From Sea to Sea

From California to Florida,  North Dakota to Missouri, Massachusetts to Colorado...A LOT of moving! But I have lots to be grateful for and one of the many is the experience I've had in all of those states. Mountain flying, winter flying, wind flying, sun flying...lots and lots of different conditions.

From airport hopping with friends to hopping down a runway with students (of course it wasn't me)!

Trinity Center Airport, CA "O86"

Rejoicing in the cool evenings to wallowing in my flying-induced credit card debt.

One of my crazier moments, I couldn't find my helmet! ~2007?

From basketball on the ramp to eating greasy food and delicious pie at Nancy's airport truck-stop.

Who said work had to be boring? Auburn Airport, CA "KAUN"

Nancy's Airport Cafe, Willows Airport, CA "KWLW"

I've had a great time and can honestly say without any doubt that I am the luckiest in-debt student I have ever known! So here's to flying and wonderful times, from the East Coast to the West Coast, from the Golden State to the Sunshine State, and let's not forget the Mid-west and it's wonderful people!

South Beach, Miami, FL

Have fun and don't forget to be the most blessed of the blessed!

Up in the Air

Is there a right way to change the runway?

I'm stubborn...very stubborn.


I flew into a non-towered airport today with two runways. It was mid-morning, so the wind had shifted at some point from calm to out of the south. The runways were 10/28, 18/36. Winds shifting between 170 and 200 at 6-7 knots. There were a couple other airplanes in the pattern for 1-0, and I imagine they had been there for the past hour or so since they were using that runway. And here I come, out of the Northeast, looking to set my struggling student up with the fewest worries. No tower, calmer winds, and so on. We set up the way we should for runway 1-8, calling inbound, saying our intentions to cross mid-field and enter back on a right 45.

One of the instructors already there jumps on and tells me "a couple aircraft are already using 1-0".

What do I do? Of course this had to be on an off-day, a day I'm not in the greatest of moods (a whole blog could be made into why no one should fly in a bad mood!)...So I reply "Winds are at 1-8-0, at 7 knots, I'm trying to switch it up to the more favorable runway"...and I bluntly add in, "go back to [insert home airport here] airport and get your crosswind practice there!" Shouldn't have said that, I know, but again...not off to a great start for the day.

"The wind is barely noticeable, you'll be okay."

Now we're attacking my skills? "Just trying to teach my student right, trying to use the right runway."

Eventually the couple of planes switched over and continued on as if nothing happened.

So I have a question today...did I take the right action?

I could have easily entered the pattern for runway 1-0 and dealt with the light crosswind/tailwind and gone on with the day. But at what point do we say there needs to be a change? Winds were forecast to be out of the south for the entire day, so at what point does someone finally say "let's make a change!"

Whether my actions were right or wrong (disclaimer: I'm still learning, as everyone should be, especially when it comes to flying!), should someone be met with an angry voice on the other side of the mic? Is that really constructive? I guess with every "family" there are going to be confrontations, I'm just sad to hear it when everyone is learning. My student, his student, everyone.

I've had the reverse happen to me. Being at an airport, winds changing, and someone else coming in and changing to the new runway. It's inconvenient, yes, but since when is an inconvenience a bad thing in aviation? Only when you don't accommodate for it?

Please, opinions are welcome, I'm open to new or better ways to handle situations! We are only able to make decisions to the extent of our experience, training, and the experience of others!

And to brighten my day (and hopefully yours), here's a photo that I added to my Instagram account (took it off the coast of Florida). I just discovered Instagram, and I'm going to sound like an advertiser here but it's pretty much amazing. Share photos, search and browse through other's photos - My excitement will probably wear off, after all I did just learn about it yesterday! :)

To more learning experiences!

Up in the Air

Fix the Attitude

What do I feel is a major deterrent in whether or not a person will begin their flight training and finish? Attitude. Not just the attitude of the person learning to fly, although that is extremely important, but I'm talking about the influences around the person. The pilots he/she comes into contact with whenever they are at the airport. As much as working behind a desk stinks compared to flying, it still never ceases to open my eyes. And while I sit and wait for what seems an endless amount of time, I can't help but analyze attitudes - my own and that of others.

So maybe you can tell me: what is it with all pilots? Why do we walk around with a chip on our shoulder? It's like we walk around projecting the fact that we're so much better than everyone else, and that no one should dare to contest that. I can't seem to figure out why I instantly don't like 90% of pilots I come across. Is it the fact that I am just like them, and therefore think I'm better? Or am I one of the few with a better attitude. I honestly can't say.

What I can say is we should all work on our attitude. There is always talk about getting more people to fly, to open the world to those yet to discover the passion that is aviation. I almost feel like we're doing the exact opposite. Who wants to be like someone they feel is arrogant, proud, or belligerent?

The fact that I sit behind the front desk in an FBO gives me a clue into maybe what the world of aviation is like to those who have always been interested but maybe have never taken that next step. Whenever a pilot comes in (this is a usual scenario, there are some exceptions), they assume I know nothing about flying, they have no idea I'm a flight instructor and that I've been around aviation for several years (short but long enough). I cannot say how many times I've been talked down to or been treated in such a demeaning way it felt embarrassing to stare at the person. I don't want this to be a pity party on me, but rather, a wake up call. Stop treating people like they're "oh so lower than thee". They're not. You never know, maybe your impression is the one that will make them decide and say, "hey, aviation is great" or "wow, the people in aviation are stuck up".

So I'll be working on keep my attitude in check, and hopefully we can all do the same.

To first impressions and good attitudes,
Up in the Air