Jon
01-29-2004, 01:15
After returning the DHC back to the Berreyessa port, I had to find a way back to SJO. Well, perhaps it was my luck, but my good friend, pilot Justin Uhff was out on the dock smoking a cig, just about to depart south. A slightly absent minded pilot, Justin was a loyal friend. He knew his stuff and was always willing to help. So, disregarding my reservations, I approached him enthusiastically and asked if I could bum a ride.
"Well, I'm not heading to San Jose. I am heading all the way down to Los Angelas."
Trying to find something catchy to say, I responded, "L.A., of course, the Big Apple. Speaking of which, would it be a problem for you to stop in San Jose along the way?"
"I can't stop in SJO. They banned me from the airport for smoking next to the fueling truck."
"Howabout San Francisco?"
"Uh, same story. Yeah, I really need to stop smoking."
"Look Justin, I'm not about to spend the night here. I need a flight. Anywhere south, so long as it's not a seaport."
"I'll drop you off at Napa. They don't have any 'No Smoking' signs from what I remember."
"Very good. Well, I'm ready when you are!"
Proud of his new C-182 float plane RG, Justin made a smooth departure. There was only one problem. The engine started to sound overworked about 15 miles from Napa. He didn't seem to notice, so I didn't take a second look. A few minutes later, the aircraft started to putter every few seconds, as if the engine was spitting. He looked over at me and proudly exclaimed, "well, she might not sound great, but she sure flies well."
Then it all made sense, "Holy @#$! You're out of fuel!"
"Oh, well it seems I am!"
"Yes, it seems so. So, howabout we get to a runway."
"Whoops, I guess I kind of forgot about refueling the plane."
"Uh yes, yes it does."
Just then, the engine quit. It sputtered, then came to a complete hault.
Looking out his windshield in a focused manner, he calmly remarked, "Sorry you won't be getting to Napa on time. I didn't expect this to happen. :whack: "
"Do you know what a pre-flight is Justin?"
"Oh come on! Who does those?"
"Most normal pilots! I don't do them of course, after all, I work for a professional airline. I mean, professional pilots have no need to pre-flight. But, you. You need to get in the habit. --- There. A small lake. Go down in that lake."
"I know, I see it. I see it."
So, we landed in some private lake of some private rich guy. It was all so private. Either way, the aircraft managed fine. I ended up with a sprained wrist (from holding on to the door) and Justin ended up fine. He ended up having to swim to shore.
In the end, he was fined $2500.00 for trespassing, landing on an unauthorized area and neglecting to follow proper FAA procedure. I of course was only a passenger, so I got off scott free. We haven't really talked since, except for some comment about L.A. being the city of angels and not the big apple. Oh well.
"Well, I'm not heading to San Jose. I am heading all the way down to Los Angelas."
Trying to find something catchy to say, I responded, "L.A., of course, the Big Apple. Speaking of which, would it be a problem for you to stop in San Jose along the way?"
"I can't stop in SJO. They banned me from the airport for smoking next to the fueling truck."
"Howabout San Francisco?"
"Uh, same story. Yeah, I really need to stop smoking."
"Look Justin, I'm not about to spend the night here. I need a flight. Anywhere south, so long as it's not a seaport."
"I'll drop you off at Napa. They don't have any 'No Smoking' signs from what I remember."
"Very good. Well, I'm ready when you are!"
Proud of his new C-182 float plane RG, Justin made a smooth departure. There was only one problem. The engine started to sound overworked about 15 miles from Napa. He didn't seem to notice, so I didn't take a second look. A few minutes later, the aircraft started to putter every few seconds, as if the engine was spitting. He looked over at me and proudly exclaimed, "well, she might not sound great, but she sure flies well."
Then it all made sense, "Holy @#$! You're out of fuel!"
"Oh, well it seems I am!"
"Yes, it seems so. So, howabout we get to a runway."
"Whoops, I guess I kind of forgot about refueling the plane."
"Uh yes, yes it does."
Just then, the engine quit. It sputtered, then came to a complete hault.
Looking out his windshield in a focused manner, he calmly remarked, "Sorry you won't be getting to Napa on time. I didn't expect this to happen. :whack: "
"Do you know what a pre-flight is Justin?"
"Oh come on! Who does those?"
"Most normal pilots! I don't do them of course, after all, I work for a professional airline. I mean, professional pilots have no need to pre-flight. But, you. You need to get in the habit. --- There. A small lake. Go down in that lake."
"I know, I see it. I see it."
So, we landed in some private lake of some private rich guy. It was all so private. Either way, the aircraft managed fine. I ended up with a sprained wrist (from holding on to the door) and Justin ended up fine. He ended up having to swim to shore.
In the end, he was fined $2500.00 for trespassing, landing on an unauthorized area and neglecting to follow proper FAA procedure. I of course was only a passenger, so I got off scott free. We haven't really talked since, except for some comment about L.A. being the city of angels and not the big apple. Oh well.