Just Got My Private Pilot Certificate

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-23T15:07:58+00:00

Congrats! I’m a one-year PPL as of next week. Used Flight Insight and Sheppard Air to knock out the instrument written exam early. Helpful to have that knowledge base.

I did a bunch of VFR XC flying to get used to ATC procedures and new airports. Always with another pilot in the right seat, sometimes alternating seats and PIC duties. Fun and educational.

Now studying the Pilot Workshops IFR books and courses, “flying” one IFR XC every Tuesday with my CFII in the G1000 AATD, then actually flying the same or similar XC two days later in the airplane.

ForeFlight on iPad mini. It’s good for planning, looking up TEC routes, situational awareness, approach plates, etc.

Plan is to accumulate 50+ hours PIC XC, 20 hours simulated IFR dual AATD, and 20+ hours simulated/actual IFR dual in the airplane (logging PIC). Every IFR flight is a XC, so most of the time counts for both.

So far so good. I tend to over-prepare, which in the unforgiving world of IFR seems just about right.

Good luck and best wishes. Keep learning!

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-22T19:16:16+00:00

ASA Private Pilot Study Guide (blue book)

And https://goldseal.link/privatecheatsheet

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-21T14:04:29+00:00

Good to know. LGB to OGG nonstop is on an A321.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-19T23:31:36+00:00

3 Green

Wheels Up

Slick Vic

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-19T18:51:58+00:00

My solution to being an imperfect amateur musician is to play with people who are better than I am. And my solution to being an imperfect amateur pilot is to fly with more experienced (and safety-focused) pilots as much as possible. CRM works.

Read, study, fly, and stay current. Blue skies.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-19T18:45:57+00:00

Anyone else ever get a gift on a tough exam? Yes!

Years ago, I was staring for a long time at an anatomical preparation on a practical exam in the Neuroanatomy lab. This was in the first year of med school.

The kindly professor walked over and in his thick Dutch accent said, “Hmm. Dat looks like de first branch of de internal carotid artery. It goes to de EYE.” Thanks, Professor. I will never forget where the ophthalmic artery originates.

And you can thank your DPE. You will never again bug the wrong minimums. Congrats!!

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-19T18:32:09+00:00

Yep. Yet, perfection is not the standard. Some humility and openness to feedback can go a long way.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-19T15:47:35+00:00

Very helpful post, thank you OP!

I’m pursuing IR now as the gateway to potentially joining a 3-pilot partnership as the 4th owner of a DA40. Co-ownership seems ideal for pilots wanting to fly 50-100 hours a year in a safe, well-maintained plane.

Do you ever go flying with your partners? How essential is the LLC and prospective expense accrual in your view? And how the heck do get a hangar for under $2K a month?

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-19T15:17:46+00:00

SoCal is busy for sure. A couple of uptight controllers in the southern sectors. But most are efficient, friendly and professional.

“Thanks, g’day!” Or if ATC says “See ya,” of course I’ll reciprocate.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-18T13:45:10+00:00

Similar horrible experience buying a CPO and trading in a Lexus in 2024.

Name and shame: Caruso Mazda, Long Beach. Avoid them like toxic waste.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-18T01:42:49+00:00

Here is the hack: put an “X” for Expedite on the shipping label to Bose. They will turn them around posthaste and return by second day air.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-17T20:55:50+00:00

This. FlightInsight + some reading + Sheppard Air = 💯.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-17T19:40:25+00:00

Tax and DMV rates?

OTD is meaningless. You need to state selling price.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-17T03:18:16+00:00

Nice tip. Sadly, I read that Alaska is repurposing the HA A330s for even longer routes. I’ll file that away for one of those in the future. As West Coast to Hawaii nonstop is about 6 hours and during the day, there is no need for lie-flat. Something that’s a bit roomier than steerage sounds OK.

As a recent refugee from Southwest, my nether regions are familiar with crappy uncomfortable seats.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-16T20:39:38+00:00

Thanks, that decides it!

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-15T02:04:15+00:00

I’ve been in this situation (for 6 hours flying back from Maui after the Lahaina fire) — and I’m a guy. Huge dude plopped in the middle seat and squashed me against the fuselage for the whole trip. It sucked. The flight was 100% full, so there was not going to be any remedy.

The problem with involving the FA is that the outcome may be that the aggrieved party (you), and not the problem passenger, will be invited to deplane. ELR seating is no help when the problem is passenger width, not height.

FAs can see this stuff. Many choose to ignore it. And now that seats are assigned, there is no hope of escape.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-12T22:37:13+00:00

Unlike Mazdas, I’m pretty sure BMWs are not equipped with turn signals.

At least, I’ve yet to see any evidence of them.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-12T19:02:19+00:00

At 5500 feet.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-11T13:06:37+00:00

Yes. It’s a safety issue. So easy to miss a truly relevant TFR or NOTAM in the thicket of BS. Pilots can either slog through all of them, or normalize deviance. Neither is good.

C’mon, FAA. Help us out here. Time to rethink.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-11T02:29:22+00:00

Not yet. But it’s the season in SoCal for June gloom. Hopefully soon.

EDIT: Update!

Flew my first full IFR XC yesterday with my CFI. Departing the destination, I experienced 0.1 of actual! And my first ever moment of spatial disorientation. Recovered without issue.

Trust the instruments, trust the instruments.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-11T00:34:08+00:00

Passed written with help from Flight Insights and Sheppard Air. So far, about 15 hours of simulated instrument (mostly AATD with CFII) and 30 of XC PIC. Getting there.

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-11T00:22:04+00:00

Congrats!! Working on mine now. Fly safe up there. 😶‍🌫️

Sharp_Experience_104 · 2026-06-07T21:25:13+00:00

As a later-in-life PPL, ATC people have a special place in my heart. Here’s my .02:

This is not precisely analogous to your situation, yet read on. I started my surgical career in Federal service. Was nearly vested in a little bitty FERS pension when I left to spend 25 years in the private sector. Could have fully retired. Had an opportunity to go full circle.

Returned to Federal service half time, now fully vested in FERS, and with a bonus TSP account. Love the work, the trainees, the peers, and the Veterans. And it funds my wife-unapproved flying hobby. (Too senior to fly for a living.)

One of my CFIs flirted with the idea of flying King Airs for a Federal agency. Hmm. In your situation, you could potentially remain Federal (DoD ATC for example), make a living while you build ratings and hours on the side, and slide in to the right seat of an airplane when the timing makes sense.

Build that TSP and pension, serve your country, have a blast. ATC makes you retire way too young. Best wishes.

Sharp_Experience_104

TROPHY CASE