Today was shaping up to be a great day to fly…high overcast and calm winds. Not exactly the type of day you’d think of going out flying. So I was pretty pleased to get an out of the blue demo flight show up. Had him all SFAR’d and through my ground routine, let him work through the pre-flight since he seemed interested. And then as I look up from the start-up checklist I see one ugly cell. Over the next 5 minutes I watch it close in on us, and I decided not to do the flight. Felt bad after dragging that guy through everything to bag it the minute before turning the ignition. Think I made the right choice?
KPWT 262155Z AUTO 20012KT 10SM FEW039 FEW047 BKN055 10/03 A3014 RMK AO1
KPWT 262135Z AUTO 21009G15KT 10SM SCT037 BKN046 BKN055 12/02 A3015 RMK AO1
KPWT 262115Z AUTO 22008KT 180V240 10SM BKN037 BKN048 BKN055 11/03 A3014 RMK AO1
KPWT 262055Z AUTO 17006G14KT 10SM BKN037 12/03 A3015 RMK AO1 57003
KPWT 262035Z AUTO 20003KT 10SM BKN034 BKN043 11/03 A3015 RMK AO1
KPWT 262015Z AUTO 24004KT 10SM FEW025 BKN036 BKN041 11/03 A3016 RMK AO1
KPWT 261955Z AUTO 18004KT 10SM FEW026 BKN035 09/03 A3016 RMK A
come on Chris… fly out there.. if it starts getting ugly fly back.. then tell the guy this is what really happens.
Phhht! This was coming off a flight a couple days before where I went out with a PPL student to do some pattern work. There were small showers all around the airport, but we got bumped and beaten around. Ended up being a demoralizing lesson for him, and we cut it short after only 1/2 hour. So when I saw the windsocks at the ends of the runway were pointing different directions for this flight, I figured better not risk having this guy puke on me–after all, it was his first time. And…by the time we were back at the office there was small hail falling. From there on out, the weather went to crap.
Good choice. Tough for you and the student, but at least he knows you are being safe