Expired Passport still entered Tijuana
Hello all,
I just got back from Tijuana. My passport expires the end of this month so I sent it in for renewal two weeks ago. Passport Card also had to be sent in. I decided to purchase the 180 day tourist paper at the border the last time I went through with my passport card hoping it would get me through during the long wait for my new passport to return.
Yesterday I walked through the Mexican citizen line, showed the guy my paper, he checked the date and sent me on through. I still have my NEXUS card so coming back to the states was a breeze also.
Just sharing this in case any of you get into a similar situation and don't want to miss out on the Tijuana wonders while you are waiting.
WW.
FAA 8-hour bottle to throttle
FAA airmen handbook requires minimum 8-hour bottle to throttle rule for both private and commercial pilots. 12 hours is way too strict. FAA may revoke pilots' certificates after three convictions for DUI / DWI moving violations within three years, if the states cooperate and provide conviction records. You will lose your state driver's license way before that.
Got to admit flying in instrument MC, in older planes without automation, requires a lot of mental alertness and hard work. Unless fully alert, pilots will likely make fatal mistakes. I was flying single instrument pilot in a high-performance twin to LAX early in the morning after a long trip, without a couple cups of coffee to wake up. Ceiling was 10 K overcast, broken layers down to 800 feet. LA approach control vectored me around the basin and put me in various holding patterns to sequence for the ILS approach. Man, that was mentally taxing early morning after a long trip. Without the new HSI and moving map, I had no idea where I was after so many turns until I finally got on the localizer beam. Don't recommend drunk or sleepy flying in busy approach areas like LAX or NY Kennedy.
I don't think CHP uses radar speed detectors anymore. They all use LIDAR gun day or night time, triggering quick bursts of laser. How will you detect and avoid those? The old K, Ka and X- band radar detectors are useless. They also follow cars and use LIDAR to confirm speed.
I did find a CHP on the left side of freeway, aiming a LIDAR gun at me from about half mile away. He nailed me so was clambering into his patrol car to chase. I stepped on the gas and quickly got off the exit a mile down the road, parked the car among hundreds in a shopping mall hehe. He drove around the parking lot looking but not finding. Sorry officer. I was patiently waiting for you and your ticket but you just did not show up hehe.