Month: October 2016

The PilotEdge CAT-01 Rating

Posted on by Basement Fly Guy

PilotEdge has come out with yet another wonderful service for pilots and simmers: their new Communication and Airspace Training series of training ratings. These replace the “V” series of VFR ratings. There were three V ratings, and while excellent, the CAT ratings provide VFR fliers with a larger number of rating missions (11 rather than three) and a more gradual progression from introductory to advanced airspace and ATC skills.

I hope to video all 11 ratings. The first is a flight between two non-towered fields, Oceana Co. and New Cuyana. In this VFR flight we learn basic CTAF call procedures for departure and landing. You may see the full description and set of briefing materials for the CAT-01 rating here.

Night Flying Logan, UT to KSLC

Posted on by Basement Fly Guy

A night flight, following IFR procedures, from Logan, Utah (KLGN) to Salt Lake City (KSLC). IFR procedure in the KSLC is the ILS 17 approach. A lot of fun, and it featers Orbx OpenLC NA lighting augmented by Tabauret’s Utah lighting package. Thanks for watching.

The Milky Way

Posted on by Basement Fly Guy

Just two more photos from Wisconsin, these of the Milky Way. We had great seeing the last night, and these are 30 second exposures at f2. Note the Andromeda Galaxy at lower left in the second shot. If you click these they will load full size, and you’re welcome to use them as desktop wallpaper if you like.


Northern Lights

Posted on by Basement Fly Guy

I was in Wisconsin a few nights ago and we had clear skies, no moon, and an active Aurora Borealis. I’ve never seen the Northern Lights except from the passenger window of a transcontinental flight, and I’ve never seen anything like this. I managed to take a few time lapse photographs, and am sharing them here. The lights weren’t nearly as bright as this in real life but they were still an amazing sight to see and I’m very glad I saw them. I know this isn’t about aviation, but I thought aviation fans would probably enjoy these shots. (Oh, and I tossed in a Milky Way shot just for fun.)

PilotEdge I-01 Rating Video

Posted on by Basement Fly Guy

Here’s the aforementioned run at the I-01 rating on PilotEdge, which is flying the 20R ILS approach into KSNA. Passed on the first try (although the intercept and landing are nothing to brag about, and in fact, the landing goes in my “Bottom 10” list!). But it was a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to trying out the I-02. The only big miss is I didn’t have the camera running when I got my clearance. The rest of the ATC communication is there.