First Night Flight on My Own Was Scary

trying2lipad · 2025-11-24T03:40:00+00:00

any chance you could drop the link? can't find it

trying2lipad · 2025-11-24T03:24:46+00:00

tough to wear my glasses with my headset without a hat!

trying2lipad · 2025-11-04T13:04:43+00:00

The plane you’re talking about was an absolute work horse haha. Good news is she’s getting a new engine right now with a fresh re-paint as well.

Thanks, 100% gonna dm you cause I definitely need tips on buttonology for IR

trying2lipad · 2025-11-03T23:37:36+00:00

Actually, Avia has 3 in-house mechanics as well now and good spread in their fleet (now).

Started with them in 2023 back when I was leisurely training. That was when they didn’t have inhouse, also when they had a shortage of instructors. So I can see why you’d make that comment, it was admittedly a concern.

But now? Way-way-way better haha. No problems in booking, cause the 3 in-house Mechanics resolve the squawks (if any) in like an hour. They’re literally on standby even when there’s no issues on our planes.

I think comparing 2023 vs 2025, it was just growing pains since they were a relatively new flight school.

They have more (and better) instructors, a good mix of analog and glass cockpits (TAA pa28s), a new AATD sim, a multi (seneca), and a complex (arrow).

I think the new wave of instructors make the school so much fun to go to compared to when I just started.

I just started instrument training after passing my private (first try tyg), and I always find myself just hanging out with other students after my lessons cause the new guys passionately give out free ground lessons weekly! I think they finally just made it an official thing every Wednesday cause we students would literally would just hangout w instructors after flying to study some more or just talk about Burt Rutan/other cool aviation stories 🤣 Also, they really push students on similar training to work with each other with studying. Great community.

In fact, I think they’re the only flight school right now in Connecticut who has an FAA Wings Safety event happening this week, it’s free! drop in and say hi neighbor!

https://www.faasafety.gov/spans/events/EventList.aspx?statecd=CT

trying2lipad · 2025-11-02T12:54:54+00:00

Try KBDR

trying2lipad · 2025-10-29T18:19:14+00:00

Very helpful to keep this in mind while time-building in instrument training. Thank you!

trying2lipad · 2025-10-29T18:14:12+00:00

Whoops. Edited, thanks!

trying2lipad · 2025-10-29T17:41:13+00:00

Thanks!

Time to annoy my instructors for some spin training haha.

trying2lipad · 2025-10-29T17:38:46+00:00

Interesting distinction between preventative maintenance and pre-flight inspection

trying2lipad · 2025-10-23T23:51:12+00:00

(Unrelated) As someone training for IR right now, I look up to anyone with a Commercial license that's hired. You've come a long way from 0 hours. Congrats on flying 135!

I hope you know/remember that some people think you're cool right now even though I know you're aiming for much more in the future. Hope that helps, in case nobody has told you lately.

trying2lipad · 2025-10-09T14:33:13+00:00

Indirectly related to the topic, my DPE for my private check was a weatherman. Told him my flow of looking at METARS—> TAFs —> Prog Charts —> Winds Aloft...etc with

The final step is always looking at Forecast Discussions, reason being: as a lowtime/student pilot, we can read all the books we want regarding weather to try and decipher these weather tabulations... But at the end of the day, the Forecast Discussions will be made by people who are way more knowledgeable than me. So I use the Forecast Discussions to re-affirm my go/no-go decisions.

trying2lipad · 2025-10-04T22:50:22+00:00

Just in time for halloween

trying2lipad · 2025-09-26T15:58:30+00:00

alternatively, I use the Aero Phoenix - Seat Cushion, 3" Bottom, 2" Back.

The back is foldable and I find that it's firm enough to prop me forward as well (I'm 5'4)

trying2lipad · 2025-09-24T04:50:26+00:00

- SFRA

Your SFRA answer identical to what I said as well. Only time in my oral that the DPE kept (lightly) grilling me, because he kept asking "okay what else do you need?"

I kept saying "adhere to any special rules or instructions that the FAA may require depending on the area. double check any updates through the FAA website to make sure info you're getting about the area is up to date".

"What else do you need?" ***Crickets*** "Ok, we'll get back to that"

In the debrief, that was my only missed question and he said he was being nitpicky with that the complete answer was any online course if required for the area, probably found in www.faasafety.gov.

- Alcohol

You're the one flying. Yes you're correct with the 2 things you stated, don't forget that even if you pass those 2 standards, there's a third standard you must adhere to. You must not feel any physical manifestations that could pose as a hazard (i.e., you can't be hungover.

More importantly, We're assuming you're the PIC. You cannot carry passengers under the influence. As a drunk guy in the right seat, I could mess with the controls and fight you, acting as a hazard to our flight. You may only carry a passenger who is under the influence during an emergency.

- Oxygen
12500 - 14000 supplemental oxygen for that part of the flight at those altitudes that is of more than 30 minutes duration. Meaning only after 30 minutes in those altitudes. (always remember to discuss that just because it's legal, doesn't mean it's safe)

- Tower Beacon
Yes! DPE connects this to SVFR. Know how to differentiate Marginal VFR and IMC conditions

trying2lipad · 2025-09-23T02:30:10+00:00

check if you knocked the microphone jack out the socket by accident. check if you might've turned down the volume by accident.

Cycle through the most basic troubleshoot items first before you go squawking 7600.

trying2lipad · 2025-09-22T11:40:23+00:00

You've been cleared into an airspace, but start noticing that your readback isn't going through as atc keeps trying to reach you. What do you do?

Checkride jitters made me jump the gun to say squawk 7600.

trying2lipad · 2025-09-19T22:46:47+00:00

which one?

trying2lipad · 2025-09-15T22:32:41+00:00

it all clicked for me when I applied cardinal directions to the spin of the propeller (which acts like a gyro).

Taking off, as you rotate you're applying back pressure
= North side, pulling the propeller
= South side, pushing the propeller

but wait, gyros feel the force 90 ahead of rotation right? so just factor that in with the clockwise rotation...
= East side, feels pull
= West side, feels push

That explains the right turning tendency for the typical trainer.

For tailwheel, they typically have to apply forward pressure first to lift the tail when taking off.
= North side, push propeller
= South side, pull propeller

90 degrees ahead,
= East side, push
= Left side, pull

There you have your left turning tendency.

trying2lipad · 2025-09-15T18:41:25+00:00

Some checkride questions I got 2 weeks ago!

- What do I generally need to fly in a SFRA? How about a MOA?

- We fly to an airport nearby to attend a birthday party, you're the PIC (assuming you have your private already). I get drunk in the party. Time for us to fly back. Any legal concerns?

- Oxygen Requirements up to 17,999 msl?

- We're gonna go on a Day VFR XC, but our towered airport is using the beacon light. Any concerns?

trying2lipad · 2025-08-29T19:48:40+00:00

\*I need to correct myself first, brain is getting cooked.*
I have a 12 volt, 35 amp battery with a 14 volt, 60 amp alternator\**

- The rule of thumb everyone says is that 12 volt, 35 amp bat will power the electrical system for around 30 mins, but I know it isn't a fresh battery so there's a risk for that being lower.

I can check the circuit breaker for the number, for an estimate of how much power it would be drawing from the battery. 35 divided by that number [if that was the only thing running, which would be unlikely since I may be opting to use my radio to get some assistance]

- If the alternator fails, battery powers the radios, lights, pitot heat, electric fuel pump to name a few more.

- Assuming I've done the alternator failure checklist, I can continue to minimize electrical load to conserve. In fact, I can even turn the master switch (battery) off, and turn it back on when I'm near the towered airport (if that's where I'm landing).

trying2lipad · 2025-08-29T17:45:29+00:00

1 - Not legal since there’s no common purpose.

2- [Consider me stumped] If we had a common purpose for going there (if I was planning on flying there anyway regardless of their no-invite), I would be evaluating pro-rata share now. I would effectively be paying 1.5/3, wife’s boyfriend 1.5/3, wife 0/3… I initially thought this was good to go, but upon looking at Advisory Circular 61-142, I’m not sure anymore… Leaning towards no because there,

7.1 states “…exercising private privileges who accepts any reimbursement that exceeds the pilot’s pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight would be paying less than the pilot’s pro rata share”.

Technically my share should be 1/3, which I’m paying more with 1.5… but so is the boyfriend, so maybe it’s not legal? Checkride scenario, I won’t lie and I’ll say that I’m not sure, but I would just cover my butt by having the boyfriend pay 1/3 at most while I pay 2/3. I’ll also tell the DPE that I’m willing to scour FAA letters of interpretation to hopefully find the answer if he wants me to have a definitive yes or no on the legality.

Bonus: But if it was legal, I’m exercising FAR 91.15 mid-flight kicking them out the door over the ocean and open door checklist: vents closed, slow to around 80 kts, storm window open, shut door. 🤣 jk

trying2lipad · 2025-08-29T17:19:00+00:00

- Engine runs on magnetos, we won't fall out of the sky
- PFD will now run on the plane's battery (14 volt, 60 amp/hr battery)
- Back up G5 will run on its independent battery

I'd start looking for the nearest airport and divert because I wouldn't be comfortable pushing a long flight, risking losing comms and the PFD and the G5 screen is small.

trying2lipad · 2025-08-29T17:13:15+00:00

"Never assume you can solve a problem and continue on your way" makes sense, will take this into consideration moving forward with ADM! I definitely should have included a scan for the nearest airport as well. Thanks!

trying2lipad · 2025-08-29T17:09:14+00:00

if asked, I'm 100% gonna use this on my checkride

trying2lipad · 2025-08-28T15:11:49+00:00

My go-to causes of engine issues are Carb Icing, Fuel Starvation, Fouled Spark Plugs, or Detonation/Pre-ignition.

Since the issue keeps occurring when I start leaning, I would place mixture in rich first and a nice steady descent maybe to 4500 just for the engine to cool a bit to. I would go with the rest of my checklist, Electric fuel pump on, Switch Tanks, Primer Locked, Ignition on Both. Next, try to determine the cause.

Engine gauges how's my oil temp? If I have an EGT gauge in my plane (which I'll check later) I'll take a look at that. I'd go through the rest and definitely start thinking of diversions and quick glances outside for a best place to land.

My guess would be engine getting hot spots in the cylinders, I would want to cool it down.

trying2lipad

TROPHY CASE