loudbagel
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2011
- Messages
- 102
- Display Name
Display name:
Hummingbird Saltalamacchia
I took my friend (16 years old) Flying with me several weeks ago, the flight went great and he loved it. It really further reinforced for him his want to become a pilot.
Fast forward to yesterday I offered to take him up flying again, every time he saw me in school he stated again how "his schedule is always open".
We orginally planned on 11:00 AM but some works issues caused me to push the flight to 3. We are strapped into the plane about to light it up and he lets me know he needs to be back at his house by six, no problem a one hour training flight and ill have him back by 4:45.
Light traffic at CAK gave us an easy taxi, Echo to runway 23. So we lift off, climbing through about 100 ft aGL and he pulls out his Cell Phone , but im too busy to notice because Tower just warned me of a flock of birds so im looking for them. About 5 or 6 minutes later, level at 3000ft enroute to the west practice area I again look over to see him screwing with his phone. I notice that he isn't taking a video or picture so I ask him what he is doing? "Im just texting my girlfriend".
That right there ****ed me off, I take him up flying on a beautiful day, trying to continue to grow his passion for Aviation. And he is going to sit there and text his girlfriend?
But.... he isn't affecting the flight, and really if that is what he wants to do when he is riding with me...i guess its kinda OK. So at that point I forget about it and get ready to do some practice touch and go's at BJJ.
We are now 10 minutes out of CAK, it is 3:17. my buddy says"ummmm my mom needs me back at the house at 4" I am totaly shocked... Im about ready to be ****ed off, then I think maybe he is scared or not feeling good and wants to go back. So we go back and forth for a few questions me making sure he hasn't wet himself or is sick. After I have established that he is feeling fine I let him know that I will be doing at least three T&G's then we will head back.
Next he lets me know that he really needs to be back by 4, his mom's big surprise bday party is tomorrow and he needs to decorate. At this point I know he must not be feeling right or is scared because nobody who likes flying skips flying to decorate!
I crank the plane back around, call crackon and head back in to land. It is 3:28.
In tight on base for RWY 19 controller has me keep the speed up so Airtran doesnt run up my A*%. Turn final and I look over and he has that damn phone out again and is texting. "Put the Phone away for landing" I let him know "but my girl...." he sputters I say, in pocket por-favor.
A soft touch down then quick taxi over to my hangar, call Mckinley on Unicom to get the fuel truck over. I shut down the plane and we disembark, as I am opening the Hangar door my friend informs me that I better drive fast, cause he needs to get home. At this point I realize for the second time that day that he wasn't sick or scared. He was just being a prick!
All the time the fuel truck was there he stood in the corner and texted ...guess who?
I dropped him off and peeled out of his driveway, I was pretty ****ed Time was 4:10.
So after all that effort to introduce him for the second time to GA I get a ruined training flight, and an absolute waste of $32.17 in gas. He texted me that night and I will quote the text "when is we going flying again bro?"
Ill let you guys answer that question!
Fast forward to yesterday I offered to take him up flying again, every time he saw me in school he stated again how "his schedule is always open".
We orginally planned on 11:00 AM but some works issues caused me to push the flight to 3. We are strapped into the plane about to light it up and he lets me know he needs to be back at his house by six, no problem a one hour training flight and ill have him back by 4:45.
Light traffic at CAK gave us an easy taxi, Echo to runway 23. So we lift off, climbing through about 100 ft aGL and he pulls out his Cell Phone , but im too busy to notice because Tower just warned me of a flock of birds so im looking for them. About 5 or 6 minutes later, level at 3000ft enroute to the west practice area I again look over to see him screwing with his phone. I notice that he isn't taking a video or picture so I ask him what he is doing? "Im just texting my girlfriend".
That right there ****ed me off, I take him up flying on a beautiful day, trying to continue to grow his passion for Aviation. And he is going to sit there and text his girlfriend?
But.... he isn't affecting the flight, and really if that is what he wants to do when he is riding with me...i guess its kinda OK. So at that point I forget about it and get ready to do some practice touch and go's at BJJ.
We are now 10 minutes out of CAK, it is 3:17. my buddy says"ummmm my mom needs me back at the house at 4" I am totaly shocked... Im about ready to be ****ed off, then I think maybe he is scared or not feeling good and wants to go back. So we go back and forth for a few questions me making sure he hasn't wet himself or is sick. After I have established that he is feeling fine I let him know that I will be doing at least three T&G's then we will head back.
Next he lets me know that he really needs to be back by 4, his mom's big surprise bday party is tomorrow and he needs to decorate. At this point I know he must not be feeling right or is scared because nobody who likes flying skips flying to decorate!
I crank the plane back around, call crackon and head back in to land. It is 3:28.
In tight on base for RWY 19 controller has me keep the speed up so Airtran doesnt run up my A*%. Turn final and I look over and he has that damn phone out again and is texting. "Put the Phone away for landing" I let him know "but my girl...." he sputters I say, in pocket por-favor.
A soft touch down then quick taxi over to my hangar, call Mckinley on Unicom to get the fuel truck over. I shut down the plane and we disembark, as I am opening the Hangar door my friend informs me that I better drive fast, cause he needs to get home. At this point I realize for the second time that day that he wasn't sick or scared. He was just being a prick!
All the time the fuel truck was there he stood in the corner and texted ...guess who?
I dropped him off and peeled out of his driveway, I was pretty ****ed Time was 4:10.
So after all that effort to introduce him for the second time to GA I get a ruined training flight, and an absolute waste of $32.17 in gas. He texted me that night and I will quote the text "when is we going flying again bro?"
Ill let you guys answer that question!