Checking out for a few weeks...

[Rooster Cruiser]

Here's another update on me:

I am going to be flying contract on a Citation II air ambulance in the SoCal area.  I'll be starting in another week.  Some other contract offers are starting to trickle in too...

My last day flying the platypus is next week.  Boss has decided to sell it instead of hiring another pilot.  Too bad.  It was a pretty interesting gig while it lasted.

[Baradium]

Here's another update on me:

I am going to be flying contract on a Citation II air ambulance in the SoCal area.  I'll be starting in another week.  Some other contract offers are starting to trickle in too...

My last day flying the platypus is next week.  Boss has decided to sell it instead of hiring another pilot.  Too bad.  It was a pretty interesting gig while it lasted.

Congrats on the new gig!

So what are the terms on the ambulance contract?  I note that you mention other contract offers, so are you thinking of not staying with the air ambulance gig for too long?


Too bad about the platypus... although it was sounding like that's where it was going anyway.  Is he going to hire someone to fly his little plane still?


I have my third session in the box tonight.   Get to go until 3am CDT (yay!)   

[chuckar101]

congrats you guyd for moving on in the flying biz.  I haven't been here in awhile myself so the update is I started work for ameriflight out of oak.  Passed checkride in mid march.  This single pilot ifr stuff is quite interesting. 

[airtac]

congrats you guyd for moving on in the flying biz.  I haven't been here in awhile myself so the update is I started work for ameriflight out of oak.  Passed checkride in mid march.  This single pilot ifr stuff is quite interesting. 

You answered my previous (other post) question----If Ken Couche (good guy--great pilot) still runs the place, tell him I said HI! (he'll tell you I was a jerk but that's OK cause I was )
If you like the single pilot IFR stuff now, you're gonna love next winter---congratulations on the job, it's the best experience you could ever put on a resume--

[chuckar101]

Yeah Ken's still here.  Having fun so far but its been mostly vfr for me. 

[Rooster Cruiser]

Chukar, congrats back to ya on your first 135 gig!  ^5  I still vividly remember my freight doggin' days.  Single pilot IFR, old equipment, no GPS, no HSI, just 2 OBS and an ADF!  Worse, I was flying outside radar coverage which meant I had to shoot full approaches everywhere I went!  Plus I was flying much of this stuff in winter weather, so icing and contaminated runways were always a concern.  When it wasn't snowing, I had to be on the lookout for thunderstorms.   

One of my freight dogs was a C402 with one worn-out prop governor that refused to stay where I set it.  Just the slightest bump would push it +/- 50 RPM so I had to re-synch the damn engines about 20 times in a 45 minute flight.  I eventually gave up and let them stay out of synch. 

Damn good experience overall.   

[chuckar101]

I've flown a few airplanes like that.  Never fun.  Most of the airplanes here have more then or close to 20,000 hours on the airframe.  Definately fun.  One step closer to flying the fancy stuff though.  Congrats on the citation, an inspiration to all of us young pilots

[Baradium]

Minor update.   

2 more sim sessions (counting tonight, once again going until 3am) before the checkride.   Different instructor starting last night, this one is a brit actually and is also a line pilot,  figured oddball might be interested in that.


Also, the FAA has apparently further reduced the hours needed to get a commercial license from a part 141 school.  This new (to me) instructor reported he had a student recently (remember, this is in training for line flying for an airline) with around 160 hours (the number I wrote down was 168).  The guy's sim partner had  around 190. 

[TheSoccerMom]

Okay, BEER BET time.

I'll wager that Airtac (and a few others in here) have more than 160 - 190 hours of time,

just PEEING in an aircraft!!!!   

 

 

[Oddball]

S'Mom thats a suckers bet lol

[TheSoccerMom]

I've flown a few airplanes like that.  Never fun.  Most of the airplanes here have more then or close to 20,000 hours on the airframe....

Sooo...  is 20,000 hours a LOT ?!?!?!??!??   

Glad you're having fun!!   

 

[chuckar101]

I sure thought it was.  All the airplanes hobbs meter has turned over and e add a certain amount to get the total time.  Too a young guy like me thats plenty of hours. 

[TheSoccerMom]

Ah Grasshopper, I was trying to make a JOKE....  after all, I am in the same boat...!!!     

 

20,000 IS a ton of time....  for anything....  I guess I didn't make my point very well...   

The Minivan is headed for twice that.......         but you'd never know it........   

 

 

[Rooster Cruiser]

20,000hrs is a lot for a Navajo, or any other piston engine light twin.  It's not a whole lot for a turbine airplane or any airplane maintained to part 121 standards.  I know of a few airliners with over 100K hours on them and they're still in service!

[chuckar101]

Sorry there soccermom.  I should have guessed it was a joke.  It is fun flying these old girls.  Lets two gear problems, multiple pumps going out, and the other day a vor got stuck.  Got to love it.  I guess I'll learn about the turbines when I get there.  Have fun with the citations rooster.  And Mom tell the guys I said hi.