First post check ride flight

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RomeoSierra

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Romeo Sierra
So I passed my PPL checkride on Friday and looking to do my first flight next weekend with my first ever passenger. Exciting!

Obviously I’ve done solos and cross countries during training but we never stopped at an FBO.

So my question is how do these things work? Do you normally need to call ahead to let the FBO a you’re arriving or can you just turn up? Where do you know where to park? I know these things are probably obvious but the real life practicalities of things like this they don’t teach during training and I’d to turn up looking like an idiot my first time with my passenger.

If it helps I’m looking to go to KDUA and visit the casino for a few hours so if anyone knows personally for this airport or just in general I’d love to hear it.

Thanks
 
Normally there is no need to call ahead to the destination you plan to stop at but doing so lets you plan how you will park, get a car or were to eat. Some FBO's will charge for parking but wave the fee when you buy fuel. As part of your flight planning look at taxi ways for the airport so you have some ideal of were to go.

My first flight with a passenger was over Custer State Park viewing Mt Rushmore. We videoed the flight and my passenger had more fun than I did...:) Landed at the park and had a good time talking to the locals...:)

edit: Call ahead to the FBO you are renting from and schedule a time for the flight. Let them know your plans and how long you expect to be gone.

Congratulations on earning your PPL. Have fun....:)
 
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not a silly question at all, it should be part of primary training lol. coupl'a things you can do, of course you can always call them and ask. what I used to do and occasionally still do is google the destination. look to see where planes are parked. doesn't always indicate where u should go but often it does. in this case, you're in the middle of flippin nowhere, it wasn't very obvious to me. so look up the airport code in airnav. from there you can get the name of the fbo, then google that, and you should see about where it's located. that may also give u an indication of where to go. of course sometimes they will marshal you to where they want you parked. you may see a golf cart waiting for you, follow him. you may see a line guy waving his arms trying to get your attention, go to him. likewise, when I'm going to a new place and trying to figure out where the self serve pumps are, I'll google the place and look for the tanks. finally, it's a fun learning process, but it's better to be a little more prepared, like u said, so your passengers aren't like 'wtf dude?!?' good luck and have fun!
 
Having your first passenger is not much different ,than having your instructor with you, maybe a little quieter. Call ahead and get a plane reserved. The counter person can give you the rest of the info.
 
Obviously things vary from place to place. A smaller airport usually you self park. But others will have line people guide you in. Definitely brush up on the hand signals, you might need them. One airport I landed at they literally put out a small red carpet and left a cooler of beverages next to the plane. You should carry some $5 and $10 bills for tipping as appropriate.

Use the airport diagrams along with google maps to get a feel for where the FBO is located and what taxiways to expect. You will also be able to see where the planes are parked so you have a general idea of where to head.

Calling ahead isn’t really needed unless you are trying to schedule use of a crew car, or find out general information. Another time to call ahead is to ensure service will be available, for example one time I was flying Denver to SLC on Super Bowl Sunday, and needed a fuel stop in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming. I called those guys ahead of time and made sure they would be at the airport.

That’s just some tidbits. Congrats on your ticket! Now you will really learn about aviation as you get out and roam around.
 
The only time I call is find out about any fees they may charge. If you’re going to use self-service fuel be prepared for a challenge. They can all be a little different. Congratulations on passing the ppl. Now get out there and explore but most of all have fun.
 
Lemme ask ya this......


Your first flight, certificate still pink, did ya feel like you were getting away with something? Like, you shoulda had a CFI with you or somehow had to ask permission to fly or write a check after you were done to the instructor? When you realized, nope, I'm actually the PIC, did you get all giddy and then suddenly realize OMG, I have to fly this effin thing for real-for real?

Fess up!
 
Unit74 said:
Lemme ask ya this......


Your first flight, certificate still pink, did ya feel like you were getting away with something? Like, you shoulda had a CFI with you or somehow had to ask permission to fly or write a check after you were done to the instructor? When you realized, nope, I'm actually the PIC, did you get all giddy and then suddenly realize OMG, I have to fly this effin thing for real-for real?

Fess up!
Click to expand...

Showing your age. Pink certificates have existed for decades. :)
 
denverpilot said:
Showing your age. Pink certificates have existed for decades. :)
Click to expand...


Say Whuuuut? You are serious? I guarded those with my life till me card came in the mail! What do they give now, an app?
 
Unit74 said:
Say Whuuuut? You are serious? I guarded those with my life till me card came in the mail! What do they give now, an app?
Click to expand...

Hahahahaha. You get a printout from whatever printer is hooked do the PC the DPE “signed” your IACRA on. Then FAA mails a new green Orville and Wilbur credit card a number of weeks later.
 
RomeoSierra said:
So I passed my PPL checkride on Friday and looking to do my first flight next weekend with my first ever passenger. Exciting!

Obviously I’ve done solos and cross countries during training but we never stopped at an FBO.

So my question is how do these things work? Do you normally need to call ahead to let the FBO a you’re arriving or can you just turn up? Where do you know where to park? I know these things are probably obvious but the real life practicalities of things like this they don’t teach during training and I’d to turn up looking like an idiot my first time with my passenger.

If it helps I’m looking to go to KDUA and visit the casino for a few hours so if anyone knows personally for this airport or just in general I’d love to hear it.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I hope that this is the only thing that your instructor short-changed you on. Should have been part of your cross-country training.

Yes, you just show up. "Where to park?" comes up in this forum all the time; sometimes it is obvious, most of the time it can be mysterious. At some places there are people (usually women) with signs hoping that you will park with them and use their services. It never hurts to give the FBO a call on the phone before departure and get this kind of information.

Bob
 
RomeoSierra said:
So I passed my PPL checkride on Friday and looking to do my first flight next weekend with my first ever passenger. Exciting!
Click to expand...

So.... has it hit you yet that you can legally fly from one coast to the other, with passengers, at night, with 3 mile visibility..??? :lol::lol::lol: Might not be the safest option but still legal.

Congratulations buddy...... you now have a license to learn..... something that never stops in aviation.!!!

Looks like a nice little airport you are planning. I would just call ahead to see if they will be open the day you are arriving and inquire about business hours. Some small FBOs cab have some weird hours.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KDUA

And I agree, your instructor kind of left you hanging if he didn't introduce you to FBOs.
 
I don’t know about all over but I have been to a couple of spots where the actual tiedown ropes are not provided. I always have some ratchet satraps but that is something I have called about. I like calling also because most of our VFR flights are within 3 hours. That way I know a name and parking procedure; and they know what my intentions are. I’m only five flights with pax in so I’m not qualified but to your situation I’m just ahead of you. Call them. Nobody will be surprised by your questions and I was given a 25c per gallon discount as a first time customer from my call.
 
One more point. PPL training is all about skills, accident and emergency procedures. My first flight after getting my PPL, I had four specific things happen that I never experienced in training. God knows, nobody wants more training but it does leave you with more “license to learn” than you think. I have found no shame in telling ATC, flight following, wx briefer, etc that I am a new pilot and they have been patient, helpful and descriptive. Same at FBOs and such.
 
RomeoSierra said:
So I passed my PPL checkride on Friday and looking to do my first flight next weekend with my first ever passenger. Exciting!

Obviously I’ve done solos and cross countries during training but we never stopped at an FBO.

So my question is how do these things work? Do you normally need to call ahead to let the FBO a you’re arriving or can you just turn up? Where do you know where to park? I know these things are probably obvious but the real life practicalities of things like this they don’t teach during training and I’d to turn up looking like an idiot my first time with my passenger.

If it helps I’m looking to go to KDUA and visit the casino for a few hours so if anyone knows personally for this airport or just in general I’d love to hear it.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Ya might want to take short hop somewhere to a place with an FBO yourself if time and money allow so it’s not completely new to you. Anyway, good advice above and congratulations. Have fun.
 
FBO's are all different. Think of it as "exploring local culture". Chat up locals and meet interesting people!
 
If your passenger is someone you may live the rest of your life with, do yourself a favor and don't do what I did. I took my young bride to lunch. A 30 minute flight each way. It was stifling hot, and the air was bumpy on the way back (...lunch...). It took 30 years to get her to fly with me again.

If I had it to do over, it'd be an early morning sightseeing flight. Nice smooth air, shallow turns, and back before it gets warm and bumpy.
 
bobmrg said:
I hope that this is the only thing that your instructor short-changed you on. Should have been part of your cross-country training.

Yes, you just show up. "Where to park?" comes up in this forum all the time; sometimes it is obvious, most of the time it can be mysterious. At some places there are people (usually women) with signs hoping that you will park with them and use their services. It never hurts to give the FBO a call on the phone before departure and get this kind of information.

Bob
Click to expand...
Short changed? Really? I mean, how bad would it be if, heaven forbid, he shows up without "FBO training"? He would actually have to pull up to the FBO, then figure it out...gasp...HIMSELF!!! The horror!!!
 
bobmrg said:
I hope that this is the only thing that your instructor short-changed you on. Should have been part of your cross-country training.

Yes, you just show up. "Where to park?" comes up in this forum all the time; sometimes it is obvious, most of the time it can be mysterious. At some places there are people (usually women) with signs hoping that you will park with them and use their services. It never hurts to give the FBO a call on the phone before departure and get this kind of information.

Bob
Click to expand...

Where is this at? I've flown to all 48 and never seen a line girl, let alone a ring girl at an FBO.
 
EdFred said:
Where is this at? I've flown to all 48 and never seen a line girl, let alone a ring girl at an FBO.
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Don’t know if it still exists, but does anyone remember Flower Aviation?
 
CONGRATULATION on passing the CR!

So far I've only visited airports where I flew with my CFI during training. At those airports where we only did T&Gs or full stop taxi backs, I would look them up on google maps and look for parking locations. If I can't find it or if it's not obvious, I would call the FBO, inquire about their pricing and upon arrival, ask ground control for taxi directions either to the FBO or I would ask if they have GA transient parking. Sometime they don't, like in SBA. They only have two FBOs, pick the one closest to your landing RWY, and prepare to pay the fee (but it never hurts to ask for a discount, especially if you only stop for a short restroom break)
Ground can also give progressive taxi directions to the parking but make sure you write it down and have the airport diagram in front of you and mark the direction on it. Do not make the mistake like I did on my first flight with Pax at CMA. I had no diagram, my iPad database was out of date so it wouldn't show the layout and I felt so lost that at almost every 20-30 feet I would call ground to make sure I was going in the right direction. (Luckily my pax was my hubby and he knew I was not an idiot... just very under-prepared :(

If I need info on other stuff that don't show up on maps - like location of a run-up area - I would just send an email to the airport manager with my questions, like I did last time going into MHV. The guy responded within a few hours with a bunch of helpful info.

Clear skies and have fun!!!
 
Kritchlow said:
Don’t know if it still exists, but does anyone remember Flower Aviation?
Click to expand...

The FBO still exists. The mini skirts and wall calendars are long gone to Political Correctness.

They had three locations at one time but the only one I usually see is KPUB.

Lots of corporate jets seem to use them as a fuel stop judging by YouTube videos when they’re anywhere nearby. Decent Jet-A prices and a quick turn there is always super easy.

For us spamcan folks they used to have a punch card for a certain number of fill ups you’d get a free steak. Frozen. Not kidding. I’ve flown home with a couple of solidly frozen steaks in the back seat hoping they wouldn’t thaw.

For the corporate types for 250 gal or more it’s a whole box of frozen steaks. Or a Starbucks gift card. I have no idea what value on the card. Haha.

The steaks are nothing to write home about but they’re not awful either. Must be a local provider down there they get a deal from or something.
 
denverpilot said:
The FBO still exists. The mini skirts and wall calendars are long gone to Political Correctness.

They had three locations at one time but the only one I usually see is KPUB.

Lots of corporate jets seem to use them as a fuel stop judging by YouTube videos when they’re anywhere nearby. Decent Jet-A prices and a quick turn there is always super easy.

For us spamcan folks they used to have a punch card for a certain number of fill ups you’d get a free steak. Frozen. Not kidding. I’ve flown home with a couple of solidly frozen steaks in the back seat hoping they wouldn’t thaw.

For the corporate types for 250 gal or more it’s a whole box of frozen steaks. Or a Starbucks gift card. I have no idea what value on the card. Haha.

The steaks are nothing to write home about but they’re not awful either. Must be a local provider down there they get a deal from or something.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I’ve been to the ones in Salina and Pueblo. Always offered the frozen steaks, but they also offered wine. We always took the wine since it was easier for travel.
Hot pants, and huge gazoongs.
Problem is they always sent a provocative (cartoon) postcard to my home about once a month. Really had my wife wondering what the hell I was doing for a living.
 
RomeoSierra said:
So I passed my PPL checkride on Friday and looking to do my first flight next weekend with my first ever passenger. Exciting!

Obviously I’ve done solos and cross countries during training but we never stopped at an FBO.

So my question is how do these things work? Do you normally need to call ahead to let the FBO a you’re arriving or can you just turn up? Where do you know where to park? I know these things are probably obvious but the real life practicalities of things like this they don’t teach during training and I’d to turn up looking like an idiot my first time with my passenger.

If it helps I’m looking to go to KDUA and visit the casino for a few hours so if anyone knows personally for this airport or just in general I’d love to hear it.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Congrats on getting your PPL.
Here is some info on your airport http://www.airnav.com/airport/KDUA
Does not look like much there.
You may want to call the casino and ask then to pick you up.
https://www.choctawcasinos.com/choctaw-durant/
 
CRW used to do the steak thing (maybe still?)

We had a big aerial mapping job down there years ago, by the end of it I'm fairly certain our crews flew home with the equivalent of a whole steer.
 
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