http://www.bzaviation.com passion for flight Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:45:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been absent from this site for a while, but for good reason.  I have relocated to the left coast and have been busy running a full service aviation company in The Dalles.  We're about 80 miles east of Portland, OR in the scenic Columbia River Gorge.  I've finally found ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2010/02/08/fly-the-nw/ Doesn't that just look like too much fun to be legal?  I decided to add a little thrill to one of my recent instrument training flights.  This particular student was looking to gain some experience with non-precision approaches in more remote areas.  These approaches are often more dangerous and harder ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2009/03/02/b18-alton-bay/ This past week I spoiled myself and invested in some Cirrus transition training.  I rented a SR20 through Troutdale Aircraft Services at KTTD in Portland, OR.  I was professionally guided through the avionics and a thorough pre-flight before we launched into a typical Willamette Valley sky filled with intermittent rain ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2009/02/27/pirep-cirrus-sr20/ First off I will strive to post to this blog on a more regular basis this year.  Here are some posts to expect: PIREPS: Pilot reports on specific airplanes Destinations More recounts of past and present flying adventures Advice for student and certificated pilots I am hoping to involve more of you readers in this ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2009/02/27/whats-in-store-for-2009/ It seems that I spend a fair bit of my time on this blog apologizing for tardy posts, or a lack of new material.  So to remain true to form, here is a quick update on how 2008 finished up: Finished my MEI/CFII training at MN Aviation. Prepared my first instrument student ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2009/02/27/2008-wrap-upbetter-late-than-never/ My apologies for such a tardy post...so much to catch up on.  I should be able to catch up on life in the next year or so.  The short version of the story is that I received my CFI ticket during Oshkosh week, and headed directly there to celebrate.  I ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2008/09/10/cfi/ Bad Blogger...I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I started at an accelerated flight school, and that I'd post my experiences here.I've now learned exactly what accelerated means:  Work your butt off 24-7 until you're done.  I prepared for and passed three check rides in 8 days. 3 of ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2008/07/26/commercial-asel-amel-instrument/ For a long time now I have thought that immersion in a subject is the best way to learn it.  I have been making strides to integrate more aviation into my daily life, hoping maybe to learn by osmosis.  Unfortunately the schedule at home always tends to fill up no ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2008/06/26/accelerated-flight-training/ This past Friday I had planned to use my shiny new complex endorsement to fly with my wife up to Maine in our club Arrow. My early preflight planning showed the ugly weather that had passed through upstate New York earlier in the day had not made as much ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2008/06/08/instrument-rating-please/ FINALLY! I got up in the air.  It seems that the weather has been plotting to keep me on the ground just to rub in the fact i've not yet earned my instrument rating.  I managed to coordinate some free time with a decent weather window and took to the ... http://www.bzaviation.com/2008/03/11/fun-in-the-washington-dc-adiz/