Archive for September, 2006

Flights 7, 8, and 9

Sep 16th

Posted by mstroud in Flying

At this stage in the game I’m learning to fly the pattern and pratice take-offs and landings.  It’s pretty hard going, as the lessons come fast and the margin for error is very low.  It also requires a lot of talking to the tower, watching for other planes, and generally going through a mental checklist very, very quickly.

The instructor says I’m doing well at the landing approach, and OK and landings, but I can’t help thinking that the issues I’m still having with take-offs and operating in the pattern are large ones.  Hopefully things will improve with time, since I’m More >

Why Commercial Flights Suck, Again

Sep 16th

Posted by mstroud in Rants

This week I took a series of flights from San Jose to Austin, Texas, then on to Denver, Colorado, and back to San Jose again.  I shouldn’t be surprised at it any more, but the terrible conditions that now exist in airports is quite appalling.

Previously I would almost never check my bag.  Now, because I’d like to have toothpaste and shampoo available when I fly I must check bags in.  This leads to more time in line, more chances for missed flights, and of course, lost or severely delayed luggage.  Going through Denver, I experienced the severe delay and ended More >