http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/ an online community of airline and corporate pilots en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:17:46 GMT vBulletin 250 http://forums.jetcareers.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/ http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/94-post-sun-fun-friday-may-8th.html Fri, 08 May 2009 19:44:15 GMT Spent the last week in April up in Lakeland working for a friend and touching all the newest toys. Kenny was out flying the Beech jet for several days as well, so that burned up a few more days of not flying. This week has been pretty good. Finished my instrument ground stage check tests. I... Spent the last week in April up in Lakeland working for a friend and touching all the newest toys. Kenny was out flying the Beech jet for several days as well, so that burned up a few more days of not flying.

This week has been pretty good. Finished my instrument ground stage check tests. I kept finding questions I know are right that were marked wrong on the test. It don't mean anything to anybody but me, but I hate to admit I'm wrong when I'm positive I had the right answer. Bottom line, the answer key is screwed up, I went back and researched it and I was right:nana2:

Flying this week was good, all early morning flights. We did holds, DME arcs, LOC approaches, holds, ILS approaches, Holds, Full NDB approaches with a miss to a Hold. Did I mention we did holds:D

Somebody needs to turn off the fan so I can fly these approaches without the crab angle, its killing me!!!

I'm past the 700 TT mark, logbook pro says I'm 700.4 with 42.8 multi.

Weekend is here, but I'm flying with Kenny tomorrow PM, so I can make up for my ugly performace today. Couldn't seem to be able to hold the wings level today, can't figure that one out. Probably pissed off Miami Center as well when I blew through my inbound on the procedure turn to the NDB A. They ask if I was going to another NDB:p DOH!! ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/94-post-sun-fun-friday-may-8th.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/89-tuesday-april-14th.html Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:19:44 GMT Wow, Internet withdrawal:panic: 5 days without the net. Got things working tonight, so I figured I'd add a post.

Friday I moved from the apartments we've been in, to the old Pan Am/Reg Airline academy housing at Fort Pierce Airport. The school will move as soon as they get FAA's ok, they have to approve the new digs, even though they've been approved twice before.:crazy:
It'll be nice to have a quite non-crowded place to study, plus I won't use gas anymore because everything at the school is within shouting distance.

Not much flying over the last week, weather, instructor gone for a few days, moving. Severe TS & Tornado warnings today:panic: When we did fly, I did well on most maneuvers, but still working on the scan. I have ASA's Instrument Procedures Trainer on my desktop and have been using it to "pretend fly" as my wife calls it. Started the Instrument Ground school Yesterday, the AC quit first thing, so we had a short day but it was fixed today and we did 2 1/2 hours on first couple of chapters.

Compass turns are a pain in the arse and that's all I have to say about that:D.

Early day tomorrow, hopefully no fog in the AM, I'd like to fly

TTFN ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/89-tuesday-april-14th.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/85-saturday-april-4th.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:04:37 GMT 20.2 hours for my Multi, hope that's not a trend, I don't want to be here until next year.

I've yet to see all the maintenance issues that others have talked about, these are old airplanes and they do break, but I've yet to see an airplane off the line for more than a day. Last week they were having a hard time parking planes because they were all up and on the ramp.


Between Paperwork SNAFU's, required ground training and weather, this week has been a wash. Should fly my first 141 MEL Instrument lesson today. Been cuddling up with John & Martha King to help me sleep at night. About two or three minutes of Martha and I'm fading out.


I've got ASA's IPT software on my computer, I'm hoping it will help me get my scan together, and shave a few hours off the back end.

TTFN ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/85-saturday-april-4th.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/84-thursday-march-26th.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:27:42 GMT WHOOO HOOO, Passed the Multi private checkride today:nana2:

It got delayed a few days because of my dismal performance on my stage check, but I pulled my head out and got it done

I'm heading home to Dallas on a buddy pass in the morning, and flying back next Monday ready to start the Instrument section on Tuesday. Got some honey-do's that cropped up in the last couple of weeks that need to be addressed. ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/84-thursday-march-26th.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/83-sunday-march-22.html Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:34:01 GMT Another week down:nana2: Haven't flown much this week, by choice, mostly because of me with my head in the books, have my multi-private checkride on Tuesday morning, and Factors affecting Vmc are kicking my arse.

Not that I don't understand them, I'm just having a hard time with explanation of each of the nine concepts back to my instructor:drool:. Got V-speeds down, Systems, maneuvers and landings are OK, and I've actually been able to hold an altitude for more than 10 seconds:banghead:. I'm still having a few problems remembering some definitions. Outside of my head hurting from all the study (been a looooooong time) its been a good week.

I'll post on Tuesday after the ride ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/83-sunday-march-22.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/78-friday-march-13th-10-3-hrs-multi-dual.html Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:20:39 GMT Figure since I've got the weekend off, I'll post a little on the old blog that I said I'd try to post too daily. Best laid plans:D

Had a week of ups and downs, good days and bad.

Still having issues with procedures, more with memory items, like Mixture, props, throttles, flaps up, gear up, boost pumps on, dead foot dead engine, identify. Hesitation is also an issue, I'm not starting the procedures quick enough, controlling the airplane isn't the problem, I'm good on that, I'm just not reacting fast enough starting the mixture, props, etc. I'm working through it by sitting in the derelict duchess parked on the edge of the ramp and doing it over and over, same with procedures for Vmc demo, power on/off stalls etc. This old brain just don't retain things like it use to.

I flew at least once every day this week, which is great, It's works best if you don't mind flying the older non 430 equip'ed airplanes, heck that's what I've flown pretty much since I started flying. The youngsters want the GPS and moving map yadda yadda. Might be nice for IFR but for pattern work and procedures, it's all the same, I'll take the old collins line radios and beat up navs

By the flight this afternoon, I'm doing pretty good on most of the procedures, short field landings are better, what's real strange, is that on the very first day I flew I nailed my very first one and then it went down hill from there. Go figure:banghead:

Kenny says oral and practical next week, maybe.

Lots of ground study to do this weekend, I know the DPE will hit me with things I haven't looked at in years, so I need to be ready for anything that might come back and haunt me from my PPL student days.

more later ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/78-friday-march-13th-10-3-hrs-multi-dual.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/76-sunday-march-8th.html Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:55:06 GMT Well so much for daily updates, I'm not flying today, (Sunday) just to give me and my instructor a break. I know he wants to make money but I need a break. I'll hit the books again later today, and probably go to the school, sit in a plane and go over flows and emergency procedures

6.6+ MEL dual as of yesterday, and I feel like I'm way behind the airplane most of the time. Kenny says I'm doing just fine. Most of the maneuvers are not as bad as they sound.

I did find out that brakes and rudders don't do much until you pull power on a pre-takeoff engine loss:banghead::banghead::D

Even a few second delay pulling power is a harrowing experience.:panic:

Kenny said the look on my face was priceless.... glad I could provide a little comic relief:o

Flying with one engine windmilling or feathered is a bit of a challenge but not difficult, trying to wrap my feeble little brain around holding altitude, course and not fixating on the MP and RPM gauges seems to be more of a challenge than anything else.

Short field landings yesterday morning were more fun, I still feel like I'm behind the plane, but I feel that I'm at least getting more comfortable with it.

More later ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/76-sunday-march-8th.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/73-march-3rd-first-day.html Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:10:25 GMT Had a late show today, Kenny was busy all morning, so I spent the day at the apartment studying systems and mechanics of the feathering propeller. Met with Kenny, Did an hour of ground school going over systems. We sat in the plane and went over basic stuff, briefed on basic procedures for an... Had a late show today, Kenny was busy all morning, so I spent the day at the apartment studying systems and mechanics of the feathering propeller.


Met with Kenny, Did an hour of ground school going over systems. We sat in the plane and went over basic stuff, briefed on basic procedures for an inflight engine out in a twin. We spent quite a bit of time discussing our life experience and getting to know each other. This is a huge part of this thing, if you and your instructor can't get along and communicate it'll make for a miserable experience.

Kenny is a bit closer to my age, and a self proclaimed mid-life career changer, which works for me. I was worried about getting a youngster that couldn't identify, not that all you youngsters are that way, but there are a few out there:D

My eyes hurt, getting a study regime going after very little of it since... well, lets just say many years:rolleyes:

More tomorrow ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/73-march-3rd-first-day.html http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/72-march-2nd-check-day.html Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:20:22 GMT After Driving for three days, (I wasn't about to spend several months in Florida without transportation) Dallas to Hattisburg MS, then Hattisburg to St. Petersburg, I stayed with an old friend in St Pete and got a late start on my last leg. I arrived in Ft. Pierce a bit frazzled:drool: but intact, and checked in around 2 o'clock. I picked up all the FAA books that I didn't already have, as well a school specific books for the Beech Duchess. I also wrote the the check:eek: $13,333.33, 1/3 of the total cost. My hand always shakes when I spend that much money:D

FAA
Pilot's HB of Aeronautical Knowledge (Had)
Airplane flying HB (Had)
Instrument Procedures (Had)
Instrument Flying HB (Had)
Aviation Weather
Aviation Weather flying
PTS for ME, Instrument & Comm

School
Duchess POH (Had an Older Version)
ME Training Manuel
V-1 Duchess Systems
V-2 ME aerodynamics and performance


After that I went to my new abode, moved in and Vegetated for a bit. The complex is nice, an older, but seemingly well kept up place from what I've seen so far

Later in the afternoon my instructor, Kenny, Called me on the my cell to check in with me and we talked about my flying experience. He gave me a reading assignment and I'll meet with him tomorrow to go over ground stuff.

The grocery store is only a few miles away, but I could see that this would be a serious pain in the butt if you don't have a car. They provide a shuttle that runs frequently but to be at the mercy of that:banghead: ]]> BillErvin http://forums.jetcareers.com/blogs/billervin/72-march-2nd-check-day.html