Cranky Pilots

My Debonair had to go to the avionics shop recently for its 24-month pitot/static and transponder checks, and to diagnose an autopilot that wouldnt. As I feared, autopilot system components had to go out for factory attention, and the removal work would take longer than my schedule allowed. So I left the airplane and Uberd home. Before I had the free time to retrieve the airplane, my part of Florida was seeing a constant flow of moisture and showers coming in from the Gulf of Mexico.

Key Takeaways:

• The author faced a challenging short ferry flight after aircraft maintenance due to persistent showers and thunderstorms in Florida, prompting careful planning and a morning departure.
• He successfully navigated the weather by choosing an opportune time and making a simple deviation, despite the frustration of dealing with slow-moving weather when flying into destinations without instrument approaches.
• The article serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of having contingency plans (Plan B) and resisting impatience, which can lead pilots to make unsafe decisions in adverse weather.

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