is it just me?

"The Weiss Family" wrote in message

Admittedly, I only have about 65 hours (PP-ASEL), but I've yet to have a
flight where something "unusual" didn't happen.

Don't say "...only have about 65 hours...". Those 65 hours are probably the
hardest 65 hours you'll ever acquire.

Re "unusual" things happening: You're now reaching the point where you
begin to realize that there is *never* a perfect flight.

I had the same realization a few months after gettting the plastic picture
of orville & wilbur... No such thing as 'normal' flight. On the other hand,
thats a lot of the fun. Once the sweaty palms 'where the heck am I anyway'
period passes - things would get boring if it was all just up, cruise, down
with no surprises! I take it the Gulfstream incident was at a nontowered
field? Else what *other* TWR controller cleared him to taxi & hold??

Have fun! Im only 70 hrs ahead of you & mostly through IFR training. When I
finish the instrument rating I figure I'll be about as good a VFR pilot as I
hoped I would be when I got the PP. I figure 100-200 more hours and a
commercial rating & I'll be a decent instrument pilot. But why fly if not to
learn & get better? I mean besides the obvious "I can go 120 MPH in a
straight line isnt that amazing?" part





"The Weiss Family" wrote in message
...
Admittedly, I only have about 65 hours (PP-ASEL), but I've yet to have a
flight where something "unusual" didn't happen.
Also, admittedly, half of the time, it's something dumb I've done (forgot
to
turn my transponder to ALT, etc).
However, the other half isn't.
Today for example, I almost made a completely perfect trip for a $100
burger
with nothing unusual.
On the way back, on short final (about 300 or 400 AGL) the gulfstream
that
was inching passed the hold short line decided he wanted to take the
runway.
I did a 360 and heard a comment on the radio that he must be on the wrong
radio frequency.
Wasn't that big of a deal, but is it just me?

Adam

I take it the Gulfstream incident was at a nontowered
field? Else what *other* TWR controller cleared him to taxi & hold??


Yup. I fly out of Minden, NV (MEV) -- No tower.

Have fun! Im only 70 hrs ahead of you & mostly through IFR training. When
I
finish the instrument rating I figure I'll be about as good a VFR pilot as
I
hoped I would be when I got the PP. I figure 100-200 more hours and a
commercial rating & I'll be a decent instrument pilot. But why fly if not
to
learn & get better? I mean besides the obvious "I can go 120 MPH in a
straight line isnt that amazing?" part


Thanks for the words of encouragement.
You know, you're right... I kind of enjoy the "unusual" stuff because it
keeps me on my toes.
And you're right again, every flight I learn something and get better.
Good luck with your training!

Adam

"RjL" wrote in message
...

I had the same realization a few months after gettting the plastic
picture
of orville & wilbur... No such thing as 'normal' flight. On the other
hand,
thats a lot of the fun. Once the sweaty palms 'where the heck am I anyway'
period passes - things would get boring if it was all just up, cruise,
down
with no surprises! I take it the Gulfstream incident was at a nontowered
field? Else what *other* TWR controller cleared him to taxi & hold??


What clearance to taxi and hold?

"RjL" wrote in message ...

Have fun! Im only 70 hrs ahead of you & mostly through IFR training. When I
finish the instrument rating I figure I'll be about as good a VFR pilot as I
hoped I would be when I got the PP. I figure 100-200 more hours and a
commercial rating & I'll be a decent instrument pilot. But why fly if not to
learn & get better? I mean besides the obvious "I can go 120 MPH in a
straight line isnt that amazing?" part


I'd generally agree but add the counsel to make sure that the quality
of your experience meets or exceeds the quantity. You can go from
student to CFII while almost never venturing more than 50 miles from
one airport with an instructor sitting next to you on sunny days. I'm
getting ready to take my instrument checkride and I have about 25
hours of actual IFR time, because my instructor makes a point of
teaching students in real weather.

After the examiner handed me my ticket two years ago, I asked him if
he would recommend that I get an instrument rating. He replied,
"Absolutely, but first you should go out alone and scare yourself for
50 hours or so."

-cwk.

"The Weiss Family" wrote
Admittedly, I only have about 65 hours (PP-ASEL), but I've yet to have a
flight where something "unusual" didn't happen.

At 65 hours, everything is unusual. Really. See, there's an
important difference between the typical 65 hour automobile driver
(that would be what - 3000 miles, maybe a few months driving
experience at best) and 65 hour airplane pilot. The driver has
probably hundreds of hours sitting in the right seat of a car,
observing. He has a pretty fair idea of what is unusual and what
isn't long before he gets that learner's permit. On top of that, the
new driver is young - learns faster, reacts faster.

Ever seen what happens when someone comes to the US from a country
where automobile ownership is rare and few people drive, in middle
age, and immediately starts learning to drive? I have. It's not
pretty, and most new pilots are like that.

So here you are, no real experience, trying to figure out what is
normal. With time, you will. With time, you will also discover that
most of the unusual things are not only usual but predictable.

Also, admittedly, half of the time, it's something dumb I've done (forgot to
turn my transponder to ALT, etc).

Conversation between me and a controller, a few weeks ago:
ATC: Are you about 7 miles South-Southeast of Sugarland moving North?
Me: Affirm
ATC: RADAR contact, primary target only. Check your transponder.
Me: Oh, sorry. Transponder works better in Oscan-November mode.

I have over 20 times as many hours as you do, and I'm an ATP. Feel
better?

We all make dumb mistakes. It happens. We're all human. Corollary -
try not to put yourself in too many situations where one dumb mistake
will kill you. Odds will catch up with you eventually. Limit your
checklists to items that can kill you - the more items on the
checklist, the more chance of skipping one, so keep them as short as
possible - but no shorter. If you must put yourself in a situation
where one dumb mistake will kill you, know which mistake it is - and
don't make it. Be aware.

However, the other half isn't.

Yes - the other half is something dumb I've done. Or whoever else is
around. Or something funky with the weather. Or something doesn't
work right.

On the way back, on short final (about 300 or 400 AGL) the gulfstream that
was inching passed the hold short line decided he wanted to take the runway.
I did a 360 and heard a comment on the radio that he must be on the wrong
radio frequency.
Wasn't that big of a deal, but is it just me?

Nah. He didn't see you, he may have been on the wrong frequency, or
had the wrong radio selected, or had the audio panel misconfigured, or
he just missed your radio call. It happens. BTDT. So you did a 360
and landed. No harm, no foul.

When was the last time you had to slow down a bit because someone
changed lanes and didn't see you? How many times did you change lanes
and discover a car in your rearview mirror you didn't realize was
there?

Michael

"Michael" wrote in message
Ever seen what happens when someone comes to the US from a country
where automobile ownership is rare and few people drive, in middle
age, and immediately starts learning to drive?

....or someone raised in Manhatten? My college buddy 'learned' to drive to
pass the test. First time he took the wheel in my presence he crashed into
a moving car while pulling out of the parking space. That summer he wiped a
Volvo. Not pretty.

I think I drove my first 100 miles moving cars around in the driveway. We
take our driving skills for granted.

(Michael) wrote:

At 65 hours, everything is unusual. Really....
[good thoughts on/for new pilots smipped]

Thanks Michael, it sounds like there is hope yet :-) I have about 30hrs
PIC now and was finding the same as the OP.

Rob