So we're watching season 1 of The Simpsons. I have the week off from class. We hit some classics. I don't think it really hits its stride until season 2, but it's still hilarious and somewhat revolutionary. As I've said before, it's the sort of show that you can't really appreciate if you weren't around at the time it was coming out because it changed everything.

so I must be diarizing.

Plus actual f2f wargaming, trip prep, MVP, beer, and less.

Poll: Favorite Napoleon?

I'm an idiot. Truly. This is a boring pilot diary with a play-along-at-home quiz.

Attention Hulver Infidel: HuSi needs an aviation topic. PLZFIXKTHX.

Please to be praying for ceilings in Tampa to go above 5000 feet and visibility to exceed 5 mi. by 1500 UTC. I can live with "scattered at 2500".

The last time I actually flew was for my BFR (biennial flight review) back in December, 2003. My last medical was in 2001, so it expired in Dec., 2004. This sucks, Beavis. I made some appointments but things didn't quite go as planned.

Warning: boring pilot diary

This is Boundary Bay ATIS information Delta.
Weather at zero two four zero Zulu:
Winds are two six zero at five to ten. CaV OK.
Altimeter is two nine eight nine.
Active runway is two five. Takeoffs are runway two five, landings runway two five and three zero. Land and hold short operations are in effect for runway three zero, three three zero zero feet are available. Outer tower is in operation, aircraft entering or transiting the Boundary Bay control zone are asked to contact the outer tower on one two seven decimal six.
This is Boundary Bay information Delta

---

"Bay Ground this is Cessna one five two Golf Quebec Sierra Sierra on the west apron. Request taxi instructions for circuits, with information delta"

"Cessna Golf Quebec Sierra Sierra, this is Bay Ground. Altimeter is two nine eight five, taxi to runway two five via Charlie. Squawk two four seven zero."

"two four seven zero, thanks. Golf Quebec Sierra Sierra."

Upgrades

Last week it was my hope and dream that Air France would upgrade my ticket at the airport, lifting me out of the depths of steerage and placing me in the comfort of business class. I got to the airport early and found out that they might indeed need my seat for the early flight.

They called for boarding and a Saudi woman jumped up and cut in front of me, handing the attendant 11 passports for her rather large family and their Philippine slave girl. This wasted some time as various family members wandered back and forth between the jetway and waiting area, the kids both playing and fighting. The staff finally matched tickets and passports to passengers and the rest of us were able to board.

As I walked down the jetway the attendant came running, yelling "Mister Canine! Mister Canine!". She grabbed my boarding pass and scribbled a new seat number. "You've been upgraded," she said, beaming.

That'll teach me.

x-posted from da blog.

So, after some poking around, and getting a recommendation or two, we settled on giving these folks a whirl. I booked a "Fam" flight for janra and I for this morning at 11am, and showed up to meet a friendly, smiling instructor by the name of Jeff. He led us to a briefing room, and gave us a run-down on what we were going to be doing today.

To both our surprise, it included doing the actual take-off and landing!