Things to do as a private pilot ?

"steve" wrote in message
...
I got my private license when I was living in Hawaii, and worked on a
snorkel/scuba charter boat. I would meet tourists and offer to take them
sightseeing if they shared the cost of the rental with me. Picked up about
30 hours doing that, and it was fun!

Isn't taking scuba divers flying sort of dangerous?

-c

gatt wrote:
Isn't taking scuba divers flying sort of dangerous?

It can be, depending on how much diving they did, what the depth
profiles were, what air tank mixes they used (if different from normal),
and how long they waited before climbing in to the airplane. It also
depends on how high you fly.

The general FAA suggestion from the AIM in 8-1-2 Section d item 2 is

"2. The recommended waiting time before going to flight altitudes of up
to 8,000 feet is at least 12 hours after diving which has not required
controlled ascent (nondecompression stop diving), and at least 24 hours
after diving which has required controlled ascent (decompression stop
diving). The waiting time before going to flight altitudes above 8,000
feet should be at least 24 hours after any SCUBA dive. These recommended
altitudes are actual flight altitudes above mean sea level (AMSL) and
not pressurized cabin altitudes. This takes into consideration the risk
of decompression of the aircraft during flight. "

These are very general recommendations. A SCUBA diver proficient in
high altitude lake diving may have better knowledge about the risks they
are taking.

wrote:
Since my family is not thrilled by the idea of flying in a small plane,
and I get bored flying solo, I am wondering what other venues there are
for a (VFR) pilot to fly people around. Basically I am looking for
excuses to do scenic flights within a 100 NM radius of San Diego.
CAP and Angel Flights sound rather stressful. Does
pilotsharetheride.com have a good reputation? Any other ideas ?

To add to the previous poster who suggested soaring, I'd add that aside
from making every flight interesting a) it's a lot cheaper than power
on a per hour basis (no fuel, etc.) and b) every pilot I know who is
both power and glider rated states that learning to fly gliders makes
you a safer, better pilot. If you want to find a glider operation in
your area, go to www.ssa.org and click on "Find Where to Fly" on the
RHS. Or the link to that page is

http://www.ssa.org/sport/wheretofly.asp

It looks like Sky Sailing in Warner Springs might be a good bet.

I fly a motor glider out of Hayward, across the Bay from SFO and have
marveled at how even local soaring (mostly winter and spring time) can
be amazing fun. One time there was lift just over the East Bay Hills
and cloud bases were low so I couldn't get enough altitude to hop from
one cloud to the next without using the engine. But hanging out 5-10
miles from my home base for an hour an a half was anything but boring
as I had to constantly search for lift (it moves around), center myself
in it, etc. And, when I could relax for a few minutes, the view of the
SF skyline, the bridges, the Bay, and more were just fantastic. I
commented afterward to my copilot that a similar flight in a power
plane would have seemed pointless, but this was great fun.

On 15 Jun 2006 18:02:57 -0700, wrote in
om::

Since my family is not thrilled by the idea of flying in a small plane,

What is the source of their disenchantment with flight? Fear? Lack
of interest? ?

and I get bored flying solo,

Is that because you have no mission? What sort of activities do you
enjoy?

I am wondering what other venues there are
for a (VFR) pilot to fly people around. Basically I am looking for
excuses to do scenic flights within a 100 NM radius of San Diego.

Here are some ideas. Scout them out solo first, so you'll know what
each has to offer your passengers. When you get home, you can regale
the family with your adventures.

Take a trip to the Robert Pond Palm Springs Air Museum (760-778-6262)
on Palm Springs Airport (KPSP); all the aircraft are in mint
condition!

A little further north is the General Patton Museum at Chiriaco Summit
Airport (L77): http://www.airnav.com/airport/L77 . Beyond that lie
the ghostly remains of the WW-II Desert Training Center divisional
campsites and aerodromes still remarkably evident on the desert floor
along the way to Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (KIFP) and Mc
Carran International Airport (KLAS). There's lots of fun there.

If you leave early in the morning and beat the heat, you can easily
enjoy the day on the Colorado River and in the Casinos, and make it
home before dark. Tell them about the wonderful time you had, and
then see if your family becomes a little more interested in your magic
carpet.

CAP and Angel Flights sound rather stressful.

Civil Air Patrol is good for those interested in military discipline.
Does pilotsharetheride.com have a good reputation?

The creator of PilotShareTheRide.com assures me that he has the
blessing of AOPA, and FSDO.

Any other ideas ?

There is a sky trail around Borrego Springs. Agua Caliente Airport
(L54) has hot pools for swimming and soaking within walking distance
of the airport. There's a small air museum on Montgomery Field
Airport (KMYF) if memory serves. Don't overlook the Planes of Fame
Air Museum at Chino Airport (KCNO): http://www.planesoffame.org/

Hop over to Warner Springs Great Circle Gliderport (CL35) for an
introductory flight. Perris Valley Airport (L65) is the busiest
paracenter in the nation. You can spend hours watching the sky
divers. Check out Giant Rock near Yucca Valley Airport (L22).

Plan a mission. Fly it. Relate your experiences to family and
friends; you should find them warming to the idea of accompanying you
on your next air adventure. Don't forget to post your trip reports to
Usenet.

wrote:
Since my family is not thrilled by the idea of flying in a small plane,
and I get bored flying solo, I am wondering what other venues there are
for a (VFR) pilot to fly people around. Basically I am looking for
excuses to do scenic flights within a 100 NM radius of San Diego.
CAP and Angel Flights sound rather stressful. Does
pilotsharetheride.com have a good reputation? Any other ideas ?

If you know any kids from age 8 to about 14, invite them and one or both
parents. It can be lots of fun to share. I speak from experience.

We can use all the good PR we can get.

I may be way off, since I have never done it, but how stressful can
angel flights be?

Timmay wrote:
I may be way off, since I have never done it, but how stressful can
angel flights be?

I dunno. But I figure that it would be less stressful than taking a
healthy kid and parent up...

Timmay wrote:
I may be way off, since I have never done it, but how stressful can
angel flights be?

Only as stressful typically as the pilot makes it (and no, I am not
talking about his/her piloting skills G).

New AF pilots put the stress on themselves. They feel pressure to make
a flight because "the patient is counting on me." They worry about
EVERYTHING. Most of all, I've found, they worry about interacting with
the patient. They envision:

Pilot: Good morning.
Passenger: What's so good about it... I'm dying!

Pilot: Have a nice day.
Passenger: If I live that long.

That's why "blood runs" (flights to deliver unprocessed blood to the
blood banks) is so popular with newbie AF pilots - no small talk
required. G

The truth is, all that pressure is strictly self-imposed. The
passengers know that any flight, even commercial, may be canceled or
delayed with weather or equipment problems. And as for their
"condition" - frankly, I've never met a patient who wasn't a LOT more
comfortable with their medical condition than the pilot was.

After the first flight or two, the pilot learns to relax, enjoy the
flight, and enjoy the company of a passenger who often has lots of
interesting stories to tell.

James Knox
AF-SC

I joined pilotsharetheride.com. I have been up once with a local pilot I met
through it. I don't see it as a reputation problem. I don't get spam through
it or anything like that. Pilots share information and you can look up other
local pilots that just want to go up and share the expense.

One recommendation I would make is when you first meet the other pilot that
you show each other your logbooks this way you know what kind of experience
each have. You are meeting someone for the first time and they can say they
have a couple of hundred hours but really low landing counts. Also, this may
not be a long time pilot or CFI you go up with and they may not know the
airport that you plan to go up in so you need to work closely together with
planning. Try to meet the other pilot for the first time before you go up
with them too if you don't them well.

-Jonathan

wrote in message
ps.com...
Since my family is not thrilled by the idea of flying in a small plane,
and I get bored flying solo, I am wondering what other venues there are
for a (VFR) pilot to fly people around. Basically I am looking for
excuses to do scenic flights within a 100 NM radius of San Diego.
CAP and Angel Flights sound rather stressful. Does
pilotsharetheride.com have a good reputation? Any other ideas ?