Stella Airpark (P19)

In 1999, I visited Phoenix for the first time on a business trip. Never imagined I would one be a Private Pilot flying with friends into the airstrip. Last weekend I achieved one of my aviation goals. I said to myself back in 1999 that one day, I would fly into Stella.

Short Final P19 in N54288 C172P

Click link - GoPro YouTube video

Stat Update

This weekend I added up my hours and landings;

Landings - 187 day (10 night)
Total PiC = 35hrs
Total Time (JAA/FAA) = 125hrs

Pinal Airpark Video

Enjoy the video. More coming soon.

Click link - GoPro YouTube video

The Fun Continues......................................

I arrived in Arizona back in November 2011. On my second weekend, I drove down to Tucson and on the way I could see a Aircraft Bone yard in the distance.  During my dual, night and first solo cross country I had the chance to fly over the Bone yard. After that, I added it to my wish list for places to visit with my new license.

After spending a couple of weeks flying around Phoenix, I decided it was time for a change, On Sunday I went flying with a work colleague. It was his third flight with me. At this stage, he's starting to get comfortable   sitting the in right seat. We departed Chandler and headed South towards Pinal Airpark (KMZJ).

A quick search on Google, one kind find some interesting stories about Pinal Airpark. I have heard stories about people being denied landing clearance despite there being no official Control Tower. I was also warned to watch out for ground traffic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinal_Airpark

I called the Unicom frequency 10nm north and stated my intentions "Pinal Airpark CESSNA FIVE FOUR TWO EIGHT EIGHT ten miles north for a full stop taxi back". No response. Looked like we would be allowed to land.I called again at 3nm and on short final. 

We landed and took our time taxing back to the active. Was an opportunity to capture some photos.

Departed runway 17 and headed back to Chandler. On the way back, stopped off at Stella Airpark. But that's another story...................

Short Final KMZJ Runway 17

MC-130

Qantas 747-400

China Southern 

Evergreen 747

First Flight With My Wife

Enjoy the video. More coming soon.

Click link - GoPro YouTube video

Luke AFB Fly In

In 1999, I visited Phoenix for a three week business trip. Pre 9/11 days, one was able to get fairly close to Air Force Bases. On that trip, I sat about 1/4 mile from the runway threshold watching F16's land on 03L/R. I had never even set foot in a GA aircraft at that point. Thirteen years later armed with my Private Pilot License, I have been accepted to participate in the first Luke AFB Fly-In for over ten years.

A fellow Private Pilot and I will be flying into Luke AFB on 18th October. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this!

We get to spend the first day talking about F16 operations in and around the AFB. On the second day, there is a day trip to the Barry M Goldwater Range where the F16's and Tucson A10's drop there live ordinance.

http://www.luke.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=19839

1 Year Later.................

1 year after restarting my flight training in Ireland, I took my wife on her first flight with me as a Private Pilot.

We flew from CHD to DVT. Quite an eventful flight. Radio issues and an aircraft passing 200' below me.

Video and audio to follow soon.

Archer passing 200' below me

Passing over KPHX 4500'

San Francisco Bay Tour KRHV --> KSTS - Part 2

On the 15th July, I had one of the best experiences ever in a light aircraft. Flying through the class bravo airspace in Phoenix has always been fun and within my comfort zone. On this day, I flew through the class bravo over the top of San Francisco International Airport. Talk about busy radio chatter!!

As you will see from the video, there was a marine layer over the bay area and this was hindering me descending under the bravo towards Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. NORCAL Departure was trying to co-ordinate SFO departures off 28R and 01L/R at the same time I was requesting transition through their airspace. The Controller wasn't giving me too many options. At one point a regional jet off 01L/SFO was held below me.

I had an awesome Pilot with me in the right hand seat who was able to guide me through the entire flight. Thanks Marc!

Enjoy the video. It's going to be hard to top this!

Click link - GoPro YouTube video

Flying in N925ME after passing KSFO at 4500'

Jumpers Away......................

This weekend I flew to Eloy (E60) for the first time. I had previously flown over this airport on my solo and dual cross counties.

I was aware of parachute activity, but I arrived there Saturday morning to find a Twin Otter and several Parachutists in the circuit!

I decided to allow the parachutists time to land. I extended my downwind, but then heard a call that the Twin Otter was high base for runway 20. This happened as I was turning long final! Fortunately the Otter, joined a couple of miles behind me. I vacated the runway, just has he touched down.

This weekend I passed 30hrs PiC time.

Twin Otter @ E60

Short Final Runway 20 E60

Another GoPro video

I've uploaded another GoPro video. I took a couple of flights around Phoenix in July. It's a short video of my transition through the Bravo airspace followed by a poor landings at Scottsdale. Enjoy!

Click link - GoPro YouTube video

Another First

This new license is certainly giving me a lot of firsts. Today I flew into Deer Valley Airport for the first time during day light hours. Another great flight for which I logged another 1.4hrs PiC.

N54288 Short Final 07R KDVT

San Francisco Bay Tour KRHV --> KSTS - Part 1

On Sunday 15th July I met up with three Twitter friends for the first time at KSTS (Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport).

Marc picked up a lovely C172SP from KHWD and picked me up at KRHV.

We then departed KRHV on our flight over to KSTS which is located north of the Bay Area. I acted as PiC with Marc taking care of the radio frequency changes.

Our route took us immediately through the Class Charlie airspace at San Jose International Airport. I have always enjoyed the radio work, but today I was working SJC Tower, NORCAL APP (3 freqs) in the first 15 minutes of the flight. Loved it!

I recorded the majority of the flight on my GoPro. The battery

died before I arrived at KSTS but I managed to capture the departure and transition through the charlie and bravo airspace.

The first video is the departure from KRHV and the transition through the Charlie airspace. 

Click link - GoPro YouTube video

N926ME C172SP

N926ME C172SP

Overhead KSJC 1500'

Flying in San Diego

On the 26th July I met a Facebook Friend for the first time. Ended up flying 1.1hrs with him out of Montgomery Field (KMYF).

I will summarise this flight and the others from CA in a blogpost soon.

CA Update

CA has been amazing. Logged 1.3hrs PiC last week. Then came the chance of a second flight. Flew as a Safety Pilot for an IFR flight which meant I was able to log 3.0hrs SiC.

Added several airports to my visited listed. And I added the C172SP to aircraft flown!

Video's, audio and photo's to follow next week once I return from vacation.

California Dreams.......................

In January 2010 I blogged about a business trip I had in California (http://getmyppl.blogspot.com/2010/01/california-dreams.html#comment-form).


This weekend I am heading back there for the first time since then. I will be flying in California with a friend who I will be meeting for the first time via Twitter. Our plan is to depart KRHV and fly around the Bay area before heading to KHAF to meet some other Twitter Pilots. 


On my return from vacation (holiday to those Europeans out there!), I will be sure to post several photographs, video and audio from what I hope is an aviation packed vacation touring around California.

Tour de Phoenix

At the weekend I flew two tours of Phoenix. I captured some pretty cool video and audio with my GoPro.


On both flights, I departed CHD and headed through the class bravo airspace towards Scottsdale (SDL). Following a full stop/taxi back, I flew south towards Phoenix Gateway airport (IWA) where I had breakfast. 


In total, 3.6hrs PiC was added over the weekend.

When I return from vacation in two weeks time, I will be sure to upload the video to YouTube.

Let the adventures begin...........

Now that my kids have flown with me, I am going to be more adventurous starting this weekend with two flights with work colleagues. Stay tuned here for more ATC audio and GoPro video's.


YouTubeChannel

First Passenger............

This morning I had my first flight with a passenger. I promised my 9 year old son a couple of years back that he would be the first. Today we flew 0.8hrs south of Phoenix. Planned a further flight but the visibility was poor plus we departed later than expected. Small steps. I have 12 months to explore the State!


Seeing his smile, made me realise that the wait was worth it.


It's going to be a great 12 months flying over here in the US.


Next flight - tomorrow morning with my daughter.

I did it.....................................

12 years ago, I started my flight training in EI-CFP. Today, the first chapter of my aviation life came to and end. After 100hrs JAA/FAA training, I finally passed my FAA checkride.

I now have a license to learn. First flight planned for Saturday morning. It's going to be another great 12 months.

#letsgoflying

Lesson 28 - Stage 4 check

DATE: 3rd June 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> on route --> KCHD

DURATION: 1.9hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 55.4 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Stage 4 check. This was basically a mock of my checkride. Flight planning, leg 1, diversion, hood work, manoeuvres and short/soft field procedures.

Next Flight - 10th June