Juxtapilot’s Blog

This past July I toured the Alaska Airlines facilites, Alteon Training–Seattle, and the Boeing Customer Experience Center. It was truly an awesome experience. I learned a ton about airline operations, flight training, and maintinence. While I was there I also toured the Seattle Airport baggage handling area. It was quite a sight. There were conveyor belts going everywhere. The Alteon Training center was a lot of fun. They let me fly the B737NG simulator, which I must say is very cool. I wish I had some pictures of that–or a video. I have attached some pictures from the tours, many are of the Boeing CEC, Dreamliner cabin mock-up, but there are a few of ASA and SeaTac.

 Outside Seatac on the ramp / ASA MX Building

 

ASA Dispatch Center / Baggage area under the terminal

Another Baggage area picture

 

787 Display Model in the Boeing CEC /

Dreamliner Cabin

 First Class / Lav with weird wallpaper that makes the wall look like it has bumps… But it’s actually smooth!

I completed my final stage check last week. I am now finished with the PPL up to speed course UND requires of incoming students who already have their PPL. The course cost quite a bit more than I was expecting, but I also aquired quite a few more hours than I was expecting–24.5 to be exact. I think I am well prepared for the next course.  The stage check didn’t go as well as I was hoping. As is common on checkrides, I learned a ton during the stage check. I had a fantastic stage pilot, he was down to earth and kept track of my mistakes and the few things I did right. The debrief went well, and he brought up some very valid points, about things I can and should fix. We talked about my approach into Warren, ND (D37). There was one aircraft in the pattern, and I called up to overfly at 2200 feet (500 feet above the TPA.) I over flew looking for the windsock, couldn’t find it, turned around and flew over again. This time I found it. I think I flew directly over it. After seeing the windsock I began to DECEND into the pattern. This is a big no-no as doing so could cause me to run into another aircraft. I can’t see below me so I could decend into an airplane. That would not be cool. I ended up deciding to turn outbound from the downwind and did a tear drop manuver to re enter. This was much more effective and led to a nice standard pattern for a Grass field landing. My first grass landing EVER! It was pretty uneventful, I tried using breaks for a few seconds and remembered I’m not allowed to do that. We did one more takeoff and landing which ended up being a power off 180, and returned to Grand Forks. There I did a normal landing, which I’m not going to lie, sucked. It was nearly a 3-point landing. Funny how we only care about the last 5 seconds of a flight… Now I am done flying until January, and I already miss it. It’s funny to think that I was actually beginning to become burned out from flying so much. I’ll probably go get checked out at the local FBO and rent an aircraft there to fly every week or two.

I’ve always worried that I am rushing through life. I regret not choosing to enjoy high school as much as I could have. I was so focused on getting out of there and going to UND to fly, that I often forgot to have fun. I think many aspiring pilots get caught up in this kind of a mind set. They live in the future so much that they forget that “now” is only going to happen once. I would love to go back and live my high school years again. It was a ton of fun. The best advice I can give anyone is to have fun in live and don’t be rushed to become a pilot, or whatever they want to be. The job will always be there waiting for them. 

 I have been at UND for only 3 months and can’t say that is has been as exciting as high school. Living in the dorms here is quite different from my old boarding school. It’s easier to live here, but not quite as much fun. My mind was always kept busy thoughout high school, and once I got to college, the fun kind of went away. It’s probably just that college fun and high school fun are not the same thing. I’m kind of going against my own advice now–I have chosen to do summer school to get out of here sooner. I think I should be ok this time though, because I am more aware of “experience” now.