sad news

I knew that I wasn't 100% ready and this time, my worse nightmare came true. I let everyone down. I scored an 87%. Of course, passing at CAPT is standard for 90% or higher. I'm taking the Stage 2 Exam again tomorrow and the Stage 3 is still set for Friday and the FAA on Monday afternoon. This instrument stuff is killer. I just didn't get to study enough. Oh well...I knew that it was coming. :-(

Look!!!

Look what's headed our way here in Florida. No its not a hurricane, but it might as well be one in my perspective! I'm located in the northern central half of Florida. If you check out below, I'm near the small circular blue blob in the northern half. See the Red!?!?! It's going to be a fun day tomorrow around 11AM forecasted!

Corkx and Dellz

Just a fun picture of Corinne and Adelle visiting me in Florida. This shot was for Marella because she likes Sea Cows. Hi guys!!! San Diego-esque weather eh? Only it as humid as heck!

Stage II, III and FAA + History

I have Stage II this tuesday, Stage III on Friday, the FAA test whenever I can take it within the next two weeks (and I have to beat Andy again) and we start Aviation History this week with the assigned HW of reading chapters 1 and 2! It's going to be a fun filled weekend! Oh yeah, and Adelle is here visiting so I have to entertain her! Although, she is very nice and understanding in the manner.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/03NewsHEAD02052805.htm



hopefully this forecast will prove its stuff this coming hurricane season!

Laundry and Holding Patterns

So I'm doing my laundry and cleaning up around the house because Adelle and Corrine (or maybe its Corrinne or Corinne) are coming in tomorrow night. I end up washing everything and only notice as each loads goes through the dryer that it is unusually hot. So far so good up until my last load.

The last shirt that I have to hang up, I pick up and it is my favorite new shirt (a black (040) Penguin Shirt regular polo from Nordes) mind ya, I find a huge hole. Did the dryer burn it? I read the directions, which I'm usually good at, and its says okay. Well, it says reshape and dry flat, warm iron if needed. So I assume that it shouldn't be that bad.

WTF? My dryer is just freaking too good I guess? So careful everyone. It was set to medium too!!! I'm pissed!

School is going well. We did holding patterns today. It was really nice actually understanding and getting all the details on today's lecture. It'll be nice to actually simulate one in the King Air. The workload is a lot different when you have a lot of time in class and a huge piece of paper to draw things out. I'm excited. We are halfway through I guess with Instrument Ground.

A good day!

So, today started with the fact that our first Qualifying Event for Instrument Ground wouldn't start until 10:00 am. That left me comfortable time to go to bed, sleep in a little bit and study some more. I realized while I was at home reviewing with Laura that the software I was using was giving me questions that were too advanced already and some of the questions that I needed to know, I have never seen. I started to get nervous then.

As always, the test started out w/ me being confused about the basic VOR / HSI indicators and knowing where the airplane was in respects to the station. After I got that sorted out, I started turning pale / green and the professor handed out the test. He laughed a bit because I also dry heaved again right before. I finished early as always, but sat in my chair doubting a lot of the primary / secondary instrument answers that I jotted down.

We got out at 11:30 am and left for a lunch at home to be back at 12:45 pm. We got back and while in the car, Manoj tells me that he thinks he missed four, so that means that I missed some ridiculous number. To my surprise, I missed only 1, but of course, Manoj didn't miss any. So, once again I am one behind. It's not that I'm competing w/ him or wanting him to do worse than me, but that just the fact that I can do just as well. I honestly didn't push myself that hard, but that's always my excuse. I have to make it a reality to actually and try to get this done. Well, until Stage II, I better keep up or even get farther ahead. =)

We are moving on to approaches, departures and enroute procedures which should be fun! We organized our Jeppesen Airway Charts today. That was fun. Learned a lot too but there is always time to keep reviewing.

"A good pilot never stops practicing." <-- yes that means that he is always learning, even when flying passengers! j/k...well, kind of =)

Updates...

Don't expect that many updates folks until my 1st Instrument Qualifying Event is over on Tuesday. To be honest, I only feel partially ready. I'm going to head out the the Palm Coast library for the next 5 hours. See how much of that UCSD nerd thing I got going...ya know, just kicking it in Geisel the entire day, etc. Hopefully I can last and learn quite a few things. Till then, most likely it'll be easier to update my trelijah news blog because I'll always have my phone on me. It'll just be pictures but hey, I hope that you guys can get a feel of how it really is in Florida.

By the way, QE1 is on all Instrumentation. Just that.

NDBs, Pinnacle Airlines

NDBs are freaking awesome! Of course, they aren't better or anything, but the last two days of class have been pretty easy. Now, on to studying the FAA questions and getting ready for the first Qualifying Event ofInstrument Ground. It should be fun. I have to redeem myself. I got 9.5/10 on the last quiz but that still doesn't help out my first deficit.

We also started looking at some approached plates today. That was really fun. We even flew on on Microsoft Flight Simulator. That was interesting how much real life situational awareness that that game can provide you with. I just need to fly some approaches on my own and get use to it.

CAPT has another visiting guest on May 24th. The big three honchos from Pinnacle Airlines are coming over to tour and speak to us students. They are the biggest feeder for Northwest Airlines who is also one of the better regionals that are secure and profitable. That should prove to be really fun. We had another guest last Friday from Air Wisconsin and that was enlightening. There are a lot of airlines interested in our program and that always gives me hope. One thing that doesn't is the fact that 98% of all UPS pilots voted to strike if their board doesn't reach negotiations within the next two weeks. That's not a good thing. Let's hope for the best.

trelijah news

http://www.elijahnicolas.com/trelijah/trelijah.html

The link above is to a mobile log that I just started. It is me and my daily activities through the eye of my Sprint Treo 650. Don't mind the resolutions of the camera either. I"m still tweaking it here and there. But it should be fun. Look for more updates there if nothing is one here. I'll create links, etc in due time.


So, today was a good day for quizzes. I got 9.5/10 on VOR navigation. We then went ahead and learned about NDBs. Crazy stuff, but I was able to grasp it in no time. We are geared to finish Instrument Ground (CAPT 301) by May 31st so that means that we'll be flying by June! I can't wait.

Today was one of the first flash thunderstorms that occurred here. It was nice and beautiful in the morning, then around 1300 hrs, a large cumulo nimbus formed, and boom...just thunder all over the place and large pelting size rain drops. I've never seen rain hit a windshield and splatter to about the size of a half dollar. Apparently, we are suppose to be expecting that all the time here in Florida. I still don't get why this state is then the busiest in General Aviation Activities.

So check out this link too. A pilot and his friend were flying a Cessna 150 ( a small small, very little aircraft that can only carry two light passengers) flew 3 miles within the White House. Yeah, F-16s were scrambled and everything. Just read the article.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/11/evacuation/index.html

VOR Navigation + Frogs...

Well, today in instrument ground, we covered a lot of VOR navigation including HSIs. We even got to fly the King Air simulator. It was really nice to actualy come to the full if not more complete understanding of using the OBS, HDG, or HSI.

Oh yeah, there was a frog on Matt's window tonight eating up all the little bugs. It was crazy! It was jumping all over the place. Apparently, my other friend at CAPT says that his house has them little things all over the walls. It is nutty!!!

Check it out! That glob on the window is the frog and the light is emminatting from a flashlight that we used inside the house to attract more bugs to the window pane for the frog to eat. He's a hungry fellow I tell ya!



***note to self, don't go outside in the backyard without shoes, pants, killer spray, etc...stupid florida creatures***

182T /G1000

Today was an awesome day to get my high performance check out. I had a chance to meet the chief flight instructor at another FBO in Daytona Beach operating out of Daytona Airport called Air America. They basically are a Cessna Pilot Center so that's what they particular fly. I visited them yesterday to setup a ride today and get checked out before Adelle and Corinne come by in about 12 days.

I decided to get checked out in the Cessna 182T because it would qualify me for a check out in their 172s and 152s just in case I would want to rent those planes as well as give me a high performance checkout. I won't be able to get the G1000 Cert. until I end up finishing up my Instrument Course at CAPT, but hopefully I'll be able to get more time with the system.

It is am amazing avionics display. With instant repeats of radio calls (2 minute buffer), Terrain awareness, man, I don't want to list that many things. There is just so much that this system has to offer. I don't see why other planes just don't come with this stuff now. I know that it is totally expensive, but damn, it is worth it. Got to practice some takeoffs and landings at Flagler and even a Cross Country to Orlando Executive Airport. At Orlando, we rented a courtesy Ford Excursion and made our way to the Mercedes Benz ML Tour. It was fun and I totally got a good shot at driving both the ML500 and the ML350 on a twisty "intro" course. I floored it, braked hard and even turned hard. I think that it is definitely a great SUV. The one thing missing though was the Airmatic Suspension. But afterwards, we flew back to Daytona Beach (via Auto Pilot) and I had a chance to play w/ the G1000 some more.

Background: The Garmin G1000 is a Glass Panel Display that is situated in front of the pilots of a small airplane. It shows all the engine instruments, com radios, navigation aids, etc. Even the Transponder located within the Primary Flight Display (PFD). In the picture below, they are the 2 LCD screens in front of me and Mark.

The 182T isn't that bad of a plane. It totally cruises nicely at 140ish. And yes Andy, not as great at your Mooney 201.

100% back in action...

Got to class, sat down and prepared myself mentally for class. As the quiz was handed out, I began at a slower than normal pace checking and then double checking my answers and the question that I was reading, "Question one, answer one, question one, answer one..." I would reapeat that sequence over and over again until I finally was secure that I marked the right box. After doing this, I noticed that I still finished ahead of everyone else. There were a two questions on the quiz that I was unsure of, but never the less, pretty sure of, and then it was time to grade them. I went through my partners test and my classmates were noting that a particular question was not in the guide. It was, but it was in the rear. Still, no one missed it. By the time we finished grading the exam, I noticed that I had a big one zero zero at the top of my paper! I just scored a perfect!

Bring it on instrument ground!!!

1st Quiz in Instrument = Faillure

Well, not to anyone's surprises, to say the least not to my own, I missed 5 out of 20 given on today's quiz. Not becase I was not smart enough, but because of my complacency. Story is: By the time I finsihed reading question 20, I went to go my my scantron type paper and noticed that I was marking box 19. So, guess what? My answers were mismarked. Luckily, they were all "C" down the row. I doubled check which question I didn't read, and noticed that I only fumbled at 17. So, I read, then re-mark my paper and moved on.

As we are grading the test, I knew that I was for sure going to miss 2, maybe three. I got my test back and it had a big "-5" at the top. Confused and outraged, I looked and notice and re-read question 17 and 18. I knew the answers, looked at my paper and figured out that I corrected 18 instead of 17. There goes 2 points. Another question, I just mismarked B instead of C, or whichever. This sh*t sucks.

I have another quiz tomorrow which I have to ace. I am last in the class. Not that these quizzes really matter or count towards anything, its just for me and my competitive nature to do the best. Manoj missed 0 and he'll have to miss 5 somewhere along the way just for us to get even. I can't believe it. What a way to start my instrument course. =( Gyroscopes quiz tomorrow!! Can't wait! Oh yeah, we have another graduation ceremony to attend. Lunch provided. I think that I can get use to these "hanger" graduations every couple of months. At CAPT, they graduate multiple classes at once because of the sizes of each. But remember, there is only one ACE award per class.

Weather Report for Daytona Beach

http://www.news-journalonline.com/breaking/hail
An intense hailstorm pounded Daytona Beach this morning, with marble- and golf ball-sized hail coming down so hard in some areas it piled up like snowdrifts.

N-J/David Tucker Westbound traffic on U.S. 92 rolls past piles of hail resembling snowbanks following an intense hailstorm between Tomoka Farms Road and LPGA Boulevard.

The National Weather service said 3 inches of hail fell, blanketing streets and sidewalks along International Speedway Boulevard and damaging 25 Embry-Riddle Aeronatical University aircraft at Daytona Beach International Airport.

This is the kind of weather that I go through each and everyday. It's crazy down here. As of 4:03 pm EST, there is still thunderstorms everywhere and the rain is still pouring. Apparently, if I lived in Daytona Beach, just about 20 miles south, my car would have been pelted with hail. And yes, permanent little pock marks. Good thing.

classroom update: I am learning about the pitot-static system and have yet another quiz tomorrow on the material covered today. It's a great pace that we go through here at CAPT. We move onto Gyros tomorrow in class and then just keep trucking along. This Friday, we have another graduation with lunch being served. Should be fun as yet again, more airline representative are visiting us. :-) Go CAPT!!!

First Day on Instrument Training

Well, today marks the first day of our (AB05-01 <-- our class number) path towards flying into and around inside the clouds. I'm getting excited already because this is the stuff that I have no idea on. I mean, before signing up at CAPT, I had a couple of hours already with some book knowledge. I was ready for Private Pilot Ground. Now, I am completely heading into CAPT 301 with no existing knowledge. It'll be kind of neat to see how I learn and develop into a full rated Instrument Rated Single Engine Private Pilot.

I also got my Temporary Airman's Certificate along with my Embry Riddle Certificate of Completion. That is defintely plaque (regular black frame only) worthy. Local FBOs look out! j/k

There is also a new ACE award which is almost annalogous to the Top Gun award given in the Top Gun Movie to Iceman and Slider. Plaque on the wall and everything. It's different than graduating top of the class because it is awarded by our fellow peers and instructors at CAPT. *daydream sequence*

Just one of many

This is just onlyone of the 25 pictures that my girlfriend took of herself loving the ride in the Mooney 201. I'm so happy that she isn't getting airsick anymore. Love ya!!!

Flying Much Faster --> 160 knots

Flying with Andrew Strauss and Adelle was a great experience. I haven’t flown with Andy for sometime now and flying with him just humbles me so much. He is definitely the man. He demonstrated a “mountain” take off which scared the heck out of me. We adjusted to full throttle with the brakes on, then let go and began to roll. As ground effect set it, we lifted off and stayed about 10 feet or so above the runway while raising the landing gear. That was nuts. I got really nervous just knowing that if we lost lift, the plane would land on its belly. But of course, Andy flew that Mooney of his like it was nothing. He is the champ in flying that plane. Cruising at 160 knots is so much more fun than the 120 that I am use to in the Diamond.

The day of the flight started out with him calling me and telling me that I would be pilot in command. That meant that I would be in charge of the entire flight. I told him that I thought my checkride was over, but his, to me, is the hardest of them all. I have come a long way with the CAPT program and Pinnacle Academy, I wanted him to feel as if I learned something. I did normally what I would; Passenger Briefing, Departure Briefing, flight planning through the airspace in SD which by the way is a lot more restricting than anywhere is Florida, and planning the trip to Oceanside Airport. With all my time up in Carlsbad, I never noticed nor landed at this airport. It was just a little north but I can’t believe that I didn’t know that it was there. Flying at 160 knots also got me there a lot faster than what I expected so I had to descend really fast, but Andy ended up making the first approach. The landing that I did wasn’t that great. He greased it to the definition of not feeling it at all. It was just simply…beautiful. I look up to him so much.

Come to think of it, I gave Adelle my digital camera and she took quite a few pics. Mostly of her, but I love every one of them.

PC to SD and back again....

The last couple of days in San Diego have been very eventful to where I was able to re-acquaint myself with culture and society. Upon arriving in San Diego, my mother picked me up in my C55 (Mercedes Benz AMG) and I took off. Boy do I miss the power of that V8. It was nice seeing my mom again. I made a surprise visit to my darling Adelle, scaring her but giving her a happy smile. It was surreal that I was able to purchase a flight, pack, and head to San Diego within 24 hours. We went to the Nordstrom Café with my mom and I had some normal food. I call it normal because there isn’t anything like it in Daytona Beach. I had a Baked Salmon Caesar Salad and a Turkey with Bacon Panini Sandwich. All was good. Just walking around the Fashion Valley Environment was overwhelming. I drove home and came upon my house in PQ to a brand new garage decked out with custom made cabinets and such. I opened the door to find that the carpet downstairs is pulled and getting prepped for some wooden flooring. My dad was as pleasant and loving as always. I headed upstairs and walked into my room. Well, what I thought or use to be my room. My furniture was still there with my computer all setup, my remote that controls my entertainment system and everything else but the feeling of “home” was missing. On the way to PQ I even almost missed my turn because I was just not use to driving where people know how to drive. The 4 lane freeway is awesome!

I got ready and took a shower that didn’t even feel that great. I was mostly confused. I hate to say it, but life in Daytona Beach (Palm Coast) isn’t that bad. I have it pretty good there. I got ready to meet up with Marella and Mr. Jo-Lawrence Bigcas to go out and have some sushi. I never thought that it would be that good, but I have to tell you that it was magnificent. Tremendous is probably a better adjective! I ordered from the same sushi chef that I always use to for lunch and he hooked it up. I ordered 3 rolls, but he ended up doubling the order entirely. So, for $20 I got $40 worth. I had my first bite and was overwhelmed with emotion. I’m not that fem, but food never tasted so good. Being with my friends just topped it off.

The next day, I don’t even remember the details except that I ate a lot of different types of foods. Persian, Vietnamese, Mexican, In and Out…that’s just to name the ones I remember. I love San Diego so much. There is so much to do and so much to eat.

I love San Diego. I miss living in San Diego, but only until recently have I really gotten to know how much it has meant to me to be raised here. You get spoiled with all the amenities and attractions that SD has to offer. My home now though is Palm Coast. I have accepted it fully and come to the realization that my residence there isn’t that bad at all. All of you have to come and visit. I will not nor ever say that I love Palm Coast, but it is my home for the next year or so.