Flying is complex.

Challenged

Challenged

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Challenged
Well, after 10.3 hours I have obtained my complex endorsement (insurance required 10 hours of dual). I never thought about how frustrating it would be to purchase a new airplane and not actually be able to fly it alone, but here we are. Now I just need another 10 hours of solo and I'll be able to take a passenger along with me, but I have a feeling that these next 10 hours are going to go by much quicker. I hope the weather cooperates, so I can knock out the time, as my wife and I have a trip to Austin (Austin Executive perhaps?) planned for this coming weekend.
 
Congratulations! If you come to New Braunfels, send me a message. There are some good burger places around here
 
For my complex endorsement my CFI wanted to just make several long x/c flights (to "knock out" the 10 hours). I objected because I thought more would be learned through sticking around the airport and practicing changes in power settings including takeoffs and landings. I still think that is the best way to learning a new aircraft. hint hint
 
Richard said:
For my complex endorsement my CFI wanted to just make several long x/c flights (to "knock out" the 10 hours). I objected because I thought more would be learned through sticking around the airport and practicing changes in power settings including takeoffs and landings. I still think that is the best way to learning a new aircraft. hint hint
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Yes, but that doesn't give you the opportunity to practice/test various power & altitude variations on a cross country to determine the best cruise settings. I'd probably recommend a combination of the two. It would be even better if you could take someone WI to make notes about the various settings and performance rather than doing it all yourself. But that isnt't really an option here!

In any case, don't see this as just flying for time, but an opportunity to learn e plane. Use phone books, water, or whatever to help load the plane to gross so you know how it'll perform then, too.
 
As the complex does (did?) require a x/c, it was taken care of. I just didn't see the need to repeat the same hour 10 times.

Grant, what is "WI"?

EDIT: If one can write down a clearance while aviating, surely one can write down RPM, MP, IAS, while in cruise. IOW, if I could, anyone can.
 
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Richard said:
As the complex does (did?) require a x/c, it was taken care of. I just didn't see the need to repeat the same hour 10 times.

Grant, what is "WI"?

EDIT: If one can write down a clearance while aviating, surely one can write down RPM, MP, IAS, while in cruise. IOW, if I could, anyone can.
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WI is autocorrected "with". :mad2: And now you see why I would want someone else to take the notes!:redface:
 
Richard said:
As the complex does (did?) require a x/c, it was taken care of. I just didn't see the need to repeat the same hour 10 times.

Grant, what is "WI"?

EDIT: If one can write down a clearance while aviating, surely one can write down RPM, MP, IAS, while in cruise. IOW, if I could, anyone can.
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There is no cross country requirement for a complex endorsement.
 
Neither does it take 10 hours to gain the endorsement. He could have signed the endorsement after an hour. It doesn't change the insurance requirement any...but you could have, for instance, logged PIC as a safety pilot in a complex airplane before those 10 hours were complete.
 
jason said:
Neither does it take 10 hours to gain the endorsement. He could have signed the endorsement after an hour. It doesn't change the insurance requirement any...but you could have, for instance, logged PIC as a safety pilot in a complex airplane before those 10 hours were complete.
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Actually, the endorsement doesn't matter for that. He could still be safety pilot in a complex aircraft. See Ed's flow chart.

I would take longer than an hour to do a complex endorsement in most cases, it depends on the student. In the case of this student, I don't think it matters much when he gets the endorsement - as pointed out, the insurance needed the 10 hours anyway, and it's doubtful he was trying to fly any other complex aircraft in the meantime.

Flying the airplane a lot now is a great idea! It will help make you two fast friends, and will aid in your overall retention of its nuances.
 
jason said:
Neither does it take 10 hours to gain the endorsement. He could have signed the endorsement after an hour. It doesn't change the insurance requirement any...but you could have, for instance, logged PIC as a safety pilot in a complex airplane before those 10 hours were complete.
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You can log PIC in the complex airplane during the training for the endorsement too.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Actually, the endorsement doesn't matter for that. He could still be safety pilot in a complex aircraft. See Ed's flow chart.
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Yes, you can act as a safety pilot without the endorsement, but you could not log it as PIC without the endorsement. Ed's flow chart indicates such.

Ted DuPuis said:
I would take longer than an hour to do a complex endorsement in most cases, it depends on the student. In the case of this student, I don't think it matters much when he gets the endorsement - as pointed out, the insurance needed the 10 hours anyway, and it's doubtful he was trying to fly any other complex aircraft in the meantime.

Flying the airplane a lot now is a great idea! It will help make you two fast friends, and will aid in your overall retention of its nuances.
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I agree 1000% that it should take longer than one hour to earn a complex endorsement. I was simply pointing out that it could have been signed at any time in the process that the CFI felt comfortable doing so. The 10 hours were for the insurance company. There is no such hour count for the endorsement.
 
jason said:
Yes, you can act as a safety pilot without the endorsement, but you could not log it as PIC without the endorsement. Ed's flow chart indicates such.



I agree 1000% that it should take longer than one hour to earn a complex endorsement. I was simply pointing out that it could have been signed at any time in the process that the CFI felt comfortable doing so. The 10 hours were for the insurance company. There is no such hour count for the endorsement.
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You can log PIC by being sole manipulator as you are "rated", as you would be during your complex training, but you are right that you can not log PIC as a safety pilot, as you are not able to ACT as PIC. I think you can log SIC though.
 
ajstoner21 said:
You can log PIC by being sole manipulator as you are "rated", as you would be during your complex training, but you are right that you can not log PIC as a safety pilot, as you are not able to ACT as PIC. I think you can log SIC though.
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all correct...

With the endorsement, however, you WOULD be able to log the PIC as you would be able to ACT as PIC for the flight.
 
jason said:
all correct...

With the endorsement, however, you WOULD be able to log the PIC as you would be able to ACT as PIC for the flight.
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Ah, I thought I saw something different earlier. I agree with this!
 
jason said:
Yes, you can act as a safety pilot without the endorsement, but you could not log it as PIC without the endorsement. Ed's flow chart indicates such.
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Ahh, there we go. Took another look at it. Sure enough!
 
Challenged said:
I never thought about how frustrating it would be to purchase a new airplane and not actually be able to fly it alone, but here we are
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For a couple of weeks after I bought the Chief I thought, "What have I done?"

I was waiting for weather and an instructor, and the first few hours thought "There's no way I'm gonna land this thing!" Even takeoffs were more challenging than any I'd done in the previous 600 hours.

After 4 hours dual the switch went off. Now I realize the reminder of the temporary frustrations in flying is good once in a while.
 
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