Pilot Life: Taking My Roommate, Ben Flying!

Time for another flight with a first-time passenger! This morning, I took up Ben, another one of my roommates for a little scenic flight around the valley; he didn't have classes until the early afternoon, so it was a rare case of me being able to take someone up on a busy weekday. Plus it made for a nice morning outing, considering that I've been recovering from a lousy cold since late last week and into this past weekend.

My go-to aircraft, N802CT!

It was cold outside, so I wasted no time in getting the pre-flight inspections done! I added some fuel to the plane as well. After fueling up, we hopped in and I got the engine started. I taxied the Katana a short distance and did the run-ups. I had no abnormalities show, so I continued taxiing to the runway and got us airborne.

Obligatory selfie before takeoff!
(Photo credit: Ben Thomson, my roommate from Canada!)

After getting airborne, I turned us out southbound and we flew around the valley for a little bit. After getting some distance between us and the Spanish Fork Airport, I asked my roommate if he wanted to try his hands at the controls for a little bit; he accepted and manipulated the stick to turn the airplane. I helped him out a little with rudder and power inputs. Afterwards, I retook controls and demonstrated a rapid descent so we could get a closer look at the Payson LDS Temple, which we circled around.

View of the Payson Temple with snow that fell over the weekend.
(Photo credit: Ben Thomson.)

After the scenic views, I tuned into Provo Airport's frequencies and it didn't sound too busy, so I decided to head there to do some pattern work and show my roommate what it's like to fly into a controlled field; this was also going to be my first time flying into Provo for the year 2018. As always, I picked up the weather from the ATIS frequency and then contacted the tower, where I received instruction for pattern entry.

A view of West Mountain just before turning around to head to Provo. Sure looks gorgeous with all the snow on the ground!
(Photo credit: Ben Thomson.)

I entered the right pattern for Runway 13 and made my radio calls; tower cleared me for touch-and-go followed by another right-closed-traffic circuit. I did three touch-and-go landings total at Provo, which turned out to be perfect because things started to sound like it was going to get busy so we high-tailed it out of there in time! After the third touch-and-go, I was cleared for a straight-out departure back to Spanish Fork. I gave the guys over at Provo Tower my appreciation and switched over to advisory frequency for Spanish Fork as we left Provo's airspace. I flew overhead at midfield over Spanish Fork Airport and swung back around to enter the left pattern for Runway 30, descending down to pattern altitude at the same time. I set up for another touch-and-go in the pattern all the while keeping an eye out for other aircraft. I did one last lap in the pattern and called it a flight with a full-stop landing.

After clearing the runway, I taxied the Katana back to the ramp in time for my flight instructor and his student to take it up afterwards. And once again, I was privileged to introduce someone new to my world and lifestyle!