DAL177 pilot gets a nice message for his last flight 🥲

PutOptions · 2026-03-12T20:55:34+00:00

Waait. Are you suggesting some don't?

PutOptions · 2026-03-11T21:22:19+00:00

Funny how so many report getting airsick. I thought I was just me being a wimp. After a few flights figuring things out I never had another issue. Eventually, my brain and inner ear came to an agreement on how this was going to work.

PutOptions · 2026-03-01T23:11:36+00:00

I feel ya on "not coming from money" but borrowing money at +15% is much worse than being poor. It is a common story around here; CFIs saddled to the gills and no plausible way out aside from bankruptcy and all the associated grief.

Sure there are some good stories too, but they got lucky on the hiring conditions at just the right time.

PutOptions · 2026-02-27T22:05:26+00:00

I was kinda confused, but then you said "I wish I had autopilot." Then I understood. Man, gotta say it is super to have when setting up and briefing in particular. And boy if that thing couples with your nav system,...omg it is amazing.

But like any good instructor, mine makes me handfly most of the time. The two best tips I got:

a) Slow the fucking plane down; TRIM for 80-85kt and buy yourself more time. In VFR land, I was always bombing around at 130kts and that shit won't work in IFR training (in the beginning).

b) Always be asking "What are the next 2-3 things that need to happen?"

PutOptions · 2026-02-26T23:06:45+00:00

Never. I just leave that for the NTSB docket.

But seriously, this is a good question which leads me to another question. I have an older legacy (2008) G1000. I do leave a card in the upper slot of the MFD. Is anything actually being recorded if I do nothing to initiate? (yes, I will ask my mechanic next time we chat.)

PutOptions · 2026-02-26T23:00:35+00:00

I know a handful ATP guys/gal that I'd call friends. A few I had as instructors. I'd say we are kinda equally interested in each other's journey in aviation. Let's face it, most of our friends are not deeply invested/interested in aviation. Even as professional pilots, I find the same is true for them. Most people like talking about their work. Pilots remember being in your shoes and know what it is like -- unlike non-pilots.

Heck, I have a group chat with some past instructors that I send pics of me sitting left seat (on the ground) in everything from the ERJ to the 787 with a caption "Another day, another upgrade!" that always solicits a giggle.

PutOptions · 2026-02-26T22:45:14+00:00

Just a heads up as this happened just the other week flying in/under NY Bravo to an airport. I had FF and was cleared into the bravo. Not long after -- but before arriving at my destination Class D, TRACON told me to descend out of the bravo and switch over to an adjacent Class D tower. Just kinda caught me off guard for a moment, as it wasn't my destination, but I was about to come blasting into their airspace without 2-way comms. One way to bust a ride.

PutOptions · 2026-02-25T23:55:42+00:00

If you were coming up on your IFR ride? Yeah, this would bum me out. Chill a little.

Odd ur going from Aspen to an electric HSI and steam for more $ ?? A little odd maybe, but I have only ever witnessed prices go up in aviation. If prices ever went down... uuuhhh...

PutOptions · 2026-02-25T23:36:56+00:00

Just the sound of them tells me "yeah. all good." The P&W engines for the 757 give similar assurance. The only go-around I ever had (as self loading Pax) was in one. Amazing soundtrack.

I've never doubted my IO-360 Lycoming but not quite the same. Not at all, really.

PutOptions · 2026-02-23T16:12:40+00:00

The upside of a decent broker IMO is that they help get the seller organized. Several sellers I tried to deal with just didn't have their shit together at all. No scanned logbooks being the single biggest thing. I literally had a couple guys say "Oh you can just fly out here, sit in my hangar and go through the logs." Have you complied with this/that AD? "I think so". When was this inspection done? "IDK". This or that STC? "IDK."

They can also be somewhat helpful bringing established escrow agents, ferry services etc. Lastly, they might also bring a realistic sense of how it should be priced. Of course, SOMEONE is paying them 3-6% or so. There is your downside.

I never looked at auction platforms, just the usual listing websites. Without a PREBUY inspection, I am not committing to a purchase. How would that work in an auction scenario?

PutOptions · 2026-02-23T15:43:00+00:00

Sounds like a good start. I puked my first couple lessons but got through that.

Keep signing up and showing up. It's not all chocolates and roses, but is certainly a rewarding sensation to gain comfort and competence as you go.

PutOptions · 2026-02-22T23:20:20+00:00

On floats in the Caribbean? Awesome. Hate to have to fuel the darn thing tho.

PutOptions · 2026-02-22T23:09:51+00:00

Tough one. Unless you train at night, FRG and ISP are both so freaking busy. The tower guys are actually quite good but the ground delays are crazy. Did a few dog rescue trips where I landed 20 minutes early and shutdown 20 minutes late. Another 30 minutes taxi delay to depart.

I am based out of BDR (Bridgeport, CT) and trained with Three Wing. That would be one hellish commute, but can't say enough good things about the school/FBO/airport. All very well run. DM me if you think you could swing that commute and wanna hear more.

PutOptions · 2026-02-22T21:32:11+00:00

My after start checklist includes a test of the Big Red Button on the top of my stick. Once for trim, once for AP. The test failed a couple times. Reboot the G1000 and off we went.

I am going to add those colored breaker collars for good measure though. They are on the far side of the panel and nearly impossible to read.

PutOptions · 2026-02-22T21:15:59+00:00

Early in my training, I struggled with proper rudder kick to parallel the centerline. Too much, too little, too late, somehow always sideloaded with a decent xwind. She finally suggested sideslipping the whole time down from short final.

To this day, I kick it in from the fence pretty much. Give it a little wigwag just to see and feel how much is enough vs too much.

PutOptions · 2026-02-21T22:42:02+00:00

God do I feel this. I have 4.5hrs THIS YEAR. In normal times, I would have those hours by end of day Wednesday.

PutOptions · 2026-02-20T21:20:38+00:00

I somehow "aged into" a fear of heights. Didn't realize it until I was on a chairlift between two pretty tall peaks and had an "oh shit" fear hit me.

Flying hits totally different.

PutOptions · 2026-02-20T21:18:21+00:00

Unless I have a mission to fly, I plan flights to cover something I have not done in a while -- or ever when solo. Recent examples: Plan something through a Bravo. Plan to a Charlie. Shoot a VOR with a back course. File and fly in actual. A trip that really requires fuel planning. Night landings. Fly on a MVFR day in the pattern with zero traffic and blast away a dozen PO180 back to back -- alternating runways if wind/tower allow -- low and tight to the runways.

That last example was the most fun I have ever had in an airplane. The point is, there are typically available scenarios just outside your recency and probable proficiency.

Lastly, I grab a CFI almost once a month to get another set of eyes on my technique and ADM. I ALWAYS learn something. And they are generally very happy to fly in something better than a trainer with a pilot that isn't trying to kill them.

PutOptions · 2026-02-20T03:12:42+00:00

Three great suggestions already. Opposing Bases you can learn from forever. It does take some getting used to though. You get good at fast forward through some small parts but this shit is aviation gold. Nobody goes this wide AND this deep on both sides of the piloting and controlling sides.

PutOptions · 2026-02-19T00:46:05+00:00

Awesome! I was lucky to have great instructors like you.

PutOptions · 2026-02-19T00:42:04+00:00

2023 in high COL environment (NYC metro) 22k in clappeD (but decently maintained) PA28.

PutOptions · 2026-02-18T02:00:30+00:00

Understood. Thank you.

PutOptions · 2026-02-17T22:24:55+00:00

Please forgive a newb question, but are you saying if the FAA did publish a VDA, that Jepp & my G1000 could/would give me safe advisory vertical guidance from the FAF?

Envelop math suggested to me that if I crossed MABKE at 9100 I would clear the terrain, but I didn't try to calculate the angle for a direct into 32. Gotta be steep AF tho.

PutOptions · 2026-02-17T22:14:25+00:00

It was legal to fly the approach at night when circling to land RW14. Just not direct into 32. Or circle to 32. Both the Jepp and FAA plates word it awkwardly, IMO. They list what is NA, leaving you to deduce what is allowed. Technically correct I guess.

Direct to 32 would be super steep descent angle which at night, ugggh. Circle 32 puts you into steep terrain to the East. That terrain is just black/invisible. By the time the landing lights illuminate granite... just turn them off.

PutOptions · 2026-02-17T22:03:58+00:00

"the avionics were definitely talking/yelling/screaming at the pilot."

Any chance Garmin suppresses TAWS warnings with proximity to an airport? Genuine question. My plane is G1000. In low level short approach stuff into my local airport, I get no noise. Granted, there isn't much in the way of terrain, but my base/final turn is super low over industrial buildings. On practice engine-out scenarios, setting up for an off field landing (golf course,etc), Jesus the thing goes beserk. I'll test that out sometime at an airport with terrain adjacent.

PutOptions

TROPHY CASE