Any Pilots?

[ZlinMan]

Hi all,

Just wondering how many pilots we've got among our ranks here at B&B. To be honest I'm simply procrastinating from studying for the Transport Canada Commercial Pilot written examination I have tomorrow .

I'm a student at Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology. Completed my Commercial Flight Test on March 27th of this year, and I currently have ~160 hours. I'll be graduating from Sault College in 2011 with about 200 hours and my Multi-IFR, and the intentions of moving sown South somewhere for a year or two before eventually joining the Canadian Air Force.

So, where'd you get your wings and where have they taken you??

 

[xpavar]

Been flying since I was 18, I'm 42 now.Graduated from UND(University of North Dakota, BS Aeronautical Studies). I have been with Delta Connection for the last 14 years and I fly about 700 hours per year. Sure beats working.

 

[chfair]

not I. was close to having a private pilots license but it got too expensive, had about 160 official hours logged had already done my solo and cross country solo (cesna 172 and 182 were what i trained in). father has always had one plane or another (he is a private pilot) and i learned to fly long before i learned to drive.

good luck on the written test, i hear they are not terribly pleasant.

 

[ZlinMan]

Thanks! Not all too worried about the written exam. At the College they require us to write a "qualification exam" prior to writing the TC exam. The test is more difficult and the limitations more stringent (70% required on all sections vs 60% for TC). Passed the qualifier without a problem, was a few weeks ago though so time to brush up again

 

[thatguy1807]

I've always wanted to be a private pilot, but I can't afford it.

 

[jcummins]

I got my Private Pilot's licence roughly about 7-8 years or so ago. But about the time I was finishing flying, I was starting to buy a house. I couldn't afford to do both, so I only flew once or twice since I officialy got my licence. No Longer current on my licence, and would Love to go flying again. . . .But for now; just a dream.

 

[airplanedoc]

I am a Pilot and a Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. Graduated Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. I learned to fly in High school and soloed before I had a drivers license.

 

[ZlinMan]

That's the beauty of the College, all I pay for is my tuition; all of my flying is 100% government subsidized, never have to pay a dime

 

[bigstick]

ATPL paid for out of my own pocket. Lapsed Class 1 instructor, ditto. 2200 hrs. Get out there and fly. I've not been up since October, alas. Well, not PIC anyway.

 

[southernmail]

Private Pilot Single Engine Land with Instrument Rating

 

[Wingnut]

As you can probably guess from my screen name and avatar, I too am a pilot. Learned to fly at FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach FL (at the ripe old age of 38!), taught for a few years, then flew freight for a while to get more multi time. Went to the commuters for a few years (Beech 1900D's) and have been flying corporate (Cessna 414A) for the last 8 years or so. I have an ATP, Comm ASEL, CFII and Advanced Ground Instructor certificates. Last time I looked I had somewhere north of 8K hours.

Flying's great but it leaves me precious little time for the rest of my life, since I'm in a one-pilot, one-aircraft operation. I just took my first week of vacation in almost 8 years. The good news: I don't have to worry about the TSA confiscating my DE and blades when I go fly!!

 

[toucanlamp]

I'd like to do it someday, but it's just so rediculously expensive I doubt I'd ever be able to justify the cost of it. I remember looking at the local small airport and to take the required training course to get your private pilot's license was something like $14 000. For more advanced stuff like twin engine training, renting one of those planes, like a Beechcraft Baron or something was $410 per hour.

And then I remember my dad telling me that when he got his private pilot's license back in the 70's the whole course cost something like $800.

I'll just have to get my kicks from playing some flight sim computer games once in a while.

 

[toucanlamp]

That's the beauty of the College, all I pay for is my tuition; all of my flying is 100% government subsidized, never have to pay a dime

See what is that, what is the government doing subsidizing flight school

 

[michael.scheller]

As you might be able to tell from my avatar, I'm an Army Aviator. I retired in November 2009 after nearly 29 years of continuous service. I started in 1981 as a UH-1 crewchief and became a Black Hawk pilot in 1987. Since retirement I'm working for a military contractor firm teaching UH-60 flying to deploying unit crewmembers. I'm a military rated instructor pilot (CFI equivalent), rotary wing instrument flight examiner (CFII equivalent) and hold FAA Commercial Rotorcraft and Instrument ratings.

I've never flown a civil aircraft for fun or for profit.

 

[BurkDarkpatches]

I am your nemesis: ATC. I've got my eye on you.... ;-)

Steve

 

[ZlinMan]

I am your nemesis: ATC. I've got my eye on you.... ;-)

Steve

Hahah, we like to joke around with our tower controllers sometimes, since we're the main traffic at the Sault Airport they get to know us pretty well. Kudos to you, I've been up there and it looks like a heck of a stressful job; you have to be very skilled to be a good controller .

Some awesome stories in here and some great pilots by the sounds of it

 

[Wingnut]

I am your nemesis: ATC. I've got my eye on you.... ;-)

Steve

Steve, just a word from one of those voices on your headset: THANKS! You guys are a bunch of superb professionals, and you don't get nearly the praise that you deserve. You guys keep us all safe, every single day.

Sadly, due to all the brouhaha going on with the FAA contract negotiations the past few years (assuming you're US-based), many of the best controllers are retiring and we're left with lots of squeaky-voiced adolescents that aren't quite up to speed yet... That said, ATC has pulled my bacon out of the fire more than once, and for that I'm forever grateful. YOU DA MAN!

 

[BurkDarkpatches]

Steve, just a word from one of those voices on your headset: THANKS! You guys are a bunch of superb professionals, and you don't get nearly the praise that you deserve. You guys keep us all safe, every single day.

Sadly, due to all the brouhaha going on with the FAA contract negotiations the past few years (assuming you're US-based), many of the best controllers are retiring and we're left with lots of squeaky-voiced adolescents that aren't quite up to speed yet... That said, ATC has pulled my bacon out of the fire more than once, and for that I'm forever grateful. YOU DA MAN!

I'm USAF-based. ;-) Glad to hear positive feedback. A lot of my bros over the years have gone FAA, so you do have a few pros looking over the new guys.

Steve

 

[slcsteve]

I was an Army Aviator for about 2 years. When I returned from Vietnam in late 1967 I was medically retired and never had the desire to ever fly (or jump out of airplanes) again.

That said, I'm glad that I did both.

 

[Strikermike]

I am a Pilot with Comm, Inst, MEL ratings. Went to FIT in Melbourne FL. graduated in 1980. Two of my roommates went on to fly for USair. I think they signed on about 1987. I got tired of waiting for the airlines to start hiring again and went another route. Ran a few small businesses. Now I am a small GC.