Recent content by Stevea621j

Part of the HIMS program is usually random urine testing approximately monthly which is different than just the random testing done by an employer on everybody. They test for metabolytes of alcohol that will be present for days after alcohol has been ingested. They are not concerned with a BAC...

True, but if he was going through random testing he would have to be pretty lucky to keep drinking and not come up positive at some point over the past year.

I guess I don't understand the FAA. Here is a professional pilot with a history of alcohol issues, flying, presumably without any on going testing or anything. Meanwhile some guy with a history of a DUI 5 years prior has to go through the whole HIMS workup, go to daily AA meetings, and prove...

Exactly. It is a new design based off the Alarus, But even in the fuselage, which looks the same externally and has the same overall dimensions, because of the higher loads, increased speeds etc it has thicker skins in some places, different rivet spacing or larger rivets in areas, additional...

Not exactly. It was a kit (or set of plans) for a 4 seat aircraft based upon the Alarus. I don't know of anyone who converted an Alarus to a CH640. The plans do not really address converting an already built Alarus to a CH640. Since there is nothing that shows what is different between the two...

The CH640 is a 4 seat version of the certified Alarus. Although the fuselage is not stretched, it has longer wings, larger stabilator, larger ruddder, and an O-360 instead of an O-235. It is probably also beefed up in some areas to account for the increased loads as well. Just putting in 2 extra...

When I trained we were lucky enough to have an ASR approach. For the PPL instrument training, we did about an hour under the hood with basic maneuvers, and the other 2 hours doing ASR approaches. I thought that was good because it simulates the type of assistance you may get from ATC if you...

I got pulled over once and the officer suspected I was DUI. I hadn't been drinking at all so i agreed to take the roadside tests. They can be difficult on a nice sunny day, imagine trying to do it in the middle of the night on a dark highway with the only light the flashing lights of the police...

I did my first solo at 8 hours and passed my check ride with 42 hours. I had the benefit of being able to fly 4 or 5 hours a week which I think helped a lot. Some have said that they think the student needs to be proficient enough to not only safely fly in the pattern, but to also cross country...

As long as there is enough legal grass, people don't mind going without electricity occasionally.

I guess he may have just recently finished his training, but the FAA database shows only a student pilot certificate. It's really tragic. I guess I have never understood why pilots try so hard to avoid shutting down the engine.

I am pretty sure pretty much everybody recommends doing slow flight on the first test flight. It's kind of important to know what the prestall speed is and what kind of warning your new plane will give before it stalls. How else do you calculate your safe approach speeds? What if the ride gets a...

I think my new Superior engine had 2 hours on the test stand. First flight I ran it hard mostly, but I think you're kind of obligated to do some slow flight. Short final on your first landing in the airplane is not the time to be checking how it handles in slow flight or when you drop some flaps.

Cognitive function is not static. There is a lot of literature showing that cognitive function can be increased. Is doing exercises to increase your cognitive function any different than eating right exercising, and losing weight to improve your blood pressure or keep from developing diabetes?

I logged about 800 hours to build my CH640 from a quickbuild kit. I now have around 900 hours on it so I guess I made it past that milestone. I would definitely recommend getting all the quickbuild components you can. I didn't build an RV, but I think the building process is pretty similar...