Pilot Life: Taking My Friend, Erin Flying!

Another flight, another passenger! I invited Erin, another one of my friends to go flying with me today; I previously offered to take her once I got my license and today was the opportunity to fulfill that promise. The plane I was scheduled to take up today was inside the maintenance hangar so my friend and I walked over there. Once we verified that the Katana was there, I went ahead and conducted pre-flight inspections on it. Once that was was done, I opened up the hangar doors, pulled the airplane out onto the taxiway, closed the hangar door, and we hopped in. After a quick passenger/crew briefing, I got the engine started up, no problem. I taxied a short distance and commenced the run-up procedures; engine gauges were in the green. I continued the taxi to the runway, lined up, and I began takeoff roll before getting airborne.

And another flight in N992CT!

Once airborne, I turned us out to the south and took my friend on a little sight-seeing flight around the valley. I started by flying around the small town of Salem, which sits between Spanish Fork and Payson. This area peaked my friend's interest because she often works as a substitute teacher at one of the schools in Salem; she was able to point out where she worked. I then took us to Payson, where we circled the LDS Temple. And once again, as is my custom taking passengers for a little sight-seeing flight, I decided to head into Provo, so I picked up the current ATIS information on weather and called up tower to receive instruction. I entered the pattern and made my laps, logging a total four touch-and-go landings on Runway 13 at Provo. Things were about to get busy at Provo with an Allegiant Air Airbus A319 getting ready to depart, so it was a good time to head back to Spanish Fork after doing my fourth landing there. Provo tower actually requested that I make a left turn out to the east for about a mile upon departing the runway to make room for said Airbus that was taking off behind me; they really appreciated that!

Once again, I tuned into the Spanish Fork AWOS frequency after Provo tower cut me loose and I entered the pattern from the northeast. I flew over the airport a midfield and then swung back around for the left downwind for Runway 30 and did three laps in the pattern over Spanish Fork and made three landings. Of course, I made the third landing at Spanish Fork a full-stop landing.

Selfie after landing!
(Photo credit: Erin Solomon, my lovely passenger!)

After landing, I vacated the runway on the next available taxiway and taxied the Katana back to the Platinum Aviation hangar, where I shut down the engine and secured the airplane for the day. Needless to say, my passenger enjoyed the experience today! And I was glad that I was able to exercise my privileges as a pilot and bring her along!

One more selfie after hopping out of the airplane! Thanks Erin for flying with me!
(Photo credit: Erin Solomon.)