Great trip to CAMI.
We had to deal with some weather, but all arrived near the scheduled start time. About 3:00 A.M. the forecast was pretty bleak, but around 6:00 when we were all pre-flighting, it improved. Didn't mind the low ceilings and BR forecast, it was the TSRA that had me thinking about canceling; note about possible hail. Well, it all worked out. Got some bumps in the descent, but broke out at 3,500 (2,500) AGL and dropped it in.
Is ATIS getting longer everywhere? Gosh, it's difficult enough to try to pick it up while listening to Approach single pilot IMC when there's a few blips; seems many of there recording have info on can get elsewhere or should have gotten in a brief. Windsxxx ceiling, vis, etc. then all this stuff about runways closed, taxiway thus and such closed from taxiway A to taxiway D and three for four others; non-conforming lights on runway xxx; VFR arrivals call approach at xxx 20 miles out; tower at xxxxx. Geesh.
Anyway, 12 of us from the club went through the chamber and it was a very rewarding experience. Lots of classes on how all this effects us, then about 1:30 in the chamber. I had been signed off for the ground portion of this before, but there's always something new one picks up.
We learned quickly not to get coffee out of a pot located near the rest rooms! Evidently, proprietary coffee pots in key locations!!
Great instructor that was retire AF. I did ask about decompression sickness and pre-breathing when I flew my Bonanza at up to 25,000 feet. Their opinion is it was pretty rare: like .002 percent and with my relatively slow rate of climb should not be an issue.
Talked about landing an aircraft on water: they said their studies of accidents showed only 14% of planes flip when the land: didn't matter if high or low wing and fixed gear or retract---hummmm.
The chamber was the highlight! Up to 8,000 feet to test then back to the surface to breath oxygen for 30 minutes, then up to 18,000 for a bit, then to FL250 and off with the masks. Of course, some funny stuff after a few minutes. One guy couldn't put blocks through a frame which was a little game designed for two-year-olds! ‘Nother guy couldn't count backwards after a couple numbers. ‘Nother guy couldn't remember where he was going after being told, etc. Lots of fun. The got some of it on camera and a supposed to make a CD available.
In all, very worthwhile.
Dave