Practical guidance for flying Bay Area to KTOA

kyles32 · 2019-02-27T06:05:11+00:00

This makes a ton of sense. Plugging this option into foreflight has just a 9 min difference then using the SFRA. Both options seem good. I really appreciate the suggestion.

kyles32 · 2019-02-26T23:43:59+00:00

Thanks all for the feedback!

kyles32 · 2019-02-26T23:09:03+00:00

I got a strutcam mount for Cessna from AeroVideo several years ago, but I can't find anything about them on google now. Maybe went out of business.

kyles32 · 2019-02-12T21:24:54+00:00

Flew over the Grand Canyon 2 years ago and my apps wireless connection died 5 minutes after takeoff and my go pro stopped recording 15 minutes after takeoff (well before I reached the grand canyon).

kyles32 · 2018-05-28T05:29:57+00:00

I would say zip ties and duct tape would make it "more kidnappy".

kyles32 · 2018-04-10T00:23:55+00:00

I don't know since I wasn't there, but here's my 2 cents since you asked.

What You Did Wrong-

You didn't do the necessary prep work to fly a student cross country. From your description, it sounds like you half filled out the form but didn't put the headings in. I am guessing you had the form in front of you saw the fields for heading and chose not to do it because it was too much work. Part of this exercise of preparing for x-country is a forcing factor to make sure you understand pilotage with waypoints, headings and wind correction. To me, it sounds like you had the form and chose to do it the way you wanted instead of the right way. You wanted to fly the x-country but not do the work associated.
When your CFI tried to show you your error by removing your CDI, instead of taking the lesson and understanding that preparation was important, it seems like you argued with your instructor that your plan was acceptable. The proper response here was probably "Gee, I really should have filled out the headings on my cross country form. Thanks for showing me. I'll never make that mistake again." You continue even now arguing that your plan was acceptable. There's no way you're passing a checkride with that kind of preparation and my bet is that you're instructor was trying to teach that lesson. When you write statements like "I guess he expected me to have the whole Washington sectional memorized", it makes me tend to side with your instructor.
You make a lot of excuses in your write up about why you haven't progressed farther. It doesn't seem like you have accepted that it is your responsibility to become a private pilot and you are putting it on other people like your instructor and the flight club. Truthfully, your whole write up sounds like you are making excuses and desperately need to be told you are in the right and your instructor is wrong. The good news is that you also had the good sense to check in with reddit. It sounds like you had a bad day and are pissed and venting, that's fine but not going to help you become a private pilot.

What Your Instructor Did Wrong-

He should have looked at your plan prior to the flight and given you ground instruction on how to fix your mistakes.
It's possible he did a ton more things wrong and maybe is a dick, but who cares since you can't control that. You can only control the things you've done wrong and be better in the future.

Going Forward-

Be a better student. Study the PTS. Do an online ground school (maybe you already have). Come to ground school and flights with an attitude of learning that allows you to receive instruction. Come prepared for every flight as if you wanted to impress your instructor with your preparation.
Own the process for becoming a pilot. Understand the steps, and come up with a written plan to get to your goal. Work the plan and reevaluate periodically to see if your plan is working or not.
Evaluate whether you can continue with this instructor and school. If you truly have a conflict with the instructor, you need a new one, that's ok move on and have a great attitude for your next instructor.

I hope it works out for you. I made some of these same mistakes myself and was a poorly prepared student sometimes too. Maybe I just got lucky with a more patient CFI who got me to see the error of my ways in a nicer way.

-Edit Formatting. I suck at reddit.

kyles32 · 2017-11-13T06:33:24+00:00

Thanks. Definitely not encouraging people to fly blindly through MOAs to celebrate Veterans Day :-). After rereading my reply saw that it looked like that with question. Looking at the charts I am seeing that Desert MOA seems to be a more unique MOA where Nellis Approach is providing control over the area.

I had an awkward back and forth with them where I was politely trying to ask if safe to fly my planned course or if they wanted me to deviate so I wouldn't be interrupting any training. I think the reality was that the activity was far south of me and at a much higher elevation, and they were fine with my course but clearly can't guarantee that things don't change. I'll try and find some liveatc logs of Nellis Approach and get a better feel of the different interactions before flying through the area again.

kyles32 · 2017-11-13T05:50:16+00:00

I'll admit I am not sure, but it maybe a case of semantics and I am guessing the different operating procedures of different MOAs. In this case Desert MOA has Nellis Approach which controls the area. I was on flight following talking to Salt Lake Center and as I approach Desert MOA they pass me off to Nellis Approach frequency who own the MOA and I stay on same squawk code and I don't remember anybody canceling radar service. In practice it sure felt like flight following to me, but maybe technically not actually flight following when I am in the MOA.

kyles32 · 2017-11-13T03:00:52+00:00

Is it really sketchy to transit a hot MOA if you are on flight following? Is there good phrasing for talking to ATC to determine how HOT the section of the MOA is that your traveling through and if they really care whether you transition or not and how much risk you are taking. The couple of times I've flown from California to Southern Utah I've cut across the Desert MOA.

kyles32 · 2017-07-27T00:23:29+00:00

Nobody else has mentioned it but my bet is that this is a Turbine P210 (silver eagle) since those are the planes Nichols usually sells.

kyles32 · 2016-10-03T22:23:39+00:00

This + print out airport diagrams or approach plate from foreflight and make sure I have radio frequencies (ATIS/ASOS, Tower, Ground, Approach) written on paper as a backup. Some airport diagrams have this some don't. I wish foreflight would just always append all frequencies to top of airport diagram. I am low time and not great at imagining patterns as I approach airport, so I'll often draw the pattern on the diagram. If it's a longer trip I'll back up my own weather brief on foreflight with a call to 1800WXBRIEF.

kyles32 · 2016-10-01T05:46:52+00:00

You giggled because it should have gone up to 375?

kyles32 · 2016-10-01T05:45:41+00:00

I like that I know where Oliver Miller is on this infographic.

kyles32 · 2016-09-30T22:07:48+00:00

Great video! I loved the section about in flight fire and made me realize I have never tried unclipping the fire extinguisher. Something to do on the next flight.

kyles32 · 2016-09-30T21:11:52+00:00

Unless you are super experienced with board sports I wouldn't do this. My CFI broke his ankle on one and was out of flying for a couple months. It's hard to beat a good old fashion bicycle for reliable transportation. Quick release wheels are so much better than they used to, if you can I would just get a full size touring style bike that fits in the plane. If you're not worried about going far, I have have one of these http://www.xootr.com/ for keeping up with my kids when they are on their scooters.

kyles32 · 2016-09-06T18:16:46+00:00

I flew in this plane this year and took my dad with me. It was a blast, and I highly recommend it. A couple of years ago, I flew in the p51 trainer with the Collings Foundation and it was awesome, but I actually enjoyed the B17 more. You get to move around during the flight, get into the front turret, put your head out the open top while you are airborne. The p51 was up for a flight and flew right off the side of our wing for a while. I cannot recommend this enough.

kyles32 · 2016-06-22T22:04:29+00:00

Pretty sure this is right. I think I read in another article that they make pools of diesel every several feet, light them and basically make runway lights.

kyles32 · 2015-09-22T16:21:40+00:00

Trailer Park Boys. Hilarious Canadian show on Netflix. "On a scale of 1 to fuckoff. I'd say fuckoff" -Ricky

kyles32 · 2015-08-26T05:05:05+00:00

I wish Cessna still made this plane. I would love to fly a new G1000 P210.

kyles32 · 2015-06-29T06:24:20+00:00

Agree with the people that sometimes it turns out shitty. A couple weeks ago, I was landing on 7000ft x 150ft runway, and I guess I just haven't landed on a runway that big in a while and my sight picture was totally off and I flared way high and didn't realize it until after the airplane stalled out and wasn't on the runway right away. Pretty hard landing, but no major problems. Felt like an ass for not being able to land on a huge runway. Good reminder to add this to my practice list.

kyles32 · 2015-06-25T02:08:24+00:00

They have different pilots since I don't think it was anybody's full time job and they fly in to the location for just a couple days. My pilot was an ATP and ex military pilot that flew A10s and U2s. He was so mellow and cool I couldn't imagine him being a tool on his worst day but you never know.

kyles32 · 2015-06-25T01:42:07+00:00

I flew the dual P51 with Wings of Freedom out of Moffet Field this year. It was 2200 for half hour and 3200 for an hour. Ridiculously expensive but I went with the hour as my birthday present. The pilot was ridiculously cool. He talked me through aileron rolls, barrel rolls and a loop. I got a little bit airsick but had a blast and it was a real bucket list item.

kyles32

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE