Saturday, August 20, 2011
A new episode ...
It's been a while since I posted an update. It took some time, but at least I found a job as a first officer. In June 2011 I finished my Type Qualification Course on the Boeing B737NG and since August 6 I'm here in Jakarta waiting for some more simulator sessions, briefings and finally line training at Lion Air. You can follow me at http://pieterinindonesia.tumblr.com (in Dutch).
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Multi Engine and Instrument Rating renewal
Almost one year after my last post on this blog, time for an update.
2009 was a year most people won't forget. Highlight of the year was the economic crisis, high numbers of unemployment everywhere, ... . Although this situation does have the tendency to improve, finding a job as a "freshly" graduated commercial pilot without any experience on a jet plane stays a challenge.
Besides refreshing my theoretical knowledge, procedures, participating at selection tests and sending out my CV worldwide, I've been working on a temporary base for quit a while as a webmaster and for the time being I'm working as a flight simulator technician at CAE Brussels.
Since the Instrument Rating and Multi Engine Piston on a Commercial Pilot License stay valid for only 1 year, it was about time to renew those by following the SFA After Care Program, which offers us (ex-students) 12 hours of FFS on the B737-800 to renew the Instrument Rating and 2 hours on the Diamond DA42 to renew the Multi Engine Piston license.
Most important this year will be to get my Single Engine Piston rating and keep my flying skills proficient.
To be continued!
2009 was a year most people won't forget. Highlight of the year was the economic crisis, high numbers of unemployment everywhere, ... . Although this situation does have the tendency to improve, finding a job as a "freshly" graduated commercial pilot without any experience on a jet plane stays a challenge.
Besides refreshing my theoretical knowledge, procedures, participating at selection tests and sending out my CV worldwide, I've been working on a temporary base for quit a while as a webmaster and for the time being I'm working as a flight simulator technician at CAE Brussels.
Since the Instrument Rating and Multi Engine Piston on a Commercial Pilot License stay valid for only 1 year, it was about time to renew those by following the SFA After Care Program, which offers us (ex-students) 12 hours of FFS on the B737-800 to renew the Instrument Rating and 2 hours on the Diamond DA42 to renew the Multi Engine Piston license.
Most important this year will be to get my Single Engine Piston rating and keep my flying skills proficient.
To be continued!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Airline Career Preparation Program
Monday, April 6th 2009. That was the day we started with the last - but certainly not least - "leg" of the training: the ACPP. This part is the Multi Crew Course (MCC), but instead of using a fixed base simulator, we're trained on full flight simulators. A brief introduction, 3 days of computer based training to learn a few systems of the boeing 737NG, some Flight Management Computer sessions and finally 6 "real" flights on the simulator with full motion. A great experience! May the 7th was the last mission, mission 7 (evaluation) with an examiner.
Unfortunatly, due to the worldwide economic crisis, finding a job as an ab-initio pilot isn't easy these days. Most companies aren't hiring for the moment, and if they do, the requirements are pretty high (1500 hours total time, willing to pay for an (expensive) type rating, etc). No one knows when this situation will improve, nor if we're at the bottom of the barrel. At least I might consider myself lucky since I can still apply for job in the IT world with my graduate and previous working experience, which I certainly will do.
the cockpit of a Boeing 737NG (New Generation)
Boeing 737NG, Pegasus, ready for departure RWY 07R at Brussels
Unfortunatly, due to the worldwide economic crisis, finding a job as an ab-initio pilot isn't easy these days. Most companies aren't hiring for the moment, and if they do, the requirements are pretty high (1500 hours total time, willing to pay for an (expensive) type rating, etc). No one knows when this situation will improve, nor if we're at the bottom of the barrel. At least I might consider myself lucky since I can still apply for job in the IT world with my graduate and previous working experience, which I certainly will do.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
AZ: Bye bye!
As I mentioned in my previous post, we were running out of time in Arizona with the multi engine training. Things got better, but eventually decision was taken to send us back to Belgium to complete the multi engine phase in Europe. February the 23th we took the flight back to Brussels and march the 5th we went to Montpellier. One week later we flew back (with the OO-SFI, one of the 2 DA42's of SFA) to Antwerp. In Belgium I flew to Ostend, Charleroi, some "local" (Belgium is small) flights using outside references (visual navigation) and finally last friday (april the 3rd) I had the CPL/ME/IR check. normally the CPL (commercial pilot license) is done in Arizona, but since we didn't fly enough hours in Arizona they just combine the CPL with the ME (Multi Engine) & IR (Instrument Rating). It was a navigation to Ostend, with some approaches, a visual flight back to Antwerp with some manoeuvres, another approach in Antwerp en finally some touch & go's. It's important to pass this check since it gives you the opportunity to apply for job with the airlines.
Monday we will start with the final phase of the training: MCC (Multi crew course). Theoretical sessions, computer based training, FMS sessions and finally the most fun part: full flight simulator sessions in a 737NG. Somewhere beginning may I'm supposed to be graduated.
To be continued ...
pictures:
Monday we will start with the final phase of the training: MCC (Multi crew course). Theoretical sessions, computer based training, FMS sessions and finally the most fun part: full flight simulator sessions in a 737NG. Somewhere beginning may I'm supposed to be graduated.
To be continued ...
pictures:
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| AZ - last day |
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| LFMT - Montpellier operations |
Monday, February 16, 2009
AZ: DA42 (Multi engine)
Jambo!
A couple of weeks ago I did the last flight on the DA40, the final IFR check before the IR/ME check we'll have in Belgium. Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end, so Mission 104 brought us up to the final phase in the training ... flying the twin engined Diamond Twinstar (DA42). 2 engines instead of 1 sounds better and safer, which is actually also true: Although the degradation in performance can be as high as 80% if there is a powerloss on one engine (and thus 50%), you're still able to fly with only one engine for a period of time. Unfortunatly those engines on the DA42 aren't the same as the ones on the DA40. Still reliable, but more sensitive to the excess of temperatures they have to withstand during summer/winter. And that's one of the reasons why only 1 or 2 of the 5 are available on a somehow regular base ... for too many students, ending up in delays. By the end of march everyone of prom 6B should be finished with the training, here and in Belgium because our MCC (training in a simulator) starts april the 6th. Hmmm ... .
Some pictures of the navigation to Tucson today can be found here:
A couple of weeks ago I did the last flight on the DA40, the final IFR check before the IR/ME check we'll have in Belgium. Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end, so Mission 104 brought us up to the final phase in the training ... flying the twin engined Diamond Twinstar (DA42). 2 engines instead of 1 sounds better and safer, which is actually also true: Although the degradation in performance can be as high as 80% if there is a powerloss on one engine (and thus 50%), you're still able to fly with only one engine for a period of time. Unfortunatly those engines on the DA42 aren't the same as the ones on the DA40. Still reliable, but more sensitive to the excess of temperatures they have to withstand during summer/winter. And that's one of the reasons why only 1 or 2 of the 5 are available on a somehow regular base ... for too many students, ending up in delays. By the end of march everyone of prom 6B should be finished with the training, here and in Belgium because our MCC (training in a simulator) starts april the 6th. Hmmm ... .
Some pictures of the navigation to Tucson today can be found here:
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| AZ - x-country to KTUS (DA42 N4130M) |
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
AZ: IFR cross country & more pics
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| AZ - Long Beach IFR navigation |
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| AZ - Naar Flagstaff |
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| AZ - Grand Canyon |
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| AZ - Williams, hooverdam & Las Vegas |
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| AZ - Las Vegas by night |
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| AZ - KLAS > KPHX |
Update about the last weeks:
- One more week on the Diamond DA40, next week we'll be done (I'm currently at Mission 99, mission 104 is the final IFR check on the DA40)
- My parents are in town! I spend a couple of days with them and we went to flagstaff, the grand canyon, williams, the hoover dam and las vegas. While they are spending time in national parks in Utah, I fill my time with flying, preparations and eating chocolate.
- Today we had again a hot day. 28°C. *smile*
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
AZ: Electricity bill
Why are the electricity bills during this holiday period higher than average? Find the answer in this video, made during the wonderful light and sound spectacle, every evening between 7PM and 10PM.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
AZ:Happy holidays!
Hmm, the last post was about one month ago ... time flies and so do we! Although we'd like to fly a bit more ... Due to weather and unfortunatly also some adminstrative reasons, we fly less than we're supposed to. We got 2 *brand new* instructors which got all their training and checks they need to become an instructor, but since not all the paperwork is done in Belgium they are not allowed to fly. Just a couple of papers and stamps keeps them away from flying ... . Until yesterday (friday) we could fly with 2 other instructors, but one of them is now on holiday for 2 weeks and the other one flies with the students of prom 7A. We can only hope (and pray?) those new instructors will be qualified on monday!
First time I'll pass the christmas holidays somewhere else than Belgium. It feels strange: although there is some kind of x-mas hype going on, with decoration, lights, (plastic) trees, irritating music and fake santa clauses, it doesn't feel the same. We don't know yet how much we're gonna fly during the holidays (24/12, 25/12, 31/12 and 01/01 are holidays, the other ones not) so it's difficult to plan a trip. At least I hope I'll fly because I'd like to have some days off to join my parents on a trip in january.
the weather I mentioned above was really bad weather. Low cloud base, the freezing level as low as 6000 feet high, rain and sometimes gusty winds ... even snow storms in the north (Flagstaff). Quit funny to see when you're used to the always-blue-skies-and-cute-clouds.
Family and friends who read this blog: happy holidays, don't drink and drive, I als don't drink when I go flying ;-) and all the best for 2009.
Pieter
pictures for this post:
First time I'll pass the christmas holidays somewhere else than Belgium. It feels strange: although there is some kind of x-mas hype going on, with decoration, lights, (plastic) trees, irritating music and fake santa clauses, it doesn't feel the same. We don't know yet how much we're gonna fly during the holidays (24/12, 25/12, 31/12 and 01/01 are holidays, the other ones not) so it's difficult to plan a trip. At least I hope I'll fly because I'd like to have some days off to join my parents on a trip in january.
the weather I mentioned above was really bad weather. Low cloud base, the freezing level as low as 6000 feet high, rain and sometimes gusty winds ... even snow storms in the north (Flagstaff). Quit funny to see when you're used to the always-blue-skies-and-cute-clouds.
Family and friends who read this blog: happy holidays, don't drink and drive, I als don't drink when I go flying ;-) and all the best for 2009.
Pieter
pictures for this post:
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| AZ - Weer, Kerstmis, ... |
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
AZ: Diamond 40
About a week ago, November the 19th, I had my last VFR check, mission 65. I had to plan a flight to Gilla Bend (E63), southwest of Phoenix. There were many items we discussed during the debriefing, things I should keep better in mind but also positive points, overall the flight was good (and that was the most important). A few days later there was a briefing about the Diamond 40 and now I already performed 3 flights on it. It's much different than the Archer ... more sensitive controls, a glass cockpit, a stick instead of a control wheel, ... it takes some time to get used to it but overall it's nice to fly on it.
Yesterday (wednesday) the weather wasn't that good, Rain, wind, low cloudbase ... but still good enough to fly. But as weather can change rapidly, we had to divert to Gateway airport and wait there for about half an hour before we could go back to Falcon Fields. For a few moments I had the feeling being back in Belgium :-). Afterwards I flew a mission and backseated another time ... and in the evening Pieter, Bert and I went to a concert of coldplay. back in my bed at 2AM, a day of 22 hours ... long enough to sleep a bit longer in the morning :). Today it's thanksgiving, tomorrow I'll fly again. And in the weekend I'll start probably with the night flights.
pics:
Yesterday (wednesday) the weather wasn't that good, Rain, wind, low cloudbase ... but still good enough to fly. But as weather can change rapidly, we had to divert to Gateway airport and wait there for about half an hour before we could go back to Falcon Fields. For a few moments I had the feeling being back in Belgium :-). Afterwards I flew a mission and backseated another time ... and in the evening Pieter, Bert and I went to a concert of coldplay. back in my bed at 2AM, a day of 22 hours ... long enough to sleep a bit longer in the morning :). Today it's thanksgiving, tomorrow I'll fly again. And in the weekend I'll start probably with the night flights.
pics:
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| Van AZ - Belgisch weer |
Sunday, November 16, 2008
AZ: last flights on the Archer & Fountain Hills
Falcon tower, Archer 4149 Yankee is overhead fountain hills at 3200 feet with information Echo, inbound for a full stop landing ....
Fountain Hills is a community in the north of Mesa with lovely houses, green fields, a mild climate and ... a huge fountain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_Hills,_Arizona). When departing or arriving at our homebase Falcon Fields, it's often a reporting point when we go / fly through the north east practise area. This weekend there was some kind of festival (brasserie in dutch), a good oportunity to have a look at that fountain, but this time not from a bird's eye perspective. And it's true what they say about it: it's impressive!
Almost all the VFR navigation flights are done, except for one: the last VFR progress check, which is mission 65. Tomorrow I'll have mission 64 with my instructor, I guess that will be also the last flight with him ... for the next phase (IFR) we'll start on a newer aircraft (the diamond DA-40) and also with new instructors. The check will include a bit of everything: navigation, manoeuvres, patterns, simulated failures, ... but of course, it should be good.
Time to review some manuals, hopefully the next post entry of this blog will be a good one ...
for pictures of fountain hills:
Fountain Hills is a community in the north of Mesa with lovely houses, green fields, a mild climate and ... a huge fountain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_Hills,_Arizona). When departing or arriving at our homebase Falcon Fields, it's often a reporting point when we go / fly through the north east practise area. This weekend there was some kind of festival (brasserie in dutch), a good oportunity to have a look at that fountain, but this time not from a bird's eye perspective. And it's true what they say about it: it's impressive!
Almost all the VFR navigation flights are done, except for one: the last VFR progress check, which is mission 65. Tomorrow I'll have mission 64 with my instructor, I guess that will be also the last flight with him ... for the next phase (IFR) we'll start on a newer aircraft (the diamond DA-40) and also with new instructors. The check will include a bit of everything: navigation, manoeuvres, patterns, simulated failures, ... but of course, it should be good.
Time to review some manuals, hopefully the next post entry of this blog will be a good one ...
for pictures of fountain hills:
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| AZ - fountain hills festival |
Sunday, October 26, 2008
AZ: phase 3 & spotting!
Hi there
Finally everyone of prom 6B passed the pre-navigation check and so we're doing our last phase on the archer: the navigation phase. Not all the flights of this phase are navigation flights (god thanks!), but the majority are. You might wonder: what's so different then? Preparation! First finding your way through the VFR charts of Arizona, calculating distance, magnetic track, altitudes, ... and the day of the flight itself you have to calculate the magnetic headings (track corrected for the wind), true air speed & power setting (depends on temperature), ground speed, times, estimated fuel burnoff, ... and last but not least file a flight plan. Hell of a job if you have the early morning flight (take off at 6:30AM). Luckily the sun rises a bit later so the take off times are also delayed with 15 minutes :p. And of course you have to keep track of time, routing, ... during flight. But it's nice! If everything goes well (availability of archers & no cancellations due to wind / bad weather) we should finish this phase within 3 weeks. Last mission will be the navigation check and afterwards we'll start on the DA-40. But that's still future music ... .
This weekend the wind finnaly changed of direction (westerly instead of easterly) which gave us a nice opportunity to go spotting on a hill not far away from Phoenix Sky Harbour Intl.! The result? check it out:
What else can I say ... oh yes, "finally" prom 5 can go back home (the 2 last students will go back on Tuesday). Not that we wanted them away, on the contrary. But they spend more than 7 months (7,5 I believe) here in Arizona, instead of the "usual" 6-7 months. Problems with instructors and the DA-42's kept them here for 1,5 month extra. The 2 last ones will have tomorrow their CPL check. I hope they'll do fine back in Belgium!
Well, that's all folks! Cya!
Finally everyone of prom 6B passed the pre-navigation check and so we're doing our last phase on the archer: the navigation phase. Not all the flights of this phase are navigation flights (god thanks!), but the majority are. You might wonder: what's so different then? Preparation! First finding your way through the VFR charts of Arizona, calculating distance, magnetic track, altitudes, ... and the day of the flight itself you have to calculate the magnetic headings (track corrected for the wind), true air speed & power setting (depends on temperature), ground speed, times, estimated fuel burnoff, ... and last but not least file a flight plan. Hell of a job if you have the early morning flight (take off at 6:30AM). Luckily the sun rises a bit later so the take off times are also delayed with 15 minutes :p. And of course you have to keep track of time, routing, ... during flight. But it's nice! If everything goes well (availability of archers & no cancellations due to wind / bad weather) we should finish this phase within 3 weeks. Last mission will be the navigation check and afterwards we'll start on the DA-40. But that's still future music ... .
This weekend the wind finnaly changed of direction (westerly instead of easterly) which gave us a nice opportunity to go spotting on a hill not far away from Phoenix Sky Harbour Intl.! The result? check it out:
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| AZ - spotting |
What else can I say ... oh yes, "finally" prom 5 can go back home (the 2 last students will go back on Tuesday). Not that we wanted them away, on the contrary. But they spend more than 7 months (7,5 I believe) here in Arizona, instead of the "usual" 6-7 months. Problems with instructors and the DA-42's kept them here for 1,5 month extra. The 2 last ones will have tomorrow their CPL check. I hope they'll do fine back in Belgium!
Well, that's all folks! Cya!
Monday, October 13, 2008
AZ: some pictures
As promised, this post would be again one with some pictures. I hope I won't take the appetite away when I say it aren't some exotic pictures of "far far away". But for those that are wondering how the new appartment I live in looks like, feel free to click further to the pics:
What else can I say? Not too much, except that the temperatures are falling like a bomb. This weekend the evenings became quit cold (11°C), now it's even during the day not that hot any more (26°C). Very pleasant when you have to fly, but horrible when you leave the "warm" appartment. But you don't hear me complaining at all ... .
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| Van AZ - new appartment |
What else can I say? Not too much, except that the temperatures are falling like a bomb. This weekend the evenings became quit cold (11°C), now it's even during the day not that hot any more (26°C). Very pleasant when you have to fly, but horrible when you leave the "warm" appartment. But you don't hear me complaining at all ... .
Saturday, October 4, 2008
AZ: almost cross country
Hello dear blogreaders
Finally again some time for an update (and something to talk about that's worth it). The last weeks I spend mostly flying solo/dual at falcon fields (touch & go's, full stop taxi back landings, different patterns and landing techniques) & in the neighbouring practise areas for the manoeuvres. Today I had (saturday the 4th) my 2 last solo missions before the pre-navigation check. 3 missions with navigation (complete a navigation log, calculate headings, speeds, power settings, ... and fly as precisely as possible) will follow next week, the check probably too. Lots of preparation and long flights (up till 4 hours), but I'm looking forward to it! (flying patterns and manoeuvres gets boring after a while).
Since yesterday I'm also living in another appartment! One of the students of group A of our prom wanted to change, and for me it wasn't really an issue. It was nice over there where I used to live, but here it's also ok. I'm now living with Pieter (Hutsebaut), Dan and Hannes. When they go back to Belgium, I'll move back into the appartment of Olivier, Kristof & Adrien.
What else can I say ... oh yes, the weather over here. Finally it's cooling down a bit. Today we have some clouds and lots of wind, maximum 28°C. Nice! (except for the wind if you have to fly).
The next post will be again one with some pics. And before I would forget about it: yes, I miss Belgium! (eventhough I know the weather isn't the best one for the moment).
Cheers!
Finally again some time for an update (and something to talk about that's worth it). The last weeks I spend mostly flying solo/dual at falcon fields (touch & go's, full stop taxi back landings, different patterns and landing techniques) & in the neighbouring practise areas for the manoeuvres. Today I had (saturday the 4th) my 2 last solo missions before the pre-navigation check. 3 missions with navigation (complete a navigation log, calculate headings, speeds, power settings, ... and fly as precisely as possible) will follow next week, the check probably too. Lots of preparation and long flights (up till 4 hours), but I'm looking forward to it! (flying patterns and manoeuvres gets boring after a while).
Since yesterday I'm also living in another appartment! One of the students of group A of our prom wanted to change, and for me it wasn't really an issue. It was nice over there where I used to live, but here it's also ok. I'm now living with Pieter (Hutsebaut), Dan and Hannes. When they go back to Belgium, I'll move back into the appartment of Olivier, Kristof & Adrien.
What else can I say ... oh yes, the weather over here. Finally it's cooling down a bit. Today we have some clouds and lots of wind, maximum 28°C. Nice! (except for the wind if you have to fly).
The next post will be again one with some pics. And before I would forget about it: yes, I miss Belgium! (eventhough I know the weather isn't the best one for the moment).
Cheers!
Monday, September 22, 2008
AZ: Finally ... solo
Today, september the 22th, I had my first solo mission in the morning. 3 full stop landings with the instructor, taxi back to the sabena ramp (that's how we call it here), shutdown of the engine, the instructor exits the plane and wishes you good luck and then you're on your own. No one besides you to help you if you screw things up (or if the plane feels like to). Sounds awful, but it feels great. during taxi, ground check (engine check), you double check everything what's on the check lists, you taxi to the active runway (4L/4R in my case) and once you got the take off clearance from the tower you line up, and realise this baby is all yours. Just because it's a habit you say "take off, I have controls", but you know that actually the plane wouldn't take off if it wasn't you :p.
3 landings later I taxi back to the sabena ramp, shut down everything, collect my personal belongings while Pieter and Adrien are pushing the aircraft back into his stand (no push back trucks at our airport unfortunatly :p). My feet may not touch the ground before I got thrown in the swimming pool! They carry me to the car, put me in the trunk, drive me to the swimming pool, throw me in it and then I could be proud of legally and completely being a solo student pilot. And another habbit we have: cut the hair very short. and then I mean: VERY short. Maybe some more pictures about that another time :-)
It was a wonderful day, I was the last one that still had to do his solo flight, so now everyone of our group is solo. For the next missions, it will be or fully solo or split into half an hour with the instructor and one hour solo.
Tomorrow again a flight in the morning, so it's bedtime.
and of course, pictures ... enjoy them!
3 landings later I taxi back to the sabena ramp, shut down everything, collect my personal belongings while Pieter and Adrien are pushing the aircraft back into his stand (no push back trucks at our airport unfortunatly :p). My feet may not touch the ground before I got thrown in the swimming pool! They carry me to the car, put me in the trunk, drive me to the swimming pool, throw me in it and then I could be proud of legally and completely being a solo student pilot. And another habbit we have: cut the hair very short. and then I mean: VERY short. Maybe some more pictures about that another time :-)
It was a wonderful day, I was the last one that still had to do his solo flight, so now everyone of our group is solo. For the next missions, it will be or fully solo or split into half an hour with the instructor and one hour solo.
Tomorrow again a flight in the morning, so it's bedtime.
and of course, pictures ... enjoy them!
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| Van AZ - Solo! |
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
fossil springs
Last sunday, Kristof, Bertrand and I went to Fossil Springs, some kind of national park. Upon arrival we noticed that the hike towards the falls was closed (due to works at a dam) ... that was the moment on which we felt we've been driving 2 hours for nothing and that our trip ended on that moment. Since the bush road wasn't that wide and cars here are extremely large, we drove a bit further to turn around & head back towards Mesa. A few minutes later Kristof manoeuvred the car backwards and ... *bam*, there we were stuck in a ditch. We were quit lucky some young student scientists came by, they helped us to get out of the ditch and we could join them for another hike towards a creek/river some miles further down the road. While they were doing some experiments with fish, we enjoyed the refreshing (and cold) water of the river & the beautiful nature sights while avoiding cactuses and a dangerous snake.
3 hours later we went back uphill, towards the car ... we forgot to swich off the lights, so the battery was way too low to get the car started ... a very friendly american couple was so kind to stop and reload our battery, they gave us some pepsi's (a pepsi never tasted that good in my life up till then) and a few moments later we headed back towards Mesa.
So far for the weekend. About the flying courses: I was supposed to have my pre-solo check on monday (some kind of flight with an examiner to see if you're ready to fly solo), but due to strong winds and gusts they cancelled it. Today (tuesday) I don't fly, I hope I'll have my check tomorrow so that I'll be solo by the end of this week (thursday or friday). Of our prom (6B), Kristof & Bert are already flying solo.
pictures of the trip to fossil springs can be found here:
3 hours later we went back uphill, towards the car ... we forgot to swich off the lights, so the battery was way too low to get the car started ... a very friendly american couple was so kind to stop and reload our battery, they gave us some pepsi's (a pepsi never tasted that good in my life up till then) and a few moments later we headed back towards Mesa.
So far for the weekend. About the flying courses: I was supposed to have my pre-solo check on monday (some kind of flight with an examiner to see if you're ready to fly solo), but due to strong winds and gusts they cancelled it. Today (tuesday) I don't fly, I hope I'll have my check tomorrow so that I'll be solo by the end of this week (thursday or friday). Of our prom (6B), Kristof & Bert are already flying solo.
pictures of the trip to fossil springs can be found here:
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| AZ - fossil springs |
Saturday, September 6, 2008
AZ: friday missions, evening pics & trip to the zoo
Friday the 5th of september, I flew mission 26 & Olivier mission 25 afterwards. This sessions (and probably the next week too) we'll practise on the pattern (touch & go's), landing technique and the manoeuvres to get me ready for the solo (should be somewhere at the end of the upcomming week of the week afterwards). According to the instructor I'm on track, so that's good.
Today (saturday) some of us went to the zoo! It was -again- a hot but lovely day. I'd say, enjoy the pictures on a probably rainy sunday (though I hope the weather stays dry over there in Belgium)!
Pieter
Today (saturday) some of us went to the zoo! It was -again- a hot but lovely day. I'd say, enjoy the pictures on a probably rainy sunday (though I hope the weather stays dry over there in Belgium)!
Pieter
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| AZ - Mission 26 |
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| AZ - Mission 25 (Olivier) |
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| AZ - evening at SATC |
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| AZ - Trip to the zoo |
Thursday, September 4, 2008
AZ: Why it's nice to have the early morning flights ...
After a long weekend (monday was labour day), we continued with the "normal way of living": eat, fly, swim, cook, sleep, study, ...
Tuesday I had a mission in the afternoon, there were some delays (but we're already used to that :-)) and so it was again bumpy flying. Wednesday again an early morning flight and to be honest, those are the ones I really like. Not that I'm that person that really wants to get up at 3:30 o'clock, but the weather then is so nice and flying is enjoyable. We went to the practise area in the north east to practise some unusual attitudes, very funny ... "close your eyes for a few seconds, the instructor flies the aircraft in some kind of position which is not one of everyday flights (at least I hope so) and you have to recover asap". But don't you worry, all these things are practised above 5000 feet :-). Afterwards we went back to falcon fields for some touch & go's.
Today (thursday) I didn't fly, but I was backseating during Olivier's flight. Normal procedures, taxi to the active (22L), take off ... and sudenly the alternator failed during the climb out. In human words: the alternator supplies current for electric devices in the aircraft, such as the radios for the communications. Not such a good idea to keep on flying with a dead alternator, so we contacted falcon tower to report the failure and requested a full stop landing (there is also a battery that we can use if the alternator fails, but not for hours of course). After arrival we had to fill out the squawk book (a book where you write down technical failures) and bring it to maintenance. Our instructor (mr. Andrews) explained us some interesting stuff about the maintenance, the checks and FAA programs, ... interesting!
Tomorrow I have again a flight in the afternoon I guess it will be the last one for this week. If we're lucky, we'll be solo at the end of next week.
And, last but not least: we have some pets! 3 fishes (First they were with 4, but the bigest and most expensive one already died. He had a nice funeral in the toilet though ...).
Almost midnight, I'd better go to bed ...
Tuesday I had a mission in the afternoon, there were some delays (but we're already used to that :-)) and so it was again bumpy flying. Wednesday again an early morning flight and to be honest, those are the ones I really like. Not that I'm that person that really wants to get up at 3:30 o'clock, but the weather then is so nice and flying is enjoyable. We went to the practise area in the north east to practise some unusual attitudes, very funny ... "close your eyes for a few seconds, the instructor flies the aircraft in some kind of position which is not one of everyday flights (at least I hope so) and you have to recover asap". But don't you worry, all these things are practised above 5000 feet :-). Afterwards we went back to falcon fields for some touch & go's.
Today (thursday) I didn't fly, but I was backseating during Olivier's flight. Normal procedures, taxi to the active (22L), take off ... and sudenly the alternator failed during the climb out. In human words: the alternator supplies current for electric devices in the aircraft, such as the radios for the communications. Not such a good idea to keep on flying with a dead alternator, so we contacted falcon tower to report the failure and requested a full stop landing (there is also a battery that we can use if the alternator fails, but not for hours of course). After arrival we had to fill out the squawk book (a book where you write down technical failures) and bring it to maintenance. Our instructor (mr. Andrews) explained us some interesting stuff about the maintenance, the checks and FAA programs, ... interesting!
Tomorrow I have again a flight in the afternoon I guess it will be the last one for this week. If we're lucky, we'll be solo at the end of next week.
And, last but not least: we have some pets! 3 fishes (First they were with 4, but the bigest and most expensive one already died. He had a nice funeral in the toilet though ...).
Almost midnight, I'd better go to bed ...
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