Archive for the ‘Flying’ Category

She passed her G2!

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

When I learned how to drive, the procedure was a lot different than it is today. Back then you only had to do one road test and it was THE TEST as far as getting your license was concerned. On my first attempt, I failed.

It was one of the most epic sad days a 17 year old boy could endure. I actually remember crying in the car when the examiner told me the result. He failed me because I drove too often in the left lane. I had known it to only be a courtesy to remain in the right lane but not a law until that moment! I retook the test 2 weeks later, had a female examiner and passed. The MTO office is a sea of high or low emotion. There is no in between.
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Right Rudder!

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

I won’t say that I have done this,  but I also won’t say that I haven’t!

Bell strikes again!

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

I did not have the batteries in my cell phone and they have not been there since May 15th and yet today, I got a bill from Bell Canada for $967.33!

I kid you not.  What can anyone do to shed the evil of Bell?

Please, someone tell me.

Assembly of Japanese bicycle require great peace of mind

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The title of this post relates to a line in Robert Pirsig’s excellent “Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance“.   Which is known somewhat as a must read for anyone seeking higher knowledge.  In the book he relates to how much easier it is to perform a task if your mind is clear of “clutter”.

You know the voices you hear in your head, sometimes doubting, sometimes encouraging but rarely shutting up.  They can get in the way of pure enjoyment of life.  They can also get in the way of pure control of a machine like an Airplane.

You can take these concepts a bit further reading www.pilotpsy.com which is an excellent resource for taking your airmanship to the next level.   This is not beginner “Stick and Rudder” type of stuff so be warned, it’s a how-to of a completely different sort.

In a nutshell for my next flight, I  intend on becoming completely enveloped in the moment of it all.  Still remaining as far ahead of the aircraft as I can, but being entirely involved in the whole thing.  The experience or the essence if you will, of man touching the sky.  I’ll not let the thoughts of normal ground pounding life interfere with the spirit of the flight.

I expect overall to feel an improvement of the smoothness and “feel” of the entire thing.   Only time will tell.

The Century Flight!

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GQUO
Dual Time: 0.0 Total: 57.2
PIC Time: 1.4 Total: 27.9
Total Time:   85.1

METAR CYND 091300Z 30004KT 15SM SKC M18/M21 A3024 RMK SLP245=

There were no photos to take today as I forgot the camera but imagine the most perfect day you’ve seen with sun shining and the air clear yet cold as all get out!  It was a very special day for me as it would be my 100th flight!  The flight began last night as Rica and I went over to the airport to look over an aircraft that we might be purchasing a 1/2 share in.  We spent a good hour or two shoveling off months of snow and clearing a path around the Piper Cherokee 140D that’s parked at Rockliffe.  We worked hard at clearing the airplane then sat inside for a good 15 minutes getting a feel for what it might be like to own an aircraft.  We left elated and on my way home I had a revelation.

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Mind over Matter: If you don’t mind, it don’t matter!

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

My father taught me that nugget of wisdom years ago.  It is fitting on so many levels and definitely applies to times when I have anxiety or unwarranted fear.  The type of fear that keeps one off roller coasters and sometimes public places has useful properties yet the side effects can be completely useless!  Especially when flying.  I’ll bet there are many pilots who experience fear while flying.  It’s often quoted that flying is made up of hours of boredom peppered with moments of panic.   For someone like me who is prone to anxiety it makes it even more difficult to overcome not only the mental and physical challenges but also these ghost challenges that the mind conjures up.

In aviation we call them human factors.  For instance did you know that as you climb higher and higher, the brain receives less oxygen.  The brain doesn’t naturally assume “oh this is because I am high up in an airplane” it just senses a lack of oxygen.  A suffocating feeling at best.  If you were not trained to “know better” you might actually panic, and get into a mode where you actually ARE in danger instead of just THINK you are in danger.   See the fine line there? (more…)

Night Rating #2: A Burned out Bulb

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GYWN
Dual Time: 0.9 Total: 57.2
PIC Time: 0.0 Total: 26.5
Total Time:   83.7

After a couple of sessions in the 4040 Simulator, Louis and I were ready to spend some more time getting our butts frozen off and our night dual time worked on.   As mentioned previously the night rating is made up of some dual, some solo and a lot of Instrument time.  of the 10 required hours IFR 5 can be simulated and 5 must be hooded.  The trick here is that if you fly at night, and do hood time you cannot count both simultaneously.  It’s a tricky reg and I understand the spirit of it however it can cause one to do all their hood time during the day, and never actually see how hard it is to fly by instruments that you can barely see at night!   I opted to do some of my hood time at night, and then save $$ by doing as much as possible in the sim.

Louis was a great simulator instructor as he has a strong grasp of the equipment and has a small tell tale smirk that happens each time he “tries” something.  On our most recent sim flight I was captain of a C182 flying an ILS into Ottawa’s runway 32 when I noticed that no matter how much throttle I gave, the aircraft would keep descending at an unholy rate.  As I broke out of the cloud, I could see we were about to crash into the approach lighting.  I said Louis, she won’t climb, too much drag.  he asked “What could cause drag?”  I offered, flaps, up,  Gear?  Up, what else??!!  The lights loomed closer and then the simulator popped up with “you have crashed”.  It was almost as exciting as the real deal.  My heart pumped and Louis then showed me that I had accrued 60% icing on the airframe!  I guess he clicked it on and forgot about it.  I just flew the airplane.  Good one!
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Night Rating #1: A cold and dark night.

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GMME
Dual Time: 1.3 Total: 56.3
PIC Time: 0.0 Total: 26.5
Total Time:   82.8

Today I embark on a new adventure in my flying, I am beginning the training for my Night Rating.  In Canada although I am a Private Pilot I am not allowed to fly at night as opposed to the American version of the PPL that does allow it.   I find this is a much safer mentality as it can actually be dangerous to fly at night unprepared!  OTOH I CAN fly a high performance retractable gear aircraft without any special rating so pfft.  It’s all the same thing, the PPL is simply a license to learn and today would be no exception to the rule.
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A Series of Small Firsts

Monday, December 7th, 2009


Aircraft: C150
Registration: C-FFXT
Dual Time: 1.1 Total: 55.0
PIC Time: 0.0 Total: 26.5
Total Time:   81.5

Today was a special flight for me.  It would involve many “firsts”.  First time in a C150, first time as PIC in a C150. First time flying up the Gatineau River instead of over the hills and first time flying with Louis, RFC’s newest flight instructor.  Considering all of this, the flight was amazing and a great time was had by all.

I arrived to the airport early on Monday morning to help remove the dusting of snow from the wing covered C150, C-FFXT.  Louis was there and in good spirits.  After a quick walk around noticing the details that differ between a C172 and the C150 we were soon heading over to the run-up area.  I noticed that the C150 has a lot less mass and therefore a lot less inertia than it’s bigger brother the C172.  You can tell right away that although these aircraft are similar in appearance they are very different in personality.   As the runway was covered in about 2 mm of snow it was a quiet day with only us and one other aircraft reporting in the area.  I LOVE flying in the snow.
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Circuits with Mikey and Chandler

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GBRI
Dual Time: 0.0 Total: 53.9
PIC Time: 0.5 Total: 26.5
Total Time:   80.4

This morning I took rica, Mikey and Chandler up for a flight in BRI.  We basically went up and did a couple of circuits with nothing exciting to report.  It was mostly to keep my currency and get Mike in the plane.  Both items were achieved!