Skidz flight training confessions

OK it finally happened and I just received my new temporary certificate with instrument airplane on it on sunday. My checkride was last thursday, the oral went like a charm, lasted about two hours. The DE was real nice, he was mostly talking and explaining everything while occasionally throwing a question or two at me on different things. After the oral part we went out for a ride. We took off, did some unusual attitudes, turns to compass headings and timing, then I was instructed to enter a holding pattern south of Harvey vortac, it was a parallel entry and I got it all nailed. Next thing was to call New Orleans approach and ask for a VOR/DME to Lakefront. So I did the approach and then was given vectors for the ILS at New Orleans Intl. It took us a long way around the Intl for the ILS 10 appch, crossing few different sectors and changing approach freqs but I nailed that one as well. Last thing on the list was GPS 18R back to Lakefront. As we got vectored to the final approach I got sloppy with the Garmin 340 and started tracking the line to the IAF (wipib) instead of activating vectors to finals and just waiting to get established on the final approach course. The controlers figured I was off course and they boxed me in for another approach. This time I started panicking and I've set up the gps track towards FAF (bogly) and started tracking that but that didn't get me anywhere. I know that I was doing things wrong but I didn't want to cheat by looking at the moving map so I took it like a man, I realized I screwed up and I was ready for my pink slip. The DE agreed, he immediatelly said "well, I was ready to bring us back in and you blew it" He said he was really impressed with my flying and was going to pass me, but he felt I should work with the gps and get to know it better before I get myself in a world of trouble some time later after he passed me. So, he gave me a pink slip for that, but he said it's the only thing I screwed up and he said he could re-test me on that any time I'm ready.
I took the remedial instructions the same day with my cfi, took another one the next day and I also spent two days playing the Garmin simulator on my computer to make sure I got that gps nailed. I took the checkride again on Sunday and everything went well.
Moral of the story: make sure you don't overlook certain things that seem easy and unimportant. I felt I knew that gps well, but it took me a darn pink slip to realize that I had no clue how the doggone gps thing works. I learned my lesson. On Sunday, the examiner took some time to show me every little thing about that gps and I was amazed just what it can do if you learn how to work with it. Anyway, that was my story, I hope you enjoyed, I'm ready to go for my commercial now, I'll keep ya'll posted.
:)
 
Hey, CONGRATULATIONS, Oliver! :rawk:
Glad to hear the little bump in the road didn't get you down....and you learned from it!
Sounds like life is going great for both of you, and I'm very happy to hear that! :)

(Hi, Pam!!! - :hiya: :D)
 
Rock and Roll, Brother!!!!!:D

Put another notch in the logbook, and take it all in. The instrument is a toughie that first time around. Great talking the other day - and once more... Rock and Roll, Brother! Good Job!
 
Congrats Skiddo! An awesome checkride story. Go figure that your greatest lesson is learned from real experience!
 
It's ridiculous that simulator training costs as much as time in a real cockpit. I love that flying lawn mower, haha. The song was good too. What song is that?
 
It has been a long long while since I finished my instrument. The latest update I'm proud to announce is that the school seems to be VA approved now and I am really expecting to see some things moving within weeks, so stay tuned, my commercial, multi, cfi will be coming up hopefuly starting this year :) thanks for reading :laff:
 
Wow. A month to the day when I said that school was finally VA approved and I might start the training soon, and I finally started the training. I've been busy flying this week and it felt good to be back in the air. I got two commercial flights so far, went over all commercial maneuvers and got comfortable with c-152, the aircraft I have never flown before. So far it feels like pimped up private pilot stuff like stalls, slow flight, short field/soft field t/o and landings. New maneuvers I tried like Chandelle, lazy eight and eights on pylons still need to agree with me but it's ok, I'm having fun and that's what all of it is about. I was about to actually start last week, but I had to cancel few times due to weather/cfi. I'm supposed to fly in the morning and I hope I'll be able to pull off couple lessons next week. Within next week or so I'm hoping to also receive some of the money back from VA for my instrument course. Things are looking up, wish me luck. :)
 
I thought it'd be about time for another entry. my flight plan just changes so much so often that I'm not only confusing myself but I would have probably confused everyone else in here too had I posted anything. Anyway, VA money - not received yet. Still some forms to fill out and send by the school. However, I decided to just stop worrying and love the bomb. I started commercial in 152 and eventually I moved on to 172 RG, but the school is making some plans of getting rid of the RG so they recommended me to do it in a Seneca. Well, in the long run it might actually run cheaper then doing the comm in RG and then multi add on so I decided to do it. The complex experience in Seneca counts toward the requirement for commercial so later on I can just do the single add on in 152. I'm flying Seneca now for couple weeks and I just got my commercial written done as well. The multi-engine airplane feels pretty good, like driving a big ol' cadillac down the road, it's fun. I'll write something up here soon about it, til then, take care ya'll, safe skies... :)
 
splash said:
Oliver, called the VA office yet? What's up with that still?
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Just called the VA, they processed the monthly certification and I should receive some money by Jan 9...keep your fingers crossed...should that miracle ever happen, drink is on me :)
 
Speaking of my multi-comm training...I was anxious to get back into the skies after almost a month of not flying because of holidays and busy work schedule and I finally scheduled Seneca yesterday, and like you wouldn't believe it, some student broke the landing gear handle on the airplane so my training is put on hold again for another probably couple weeks. I still hope that there is some hope that I get my checkride done in January before my baby is born, but it seems unlikey, I'm pretty sure weather is gonna suck half the time and other things will get in the way so it's a bummer. On the other hand, I flew 152 again yesterday to practice the commercial manouvers for single comm add on that I'm planning on doing right after multi comm. Life is a bitch, what can you do?
 
skidz said:
Speaking of my multi-comm training...I was anxious to get back into the skies after almost a month of not flying because of holidays and busy work schedule and I finally scheduled Seneca yesterday, and like you wouldn't believe it, some student broke the landing gear handle on the airplane so my training is put on hold again for another probably couple weeks. I still hope that there is some hope that I get my checkride done in January before my baby is born, but it seems unlikey, I'm pretty sure weather is gonna suck half the time and other things will get in the way so it's a bummer. On the other hand, I flew 152 again yesterday to practice the commercial manouvers for single comm add on that I'm planning on doing right after multi comm. Life is a bitch, what can you do?
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beat him up!
 
Just a short update on this. I haven't finished my commercial multi yet. I had couple breaks in my training. On the bright side - I have a wonderful baby boy at home :)
Anyway, my VA saga seems like it's never gonna end. The school has gotten rid of C 172RG so single commercial went out the window, so I'm doing a commercial in a twin Piper Seneca. The problem is, they haven't gotten that airplane on part 141 certificate yet so VA can't approve it to be used in commercial training under part 141. I started my commercial on 152, moved on to 172RG and the school then got rid of 172RG. So, I got screwed. The Seneca is draining the life out of me money-wise, and after almost 17 hours in in (streched over 4-5 months of training) I still don't feel too confortable to take a check ride. I've done my written 3 months ago and my second class medical just expired. I'm not sure if I can even get it done, the VA approval and reimbursement would definitely help. For all of you guys out there with VA benefits, I gotta tell you - pick your battles. If it's expensive and looks too good to be true - don't do it. I wish I haven't.
 
Skidz, I really don't have anything useful to help, just keep your head up and it will happen. Good luck to you.
 
No luck yet, on the bright side - seneca is on 141 now, the VA is taking their time to add it to the list of approved airplanes. I haven't flown for couple months, I don't even know what being in the air feels like anymore. It's been like six months since I've taken the FAA written, it's hard to find motivation in this god forsaken place. Now it seems like I might get stuck in New Orleans forever and maybe finish my commercial by the year of 2020 or something. I hate to be negative for the most part, but I've never felt so stuck in my life.
It just sucks. :(
 
skidz said:
I've never felt so stuck in my life.
It just sucks. :(
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Understand 100%. You sound like me months ago.

Hey man, maybe a small drive out of N.O. could help! It's an hour and 15 drive but at least you will get something out of it with out all the bs. Go get it. They are VA approved with a multi and complex single. I'm using their 177 to get my CFI soon because a complex is need for the ride. Where there is a will there is a way.

Is there more than to what you say that is holding you back? Newborns demand plenty of attention.
 
splash said:
Understand 100%. You sound like me months ago.

Hey man, maybe a small drive out of N.O. could help! It's an hour and 15 drive but at least you will get something out of it with out all the bs. Go get it. They are VA approved with a multi and complex single. I'm using their 177 to get my CFI soon because a complex is need for the ride. Where there is a will there is a way.

Is there more than to what you say that is holding you back? Newborns demand plenty of attention.
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which school you're talking about?
 
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