Long time no flying - that certainly applies to me. Since August 2001 when I was working on my float-plane rating in Kelowna I haven't touched a joke ... ahem ... yoke. Now I have to get my license converted to a US PPASEL so the first step is to find a nice flying-club and get a "checkout".

I met Jeremy at the Bart Station. We headed for the Alameda Aero Club and checked out maps, procedures and club-rules. The walk-around was uneventful and I cranked the engine - off we went. Oakland from above is not really the most beautiful thing in the world but the horizon promises San Francisco already. A glance at the crew shows a very relaxed Jeremy and a sincere (stressed?) pilot : me.

The map on the right shows out route (my handheld GPS still works wonders). We stayed north of SFO class-B-airspace (@1500 feet) and headed for downtown San Francisco. At that point you're already talking to Bay Departure.

A turn to the north placed us above the Golden Gate Bridge. Further north Jeremy let me do some aerial manouvers ("slow flight", "stall", "steep turn left", "steep turn right" and "recovery from unusual attitude"). Then I had to find the airport again (quote: "it's simple - find the mormon temple first"). I did a couple of touch and go's in Oakland (tower: "you're cleared right-traffic 27-left", me: "excuse me?") before parking the plane.

I'll be back!!!