Another great email from my grandpa.

Post #28 - Important PIC decision

Today I was scheduled for a solo flight in the Piper Arrow. I really enjoy solo flights and was excited for this one to help master some of the maneuvers I am working on. The weather this morning was beautiful; zero wind, 9 miles of visibility and clear skies. A great day for a solo flight. I was scheduled at 11am but quickly ran out of time, and the line at the DMV always takes longer than expected. So I rescheduled for 1:30 later today. I showed up at my scheduled time and waited for the only Arrow left to get back from its flight. The other 2 Arrows were down for maintenance. While I was waiting in dispatch, the dispatcher told me that the runway was icy and to be careful. I took his advice seriously and thought about what I would need to do, some of my previous flights had icy runways as well so I wasn't too nervous.

The pilot then got back from his flight. I went outside to talk to him. He asked me if I was taking it up and I replied yes. He said that the landing light was not working, the flaps were sticking a little, and the engine had a "little burp". The landing light is not necessary for day operations and the flaps sticking were not a major issue because it could be landed without flaps if they didn't work, but the engine burp worried me. As he went on he said that they thought it happened because of the maneuver they performed, but then it happened again. He added that it gave them a scare. The plane was "airworthy" for a day flight, as defined by the regulations, but the regulations also say that the PIC (pilot in command), has the "final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight". This means that I would have the right to decide if I felt the plane was airworthy. It was an important decision. I need to get as much flying done as possible, in a short time, in order to graduate on schedule. But I didn't feel safe flying in that plane unless our mechanic would take it apart and look at it. It's simple, yet important decisions like this that the PIC is responsible for. I feel that I made the right decision. I don't want to take any risks, especially with a baby just a few weeks away.

On a side note, I wonder what would have happened if I took the plane up at 11am, when I was originally scheduled before his flight.