Clint Eastwood and joys of being an unrestricted aviator

[Pags]

^^^That sounds BRUTAL!!! Hopefully it was in the "winter" and you had a 4.0 ECS.

I did 6mo in the "winter" months and then 5 in the summer. The ECS didn't have a chance in the summer. Not that it mattered for FCF, since we have to take down our ECS ducts for the F. 10min worth of hover checks could take you upwards of an hour as you darted on and off the runway as the heavies came and went.

Navy helos take a low priority to paying customers like Gulf Air and Lufthansa, so on the return we'd often have to hold for a break in the traffic. And then an E-2 decided to blow it's tires on the rwy during high time causing a lot of airliners to be diverted, so after that no military traffic was allowed in from 1700-1900L. Made for some mad dashes back from the NAG.

 

[MattWSU]

It might not even be a towered airport, he might have just been talking to another a/c in the pattern or taxing.

That's what it sounds like. It sounds pretty casual and the airport is small.

 

[Schnugg]

It must be nice to have lots of coin....

 

[KBayDog]

It might not even be a towered airport, he might have just been talking to another a/c in the pattern or taxing.

That's what it sounds like. It sounds pretty casual and the airport is small.

Looks like Monterey Peninsula (Class C).

Giving the guy in the tower (especially a busy one) an opportunity to simplify his problem is an easy choice.

Exactly. They never seem to have a problem when you tell them how you are going to make their jobs easier (i.e., get out of their airspace as quickly and painlessly as possible).

 

[MattWSU]

Looks like Monterey Peninsula (Class C).

I stand corrected.

Is there a reason Clint is in the right seat? I thought it was SOP for the PIC to sit in the left seat. Is it different in Helos?

 

[nittany03]

"Aircraft on downwind, state callsign ... aircraft on crosswind, state callsign ... aircraft on short finial, state callsign ... aircraft on landing roll out, state callsign ... aircraft on alpha taxiway, state callsign ... Hey tony, can you go tell that plane to call me..."

Ah, Meridian Tower. Completely clueless when the number of aircraft in the pattern exceeds the number of controllers on duty . . . turn crosswind at your own risk. :icon_tong

 

[MIDNJAC]

Ah, Meridian Tower. Completely clueless when the number of aircraft in the pattern exceeds the number of controllers on duty . . . turn crosswind at your own risk. :icon_tong

Actually VCT tower, but lets just say the controller wasn't the one who went home with the flight violation that night

 

[slurvin]

I stand corrected.

Is there a reason Clint is in the right seat? I thought it was SOP for the PIC to sit in the left seat. Is it different in Helos?

I know that in helos the PIC usually sits in the right, unlike fixed wing.

 

[insanebikerboy]

I know that in helos the PIC usually sits in the right, unlike fixed wing.

If you're really curious, read this somewhat lengthy and at times quite entertaining thread on why who sits where in a helo.

 

[Makk85]

Some other famous pilots I've run into:

Jerry Springer has a hangar in SRQ Sarasota FL for his Lear. They let us hangar overnight to get out of a thunderstorm last fall.
He used to have midget line guys, but they kept getting sucked into jet intakes by accident so the FAA and NTSB nearly banned little people from line duty. Check out part 61.433 in the '09 FARAIM, it was created specifically for this reason: "Individuals whose stature is less than 48 inches and/or weighing less than 71 pounds shall not perform duties associated with line crew activities on an active taxiway or air ramp with out the use of an approved weight belt and reflective safety vest."

Harrison Ford flies a CJ3, a helo and a few others out of JAC Jackson Hole WY. It's pretty cool how he is treated just like a regular Joe and ignored for the most part. You walk right by him and he gives you a nod just like any other fellow pilot might. Apparently some hiker was lost in the area and Mr. Ford volunteered to do some search and rescue with his helo. He ended up finding the poor lost hiker. Imagine the lucky bastard getting picked up by Indiana Jones in a Jet Ranger with the theme song blaring over the thumping of the rotors. Daa da da daaaa daa da daaaa!

 

[ChuckMK23]

Clint Eastwood owns and operates a Eurocopter AS350B2. Althuogh it comes equipped with dual ciontrols, like the TH-57B, flight instruments and engine controls are designed for primary use from the right seat.