0 Hours to CFI: It's All so Cool!

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." Bertha Calloway

I've been rained out. I've been snowed out and I've been blown out by the wind on the mountain. But I've never been crosswinded out. Today I was.

My lesson today was in humility and patience, two excellent traits in a student pilot. When I arrived at the airport at 8:40am the wind was 3-5 kts from the SE. My instructor hadn't arrived yet so I went to my aircraft, 68F, to read up on the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) that lives in the plane and is not to be removed. I had wanted to do this since I hadn't had the chance to study it yet. In the 15 minutes I had my head in the cabin looking at the POH the wind arrived.

By the time my instructor found me the winds had climbed to 15 kts, gusting to 22 kts. At 22 kts from the SE, our crosswind component was 22 kts. The demonstrated crosswind takeoff maximum for 68F is 15 kts. And with runway 01-19 closed we had no option. Besides on my 4th lesson it would not be good to fly in those winds form any direction.

This person is ready to go at 8:45am with light winds. Note the blocked taxiway to the left. That is because runway 28 is closed beyond that taxi point. So from where this person is doing their run-up, you must back taxi to get all 4000' available.

So I had to settle for an hour and a half of ground school. That's quite alright as I love talking about aviation and airplanes, just ask any of my friends. All my books had arrived last week so I've had a chance to start my studies; aircraft systems, radio communications and aerodynamics. I had many questions.

Also last week. I passed my Airman's Medical Exam, woo hoo! I am now an official student pilot with a 3rd class medical in my possession. I was saddened to learn that I have shrunk some. I had the nurse measure me 3 times and it came out 5'9" every time. I swear that I'm 5'11", so that's what I'm going with.

In this aviation weather map, in the pilots "lounge", you can see they are forecasting moderate turbulence in our area.

Is it me or are there a lot of acronyms and mnemonic devices in aviation? Turn into, dive away. GUMPS. High to low, look out below. Low to high, clear the sky. The 4 W's, who, who, where, what. Pitch, power and trim. Look outside, peek inside. VOR, DME, VASI, PAPI, etc.

My studies are going smooth but I had some trouble with the different types of altitude and visualizing how pressure differences effect the altimeter. But other than that, bring on the written exam. OK, not just yet.

This windsock doesn't look so bad. Then a gust came up and blew the camera out of my hands. Not really.

I've been using my flight simulator, not for the flying, rather for practicing communication. My wife thinks I'm crazy up in the office. Who am I talking to she wonders and then comes up to inquire and sees me in front of the computer. It's OK, she knows I'm just plane crazy. As I fly the pattern I practice my CATF calls. "Truckee traffic, Skyhawk 1968F, left base runway 28, Truckee.", and the like.

Too bad, so sad. Saying goodbye to 68F for the day. Until next time amiga.

We are set for this Thursday for another lesson. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the wind is more favorable. Also, they most likely will be done with the re-construction of the touchdown zone on 28, which would open 01-19 as well. I'll let you know next time if we have a complete airport to work with.

The next three photos are a takeoff sequence of a private jet in the same crosswinds 68F shouldn't attempt. Can anybody tell me what make and model this jet is? I don't know.