A MONTH OF BOOT CAMP


Danny spent 3 long weeks cramming his brain in ground school learning the 328 from nose to tail. He memorized insane amounts of data, including electrical, hydrolic, fuel, and avionic systems, and also limitations for weight, airspeed, altitude, pressurization, and temperature.

After passing his written test, he flew to Toronto, Canada to spend 10 long days in this...



...a flight simulator that he said was impressively realistic, completely to scale of the real cockpit. He had days of flawless flights and days of not so flawless flights while honing his skills in disorientation recovery, or trying to push out of stalls, extinguishing engine fires and bringing it in on one engine.

His last few of days were spent testing with an FAA rep. He passed an oral exam, and then came the rigorous check ride. As if he wasn't anxious enough about it they broke it up over three days and gave him a co-pilot he'd never flown with before... not cool. He finished just hours before he was scheduled to board his flight back home. When I got the phonecall that he had passed, I could FEEL the relief in his voice pouring through the phone!! It was awesome.

** I found a note I wrote to Danny on the first night that he was in Canada. It reads, "I went into our closet to get ready for bed. I saw all your shirts hanging up and I stroked the sleeve of each shirt remembering what you look like in it. When I finished all the shirts I grabbed a big armful of them and hugged them as though it could somehow transport my hug to you. I love you. Good night. xoxo"