Thursday, April 17, 2003

Ready for Another Checkride What a difference a day makes. Everything is working on the Commander! The gear limiter switch was replaced this morning, and the CHT is working, too. I just hope that nothing decides to stop working overnight. I did get to go flyig today by myself and with Matt. By myself I did all of the landings and take offs that could be requested on my test. Short, soft, normal, crosswind, and 180 degree precision emergency approach. I felt very good about all of them. Then Matt and I went and we did commercial ground reference maneouvers, stalls, lazy 8s, etc. before coming back and doing a few landings. Again, I felt very good, and Matt said that I was ready. I think I just might be ready. After flying Matt endorsed my logbook. I think I am ready. Let's just hope the weather works out. I guess we'll find out tomorrow. After I successfully complete this checkride, I will only have 4 checkrides left: Instrument Instructor, Commercial Multi, Multi-Engine Instructor, and finally Airline Transport Pilot. Cool! 6:59:26 PM    comment []

Little Green Lights The fun never stops. Here is an update on my quest to become a CFI. Yesterday I had a flight scheduled to polish up some of my maneouvers with my CFI, Matt. I was very much looking forward to the flight. I figured that flight plus thursday's flight would sufficiently prepare me for my checkride on friday (tomorrow). It was all going to work out. Well, I show up to the airport yesterday and waited for the plane to get back. As I am waiting in the FBO, I hear over the radio "91W has a gear indicator light that is not green." It was my instructor and another student. They did a low pass, and everyone agreed that the gear looked fine, so they decided to land, which they did safely (thank goodness). Unfortunately, upon inspection it was determined that the gear limiter switch was broken. Also broken was the CHT guage,  and the transponder was still reporting high. I was grounded. I made sure to raz my instructor's other student, "you broke my airplane!" She is strongly considering switching to the comanche for the remainder of her training. The mechanics assured me the thing would be flying again by the next morning (this morning). If it is, then I may be able to squeek a flight in today before the weather deteriorates below VFR. If I don't fly today, I don't get signed off for my checkride, and I will have to reschedule AGAIN. On top of all this, my wife could pop at any second. She's 80% effaced. If things don't work out today and tomorrow, I can imagine having to cancel again because my wife is having a baby. Of course, that would be more important than a checkride. 6:47:39 AM    comment []

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