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Category Archives: Transport

DH Hell vs OOPS?

29 Apr

When looking to courier important documents or require a speedy, safe and secure method of postage, one usually immediately thinks of DHL or UPS couriers. Personally I have always been fond of DHL as they are a household brand, but even though UPS is right up there, I just haven’t really given them a chance up until now. KP bless her soul didn’t want to use UPS because it sounds like OOPS and she felt that was not a good sign!

DHL UPS

UPS however, will from now on get my business wherever they are available when I require urgent secure mail. This is why:

When KP travelled here she needed to send her passport to Italy to get a visa at the South African Embassy. Immediately and without question, we thought DHL. They are the best. The passport got there just fine, but this is the return journey:

Read from bottom to top:-

DHL KP

SINGAPORE?? What the fuck? Bearing in mind that you can almost see the shores of Italy from certain parts of Albania, why did it travel to the Far East and take 5 days for an overnight courier. And then via Bulgaria and Greece? This meant that she very nearly almost missed her flight to South Africa. Needless to say I was pissed however I was grateful that it all worked out for the best and she had her passport and she was on the plane. Great. No harm no foul.

Last week I decided to get all my mail shipped in from London so I called my mail handling people at the service that I use (MBE) and asked them to set it up. They asked DHL or UPS? Again, I just said DHL as they were £5.00 cheaper. All set, lets go…

First of all I get sent 2 delivery notifications via email with 2 separate AWB (Airway Bill) numbers and when tracking them I saw one just got forgotten and left behind so I figured sensibly that there was only one package (hopefully), not that I got any notification that this was the case. I then checked regularly to plot it’s progress. I was a bit nervous as it had 2 credit cards and a debit card inside. It did ok considering public holidays etc until suddenly it went on hold at 08:29 yesterday morning:

DHL Hoox

I waited and waited but the status never changed so I called DHL’s main number and got through to someone in Johannesburg. They said the package is on hold because they have “lost the paperwork, there is no AWB attached”. For fuck sake. They are the document couriers of choice and they lose their own paperwork? So I tried to call Port Elizabeth to work things out but got no answer. Now I was pissed, so I got in the car and drove down there and had to sort this out face to face armed with the Wrath and Fury of Hoox. After 20 minutes they released it to me. I asked them what would have happened if I hadn’t been aware of this parcel or hadn’t been tracking it so closely and she said, “Well you probably wouldn’t have got it until you eventually called!” Well that’s enough! 2 out of 2 in 2 months? Now I see they put on the tracking information that it was there “Awaiting collection by recipient as requested” which is bullshit. I collected it only because they were not releasing it otherwise and it was not a request, it was a demand!

UPS, you are my new baby! Don’t let me down as I will be comparing you very closely!

 
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Posted by on April 29, 2009 in Albania, Europe, Rant 'n Rave, South Africa, Technology, Transport, Travel, UK, World in 80 ways

 

Dentists suck!

28 Apr

I hate the dentist. I hate the dentist. I hate the dentist!

At the cricket some weeks ago I chipped a tooth or rather I should say a side piece of a tooth came off next to a filling. I cringed. I knew it was going to hurt and I was right. Then the bigger fear set in. I hate the dentist!

So in my wisdom I thought if I just left it long enough the pain would go away. Believe it or not the theory actually worked. Eventually! But I had to think that I will one day soon be travelling to crazy paces again and I really don’t want to have to attempt a dentist in these places again. Also KP threatened me with my life if I never went!

So eventually I agreed. And I went last week. Now the dentist thinks I’m crazy. See why!

IMG_0427

KP, the adrenalin junkie majmun from Alibanya came along!

Turns out it was 100% pain free. This was the best dentist I have ever been to in my life! I am going back next week to quickly fix one filling and have a good clean and I’m done. How’s THAT? Brilliant!

 
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Posted by on April 28, 2009 in Good News, Life, South Africa, Transport, Travel, Wishlist, World in 80 ways

 

Welcome world. Back to the grindstone!

16 Apr

It was roughly this time last year that I decided to hell with life on the road and living in crazy places and acquiring crazy amounts of air miles. It was also then that I decided to go ahead and do my CPL (Commercial Pilot’s License). It was then that I decided to mothball and pack away my multiple passports for a while.

Well now it’s roughly one year later. Things change.

It’s time to cut the cord. Are we human?

~The Killers

Yup, I think you’ve guessed it. I am now deciding to hell with flying and going back to “The Life” out at 32000ft, departure lounges, crazy places and environmental situations that you will never truly “get” unless you have lived it and lived it hard!

There are many reasons for this re-change of mind. Many that I will talk about, many that I can’t talk about since they are simply feelings and thus relatively difficult to put into words. But in a nut-shell, I just don’t think it’s for me. I gave it a shot and by God I had some fun doing it. There were tough times, great times, nervous times and exciting times.

  • The aviation industry is a crazy, backstabbing and thankless one. I am not saying that the corporate world in the land of construction and throat cutting isn’t but at least I understand that. I might as well stay in craziness that I “get”!
  • Everyone at my level of piloting and hoping to join the industry are mostly 10 years younger than me. I don’t have an issue dealing with age but I do find it frustrating dealing with the young, dumb, full of… shit, cowboy attitude. It kills! It has killed!
  • I am very new in the industry and already I know of loads of people that have crashed by no fault of their own but they all get blamed with “pilot error” until they can prove otherwise. There is NO professional support. I had a saying in IT that I will still stand by when comparing to many careers such as flying and medical support and security. When I have a bad day, NO ONE DIES!
  • I guess I have to say it. Money is an issue. Unless by some miracle and speedy advances in the industry, I am almost too old to earn enough to retire. I am 34 years old now and the best salary I could expect per month entering the industry with my “massive” 200 hours and a baby pilot CPL is R10 000. That’s roughly $1000 to live, eat and imagine a life when not airborne. Not much at all when you consider the 75% pass mark requirements on very tough exams and almost R500 000 in expenses when taking accommodation into account for the year of training.  All of this and then to be responsible for 6, 10, 20 + lives and a $1 000 000 + aircraft which you will immediately be blamed for if anything should happen to it. Fair? Hmmm!
  • I love flying and I guess I also just don’t want to remove the fun and joy I get out of it. To make it a job and forced to work more than your legal limit while hour building in your first 2 or 3 contracts would just destroy the dream I think. I recall a situation I was in some months ago when I was forced to fly against my wishes as I wasn’t feeling well and was down right irritated but it was out of my control. I just ended up staring out the window thinking to myself, “Is this as good as it gets? Is that what I can expect for the rest of my life?” Earning reasonable money and flying privately I get to do what I want and where and how! And by that I mean actually enjoy the flying!
  • I love Port Elizabeth and I love my new life but I have to admit there is a huge something missing from it. I am missing the adventure, the new story to tell and the new drama from around the world. I have had recent adventures which I have loved and written about but even that outlined the fact that I wouldn’t have been able to do it had I not saved up enough from my previous life and if had to work a normal life and job.
  • That gets me on to the “normal” discussion. I have officially declared, that is a fallacy! There is no such thing as normal. Normal is what your blinkered views will see when you look at your life and compare it with everything else around you. If there is anything that doesn’t fit into your little cookie cutter size and shape of what you think life should be like, you declare it “not normal”. The life I live certainly doesn’t fit into the average cookie cutter, but it’s the normal that I forged for myself. Yes it isn’t always easy and I end up bitching a lot about everything but show me life that is easy. Since I have been home I have seen many people bitching about a whole lot of stuff. At least between my bitching I get to live and experience the world a million times over and meet incredible people that I can truly share this life with. That’s normal! The Old Hoox returns.

I really could go on but what’s the point? If you are even remotely interested then let’s get together for that bottle of red wine and let’s have a L&J (laugh & joke) about it all and life in general! No matter what you think, I can almost guarantee I could convince you that what I have chosen is the way forward! However saying that I have been told I should have been a lawyer or politician! God help us all!

The World

So now the plans for the future? You should know better than that. I don’t discuss the future, I make it daily. So just for now the plans are to get back to work, back into the thick of it and settle back into “the life”. Options are open for now. Option 1 is I have a great opportunity to go and work for mates that I used to work with in Iraq. It’s a different company and now they are operating in Afghanistan, in and around the Kabul area. I would be heading up all their communications installations and IT infrastructure. Option 2 is an email that just popped up the other day for incredible work on a 3 on and 3 off rotation in North Africa for a major oil company. Option 3 is an unknown entity working with another good friend who has also changed companies and is trying her damndest to keep me out of war torn territories! Great girl! Miss the Italian conversations!

So I guess that sums it up. I can assure the world that this has not just been a fleeting decision. This has been coming for a some time and I didn’t want to rush into anything. I am still not rushing and these 3 options can take a while to come to fruition but at least it’s in that direction. I have not regretted taking this time and continuing my flying as I have done. It has been a wonderful year of catching up with good friends, buying a house and half settling down and spending more time with my folks than I have done in the 10 years prior to this. I have done so much in this last year. Loads of travel and seeing amazing people and learning new skills. Simply amazing. But now its time to pack that suitcase again, dust off the passports and make my way through security, immigration and the departure gates.

Goodbye Sleepy Hollow. See you soon! 8)

 
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Posted by on April 16, 2009 in Africa, Badgag, Badrash, Camp, Good News, Holiday, Kiting, L & J, Life, Money, Politics, Project, R & R, Rant 'n Rave, Road Trip, South Africa, Technology, Transport, Travel, World in 80 ways

 

Valentines Day Poker Rally

16 Feb

This weekend past saw a great flying event known as the Poker Rally. Being Valentines Day I wanted to call it the “Poke Her Rally” but I didn’t get much support from the committee.

The Poker Rally is a general aviation flying event following loosely the general rules of the famous card game, Poker. Four away landings are planned and a card is issued to each participant (pilot or passenger). The 5th and final card is issued on the final landing back at base. Best hand wins.

Poker Rally 00

It went off tremendously! A better turn out than expected based on the weather. Two planes never arrived for fear of rain. Admittedly, we had to make some quick changes and reroutes half way through in order to avoid the low cloud and rain. Still we managed and it was all together a very successful day with a good braai (BBQ) after the last plane was safely hangered. Many thanks to PP who helped me organise the entire shebang!

Poker Rally 01 Poker Rally 02Poker Rally 03 Poker Rally 04

 
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Posted by on February 16, 2009 in ATP, CPL, Flying, Interesting, Party!, South Africa, Sports, Transport

 

Freebord

11 Feb

WOW!

         Awesome!

                         Incredible!

The list of words that I can use to describe this can go on.

The 80x is 80cm from tip to tail, making it extremely quick edge to edge. It is responsive and light, and well suited for riders from 5'6" - 5'11" in height. With the 80x expect a longer learning curve than the more stable Alpha line. The Xponent line comes with pre-drilled holes for easy binding application. All boards come with the Freebord DVD , blue 70mm Krypto wheels and skyhooks. 

freebord

Cheers to Don, from JoBlog, for this. He has just purchased one! He is nuts! This is a whole new concept to board riding. Not sure why they call it “bord” though. Anyways, their choice of English is not on trial here. This is a merging of two great older concepts of skateboarding and snowboarding. So this is like snowboarding on roads… without snow! Note the 3rd wheel on each axle. This is what makes it all possible.

freebord-1 freebord-lombard-lg

HECTIC. I had so many questions but the best way to answer them was to just take a look at their video online.

CLICK HERE for the SA Freebord site and video. CLICK HERE for the US Freebord site.

heart-freeborders1

OK OK I WANT ONE!

But I have to be perfectly honest with you. As much as I love snowboarding, I just don’t think I have the balls of cast iron which are a strict prerequisite to do this. After watching the video I was like, “I WANT ONE!” but then reality kicked in I realised that I just don’t have what it takes in the guts and glory department. To all those out there who do have or will have one, great stuff man! You are bigger and better than I…

 
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Posted by on February 11, 2009 in Friends, Interesting, N.W.R., Sports, Technology, Transport, Wishlist

 

This weekend’s shenanigans

23 Jan

This weekend promises to be a good one. So far this week the weather has been miserable (for some, as I don’t really mind strong winds and rain), so not a lot has been going on. Indoor activities on bad weather days are better left unspoken.

I can’t recall if I mentioned before or not but I am taking kite surfing lessons these days. I tried it on my own some years ago and almost ended up in hospital having a knee operation. Be careful! I planned to go for my kite surfing lesson on Wednesday but the wind was blowing so strong I reckon a layer of paint got sandblasted from my car so it was decided, unless I wanted to visit Madagascar on my first attempt, it was probably not a wise idea. I had to agree with my life!

Today is a beautiful day. Sun is shining, wind has calmed and all spirits are high for the weekend.

Tonight is J9’s birthday bash. Happy happy girl. She has booked a party bus which does a pub crawl to her stipulated venues of choice. I know these venues. I know it’s going to be a joll (Party!). The bus stops early but PE is small so a taxi fare from the last venue home is nothing compared to the pain and heartache of having to leave this fiasco early! The theme is Carnival, think Rio. My mind hurts. Here is a brief communication between me and the birthday girl (J9):

carnival bum

Hoox: Theme Rio Carnival? All very well and good for the girls and of course for all the guys looking at all the girls but what the hell do guys wear? I can assure you now, no one in PE is going to be even remotely impressed if I show up oiled to the max wearing nothing but a g-string and nipple caps with tassels. London, yeah. New York, kewl. Rio, abso-freakin-lutely. PE … ummm … I think not!!

J9: I just wanted to keep living the Rio dream for a wee while longer, but as you mentioned I don’t quite think the theme is going to take off. In fact I don’t think people really tend to read the fine print, so most likely you would be the only sad soul (and moj) that turns up dressed up to the max. G-strings and nipple caps with tassels may just scare off the more conservative amongst us. Best to keep it clean (well for the first few minutes anyway). Have a sneaking suspicion that tonight is going to be raucous and quite out of hand… gotta love it:-)
Sooooo… do wear whatever takes your fancy. Pretty open minded, so if G-strings are your thing you’re welcome bebe. I am sure you’ll give them a show;-)

As much as I would like to think I am brave enough to pull this off, I am going to chicken out. This is a VERY small town. The only time the Sleepy Hollow wakes up is when there is scandal and gossip. I’m new in town and have to make a good impression! 8)

Anyhow, LNELL and I are leaving the party early. This is because we are responsible adults and conscientious when it comes to obeying the stipulated rules and regulations of aviation regarding alcohol consumption and timing thereof and more importantly, life preservation! Mostly the latter but it looks good to throw in the other crap as well. This weekend we are flying to Gatiep (Gariep Dam) which is about 2-3 hours away and camping overnight. Barefoot Airways ZS-FUP is on the move again. This time a scheduled layover is planned and possibly a second stop on the [family’s] farm on the way back. Might come back Sunday, maybe Monday, even Tuesday if we decide to go somewhere else too! Not as regular a routine schedule as our other competing airlines (SAA, 1-Time, BA, Kulula) but we certainly have a hell of a lot more fun!

So, without further ado, I hereby wish you all a very very happy weekend and see you when I see you. Maybe Wednesday! Hahahaha

To infinity and beyond ~ My hero, Buzz Lightyear!

 
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Posted by on January 23, 2009 in ATP, Boob, Breast, Camp, CPL, Family, Friends, Good News, N.W.R., Party!, South Africa, Transport, Travel

 

Barefoot Airways : ZS-FUP

20 Jan

January 17. A spectacular day out flying.

Plan of action: Take off from Port Elizabeth, fly to Willowmore, fly to Outshoorn, fly to Mossel Bay, fly to George and return to Port Elizabeth. As per usual with the new starter airline, Barefoot Airways, it doesn’t usually end up as planned. But that’s the beauty of it. Just go with the flow and enjoy the views from the front row.

Barefoot Airways consists of two pilots, namely Hoox (myself) and LNELL. Passengers are of course welcome and for this trip the lucky soul was a great girl, J9, who I cornered into saying yes just the night before at a party while she was hallucinating from the effects of a large dose of penicillin and other potential narcotics (all prescribed I have been assured). I gave her the call at 7:30 waking her up and telling her she had to be at the airport by 8:00. Very cruel I know but would you believe it, she made it on time. She can show you girls a thing or two about getting ready in under 2 hours! All that was left now was pre-flight inspections of the aircraft and passenger briefing.

Barefoot Airways

The passenger briefing was short and sweet. “Rule 1 : No shoes!. Rule 2 : Don’t talk while we are talking to Air Traffic Control (ATC). Rule 3 : Take loads of photos and have fun! This is a list of our expected destinations however this can change en-route. Right lets go.” Like I said, pax briefing is short with Barefoot Airways.

Pictures speak a million words so I am going to shut up now. Most of these photos were taken by our ultra keen pax, J9. She also makes a great photographer. Go girl! Thanks.

Below are loads of photos. Click for more:

Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on January 20, 2009 in Africa, ATP, Cessna, CPL, Friends, Good News, Party!, South Africa, Transport, Travel, Wishlist

 

Airbus A320 crash hailed as “miraculous”

16 Jan

This is where pilots show what they are made of. When people call them “glorified bus drivers”, as I have mistakenly done in the past, they don’t truly understand that a pilot isn’t usually paid for what he does do, he is paid for what he can do!

The standard list of procedures in any major incident (ad lib)

  1. PANIC
  2. Pull yourself together
  3. Fly the aircraft
  4. Ascertain the details and severity of the situation
  5. DEAL WITH THE SITUATION!
  6. Get on the ground (or water in this case) in one piece ASAP
  7. Walk away with everyone alive

sully470

Following taken from BBC America

Pilot hailed for ‘Hudson miracle’

The pilot of an airliner that ditched in New York’s Hudson River has been hailed a hero after all 155 passengers and crew were rescued.

The US Airways Airbus A320 made the crash-landing minutes out of LaGuardia airport, both its engines apparently disabled by a flock of birds.

Passengers were rescued from the wings or helped from the icy water by divers.

Captain Chesley Sullenberger was praised by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his "masterful" landing.

The state governor spoke of a "miracle on the Hudson".

He [Capt Sullenberger] walked the plane twice after everybody else was off

Michael Bloomberg
Mayor of New York

The BBC’s Greg Wood reports from New York that it was a true delivery from disaster, a commercial airliner forced to ditch in the river just next to the skyscrapers of mid-town Manhattan but with no fatalities.

One person suffered two broken legs and paramedics treated 78 patients, most for minor injuries but, through a combination of luck, the skill of the pilot and a rapid emergency response, 155 people have had a very narrow escape, our correspondent says.

Air accident investigators are in New York to probe the cause of the incident.

And more from SMH.com.au:

Australian & International Pilots’ Association president Barry Jackson said Mr Sullenberger had just minutes to perform a delicate operation that, had it not been executed perfectly, could have resulted in the plane cartwheeling on impact with the water and potentially killing those on board.

And what I feel is in somewhat bad taste is the alleged advert that came out (albeit from an unreliable source) very shortly after the incident with the headline:
The Hudson Crash: Just One More Reason to Fly Virgin.

virgin-us-airways

I sincerely hope that this is just some prank email and hope that not even Virgin, although very sharp and witty with their advertising, would stoop this low and piggy back off something like this. But personally, I would rather fly US Airways who employ pilots with the skills shown by Capt Sully, Hero of the Hudson!

 
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Posted by on January 16, 2009 in ATP, CPL, Good News, Interesting, N.W.R., Transport, USA, Wishlist

 

2000 Devine (Roll on 2009)

05 Jan

2008 was an “interesting” year to say the least, but I don’t think I have held back my feelings of late when I have expressed how glad I am for it to be over. It was not an all together terrible year and there were of course some special highlights but it certainly had its incredible amounts of challenges and hardships. “2000 Great” or whatever you called it, was a pretty shitty year for me but now it’s all gone and it’s all bright, positive and endless possibilities ahead.

Roll on 2009. A very happy new year to you all!

Here is a song I heard only today properly for the first time. I kind of heard some lyrics mumbled and the tune bashing away in the background a little while before but at gym today, while busting my ass, was the first time I actually paid attention to it. I would be a liar if I said I didn’t half get caught up in it and somewhat misty eyed, (could have just been the sweat mind you), but I swear the song was almost written about my life. All except the kids bit! Oh and I’m not 36 yet.

(Kid Rock – Roll On)

Sittin’ here alone I’m lookin’ back on where I’ve roamed
And laughing how I swore I’d win and not get burned
Left my family
Left my home
I worked my fingers to the bone
And there was not a stone I did not leave unturned
And I was havin’ a good time

Roll on Roll on Roller Coaster
We’re one day older and one step closer
Roll on there’s mountains to climb
Roll on we’re on borrowed time
Roll on Roller coaster
Roll on tonight
Roll on tonight yeah

It wasn’t so much a life altering moment at all but it was a life confirming moment. It really just boosted me with the energy required for the days ahead.

My life is changing again. Here’s how things are going to swing in the happy days of Hoox to come.

I’m going back to the exciting fast paced world of “Passport Thrashing”. The little red and the little green suckers are about to get a dusting off and shown who’s boss. Bring it on airport lounges. Do your best immigrations. Hoox is back!

Departures

After careful deliberation, this is what I have decided and this is how I aim to channel my life.

I am going back to doing contract IT work around the world in crazy places. That’s just me. It’s who I am. I have to face that. Only this time I will not go for the lengthy durations as I did before. I will be looking for something down the lines of equal time rotations (4 weeks on / 4 weeks off or similar). I will keep my house and home here in Port Elizabeth. On my time on I will work my ass off making pop-star wages. On my time off I will continue to fly and pursue my commercial pilot’s license. It may just take a little longer now. When I have my license I will continue doing the IT contracts and I will get flying contracts for my time off. If the charter firms I approach are not happy hiring me for only 3 weeks out of every 8, then I will tell them I will fly for them for free and I can pay for all my type ratings. How can they not say yes huh? In amongst this of course there will be some time for travel and I will continue to see the world with wonderful people. In 2 years I want to have visited all the 7 wonders of the world. Wow. I just looked up it (as per link). I had no idea there were so many different kinds. So I think I will start with the Ancient ones and move my way down the list. Might take a bit longer than 2 years. Any willing travel volunteers?

Hold on to your britches folks. Gawd damn this is going to be one HELL of a ride!

~~~ Oh and a very special thanks to my Shazza who got my sorry (being lazy) butt out of bed and on with my day today. A day which was definitely off to a good start but which turned out brilliantly. Thanks a mill. And remember Shaz, I OWE YOU! Thanks for the heads up as always and being in my corner! ~~~

 
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Posted by on January 5, 2009 in Contact, CPL, Friends, Good News, Gym, Ideas, Interesting, Life, Project, R & R, Road Trip, Transport, Travel, World in 80 ways

 

C72RG Rated

29 Nov

It’s all good. But it’s all technical. If you don’t give a rats ass about flying then this is going to have little to no interest to you.

This past week I completed my C72RG VP rating which in the bigger scheme of things not that huge an accomplishment but I had great fun doing it and that’s what counts. For those that are interested but just don’t know what I’m talking about, here is a brief explanation:

In order to fly different aircraft types based on class, type or complexity you have to go through a range of skills tests. This usually includes as a minimum, a Technical and General theory based written test going through all important aspects such as max loading, take off and landing speeds, fuel uplift and endurance etc. There are also the practical aspects which entail general flying and handling including full stalls, incipient spins and full spins, simulated forced landings, precautionary landings and short field take off and landings. In a following exercise you are made to execute a minimum of 3 successful take off and landings fully loaded. These are all tasks previously performed while doing your original license but this teaches you how this particular aircraft performs these manoeuvres. This particular type rating was for, as I mentioned earlier, for the C72RG which is just the code name for a “4 seater Cessna 172 Retractable Gear and Variable Pitch Constant Speed propeller”.

cessna-altimeter

The theory Tech & Gen I did weeks ago and since have been waiting on availability of instructors, aircraft and suitable weather. This week they all came together. Tuesday we went to the general flying area, otherwise known as the GF and did all the practical work and had an awesome time flipping the aircraft and landing as accurately as possible in all conditions. Some low level high bank turns are required if you are going to “keep the circuit tight” and achieve the most out of the exercise. Great fun.

Wednesday I had to call 2 mates and have them sit as dead weight (I prefer to call them live weight and so did they) while I performed the regular take off and landing sequences. It all went great however in the middle of all this the circuit (flying route you have to take around the airfield) got pretty congested and all light aircraft were told to hold their position while a scheduled flight SAA 737 was coming in to land. We were routed out to the coast and over the harbour. My instructor said, “right I have control, you are paying for this flight so we might as well enjoy it”. With that we nosedived from 1200 feet to a little around 100 feet in about 10 seconds. We levelled out lower than the buildings on the beach front and proceeded to fly low level around the point on the coast. There are no words to describe how truly awesome that feels. After a minute or two he asked if I was comfortable and upon acknowledgement that all was hunky dory he relinquished control to me and I was it. I was screaming (figuratively) around the coast at 135Knots about 50 – 100 foot off the water making steep turns where necessary to avoid obstacles. Incredible (for lack of a better word).

Once we had completed the entire length of the point I pulled back sharply on the control rocketing us back up to 1200 feet whereby we rejoined the official circuit and came into land! Back on the ground he gave me the thumbs up and said “You can handle this aircraft no problem. Good flying. Let’s go back and fill in some paperwork”.

If that’s what all conversions were like, I would be writing up a list of aircraft I want to get type rated on! A good day out! Awesome. And thanks to my dead/live weight in the back who also had the ride of their lives".

 
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Posted by on November 29, 2008 in ATP, Cessna, CPL, Friends, Transport, Travel, Wishlist

 
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