#5: Cool day of flying, taxiing, learning and eating.

Today I flew to KHND (Henderson, NV) to attend Digital Signage show. The day started great, with 2600ft overcast (so I got some IFR in 0.1hr) 

and then severe clear with 50KNTS tail wind. What else can you ask for. A 55min flight ended with good landing, parking at a transient and the whisking to the terminal in a comfy airport car.

The winds at KHND were strong with a steady 28KNTS when I was landing and steady on the ground. The airport people said that I need to secure my airplane well, due to the winds. No problem, I have chocks, and I have tie downs that will not ruin paint on my plane. After securing the plane and makings sure nothing is moving, I got my backpack, car GPS and out I went to do some business. A little pat on the back for having chocks and tie downs.

Coming back later in a day, I filed IFR and started taxi to RW35R as cleared by ground. At the same time a Citation was landing and was exiting to the taxiway as I was taxiing by on the uncontrolled area of the airport parallel to the taxiway. The Citation had to stop before entering uncontrolled area due to my crossing. As I was cleared to taxi, I was proceeding as was requested by ground control and did not realize that Citation was there until I was right in front of him.

He companied to the ground control that I interfered with his movement and requested to know if I had clearance to taxi. For which ground controller said "Yes, and he also told Citation that he did not talk to ground and he should.". Citation pilot insisted to tell the controller that it was too close for comfort and that the tower told him to switch to ground, monitor ground and taxi to parking and that he did not have to talk to ground. The controller finally said, you were entering uncontrolled area for which you are responsible for maintaining separation at all times. And that was the end of it. The lesson I learned was to stay aware at all times and not to assume that I have the right of way.

As I stopped at the RW35R for run up, a consistent beep was attracting my attention. I could not figure out where it is coming from. Then I remembered that I picked up a CO2 detector at Migration and stuck it in the bottom pocket next to my feet. I pulled it out and sure enough it was reading 49ppm and beeping insistently. By the time I took the picture it dropped to 28ppm. All doors were closed, so I opened one to clear the air. Within 5 minutes the reading went down to 0. That incident got me alarmed and I kept monitoring CO2 throughout the flight, but nothing happed.

Battling head winds on the way home, I finally got vectored for VOR-A to Fullerton and landed without an incident. A quick text message to my wife that I landed and will be home in 15 minutes, parking pane, connecting chargers etc and out I go. Dinner is waiting with all of the fanfare of being with the person I love and have been together for the last 27 years.

All in all a cool day of flying, taxiing, learning and eating.