PILOTS - A DRINKING CULTURE????

This is a bit of a change from my usual postings in that it is not about my flying experiences but the front page of yesterday's NZ Herald with its headline regarding police claims of a "drinking culture" within Air New Zealand.  I won't go into the details of the article - best you read it here:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10627913

I read it at work and made the usual off-the-cuff, semi-joking remarks but afterwards thought about it a bit more seriously, got rather hot under the collar and now am writing this to let off a bit of steam.

Who are these cops and journos to sound off about the aviation industry/profession??!!  When I was at university I remember one of my clasmates who played for the rugby 1st XV moaning about how hungover he was after the aftermatch drinkies the night before.  Who had they been playing? - The Metropolitan Police.  "Boy, Those coppers can drink" was the gist of his comments (as if 1st XV medics can't!!!)

Also, one of my cousins is married to a journalist and I remember her comments about lunch together - in liquid form - when he was covering Trades Unions and other conferences!  Having actually seen this guy drink some years ago I can well believe it!!

Anyway, you have only to watch TV dramas and documentaries to see how journalists and police behave when the pub or bar beckons!!

So, two professions with what would appear to be an ingrained drinking culture casting stones at aviation.  The H-word springs to mind.  Or should the fare paying public carry breathalyser kits with them and ask the aircraft captain and/or first officer to breathe or talk into the little device before take-off!!!  I can just imagine the reaction of some pilots I know!!  Any comments, guys and gals??

MORE ON THE CURRENCY FACTOR

Thursday 4th February - Back in a 172 after a year!
I am writing this over two weeks later so my memory may not be 100% accurate but I can remember the flying part pretty well.  I had booked the club's newer 172, WAM (my previous favourite before WIT came along) with instructor, Chee, who I had flown with once before in one of the older Archers.  I had a good look round inside and out while preflighting to refamiliarise myself with the plane.  It all came back - including the thirteen fuel drain points for the fuel injected engine!
We decided to do a few circuits to see how it went.  Stating up, taxying, lining up and take off went OK - WOW!! the 180hp 172 does take off a lot more sharply than the Archer but I was prepared for that.  No problems in the circuit but the landing was not that great - not nearly enough of a flare (the low-wing influence, I think).
About 6 circuits later, after a couple of go-arounds and an engine failure after take-off exercise, Chee seemed pretty happy BUT the plane was due at Aeromotive for maintanence and there was no time for me to go solo - RATS.
Never mind, I've booked WAM again in a few weeks to go up with chief instructor, Roger, for a final "tidy-up" and, hopefully, some solo practice.  Then I should feel current on 172s again.

Keeping Current - A Tale of Three Thursdays

If, like me, you find flying a variety of aircraft types enjoyable, then one of the challenges for the recreational pilot is staying current on more than a couple of types.  I have four type ratings now and looking in my logbook could see that I had not flown the Arrow for about 6 weeks and almost a year for a Cessna 172.
So, I decided something needed to be done (didn't want the Arrow currency going the same way as the 172).

Thursday 21st January
This wasn't part of the currency equation.  I had offered to take friend Duane, up North from Southland for the school holidays, and two of his four sons up and had booked the club Archer III.  Frontal weather was forecast and it did not look hopeful.  However, heavy morning rain cleared by about 1100 and it appeared that the next front moving in from the west would be a few hours away.
So, with a small window of opportunity, I called Duane and we met up at the club at 1245 and took a short scenic over Scotsman Valley (North-East of the airport) and Morrinsville and back again.  There was cirrus cloud over Pirongia with the front behind when we took off and once over Morrinsville it was clear that the rain was not far away from the city.  Duane didn't seem to mind - could see his grin reflected in the windscreen!!  The boys were very good, too.
The plan to fly back over the city was aborted and we reversed our track back, more or less.  We were cleared straight in again (twice in a row now) and a pretty good approach and landing followed.  The rain started as we said farewell in the carpark - good timing!

Thursday 28th January
Today was keeping current on the Arrow.  There had been a massive thunderstorm the night before but now it was a beautiful, warm sunny morning.  I could see the clouds building all round with the moist, rising air, though - classic meteorology.  Virtually no wind, which was nice.
It was fairly quiet traffic-wise so I kicked off with three circuits.  The first one was right hand and not so good - I was traffic watching on late downwind and lost a couple of hundred feet before turning base.  Well, at least I had the wheels down and power and pitch all set up OK so the next ones should be better, I thought.
They were.  Two fairly good circuits followed with nice landings, even with a short approach on the last.  I then departed to the South-East over Wharepapa South, Lakes Arapuni, Karapiro and then home.  It was somewhat busier now so no straight in clearance this time.  A standard South arrival and number three on downwind for 18L, extending to pass behind a twin who was doing an overshoot.  I had to descend from 1700' to circuit height (1200') fairly sharply so didn't get the wheels down until quite late - at least I was aware that I hadn't and there was (I reckon) little or no danger of me leaving them up.  I am still checking the three greens on base and at least twice on final.  The final landing was good, not quite a greaser but well positioned to taxi off with minimal delay (yes, I DO think of you controllers in the tower, honest) and back to put DQV to bed in its hangar.  Currency updated - cool!!

Thursday 4th February
You will have to wait for this one - I have booked a dual session in one of the 172s.  I wonder how it will go - back to a high wing type after a year of low wing flying.....