Current again

[AuntPeggy]

Checked my logbook yesterday and discovered I had only flown 10 times this year, including the BFR. Got a CFI to go up with me and we did 10 TO/Landings. 5 day and 5 night, so now I'm current again.

There have been a couple of reasons why I haven't been flying. Hubby has been flying at every opportunity to practice for his Commercial, and now Instructor ratings. I can't fly the plane when he is flying it. And, with him not having a job, the cost of fuel and maintenance was putting a damper on my enthusiasm for spending time and money on the plane.

With so little flying lately, I had very low self-confidence. It becomes a cycle. I haven't flown, so I feel timid about flying. So, then I don't fly and become even more timid.

This coming weekend, we will be flying to Tulsa for Thanksgiving and the following weekend, we will be flying back. We will be carrying Christmas presents for the family because we won't be able to make it back for Christmas. I look forward to these trips. This time especially because we have yet another brand-new grandson to see.

We plan to surprise a couple of grandchildren by taking them for a ride, too. They haven't flown with us for a couple of years, so it should be a treat.

On the westbound flight from New York, we will be carrying (for ARF) a mixed breed dog to Missouri that was rescued in Israel. On the return flight, we will be carrying dachshunds from Oklahoma. We rarely make ARF flights, but when we do, they are the long-haul ones.

 

[TMetzinger]

It's good you took a CFI up to get your confidence back, but I just want to make sure you realize that there's no "currency" (besides medical and BFR) to act as PIC of an airplane not carrying passengers. So you can not fly for a year or more and get back in the air solo, do your three takeoffs and landings, and be current for passengers again (pay attention to night or day).

Now I'm not saying this is smart - your choice was for you a much safer and smarter option. I am just referencing what the regs call for.

 

[gismo]

With so little flying lately, I had very low self-confidence. It becomes a cycle. I haven't flown, so I feel timid about flying. So, then I don't fly and become even more timid.

IME the quickest way to restore confidence is to pick out a half dozen or more airports in close proximity to your home base and go fly to each one in succession. You'll be amazed at how sharp you feel after making several arrivals at different fields, especially if the last half consists mainly of places you haven't been to ever or at least recently.

Perhaps you could let hubby ride along in the right seat so he can practice sitting on his hands and keeping the babble to a minimum when someone else is flying, traits all CFIs should strive to attain.

 

[AuntPeggy]

Perhaps you could let hubby ride along in the right seat so he can practice sitting on his hands and keeping the babble to a minimum when someone else is flying, traits all CFIs should strive to attain.

I love the way you phrase that.

I'm hoping to do all the flying except if the weather requires IFR.

 

[AuntPeggy]

It's good you took a CFI up to get your confidence back, but I just want to make sure you realize that there's no "currency" (besides medical and BFR) to act as PIC of an airplane not carrying passengers. So you can not fly for a year or more and get back in the air solo, do your three takeoffs and landings, and be current for passengers again (pay attention to night or day).

Now I'm not saying this is smart - your choice was for you a much safer and smarter option. I am just referencing what the regs call for.

Thanks Tim. I had to read the bolded part twice to figure out your meaning since I read "can not" to be the same as "cannot" at first.

Understood about the regs. Just didn't want to start a 1000 mile trip with so much rust.

 

[Ted]

A suggestion - if Don is working on his instructor rating, he should be doing all his flying from the right seat for practice (unless he's uncomfortable with right seat IFR). When I was working on my instructor rating, before I did any actual flying "lessons" my instructor told me "Go fly the 172 from the right seat until you get comfortable with it." That didn't take long. The only time I fly left seat now is if I'm solo in the Aztec, but I've been getting right seat flying time in that (after getting some initial practice with Tony and other trusted friends in the left). I'm plenty comfortable with it, time to go get that MEI ride knocked out. Shot three real instrument approaches from the right seat this weekend, too (four landings, three instrument approaches). Probably ought to get that CFII soon.

Did you go up with Roger?

 

[AuntPeggy]

A suggestion - if Don is working on his instructor rating, he should be doing all his flying from the right seat for practice (unless he's uncomfortable with right seat IFR).

He flies right seat whenever he can. He actually started his Commercial training from the right seat, but soon decided that was too much work. We plan to make the trip to Tulsa with him in the right seat all the way.

When I was working on my instructor rating, before I did any actual flying "lessons" my instructor told me "Go fly the 172 from the right seat until you get comfortable with it." That didn't take long. The only time I fly left seat now is if I'm solo in the Aztec, but I've been getting right seat flying time in that (after getting some initial practice with Tony and other trusted friends in the left). I'm plenty comfortable with it, time to go get that MEI ride knocked out. Shot three real instrument approaches from the right seat this weekend, too (four landings, three instrument approaches). Probably ought to get that CFII soon.

The first time Hubby flew an approach from the right seat was when I was flying to Penn Yann and encountered weather on the way. I was able to fly above the clouds until he could get a "pop-up" and make the approach. I called out the speed as he had a hard time reading the ASI from the right seat.

Did you go up with Roger?

Yes. Roger will send me a syllabus for IFR soon and I'll start getting serious about that rating. (I WILL get some flying time.) In order to fly with Roger on Sunday, Don had to cancel some plans he had made with his CFI for a training flight.

 

[Ted]

He flies right seat whenever he can. He actually started his Commercial training from the right seat, but soon decided that was too much work. We plan to make the trip to Tulsa with him in the right seat all the way.

Great minds think alike (or pilot minds are redundant)! I agree it makes more sense to do commercial maneuvers from the left seat first. You're better off doing one thing at a time. Once you get comfortable in the right seat, the transition isn't hard.

The first time Hubby flew an approach from the right seat was when I was flying to Penn Yann and encountered weather on the way. I was able to fly above the clouds until he could get a "pop-up" and make the approach. I called out the speed as he had a hard time reading the ASI from the right seat.

Yeah, the first time I did a right seat instrument approach was unintended. It all worked fine, though, and now I'm comfortable with it (although still do a better job from the left seat).

Yes. Roger will send me a syllabus for IFR soon and I'll start getting serious about that rating. (I WILL get some flying time.) In order to fly with Roger on Sunday, Don had to cancel some plans he had made with his CFI for a training flight.

Good! I'm sure he'll prove to do a good job. He's certainly been patient and dedicated with Julia, try as she might to make sure she never gets her instrument rating.

Enjoy the ARF flights. This weekend I did a Cloud Nine flight from North Carolina with 20 dogs in the Aztec. It's really proven to be an F-350 with wings. The flights can be work (especially when you have 20 in one plane), but there's little that's as rewarding.

 

[gismo]

The flights can be work (especially when you have 20 in one plane), but there's little that's as rewarding.

Nothing like a 20 tongue face licking as a reward!