Life as a pilot

T

Teenpilot_05

New Member
Hey everyone, I have just a quick question. I am 17, going on 18 here pretty soon and will probably solo this weekend. We'll see.... Have you all ever been nervous about the plane you are flying and its mechanical ability. I am flying a Cessna 152 at the moment that is having problems with the throttle cable. After landing following several touch and go's, I pulled the power out to about idle and the engine died. We got it started back up after rolling for a while but should I be concerned?
Maybe you all should just tell me no... lol because thats probably the plane I am going to be put in anyway.
Another question I have regards the family life of a pilot. I know that it is difficult but are there any pilots out there with a family life thats working really well. I am worried about going into this career and living the rest of my life alone. Do pilots form social groups that you all hang out and stuff? It's the one part of the job I am very concerned with. That is why I am backing myself up with degrees in ATC, Journalism, and Airport management I hope.
Any advice or comments are welcome. Thanks
Adam
 
On the mechanical things... I wasn't there and so I can't say for sure but if it happened like you described that definately is not normal. They might need to adjust the idle of the carb or it could be something more involved. Either way if you pull the throttle out in the air and the engine fails it will not be good times.

As far as meeting people, etc. as in any career the person you are is more important than what you do.
 
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Hey everyone, I have just a quick question. I am 17, going on 18 here pretty soon and will probably solo this weekend. We'll see.... Have you all ever been nervous about the plane you are flying and its mechanical ability. I am flying a Cessna 152 at the moment that is having problems with the throttle cable. After landing following several touch and go's, I pulled the power out to about idle and the engine died. We got it started back up after rolling for a while but should I be concerned?


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Definitely not normal. We had this happen to one of my school's 172's last year and it ended up having a defective part. (I dont remember any more than that unfortunately :P) So yes that is a reason for concern
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Adam~

With regards to family life as a Pilot, there is a thread section here on Jetcareers with family life as the subject and it has lots of great info concerning that issue so definately browse that.

I will comment though that I think your beginning your flight training at the right age and if you work hard and stick with it, you could be marketable for a Regional pilot job in your early twenties. I'm a fairly young guy myself, 23 at least and I wish I would have started at 17 but didn't start until I turned 21. Where are you looking at going to college? I am completing college online and have about 4 semesters left to finish my Bachelor's Degree in aviation. I'd definately get a minor or even major in something else besides aviation as a back-up plan.

Best of luck in all your endeavors and Fly Safe!

Aaron~
 
If you want a happy family, don't talk about airplanes with your partner....
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Samantha loves to fly with me, but quite frankly it bores everyone to death....
 
I've flown a 152 that did the same thing that you say. In indsight I probably would not have flown it in that condition but at the time I didn't know much better. When in flight if we brought the throttle to idle the air flowing past the airplane kept it spinning, but it probably wasn't the best situation. If ever you dont feel safe about the condition of an aircraft, dont fly it. Have a mechanic take a look. Better safe than sorry, and nobody can force you to fly a broken plane.
 
LOL msu, never been in the military, but I have heard a story or two from guys at school about flying stuff that is less than airworthy.

As to the idle problem, I am sure that your runup includes checking the idle, but it would seem to me that would catch it before you ever left the ground. Anyway, not saying you aren't doing your checklists or anything like that, but it got me wondering if it is something coming loose in flight? Strange....
 
I agree. An engine dying on you when you pull it to idle isn't a normal condition and if it happens, taxi that plane right to the maintenance hangar and have the mechanic take a look.

One of the things that I do when I do my runup, even though it's not required, is go to idle. If the engine sputters or dies, then I abort the flight.

Last thing I need is to be flying into a new airport and lose that engine when I pull it to idle. Can I land a plane with a dead engine? Sure. Do I want to have to do it for real? No.
 
wow, so i don't have my 152 poh right here, but i have my 172RG poh and sure enough, there is no idle check on the runup, i would have thought that one was in the poh. anyway, yeah, check it every time.....
 
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. . .and nobody can force you to fly a broken plane.

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Ever flown military aircraft??
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does a USAF aero club count? ;-) j/k of course

This summer I finally got to use my PPL to take my first passenger up (my younger bro). It was in a 172F (T-41). AS soon as we got off the ground and the intercom just freaked out. It sounded like the squelch was way too high and that there was air flowing over one of the microphones, but after unplugging both of ours the sound was still there. I looked for squelch knobs on the com panel...hmmm....aren't any. Told ATC that I'd be makin closed traffic intstead of departing to the south. I sorta heard him say to make right traffic and report base. Then as soon as we started descending it stopped. Landed the plane and taxied it back. Told the mananger of the club what happened and he said "oh, we'll see what the next person who flies it says". I asked if I should write it up and he said "na, dont worry about it". I did anyway because flying in towered airspace with avionics like that is pretty much like flying without any radios. I also left a sticky note on the yoke. The next week I was going to give it another try in the other 172 that the club has. But I found somebody had left the master switch on for like 3 days. I went back and they offered to let me fly the other plane. So I asked "anybody else flown it yet", they said no. "Maintainence take a look at it?" nope. So I got a whopping .4 of flying with my brother. The closest to military flying I'm gonna get
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One of the things that I do when I do my runup, even though it's not required, is go to idle. If the engine sputters or dies, then I abort the flight.

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This is a good check item, and what you can also do is pull the thottle to idle and then pull on the carb heat (engine should still idle OK). Basically you are simulating/checking a short-final situation with idle power and carb heat on.
 
thanks for all the responses. I will definately push for the club to get that looked at. They keep telling me that it has been looked at but every time I get in, I have to idle it at around 1200 in order to keep it running. Glad to hear I'm not the only one nervous about flying it. I think I will request to fly the other 152.Especially with it being my first solo and all.
Thanks again.
 
Come on guys! what in the world would make you believe that if the engine cuts off when its not supposed to is, that something is wrong with it?!!
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