Last night in groundschool, we started a three week study of meteorology with a basic overview of terms and concepts. One point we touched on was clouds. Really didn’t know there were so many types. So when I ducked outside for a smoke and saw this I just had to grab a picture with my Blackberry.
If you’ve never been to FARK, you’re missing some fun. Of particular note are their Photoshop contests where insanely talented submitters have some fun. Here’s an example from today’s “Unforeseen consequences of the energy crisis” contest.
Submitted by user “inebriated brain”, it provides an interesting idea for the airlines who are suffering under the burden of high fuel costs.
The first of my finds from the shop out in St. Jacob’s. Hertz pushing the luxury of air travel and car rentals as the 1950’s come to an end. United is just about to launch regular service of their new DC-8 and Hertz is ready to rent you a shining new Chevrolet to make your trip complete.
What’s changed since then? You hardly ever deplane right on to the tarmac anymore unless it’s at Heathrow in London or Charles De Gaulle in Paris and then it’s just to board a bus for the long trip to the terminal. A 4 foot fence? Not bloody likely and you certainly couldn’t drive a car right up to it without a SWAT team going postal all over your ass. A smiling “Stewardess”? Excuse me, we’re flight attendants and we have very little to smile about.
It’s the nostalgia of these advertisements that catch my attention. The glamour of air travel is gone along with our naive innocence.
How long has it been since you studied for a test? For me, the time is measured in decades! So here I find myself on vacation on a wet rainy day studying for my PSTAR exam tonight.
I’ve gone through all 200 possible questions and looked up each answer in the Aeronautical Information Manual (which is for some reason known as the AIP) and the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARS), even if I was sure I knew the answers. We’re allowed to write the exam tonight even though we haven’t completely covered some of the areas. Even with all the information at hand I managed to get a few wrong. Wording gets tricky at time.
A passing grade is 90% or over but the exam can be taken again if you’re a complete idiot and somehow manage to fail it the first time – or second, or third or………
How was St. Jacob’s? Meh. Weather on Tuesday wasn’t great with rain off and on all day. The outlet mall didn’t have much to offer and even Jan couldn’t manage to spend a lot at her favourite stores. Dinner in the evening at Benjamin’s was OK but their menu isn’t as adventurous as it used to be. Wednesday morning we hit all the little shops in the village but even that was a little disappointing. I managed to dig up a few old airline ads at an “antique” shop which I’ll start scanning and putting online after I get through tonight.
Speaking of tests, I passed my aviation medical on Tuesday morning!! The examiner, Dr. Thicke (who just happens to be the father of Alan Thicke) was a real hoot and this marks the first time I’ve ever had a fun visit to a doctor. I’m in pretty good shape for an old guy and nothing he saw precludes me from flying.
UPDATE: I passed the PSTAR!!
We’re just starting a week of vacation. Looks like it will be a busy one! Tomorrow morning (Tuesday), I go for my Class 3 medical which I need for my student pilot’s license and Thursday I’m writing my PSTAR exam.
In between, we’re off to one of our favourite spots – St. Jacob’s Ontario. We arrive Tuesday afternoon and it’s straight off to the outlet mall. Later in the evening we’re off to dinner at Benjamin’s in the centre of the village. Wednesday morning it’s more shopping and we’ll be back home in the afternoon so I can continue studying.
St. Jacob’s is a wonderful town for photography. I took the picture above a few years ago because how often do you run across a broom maker? The village is nestled in Mennonite country and, even though St. Jacob’s is very commercial, time slows down just a little to accommodate their lifestyle.
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