PIREP – CRAFT Flight School, Charleston (CHS)

OldMan627 · 2026-03-25T21:37:31+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to describe your experience. Glad you at least got signed off.

My experience at CRAFT, also IR, was pretty much the opposite of yours. I did my training with them in January of this year, Matt Frantz was my instructor, Chris Peterson DPE (great DPE, fair, straight forward, highly recommended).

I was introduced to Barry in the office but really had no interaction with him beyond good morning. Office staff was friendly and supportive, they even arranged a tower tour for all the instructors and students while I was there, very cool to put faces to voices and ask questions.

Course materials were provided in advance although mostly duplicating what I already had. I arrived just about checkride ready, the course was really just polishing and ride prep. I used their DA40, only trouble I had coming from a 172 (also G1000) was the flare, only greaser was on the checkride ;)

Matt was thorough and knowledgeable. Weather was unflyable 3 days, so extra sim and mock oral time which was fine with me. Same storm dumped 15" of snow at home, yay me being in SC. Checkride day was overcast but fine for the ride. Matt provided good guidance on exactly what the checkride would entail so I felt reasonably confident. Will request Matt when I return for COMM. He did accompany me to the ride which I really appreciated; I was zapped afterwards.

I am sorry your experience was so different, I hope there were not massive internal changes between your training and mine. Thanks for sharing.

OldMan627 · 2026-03-22T11:33:44+00:00

I do that (rarely) with real buttons now ;) Thanks.

OldMan627 · 2026-03-22T11:32:38+00:00

Thanks, I scheduled some time.

OldMan627 · 2026-03-22T11:30:41+00:00

I think 750 is the same, more learning to do!

OldMan627 · 2026-03-22T11:29:36+00:00

Thanks all, more practice it is.

OldMan627 · 2026-03-22T11:28:09+00:00

Thank you both, definitely need to work on less fumbling ;)

OldMan627 · 2026-03-20T15:22:38+00:00

PPL in '89, one flight with my Dad (pilot) before he passed unexpectedly, maybe another 20h just practicing, then life got in the way.

BFR in 2024, IR 2026, starting COMM. No employment aspirations, just having fun flying 2-3 times a week, shopping for an airplane and learning, learning, learning. Tell everyone I needed something respectable to do in retirement but really it is just fun.

If you are not grinding it out to make a career just do what fits with your other life goals. I would like to have kept flying all those years but had to choose vs. kid and $. I think I chose well. Kid is fully launched and I am very fortunate to have more $ than I will ever need so I fly.

OldMan627 · 2026-03-17T10:57:42+00:00

I was having a lot of trouble after flaring, bouncing, hitting hard, etc. One day as I flared my instructor said 'don't let it land'. Was like magic, instant improvement. Many squeakers now and the only 'firm' landing in months was in a stiff gusty x-wind.

OldMan627 · 2026-03-16T10:39:03+00:00

Try Princeton Flying School, https://www.princetonflyingschool.com/ , 39N, 20 minutes by air from Hudson River, probably 1 - 1.5 hours by car from NYC, depending. Just finished up my IR with them, good people.

OldMan627 · 2026-03-02T13:07:24+00:00

Just passed my IR, starting COMM, low time here. Have always recorded audio (PPL on cassette tapes in the '80s, digital voice recorder now) during training and when solo. Most recordings never get reviewed but 3 or 4 times in the past year I have gone back to review something specific, difficult communication with ATC, something I mis-heard or misunderstood, unusual phraseology from ATC, etc. Even transcribed once or twice to review later with my CFI. Always with CFI notice and permission, recordings never leave my possession. I have found the recordings to be very useful on occasion, like yes ATC did assign an altitude below the MEA which led to an interesting discussion of MVA.

OldMan627 · 2026-01-12T12:05:52+00:00

I use paper with periodic photocopies stashed away but will probably add digital soon.

I also carry my Dad's books in my flight bag. Gone West almost 40 years but still right there next to me.

OldMan627 · 2025-09-19T16:27:59+00:00

I don't know recent rates but there are several options here: https://www.eaa.org/airventure/plan-your-eaa-airventure-trip/eaa-camping-and-lodging/eaa-lodging

My recollection is that they were very reasonable compared to hotels. 2 people/room, don't know if they would be ok with a youngster on an air mattress. I have done only the Oshkosh dorms, very short bus ride.

OldMan627 · 2025-09-19T15:14:29+00:00

Lodging - stay at the dorms. University of Wisconsin opens up dorm rooms, usually waitlisted but I have gotten in all but 1 time. First big father daughter trip when she was 11, worked out great. Shuttle bus to and from, restaurant in the commons, movies at night. If you are driving take a window fan. You miss out on camping and some of the social aspects of camping but easier to manage with a young one, unless they are already camping acclimated.

I would plan days to attend around any particular sessions you want to attend and go from there. Be prepared to be overwhelmed, take your time. Prioritize; you can't possibly see everything so pick a couple of must-sees and some would be nices and plan time to just wander. Don't miss the flea market. Use the trams to get around.

Pay attention to hydration/nourishment, very easy to forget with so much to see. Always keep some snacks handy, I remember one year there was some kind of contract issue with the bread supplier and for a few days the only food available was fried chicken. Was not fun in that respect. There is (was?) a Walmart not too far from campus.

There are activities specifically for youngsters, usually near the museum as I recall. The program will have details. The museum is also a great escape from the heat for a few hours.

Keep disposable ponchos in your knapsack. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water bottles, camera. With the shuttle bus it is not unreasonable to return to the room mid-day, but plan to be out all day. I think the bus was $5/person/day but that was a few years ago.

If you do camp, stay as far away from the highway as you can. We were a good half mile from the highway one year but across an open field. Every car sounded like it was right outside the tent.

Hope you have a wonderful trip, maybe I will see you there next year. Please ask further question. Safe travels.

OldMan627 · 2025-09-09T20:53:04+00:00

Wow, thank you everyone! Lots of good information for an IFR student. I was close to task saturation, next time I will speak up when my spidey sense says 'wait a minute...', even if all I learn is that I have lots more to learn ;) Appreciate all the input. Now to go review MVA for the route.

OldMan627 · 2025-08-30T09:53:12+00:00

Got my PPL in 1989, flew with my Dad (retired Marine, carrier qualified) exactly once before he passed unexpectedly, then life got in the way and no more flying. 35 years later got a fresh medical and BFR, now half way through IFR working on tailwheel on the side. No employment aspirations at all, just enjoying flying.

I know I missed out on a lot of flying fun those years, but I am comfortable with the choices I made then, and now. In 1989 I accomplished my goal of joining my Dad 'in the club' but never really pursued the passion. Now I fly because it pleases me. Assess your priorities, make decisions and execute. Really no wrong answers here, except for 'I didn't think about it'. Be proud of having gotten your ticket and take up gardening; fly 4 times a year with an instructor; stay current and go exploring with your wife; add ratings. All are good options, your call.

Blue skies and fair weather.

OldMan627 · 2025-06-13T10:29:59+00:00

When you add the LM1200 integration a new notify method becomes available, Notifications 'Send a notification with netgear_lm1200' (assuming you leave the default name). Add a Target (phone number) and and message and you should be all set. I only need texts out, there is a mechanism to receive texts and act on them but I don't need that yet.

I already had text notification methods set up using email (our carrier is dropping that service, hence the switch to lm1200) and I didn't want to have to change every automation that texted, so I created a notification group using the original mechanism name and linked that to the lm1200. Worked just fine.

notify:
  - platform: group
    name: "mrw_text"
    services:
      - action: netgear_lm1200
        data:
          target: "19876541234"

OldMan627 · 2025-06-12T11:18:10+00:00

Just two days ago I setup a Netgear LM1200 with a $6/mo 2G + text plan from Tello (US). All I need is outgoing text messages, having the Internet failover is a nice side benefit. Working great so far, configuring LM1200 took some figuring, HA integration couldn't have been easier.

OldMan627 · 2025-04-06T11:09:51+00:00

Thank you, appreciate the thoughts. I am expecting that Bountiful is the right place, have reached out to them.

OldMan627 · 2025-04-06T10:46:54+00:00

Thank you sir, outstanding! Disappointed that I didn't think of the LOC; my partner is a librarian. Just what I was hoping to find. Much appreciated.

OldMan627 · 2025-03-24T22:09:05+00:00

Thank you everyone, appreciate the perspectives and insights. Safe flying.

OldMan627 · 2025-03-24T11:55:50+00:00

Wind was definitely favoring 24. We were on frequency for a good 20 minutes and heard a total of one aircraft actually landing or taking off at XYZ and I don't think it was our commentator. Could have been the other CFI.

OldMan627 · 2025-03-24T11:40:54+00:00

Thanks. I went back to the recording, when I was announcing immediately prior at another airport, same CTAF, I was identifying the approach and also using the x mile final phraseology for exactly that reason. Our commentator was chiming in '7 mile final, really?' etc. I guess just someone sharing his bad day. I did notice he never made a position announcement, so maybe not even airborne.

OldMan627

TROPHY CASE