarked “Was only a little off center”. Ha! It felt supremely grand to roll out and I soon realized that we were actually somewhat weathervane d into the wind and sliding on the icy surface. It felt odd but was nothing that wasn’t manageable. I reported to the aircraft behind that the surface was slippery. I then came to rest at the pumps and will be smiling for at least a week. I won’t say that this flight was the greatest one I have ever had, certainly the anxiety was higher than I would have liked but all in all this was but one in a series of many. I’m glad that I have been able to share it here with you all.
Tags: Passengers Aboard, PIC
Congrats on the first PIC+pax flight! It was a beautiful weekend — I was at the airport checking on C-FBJO on Sunday.