Flight ops is full of crap!

[UAL747400]

Yeah, so I might be able to finish my last cross country in 222 tonight if the weather gets just a little bit better. But guess what? Flight ops's current restriction is "stage checks only". Oh yeah! Screw me some more why dont ya.

I guess a little ice and snow on the ramp is too dangerous to go fly. What a bunch of crap. I've flown back home when the ramp, taxiway, and runway were solid ice. Solid ice everywhere!!!

I've never been more frustrated since I've been here. First a whole bunch of bad weather, now this nancy boy bull crap!!! I would not be surprised if I saw a restriction that said "no people who's name is Tom can fly today". I really really wouldnt.

Whatever...

[CAFFEINE]

No offense, but why have you waited so long to finish up 222? Its a very fast course to finish. Also, the TAF looks like the wx is going to get worse, not better this evening.

KGFK 122353Z 00000KT 10SM OVC038 M04/M06 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP180 4/002 T10441056 11033 21044 52005


KGFK 122320Z 130024 VRB06KT P6SM OVC040
TEMPO 0004 BKN015
FM0400 15008KT P6SM OVC015
TEMPO 0812 2SM BR SCT015
FM1500 15015KT P6SM OVC015
TEMPO 1822 BKN009

[UAL747400]

Why Im in the position Im in was totally out of my hands. I also had 15 other credits to worry about this semester. I can think of at least 25 people that are in this same predicament. This isnt isolated with me.

I did see the new TAF a little while ago so Im not too mad about the restriction right now. That still doesnt dismiss the fact of how retarded it is. What difference does a dual regular lesson and a dual stage check make???? That and seriously, what is so bad about ice and snow on the ground?

[airplanerik]

The weather is supposed to be a lot better tomorrow. Just do it then.

[airplanerik]

Nevermind. I take back what I said. I just looked at the new forecast, and it looks like we are going to be having snow showers all the way through Friday night -- starting tomorrow afternoon.

I can see how you are frustrated, but the reason flight ops probably set the restriction to "stage checks only" is because of of the lowering ceilings, not the snow and ice on the runways/taxiways. I don't think it is "retarded" that they are not letting people fly local area flights (let alone cross countries) when there is icing at 1,500ft.

Pretty much, it seems like all the people that weren't close to finishing around Thanksgiving, are having trouble finishing their courses by Christmas now, just because the weather has been pretty bad the last couple weeks. I guess we are paying for the extended amount of EXCELLENT weather we had all the way up till Thanksgiving. I'm glad I finished up 221 before all this bad weather set in

[UAL747400]

Im hoping so. The weather was supposed to be good a lot times this week though too.

I think the nail in the kasket for me was not flying that beautiful day last thursday. I was supposed to make up physics lab Wednesday night. No one showed up. Then no one showed up thursday at 12 either. I had to cancel my 4 o'clock flight to finish that crap. Of course there were no more launches available.

This course has been nothing but "fun" so far. I'm trying to stay optimistic, but it's getting harder and harder.

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by airplanerik

Nevermind. I take back what I said. I just looked at the new forecast, and it looks like we are going to be having snow showers all the way through Friday night -- starting tomorrow afternoon.

I can see how you are frustrated, but the reason flight ops probably set the restriction to "stage checks only" is because of of the lowering ceilings, not the snow and ice on the runways/taxiways.

Actually they stated that that was their reason. Snow and ice on the ramps and taxiways. Oh well, the weather did its usually ND thing and pooped on everything.

[Bignellyxx]

You're definitely not alone. This happens every year around this time. It just happened a couple of weeks later this year. The stage checks only is a new one to me. I am currently waiting on a VFR flight before my 325 Stage 102. Weathered everyday since Friday and looks like tomorrow will be no different. It sucks but its something you gotta deal with. It's not like you will never be snowed in, in Chicago ever in your career. I'm sure the case goes for everyone that they could have flown at their FBO at home in this weather.

[AngelFuree]

it's gay because I've been trying to fly since last monday, and I've weather my flights. And on Thursday when it was a perfect night, guess what? Our plane took a dump on us and we couldn't even taxi. The heater overheated, and the EGTs were busted. No other Seminoles were available that night. Damnit.

[UAL747400]

You guys gona stay and try to finish next week? I was going to, but its pretty much set in stone that Im not going to get done regardless if I get on the stage or not. I've got two weeks next semester and if I dont finish then, oh well. It'll be a good time to get the rest of the generals out of the way.

I've got a feeling its going to be more of this same nasty stuff next week. I just need to get out of here and take a break, before I really start getting angry. Im way past just dealing with it at this point, thats for sure. I know the weather service sucks at predicting weather a week out, but if I see this same crap Friday afternoon(when I want to leave) Im outta here Im afraid. I'll just have to wait and see though.

I guess the reason for stage checks only was because bravo ramp was the only ramp that was cleared. I dont see why it would be so hard to just keep bringing warriors around. I also dont see what is so bad about ice and snow on the ramp. Im pretty sure they do that for insurance reasons. I would hope so at least. Of course I do see a lot of the "Im a big baby" crap going on all the time so who knows.

[CAFFEINE]

Perhaps this has something to do with the stage check only restriction:

GFK 12/030 GFK 17L/35R CLSD WEF 0512101309
GFK 12/032 GFK 8/26 CLSD WEF 0512101526

Not that the wx is looking very promising:

KGFK 131511Z 14019KT 4SM BR OVC004 M04/M05 A2974 RMK AO2= (SPECI)

TAF AMD KGFK 131343Z 131412 15015KT P6SM OVC012 TEMPO 1418 OVC006
FM1800 15016KT P6SM OVC006 TEMPO 1820 4SM BR OVC015
FM2000 15015G22KT 5SM BR OVC015 TEMPO 2201 3SM -FZDZSN BR OVC006
FM0100 15012KT 4SM -SN OVC006
FM1100 32013KT 4SM -SN OVC005=

[JaceTheAce]

Well, it is quite difficult to finish flight courses when you're taking 15 credits and working 30-35 hours per week. IE: a 24 year old like me who doesn't have the luxury of having parents supply nice chunks of change to support little Bobby in his flying and school (like most avit students).

Sorry...just being a jealous little dork!

Maybe he has a similar situation?

This is why next semester when I'm taking 222 I will be enrolled in 12 units, especially since I'm at Senior level - I don't have to worry about finishing up because I won't be able to graduate until I finish 325 anyway...which is a while away. I'm in no rush.

[Bignellyxx]

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

it's gay because I've been trying to fly since last monday, and I've weather my flights. And on Thursday when it was a perfect night, guess what? Our plane took a dump on us and we couldn't even taxi. The heater overheated, and the EGTs were busted. No other Seminoles were available that night. Damnit.

I hear ya on that one. I have be maintainenced so many times in the Semenhole by this point I'm almost excited to go back to the gutless wonder because of availability issues.

[BZNflyer248]

Sorry you didn't get to fly but flight ops is not out to get you. Honestly the ice situation out there is a real hazzard - you can't do runups without sliding forward let alone hardly take corners. THE REASON IT WAS STAGE CHECKS ONLY - was because only the big runway was open and all satellite airports are closed (skating rink runways) now if we let everyone go dual only that would become a nightmare back in Grand Forks with only one runway. Its bad enough flying around the pattern here with all the sattilites open and people doing landings elsewhere. Besides you wouldn't have gone anyway if you checked the pireps - there were several reports of severe icing yesterday with large airplanes picking up over 1/4 inch of ice while descending through less than 2,000 feet of clouds. The MEA on your cross countries would have put you in those conditions anyway. I know the weather sucks but they're not out to get you with the restrictions.

[Bignellyxx]

Originally Posted by BZNflyer248

Sorry you didn't get to fly but flight ops is not out to get you. Honestly the ice situation out there is a real hazzard - you can't do runups without sliding forward let alone hardly take corners. THE REASON IT WAS STAGE CHECKS ONLY - was because only the big runway was open and all satellite airports are closed (skating rink runways) now if we let everyone go dual only that would become a nightmare back in Grand Forks with only one runway. Its bad enough flying around the pattern here with all the sattilites open and people doing landings elsewhere. Besides you wouldn't have gone anyway if you checked the pireps - there were several reports of severe icing yesterday with large airplanes picking up over 1/4 inch of ice while descending through less than 2,000 feet of clouds. The MEA on your cross countries would have put you in those conditions anyway. I know the weather sucks but they're not out to get you with the restrictions.

I completely agree with you on that. I think many people get mad because they could probably do some of that at their FBO's at home but Earls pt 61 flight training doesn't have the FAA eyeing they like a hawk.

[Philip]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

Well, it is quite difficult to finish flight courses when you're taking 15 credits and working 30-35 hours per week. IE: a 24 year old like me who doesn't have the luxury of having parents supply nice chunks of change to support little Bobby in his flying and school (like most avit students).

Sorry...just being a jealous little dork!

Maybe he has a similar situation?

This is why next semester when I'm taking 222 I will be enrolled in 12 units, especially since I'm at Senior level - I don't have to worry about finishing up because I won't be able to graduate until I finish 325 anyway...which is a while away. I'm in no rush.

BTDT, worked a bit more but stuck closer to 12 credits.
the whole flight pints gate thing is utter BS, so is losing 3 percentage points for an unsat, that's half a letter grade if they're still doing the retarded 92/86/78 or w/e grade scale.

[CAFFEINE]

Originally Posted by BZNflyer248

Sorry you didn't get to fly but flight ops is not out to get you. Honestly the ice situation out there is a real hazzard - you can't do runups without sliding forward let alone hardly take corners. THE REASON IT WAS STAGE CHECKS ONLY - was because only the big runway was open and all satellite airports are closed (skating rink runways) now if we let everyone go dual only that would become a nightmare back in Grand Forks with only one runway. Its bad enough flying around the pattern here with all the sattilites open and people doing landings elsewhere. Besides you wouldn't have gone anyway if you checked the pireps - there were several reports of severe icing yesterday with large airplanes picking up over 1/4 inch of ice while descending through less than 2,000 feet of clouds. The MEA on your cross countries would have put you in those conditions anyway. I know the weather sucks but they're not out to get you with the restrictions.

Great post. UND flight ops may be more restrictive than your FBO back home, but usually its for good reasons - their students safety as well as their fleet. It's not like they're out to get you. And while this isn't directed just at people on this board, I am really getting tired of people complaining about not being able to finish their flight courses on time. This is ND, everybody knows the wx will turn to crap. Plan for this, fly whenever you can early in the semester. Claiming it's all out of your hands or you can't handle flying/work/15 credits is a cop out. There are plenty of UND aviation students who finish their flight courses, who work just as much, and who take more than 15 credits. It can be done, stop whining about it.

Philip: The standard grading scale for aviation classes is 92/84/76 and I think an unsat is 2 points off your flight points total.

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by BZNflyer248

Sorry you didn't get to fly but flight ops is not out to get you. Honestly the ice situation out there is a real hazzard - you can't do runups without sliding forward let alone hardly take corners. THE REASON IT WAS STAGE CHECKS ONLY - was because only the big runway was open and all satellite airports are closed (skating rink runways) now if we let everyone go dual only that would become a nightmare back in Grand Forks with only one runway. Its bad enough flying around the pattern here with all the sattilites open and people doing landings elsewhere. Besides you wouldn't have gone anyway if you checked the pireps - there were several reports of severe icing yesterday with large airplanes picking up over 1/4 inch of ice while descending through less than 2,000 feet of clouds. The MEA on your cross countries would have put you in those conditions anyway. I know the weather sucks but they're not out to get you with the restrictions.

I wasn't saying they were. I made the thread before the new TAF had come out by the way. I would have been alright with the previous one. But since the weather pooped out anyway, its not a big deal. I was going Fargo-Valley City-and back, all of which were still open.

Oh well, I've chilled out a little now. I'll get done when I get done.

[AngelFuree]

The reason I didn't get finished this semester was due to financial aid taking a big buffalo dump on me. I began mid-october, and caught up to all you $#$!#$% by the week of Thanksgiving. I went at it non-stop. The only reason I'm in the situation I'm in is because my instructor found himself forced to resign, and they couldn't find an instructor that'd be willing to finish me up for the remainder of the course, but it's not because I sat on my ass all day doing nothing...

[CAFFEINE]

Why did your flight instructor have to resign AF?

[roundout]

it was too cold to keep getting up at 5:30am to go to the airport to meet unprepared students who would rather me spoon-feed them information than look through the notes i forced them to take the previous day (when i spoon-fed them the information). that's why i resigned.


not really, of course.

[JaceTheAce]

I have a solution to all our problems with weather here and finishing up on time:

Either:

A) Remove the flight point bonus points and 2% grade loss for each stage check unsat, along with 98/94/92 grading scale (where below 94 is a C and below 92 is a f&cking D )

OR:

B) Move the goddamn school to California so weather delay ##### like this doesn't have to happen

[CAFFEINE]

Jace, how do you figure removing the flight bonus points would improve on time course completion?

ND wx is more than sufficient to complete flight courses on time, especially ones like 221/222. Sorry guys, those courses were EASY to finish on time. 325 is a little more challenging with the Seminole availability for the required night flights being a BIG pain.

[BZNflyer248]

If you do away with the bonus template you'd completely kill people finishing on time. Never underestimate how lazy people get - especially when they'd rather go somplace more pleasant than grand forks for the weekends, the weather is marginal, or they could spend the previous night drinking instead of studying / sleeping for tomorrow's flight. Also I think they still need to beef up some of the academic standards. I have had way too many bad expiriences with commercial / CFI students who didn't have the knowledge it takes and we so accustomed to slipping through the cracks that they had a real hard time making it to the end - if they made it that far.

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by CAFFEINE

Jace, how do you figure removing the flight bonus points would improve on time course completion?

ND wx is more than sufficient to complete flight courses on time, especially ones like 221/222. Sorry guys, those courses were EASY to finish on time. 325 is a little more challenging with the Seminole availability for the required night flights being a BIG pain.

Depends on each person's situation. Im not where I am right now because of procrastination and being lazy. I can tell you that right now. I finished 221 REAL fast. While a few of my friends had trouble. They too werent putting things off or being lazy. 222 has been nothing but a headache for me. At the same time I can think of a few students that were done in october. That was what I wanted to do, but just wasnt possible. The biggest factor was 15 credits. I thought "Hey, 222 is even shorter than 221. So I'll take another class." Also thought I could work a lot too. I was wrong.

Crap happens, and it was on me this time around is all.