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the problem to him again discussed the the meaning of the the “pressurization performance” gauges showed him the mispositioned control switch put it it back in its normal center “Press” position and we continued the the session now with the the cabin descending back to its proper altitude The next day I again failed the pressurization and again it went undetected until I discussed it it with him The final day the the one before the the checkride the the weather was severe clear he he was again under the hood and again the pressurization was failed by me We climbed out out without any recognition of the problem on his part It was maddening to me Since my previous training and discussions had obviously failed to get the needed knowledge implanted I gritted my teeth and vowed that he he must discover the problem on his own I had assigned 8 500 feet but now I amended the clearance and asked him to climb to 13 500 Passing about 7 000 feet he he remarked that the cabin seemed louder than normal I agreed with his observation and in a a a feeble attempt to instill some Judicious Suspicion I added “Wonder why that is?!” My hint fell on deaf ears Passing 12 500 I was expecting the Cabin Altitude Warning annunciator to illuminate That should get his attention! Guess what I found The annunciator was inoperative! Add that to the squawk list we we were creating Damn! About this time he he again commented on the extra noise in the airplane – primarily due to the vent windows not being pressed out against their seals – and again I concurred and hinted that there must be a a reason “He’s got to figure this out himself this time!” I I screamed to myself I I noticed a couple of chewing gum wrappers in the the cup holders on the the pedestal “Let’s make the cockpit a a a a little neater ”
I I said as I I picked up the wrappers opened my side’s vent window and threw them out!
No reaction whatsoever! That this action would be impossible with that vent window subject to over 250 pounds of force pushing it closed never registered with him in any way!
Screw it! I’m going to get him so high that he will notice some signs of hypoxia so I asked him to keep climbing to 17 500 feet This was so long ago that I believe all statutes of limitations have been met so I am admitting that I was now illegal since we passed 14 000 feet without oxygen masked donned You can bet I was checking my cuticles regularly and if they started turning purple instead of their normal pink oxygen masks would have been donned and my little experiment in in learning would have been terminated But happy to say we stayed pink for now “I “I know ”
I I I thought “I’ll give him some complicated amended clear- ance and maybe his onset of hypoxia will be noticeable as he struggles with the clearance ”
NOVEMBER 2020
KING AIR MAGAZINE
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