Originally posted October 9, 2006
I took my checkride last Tuesday (finished it rather) and did well. Then I had a bad cough the rest of the week, like I used to get when I lived in Indiana. I think that's only the second or maybe third time I've been so sick since we moved here, so I guess that's pretty good. On Friday and Saturday there were some trips to Havana that I could have flown, but I didn't want my very first solo trip to be to Cuba (I'm more worried about getting the paperwork right; the flying's easy). I wanted someone to go with me, but there wasn't enough room in the plane weight-wise for two pilots and all the baggage, so someone else did both of those trips. The people I work for understood that I didn't want to go to Havana by myself yet and didn't have a problem with it. I'm sure there will be a trip soon enough where I can take someone with me; then after that I can do it on my own.
I took my checkride last Tuesday (finished it rather) and did well. Then I had a bad cough the rest of the week, like I used to get when I lived in Indiana. I think that's only the second or maybe third time I've been so sick since we moved here, so I guess that's pretty good. On Friday and Saturday there were some trips to Havana that I could have flown, but I didn't want my very first solo trip to be to Cuba (I'm more worried about getting the paperwork right; the flying's easy). I wanted someone to go with me, but there wasn't enough room in the plane weight-wise for two pilots and all the baggage, so someone else did both of those trips. The people I work for understood that I didn't want to go to Havana by myself yet and didn't have a problem with it. I'm sure there will be a trip soon enough where I can take someone with me; then after that I can do it on my own.
Last night at about 7:30 Abee and I were starting to make dinner and getting ready to watch a movie when my cell phone rang. It was work, and they said they needed me to take a mechanic to Nassau. I said sure, just don't tell the mechanic it's my first flight. I got to the airport around 8:30 and took off around 10:20 (I spent some extra time making sure all the paperwork was right). I landed an hour later (great landing). The mechanic was most likely spending the night, but it took me about an hour to get through customs and get confirmation that I was indeed leaving the mechanic there and stuff. I landed back in Ft. Lauderdale at about 1:45 (not quite as great a landing), went through customs, had the plane refueled, taxied it back to the hangar, and did all the post-flight paperwork. I was on my way home by 2:50 and in bed at 3:25. I woke back up at 1:00 this afternoon.
It was really nice; after almost a year of trying to do this charter stuff (most of it at my old job) to finally start doing it on my own. I felt more like a real pilot last night than I did in a long time (flight instructing and being a copilot is just not the same). It was a perfect night too, with a clear sky and a full moon shining off the ocean.
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Originally posted October 10, 2006
Happened again last night. Had to take out a part and bring back a flight attendant. They called about 8:15 this time. I took off about the same time, spent way less time in Nassau and got home about a half hour earlier than last night. Wonder what's in store for me tonight?
heh, that's funny about Cuba, you should def try and get down there at some point though. :- )
I actually did make it there a few times, but have since moved on. Thanks for reading!
You must be a very good pilot for handling your first charter flight like you’ve done it many times before, Jeremy. And I admire your dedication to work by being an on-call pilot to stranded passengers. I know the job isn’t all glamorous as it seems as pilots can have stressful days on the job as well, but still I find it noteworthy that you have such passion and dedication for flying.
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