Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Re-invent yourself

Wao! So its been 5 years since my last flying post. Alot! Has happened. So to keep things simple, heres the list:

1. Separated from wife
2. Got my motorcycle license
3. Purchased a motorcycle
4. Fixed things up with wife
5. Left Brooklyn, Moved to NJ with wife and kids.
6. Due to un-faithfulness, divorced wife.
7. Ex-wife moved an hour away limiting me from seeing my children. (Just on weekends)
8. Motorcycle got stolen on the street
9. Laid off from job (after 5 years)
10. Had my first hospital admission due to an Afib episode (holiday heart syndrome, stress etc)
10. Had my first panic attack and more followed.
11. Got a new job for 6 months. Got laid off 3 weeks ago.

As I read all this, it absolutely AMAZES me that Im still here and moving forward. Wao! Smh... But there is some good news after all. Here are a few items I checked off my bucket list in the past 4 years.

1. Got my motorcycle license
2. Became a Public Speaking coach
3. Financed my first vehicle and dream car (2011 rubicon jeep wrangler)
4. Got my first personal Amex card

As you can see, Ive accomplished alot less, than the amount of negative life changing problems Ive had. And one of the main and more recent problems I've run into is my career in IT Support services.

Due to automation, cloud services etc. My job is becoming obsolete or its being contracted oversees. Companies are hirering young engineers at 14$ an hour. It is Looking grim for my 19 year career in IT.

At 42, my dreams of being settled in a career, living in a beautiful home with my wife and kids, riding my motorcycle into the sunset has been currently erased.

So, its back to the drawing board. Its time to start from 0, nada, zilch. How? By first focusing on what I need to do as an individual to better myself. I know it sounds selfish. But, when youre close to halfway your life expectancy, your heart is giving you signs of change and your last career didnt cut it. Its mandatorty for me to re-invent myself.

So, I began to search for flight schools in the NJ area where i currently reside. Im looking to go to school fulltime. I have a meeting this week and next with a flight school.

 I will keep everyone posted as I progress in this life changing process.

Jason (fwj)


Monday, August 6, 2012

First born, First Flight & Lockheed Constellation

Hey Guys,

so it's been a while since I write, but it has also been a while since I fly. For the past month or so I have hit the books really hard trying to study for my written, I really want to get that out of the way.

In other news, my son Zach took to the sky for the first time. He was so thrilled as so was I since we were both going to fly that day. But, as a parent I was so proud to see him take the yoke and maneuver that bird in the sky.

Here is a short video:


Before the flight I had a chance to walk my son Zach thru the preflight and that was a great refresher for me. My son flew from CDW (Caldwell, NJ) to Greenwood Lake, NJ. At Greenwood look airport we were greeted by the Lockheed Constellation. It's last (US) tail number was N9412H. It is the airports office and restaurant. 





I'm very excited to get back up in the sky sometime in the middle of August and I hope I can take my son up again. 


You can read the history of the Lockheed Constellation here: http://www.javelinamx.com/N9412H/history.htm



Jason Anthony Rodriguez - (FWJ)


Saturday, March 31, 2012

The truth about a charter pilot.


This little video couldn't express it any better! Very Funny!




Jason Anthony Rodriguez - FWJ

Monday, February 6, 2012

Medical 3rd Class Certificate? CHECK!

A few days I waited for my appointment with one of the few FAA Medical Examiners located in Manhattan, NY (NYC)

I got to the DR's office the receptionist asked me to fill out some paper work and luckily enough I had already filled out my application from the FAA website and received a confirmation number. The receptionist asked for my confirmation number, ID and asked for me to urinate in a cup. 

I waited a few minutes and the DR. was ready to see me. While there he weighed me, checked my vision and I failed the Color seeing test, a few minutes later he checked my vision again and realized I would have a restriction on my Medical Certificate.  

We discussed my vision and why I would have a restriction and how I will need to correct it. Following that he checked my Blood Pressure and it seemed a bit high, then he checked it again and said it was good. How ever he did explain to me that I would have to make some lifestyle changes in efforts to help keep me from getting Hypertension, I took this very serious. 

All in All I was very proud to get my Airman Medical 3rd Class Certificate. Now, I can begin login in my official flight hours. Also, In the meantime I will change my eating habits, do more exercise and try to take life a bit more easy. 

Thanks Doc!

Jason Anthony Rodriguez - FWJ



Sunday, January 29, 2012

It's not natural for man to fly!


As I got ready for my second flight up on the Cessna172P, I was very excited because this would be my first "Official" logged hour. I have flown several other times unofficially, I was finally going to get my first hour in my log book. Unfortunately, I don't have a medical or logbook at this training session. Fairly enough my instructor agreed to place the hour in the logbook once I got my medical and a logbook to write it in! Awesome.

As we walked out out to the airplane I could not help but feel excited. The weather was about 50degrees and the Gusts where only 8-14knots. My first flight the gusts were 18-25knots! very windy, lots of turbulence and now you can understand why I was excited! my stomach would stay in place! lol lol 

Cessna 172P - Took this as I got to the plane.



As we hurried down the runway and got off the ground, my instructor handed me the controls. I was a bit nervous because the ascend was quick and the climb was happening very fast. Since we were still in the airports airspace I did not feel comfortable and asked the instructor to take the controls.

As we got to our training airspace about 15-30 miles from the airport, I had the controls and as I looked to the ground and out to the horizon I could not help but think about God and what he could do as I soared in his neighborhood at 2300 feet up in the air and 5,000 RPM's. 

I realized I was messing with nature, I thought "I'm not a bird its not natural for me to be this far above ground! with one gust of wind  God could lay me on top of the trees below and I could be DEAD!"

A moment later, a peace came over me (Im not sure why) and I realized God wouldn't do that, my father has been flying for 37 years and he never allowed anything to happen to him. I felt total confidence at that second and began to maneuver the airplane as instructed by the trainer.

As we landed on the ground, I was very proud because I had a total new respect for God, his power and nature.

Jason Anthony Rodriguez - FWJ




Tuesday, January 24, 2012

UNICOM - "Can't say dad on the radio!"

This morning while on the subway, I begin to study about the different types of radio communications and devices used for aeronautical purposes. In the chapter it talked about a UNICOM (a privately owned air/ground communication station which transmits your position and intentions.)  

While reading about a UNICOM I couldn't help but remember a funny story that happened years ago while I worked as a "Rampee" (ramp agent, you know the guys with the mickey mouse ears) for BEX Delta's regional company. 



It was during the summer of 1995-96 I was in the bin of a 727 loading bags and in an instance I twisted my ankle. From that day till my ankle got better I was asked to work in "Operations" (a UNICOM) while in the operations role I had to answer radio calls from pilots with location, ramp information, requests etc. 

One day, a call comes in and says "This is flight 1234 8765Charlie" I paused for a moment with an intrigued look because the voice sounded very familiar, I answered "Flight 1234, this is ops" Pilot says "FLight 1234 we are ten out and will need a top off while on the ramp" I answered with a questionable look in my face and said "DAD?" the caller pauses and says "JAY?" "Yeah, it's me dad!" I begin to laugh and he says "JAY, you can't say DAD on the radio!!!"  

Ten minutes later I greeted my dad Captain Nelson Rodriguez (whom worked for BEX at the time) hugged on the ramp and we both laughed. It was definitely a highlight in BEX's UNICOM and in our relationship...

Jason Anthony Rodriguez - FWJ

Thursday, January 19, 2012