Airplane Ownership

So there is a disadvantage to owning your own airplane. When you rent a plane and there is a maintenance issue, you simply "write it up" or tell the maintenance folks and that's it. When you own your plane, you have to get it fixed on your own. So I have had my plane for a week, and it's already down for maintenance. I sure hope this isn't a sign of things to come!!!

Well, I headed to the airport on Tuesday to go and get some solo stuff done. I am hoping to take my checkride in a few weeks, so it's getting down to the wire. As I started the preflight, I saw that the fuel indicator for the right wing showed empty. I knew it wasn't empty since I had fueled up after I flew last time. Just to make sure I didn't have a leak or that it was stolen, I opened the tank and verified that there was indeed fuel in the tank. Bummer. I rocked the wing a bit, tapped the gauge, turned it on and off a couple of times and even taxied the airplane around to see if I could "fix" it. Well, nothing helped. So, I wandered to the maintenance hanger and come to find out the guy who schedules the stuff was out. I was assured he would be back the following day. So, the following day I came down to talk to "the man" but he was off running errands. I did talk to someone else who at least took my keys, wrote down my info and told me that "the guy" would call. Well, it's now Thursday afternoon and I haven't heard from him. I tried to call, but the number goes to a fax machine. Ughhhhhh!!!! This is a little annoying. I have a good reason to believe that it is the sending unit which requires tank removal, shipping, rebuilding, reshipping and reinstalling the tank. In my estimation, a week at the very best. So this really sucks. I contacted the examiner and am trying to get the check done in mid-August, so this is all cutting it awfully close. I had also scheduled a few days off next week so I would 3 good days of "checkride practice" with my instructor...now that is in jeopardy. I went ahead and reserved another "rental" plane to at least get the night cross country done Friday (if the hurricane stuff is gone!). This will be the "last" of the requirements for the checkride and will be able to just focus on the checkride.

Well, I am throughly depressed now, so that's all for today.