L J Donelson
Pre-takeoff checklist
I won't be naming names or places, but two weeks ago, a business meeting with some important customers scheduled for today landed in my inbox. I accepted it and considered making the trip worthwhile without a hotel stay. It's a 4-hour drive one way, and the meeting was scheduled for at least 3 hours, ending just before lunch. An early rise, drive, meet, and then drive home would be a long day. What about flying? Sure enough, I log in to the club reservations calendar, and for the first time I can remember in ages, an A/C is available all day! I checked, and it's well within the 100 hours, and there are no visible squawks. I booked it!
Finally, all those lessons and hours have been building since my check-ride, and I'm going to get to do exactly what I said I was taking lessons for—flying to a business meeting! Life is good.
I've been watching the weather for the past week. All the forecasts looked great. Life is good, and the excitement is building!
I sat down Monday evening and worked out routes. I studied my notes on how to program the VORs and the GPS just so I could have the full x-ctry experience, just like during training. Life is good, and the excitement is building. I'm going to fly to KXXX on Wednesday!
I get up early this morning and I verify the weather - amazing! I load everything in the truck and while I drive out to the field I call 1-800-WXBrief for a full weather check. Winds at 055 are light and variable all day. I arrive 1/2 an hour before sunrise and get pre-flighted and ready. Life is good, the excitement is building, let's go flying!
I start up engine, fires right up first thing on a cool morning, and the fan on the front is spinning. It sounds fantastic! Power on the avionics master switch and start listening to AWOS while I program the flight plan into the 430. LIFE IS GOOD! The excitement is building. LET'S GO!
I key the mic for the tower, and I hear myself clearly, but they don't hear me. I recheck frequencies and press, and nothing happens. I change radios and press again, and nothing happens. I pressed a little harder, and when I pulled my thumb up...
![PTT Switch.jpg PTT Switch.jpg](https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/data/attachments/124/124883-d86dba2d76152ea0443d1cb58bad2607.jpg)
You know that moment when you realize all your dreams, hard work, planning, and preparation are for naught? Yep, that's me right there, realizing I ain't gonna fly today.
Of course, the shocking reality of not making the customer meeting struck pretty hard right after that first dream crusher. But dang, for a $20 switch, everything changed!
The customer understood, my team asked a few questions, but they got over me not being there pretty quickly - I've trained them well and they handled everything fine.
I'm still crushed I didn't get to fly today.
Finally, all those lessons and hours have been building since my check-ride, and I'm going to get to do exactly what I said I was taking lessons for—flying to a business meeting! Life is good.
I've been watching the weather for the past week. All the forecasts looked great. Life is good, and the excitement is building!
I sat down Monday evening and worked out routes. I studied my notes on how to program the VORs and the GPS just so I could have the full x-ctry experience, just like during training. Life is good, and the excitement is building. I'm going to fly to KXXX on Wednesday!
I get up early this morning and I verify the weather - amazing! I load everything in the truck and while I drive out to the field I call 1-800-WXBrief for a full weather check. Winds at 055 are light and variable all day. I arrive 1/2 an hour before sunrise and get pre-flighted and ready. Life is good, the excitement is building, let's go flying!
I start up engine, fires right up first thing on a cool morning, and the fan on the front is spinning. It sounds fantastic! Power on the avionics master switch and start listening to AWOS while I program the flight plan into the 430. LIFE IS GOOD! The excitement is building. LET'S GO!
I key the mic for the tower, and I hear myself clearly, but they don't hear me. I recheck frequencies and press, and nothing happens. I change radios and press again, and nothing happens. I pressed a little harder, and when I pulled my thumb up...
![PTT Switch.jpg PTT Switch.jpg](https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/data/attachments/124/124883-d86dba2d76152ea0443d1cb58bad2607.jpg)
You know that moment when you realize all your dreams, hard work, planning, and preparation are for naught? Yep, that's me right there, realizing I ain't gonna fly today.
Of course, the shocking reality of not making the customer meeting struck pretty hard right after that first dream crusher. But dang, for a $20 switch, everything changed!
The customer understood, my team asked a few questions, but they got over me not being there pretty quickly - I've trained them well and they handled everything fine.
I'm still crushed I didn't get to fly today.