Flight Training - September 2013 - 25

“I’d love to join you,” I told Mark. “But I
know you won’t have takeoff performance
issues with just you and Tyler aboard,
while with me along we’d probably get off
the ground OK. I’m sure you’ll agree that
‘probably’ doesn’t fit a pilot’s vocabulary.”
“I respect your concerns,” said Mark.
“I’ll pick up Tyler myself.” Relieved, I
checked my watch. Time was tight, but if
all went well we still might make summercamp check-in. I’d hardly returned home
when Mark reported from Show Low.
Seemingly minutes later, he phoned again.
“You’re already at Window Rock?” I
asked, envying his speedy Bonanza.
“Unfortunately, no,” said Mark. “I’m
having hot-start problems and letting the
engine cool before running the battery
down.” This was Mark’s first fuel-injected
aircraft, so I offered some hot-start tips.
Clearly Tyler was going to be late, so we’d
just have to deal with it when the time
came. Now I was far more worried about
stranding friends at distant airports on a
Sunday morning.
“Got it started!” texted Mark. That was
good news, but hopefully he wouldn’t
experience the same problem at unattended Window Rock Airport. After
another nail-biting hour, Mark texted that
he and Tyler were taking off for Flagstaff.
I was waiting at Mark’s tiedown when
they landed. Hurriedly I transferred Tyler
and his luggage to my car, and enthusiastically thanked Mark for saving the day.
“It was my pleasure, Greg—and a good
object lesson on density altitude!” There
wasn’t time to ask what he meant, but
Tyler reported the climb out of Window
Rock as “pretty feeble.” Mark later told of
needing to S-turn to clear the ridge west
of town, and admitted relief at not carrying my additional weight.
I, of course, had learned my own lesson. “Always check your mags before
shutdown,” instructor Fred Gibbs once
counseled me. “It’ll save you getting stuck
somewhere at takeoff time.” Never again
will I forget that sage advice.
Greg Brown is an aviation author, photographer,
and former National Flight Instructor of the Year.
Visit his website (www.gregbrownflyingcarpet.com).

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Flight Training - September 2013

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