WOW!! Lookie Here!

Got another piece of mail on Saturday and WTF??

My kidney physician and I notified that FAA that I swapped from Clonidine to their approved blood pressure medication. I was told by several of those in the know that I'd have to take the new medication and advise the FAA after 30 days of the current BP levels.

We notified them 1 week after taking the new med that I had been swapped and then would send them the current levels after 30 days.

Well, ... I opened my mail on Saturday, about 7 days before sending the new numbers and WTF?? There was my medical. WOW

Gotta love the FAA. So far, knock on wood, I have had very few problems with them.

So, I am cleared to fly. On the other side, this all comes 45-60 days earlier than planned and I have yet to get into my new insurance business and still lacking commissions, thus, no flying money. Oh well, time to make some insurance calls, huh?

Still Waiting Medical Review from the FAA

Talked to the FAA last Friday and according to them, my medical is under review, still, up for decision shortly. Every year I have to send info from my liver and kidney transplant doctors to get permission to take my annual medical exam. They had my file since May 25th and today is July 23rd. So, remember, the FAA is backed up with files for review. If you need it, do it 3 months ahead of schedule.

August is around the corner and soon, fall flying will be here.

I hope that this new job with the insurance company will allow me to have a lot of flying dough and a chance to finish this goal.

Delays and Frustrations

This is really making me uneasy.

1) I am waiting for my authorization from the FAA to take my medical exam. Every year I have to send letters from my physicians to Oklahoma for them to review and then give me 'permission' to take my exam. This year was delayed due to my newly diagnosed Ulcerated Colitis and my liver transplant physician could not complete his report. I know it is just an issue of time, but I hate the wait.

2) Job. In January I left my part-time to go to a mortgage company and that company was a farce. I lost 3 months of income and could not save for flying. I was also given a chance to move to an insurance company for a great opportunity. I studied and passed the insurance test with flying colors. Now, I find that the agency was grossly overselling the position and all of the income that they were making was not true and that they are scrapping the program. Out of pocket money could have been used for other things, including, setting money aside for flying.

I know that this is all for a reason. Just tell me what that reason is.

Another great day. I need to get flying soon!

Alive and Well (an update)

Okay, I have not blogged for a long time. I know that. I have a lot of catching up to do so I might as well get started.

Things have been quite crazy for a long time, and many things are still unsettled, but I am working on them as quickly as I can.

My last posting on October 21 was entitled "Family First" which basically make reference to the fact that my senior parents were both ill and needed my attention. Unfortunately, my stepfather died the day before Thanksgiving, and the sad thing is that he wanted to be my first passenger when I got my private pilot's license. A month prior to his death, my mother had a botched medical procedure which rendered her fully disabled. During this whole process I was unable to do my series of cross countries which would have left me with only a little hood time and night flying to reach my requirements before my private pilot check ride.

Since then I have been keeping as current as possible with flight simulator, and hitting the books as much as possible. Okay, that was not being completely honest. I read here and there just to keep my mind somewhat sharp. Unfortunately, I had to take my written exam again since my last written exam expired at the end of January, 2011. Two of my instructors told me that they would sign me off if I would pass online exams within 80% or better which should be no problem.

It's time for me to renew my medical which also expired seven days ago. I am told that I should have not much of a problem to renew my medical even though I have a new diagnosis of Ulcerated Colitis. I was late in renewing my medical due to scheduling with my liver doctor who wanted to wait until after my colonoscopy to do my annual report to the FAA. I have not experienced any side effects from my new medication, and both of my physicians agree that I had to go through the dreaded colonoscopy once a year. Other than that my transplanted kidney and liver are both functioning quite well.

The only flying that I have done was four weeks ago as a passenger in the Skyhawk on a round robin flight to four different airports from Wadsworth, Ohio to as far as Lake Chautauqua, New York. Of course I ended up buying lunch for all four of us which I did not complain about because I wanted to get up in the air. Of course, it was bumpy and I don’t handle turbulence with an empty stomach.

So that is it in a nutshell. I did not buy any new equipment except for a $29 Timex chronograph which was needed because on my cross-country flights my previous watch was too difficult to manipulate between the stopwatch and the normal time.

Hopefully the repairs on my car would not be too expensive and will not delay me too much from getting back in the air. Also, a new pending job offer will help take care of all of my flying expenses. But then again, my last offer to go back to the mortgage business was a bomb and left me months of lost income. Maybe I can not judge job offers.

Family First ...

The past 3 months have been hard for me because I have been helping my parents, who both need in-home care or assisted living. But, as other have shared with me, many seniors don't want to exersise anything that challenges their independence.

October gave a few great flying days, but most of them tied up with tasks.

SODA!! I got the SODA

I know that the FAA has a reputation. I see the comments such as “FAA. We are not happy until you are unhappy”. Today, I saw the potential, but the experience was very decent.

The potential was there, yes, but that was due to my unnecessary nervousness, not due to the FAA Flight Examiner. I could not do basic math (adding 5 numbers). Keep in mind that I was in the mortgage business and adding 7 digit numbers was routine. My memory was shot, and nerves ruled the roost between my ears. After I calmed down, I was much better. Luckily, I was being tested for VISION, not on doing my weight and balance and knowing my Cessna 152 numbers.

The flight test was completely without pressure. I flew the plane, but not up to my standards, but well enough and had an ego boost to hear the examiner tell me that I was doing well for a low time pilot.

I got my SODA paperwork on the spot and also my corrected medical certificate, so I am good to go.

I have 14 hours of required solo left then I will have the time to do my check ride. I am pretty sure that it will not be a bad experience.

Oh $#*#, a Letter From the FAA

I have been waiting for 4 weeks for this letter from the FAA. Today I received my authorization to take my Medical Flight Test for my Monocular condition (single vision).

Sooooooo, today the letter came. Suddenly, I am worried. Why? I have no idea. All I have to do is to be able to:

• The ability to select emergency landing fields at a distance, from high altitude, and preferably over unfamiliar terrain.
• The ability to simulate forced landings in difficult fields; note the manner of approach, rate of descent, and comparative distance at which obstructions (stumps, boulders, ditches, etc.) are recognized.
• The ability to recognize other aircraft (which may be present by prearrangement) approaching at a collision course (particularly aircraft approaching from the far right or far left).
• The ability to judge distances and to recognize landmarks (compared with the ASI’s estimate).
• The ability to land the aircraft.
• The ability to read aeronautical charts in flight and tune the radio to a predetermined station accurately and rapidly.
• The ability to read instrument panels (including an overhead panel, if any) quickly and correctly.

I am already doing most of this already, but at the same time I am not being watched over by the FAA.

After I pass this evaluation I will be granted a SODA, which is a Statement of Demonstrated Ability, not Pepsi or 7Up.

I will make the call in Monday morning and see what appointment. If I don't pass, I will need a SODA (7Up and Jack Daniels).