Search results

Cessna 150? You want cooler temperatures for sure, this time of year that means a crack-of dawn takeoff. All the way around the north end, or around the south end provides the lowest terrain. But, on a good day without any significant winds aloft, you could sort of follow the airway...

Do you already have your instrument rating? (If so, just ignore this!) If not, that would be where your next training/time dollars should go.

Often overlooked, the appropriate engine operating manuals, from either Lycoming or Continental, have good info as well.

Mostly, as mentioned, unless you're headed for airlines, the R-ATP won't help much. However, I thought of one possible advantage. If the required training and ATP-CTP course, and R-ATP are built-in, as part of your college program, then it would be worth doing. I'm not that familiar, but after...

A very light grip on the yoke can help, too. Even just thumb and index finger is adequate most of the time.

Sounds like a fuel issue. https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/2-dead-after-plane-that-took-off-from-santa-rosa-crashes-40-miles-off-half/ RIP.

Great idea. I don't know of any inexpensive transponders. Although your aircraft are not certified, and, as you say, you'd really only need to squawk 1200, I'd think any usable unit would have to meet some kind of certification/TSO standards in order to be reliable and accurate.

Not regulatory, but it is a common practice for many CFIs. Highly dependent on individual circumstances. And, many flight schools, whether 61 or 141, have their own internal ops/policies requiring a CFI "on duty" at the school during any student solo.

Freelance CFI is a perfectly acceptable avenue to training. No matter what training venue, it really comes down to the individual instructor, their abilities, and whether or not you "get along', so to speak. And, 2-3 lessons per week is an excellent plan. (Disclosure statement: 25 years as...

But, what if the bear is on a treadmill?

There's this: Garmin GTN™ Trainer App for iPad®

Finish the instrument rating and checkride first, using whatever plane/panel you're most used to. Those skills are the most likely to diminish when not used. Then work on filling out the hours required for commercial. And, I agree, no reason to make 60 hours all dual.

Not sure why IACRA asked you for a test number, maybe you selected the wrong applicant status at the beginning. But, you have completed the first step, signing up for an IACRA account. Nevertheless, to complete the student pilot application, you'll need to be with an instructor, essentially...

My experience with in-person was somewhat different than others. Attending meant travel, and a 2 night minimum stay at a hotel to add to the cost. Though the lecturers were good, it's a 2-day, 8 hour a day iron butt marathon. I thought the interaction with other CFIs would be great, but, it...

I can't think of any advantage in the "stepping stone" scenario, assuming further pursuit of the PPL is a given. One more knowledge test, and one more checkride just add to the overall cost and effort. I suppose, if one owned a LSA airplane like an Aeronca Champ or J3, without electrical or...

How tall are you? Depending on your personal body proportions, many of the "classic" tailwheel aircraft simply do not fit taller folks. I'm (a mere) 6'1", but all legs, many of the tandem birds, for me, are miserable to sit in, let alone safely operate rudder pedals. You can only really...

Certainly. That DPE could provide flight training, too. If that's the DPE you would use for the checkride, then another CFII would have to provide the final endorsements, probably, as a minimum, starting at the 3 hours of test-prep training within 60 days.

I've wondered if a trip to the theater to see, say, Top Gun, Maverick, with surround-sound, might help dissolve stones?

Basically, this. For better or worse, and certainly at small non-tower airports, you can't count on NOTAMs and/or braking action reports being posted for every snow flurry or storm. Sometimes a call to the FBO or airport manager may give you an idea of the conditions.

The original question is a good one, I don't know the answer. But I've run into the exact scenario with commercial students before, and just to be sure to eliminate any ambiguity, we landed and took off somewhere enroute, so the logbook shows a full nighttime flight.