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Gear Up: Eight Days on the Road

Eight days of charter flying can take you clear across the country and back several times. Dick Karl
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author details a week of varied Part 135 flights as a Cessna CJ3 pilot, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the job, with destinations ranging from the Northeast to the West Coast.
  • The narrative showcases the challenges and unexpected events encountered, including weather changes, challenging approaches (RNAV in mountainous terrain), and dealing with varying passenger and baggage situations.
  • The author emphasizes the camaraderie with fellow pilots (both experienced and new hires), the importance of crew resource management, and the constant need for adaptability and quick decision-making.
  • The account highlights the contrast between the glamorous aspects of flying (scenic routes, nice restaurants) and the less glamorous realities (long hours, uncomfortable hotels, fatigue management).
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When starting a rotation as a Part 135 pilot on the Cessna CJ3, I really have no idea what’s coming up. I might spend eight days shuttling around the Northeast or I might cross the country three or four times. A recent trip touched all the bases when it comes to the fanciful and the mundane.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

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