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Grand Jury Summons: So my new company just invested in me, so that I could replace a long time pilot who left suddenly. I just complete training and fly home, only to be notified that I’ve been selected for Grand Jury Service for the next 3 months.

Now I know this would not have been the end of the world, but how does the only PIC available let everyone know what his schedule will be, when that would be determined by others at an undermined time? It would make an already challenging transition just a bit more difficult.

I decide to send a letter to the court requesting that I be excused from Grand Jury Duty. I explained the situation, and within 30 minutes was excused from service. I’m very grateful to the Cecil County Courts for granting my request. They helped not only me, but this small company to continue to operate their flight department.

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GUMPS: With this new airplane, I am concerned that I’ll have to run two different procedures for insuring the gear is down before touchdown. GUMPS works very well in my airplane, but didn’t make sense in the other one at first.

GUMPS in the Twin Comanche sounds like Gas, Gas, Undercarriage, Undercarriage, Mixtures, Props, Switches, Switches at the field. Breaking it down:

  • GAS (Main Tanks Selected)….. GAS (pumps both ON)
  • UNDERCARRIAGE (Green Light ON)……. UNDERCARRIAGE (One in the window)…….
  • Mixtures (both full up or as req’d)
  • Props (Advance both to 2500)
  • Switches (landing lights)….. Switches at the field(Pilot Controlled Lighting)

I am very interested in using the same procedure for both airplanes I fly routinely, so Jeff suggested the following to allow GUMPS to live in both places. It still sounds like Gas, Gas, Undercarriage, Undercarriage, Mixtures, Props, Switches, Switches at the field. Only in the Cheyenne it means something subtly different:

  • GAS (Left firewall shutoff DOWN (ON))….. GAS (Right firewall shutoff DOWN (ON))
  • UNDERCARRIAGE (Green Lights ON)……. UNDERCARRIAGE (One in the window)…….
  • Mixtures (Condition Levers full ON / Forward)
  • Props (Advance both to 2000 or as req’d)
  • Switches (landing lights)….. Switches at the field(Pilot Controlled Lighting)

It helps to be consistent. Fly Safe!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Frank

By fdorrin

Fully retired now, unless something interesting comes along. I’ve enjoyed a lucrative career as an Electrical Engineer, Certified Software Solutions Developer, and Project Manager. An excellent and fun career that I’m very proud of. I began flying commercially in Dash-8 aircraft for Piedmont Airlines, and moved on to instruct in the Gulfstream 280; WestWind; and Astra jet aircraft. I’ve also been blessed with a type rating in the B-25 bomber in a fortunate turn of events. My wife, Beverly, and I currently own and operate a beautifully restored PA30 Twin Comanche, which we use to explore the CONUS.