I flew to Petaluma, CA today to complete my Angel Flight mission
orientation. I'm now officially an Angel Flight Command Pilot. It's
really a simple process but, for me, one that has been a goal for a
couple of years now. Now all I need to do is have the stars align and
I'll be able to fly my first mission.

After my orientation, I just had to eat at the "Two Niner Diner". It
was a nice sunny day and felt great to chow down on, of all things, a
hamburger, while watching planes come and go. After lunch, I pointed
the spinner West and was shortly over the Pacific coast at Point Reyes.
A left turn at the lighthouse then down the coast a bit until I'm over
the entrance to the San Francisco bay. Another left turn and I was able
to fly over the Golden Gate bridge for the very first time from the left
seat. San Francisco on my right, Marin County on my left...it was very
cool. I've been over these same landmarks as a kid in the right seat
with my Dad flying left seat. The only thing that would have been
better was to have Dad along in the right seat today. Hmmm, next time
he visits, I just may have to make this same trip.

I continued flying up the San Pablo Bay and past the mothball fleet. A
bit farther and I was over Travis Air Force base (lots of transports on
the ramp...sorry Jay B., not a fighter to be seen). I did manage to see
a KC-135 land though. Not quite the cool-factor as our AZ friend sees
*all the time*...but it was a nice touch. :-)

All was going great until I was at the point where I was about to exit
Travis's airspace. Normally, I'd get handed off to Norcal Approach as
the Sacramento International Charlie airspace isn't too far away. This
time, just as I was about to key the mic and ask, the Travis controller
tells me "squawk 1200, have a nice day, suggest Norcal Approach on
125.25". Hmmm, I'd better turn left in a hurry or I'll bust the Charlie
airspace...so I did, acknowledged Travis approach, then call up Norcal
and get a new squawk code. A good example of how ATC can, in certain
circumstances, set you up for failure and how not having your head stuck
in the sand (or elsewhere) can spot a problem and fix it. Lesson learned.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

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