Squeaky Wheels

Many pilots refer to the ability to fly as being a balance between having enough time and money, usually with not enough of either.  Rarely enough of both.  In my case, it's more of a multivariable calculus problem that must account for odd project schedules, quickly changing Montana weather, oh, and of course, the local airport being under construction.

Since I had to fly home from work on a Friday and couldn't get into Billings, it meant I had a reason to be in Bozeman, which meant I had a 'reason' to go fly the Diamond again.  The fact that the family would be driving over for a trip to Yellowstone National Park didn't hurt either.  So I started watching the weather on Tuesday, and not seeing anything more significant than the typical afternoon thunderstorm forecast (you may as well forecast the sun to rise in Montana) I scheduled a plane for that Friday.

Then it all started to unravel.

First was the email from the flight school saying that I couldn't rent the plane solo without a Mountain Flying course.  This was only partially surprising.  Though I knew the school had been upping their safety policies, I didn't recall that particular point when I did my BFR two months ago.  Nonetheless, I didn't really worry too much about it, and wouldn't mind just scheduling some dual time instead, so I responded with a request to add an instructor to my appointment.

That's where things stood all the way up into Friday.  I flew out of Canada and kept an eye on the weather.  There was a bit of turbulence on the Airbus into Bozeman and the clouds were starting to build, but it still looked flyable.  Until I got on the ground and checked my phone - no instructors were available today.  I called back and since I was literally just a five-minute walk from the flight school, I would stop in anyway and see what we could work out.

Good news: my original flight training exempted me from the mountain flying requirement, since I'm familiarized with the area and the aircraft.  Bad news: I still can't solo since the school requires a dual flight every 30 days.  Worse news: the weather is going downhill fast.

We finally agree on a strategy.  If the weather breaks, a single pattern with an instructor will suffice given my history at the school.  At least, it will reset the 30-day clock and I can come back another time.  So we ponder the clouds, feel the wind, and squint at the radar picture online.  Finally, we decide to give it a go.  Out to the ramp and a quick preflight underway, then we smell the rain...and the wind picks up.  It's not a thunderstorm, but it's enough for a small plane to have a rough time of it.  "I don't know," says the instructor.  That's enough for me.  If the instructor has second thoughts, I don't want any part of it.  Back inside we go, and a good choice it was.  Eventually, the winds reached 45 knots across the runway.  No thanks.  I'll wait it out.

And I wasn't the only one.  A few other pilots and instructors were playing the same game, hoping for checkrides that depended on lighter winds and no heavy clouds.  After almost two hours, things started to look up.  The small, isolated showers had moved north and the winds weren't threatening to take the windsocks with them any longer.  "Quick!  Let's go!"

The instructor and I did a two-man preflight, each on one half of the plane. On the ground frequency, I requested a takoff "with one circuit and a full-stop."  "Circuit," says the instructor.  "Haven't heard that for a while."  "I flew in Australia and Canada..."  As before, my radio calls got the attention of the instructor.  "What a relief to hear someone who can talk on the radio."  Then off we went.

A little wobbly in the wind, but nothing like I would have expected given the gusts just an hour before.  Kept the correction into the crosswind all the way around, and though it was a quick circuit, er...pattern, it was good to get it done.  My last flight rebuilt some of the confidence I had lost down in Australia, and this one ended in the best way possible: the softest, barely perceptible landing.  The instructor commented back in the office, "Textbook doesn't quite capture how good that landing was."  Well, I'll take it.  I know better that my flying still has rusty spots, but it's nice to have a good day work out as well as this one did. 

I may have another chance to fly in the next couple of weeks, but even if not - next stop: Oshkosh!