Got a job! (real world)

[Dave Athay]

After hunting for the last 7 months or so, I landed a job this week with Piper Aircraft. I'll be working in the sales department at the headquarters in Vero Beach, FL, doing a little bit of everything. The job description includes taking airplanes to airshows/tradeshows/Oshkosh, providing analysis and technical information for sales representatives in the field, delivering planes to customers, giving factory tours to prospective customers, developing marketing materials, and working with engineering folks to develop new features based on customer and dealer feedback. Basically, whatever I can do to help sell more Pipers, I'm going to do.

It's a really fun company. I got to travel down there this last week. They flew my wife in with me. The final part of the interview was a short flight with the chief pilot in a late-model, glass-panel (Garmin 550, I think) Archer III.

For a lifelong, incurable aviation junkie like me, it's a dream job. I couldn't be more excited. I was at a point where I was ready to take just about anything, aviation or not. I had some great leads on some good non-aviation jobs, but this one came through with an offer first.

This does mean I'm going to be kind of busy the next few weeks. I'm going to try to get the Starliner painted and get some routes up for it, since that seems to be the one generating the most interest. Like I said, though, I'm gonna be busy. So I'm not going to make any promises on a schedule for delivery.

Thanks for your patience. I hope everyone is doing well. And if you're in the market for a new personal airplane, you now have an "in" with the sales department at Piper.

Dave

[Tony Vienonen]

Congratulations on the new job!

[craig]

FANTASTIC JOB Dave!!! ;D

Got my PPL in 71 when I was 17, found out that I am SLIGHTLY color blind. Certain shades of red and green are the problems.

So, of course, I'm restricted to daytime flights only

Have you ever tried to argue LOGIC with a beaurocracy?

Reason for the daytime restriction - unable to differentiate the green and the white tower lights, that's the ONLY reason.

So, since the WHITE light ONLY applies to aircraft on the ground, the only NEEDED restriction would be having to return to base if I had a radio failure on the ground.

That's what I would want to do anyway.

Pretty logical thinking for a 17 year old, if I do say so myself.

Too bad the gumnt isn't as logical as some 17 yr olds - LOL

[Dave Athay]

Yeah, medicals can be kind of silly. The way I read the FARs, though, as long as I'm not ever denied a medical, or know or have reason to know of any reason why I can't operate a light sport aircraft safely, then I'll always be eligible to at least exercise sport pilot privileges as long as I've got a driver's license and I can self-certify that I'm good to go. So I'm glad for that, at least.

I'm not old yet, but I'm not 17 anymore, either. I'm healthy, but I know it won't last forever. So my plan is to enjoy flying as much as I can, while I still can. By the time I can't, hopefully home simulator technology will have advanced to the point, and my senses degraded to the point, that I won't be able to tell the difference. I think we're getting there on technology.

One of the perks at Piper is being able to join the flying club and rent the gorgeous little glass-panel Archer I flew for only $55/hour WET. I think I know where any disposable income I might have will be going... That and I'll be getting paid to go to Oshkosh this year!