Life's Little Annoyances

The first 95% of yesterday's flight from KBDR down to KVKX in the DC area was uneventful. I like uneventful. Then, as N631S and I got within about seven miles of home plate it got a little bit interesting. I don't care for interesting.

It pleased me no end, that one of the control sectors as I worked my way through Potomac Approach's airspace was being minded by my friend Sarah. We did, "Washington altimeter is 29.82, hi, Frank," and "29.82, 31 Sierra, hi Sarah!" And I felt so very comfortable and at home with that familiar voice on the frequency. In due course I was handed off to one of Sarah's colleagues who gave me a descent to 1,500 feet MSL, turned me toward KVKX, and asked me to report the field in sight. That's when it got interesting.

I acknowledged the transmission, turned toward KVKX, and soon reported that "31 Sierra has the field in sight." I then heard the controller say, "Skylane 31 Sierra, cleared for the visual approach to VKX." I acknowledged that transmission..."31 Sierra, cleared for the visual at VKX."

Then, I heard, "Skylane 631 Sierra, cleared for the visual approach, VKX." Umm...already heard and acknowledged. Whazzup? "31 Sierra, cleared visual at VKX," got me "Skylane 31 Sierra, if you can hear me, IDENT."

Oh, crap. Here I am in the most secure airspace in the western hemisphere and, while I'm not "NORDO" I seem to be "no-transmit". I hit the IDENT button on the transponder.

My controller came back with, "31 Sierra, IDENT observed; you are cleared visual approach to KVKX, keep your squawk code until on the ground then cancel IFR with Potomac Approach as soon as possible."

I switched to the #2 radio, no joy. That's when I noticed (finally!) that pressing the Push-to-Talk (PTT) switch on the yoke was not producing the distinctive "click" in the headset. OK, bad PTT switch. I reached down and grabbed the handheld mike.

By this time I'm turning onto the right downwind for runway 24 at KVKX. Using the handheld mike I transmitted, "Approach, 631 Sierra." The response: "Ah, there you are! I think I must have stepped on you." (Not!) "Change to advisory frequency approved, keep your squawk until on the ground."

I quickly responded, "31 Sierra, over to CTAF, cancel IFR at this time," and got, "IFR cancellation received..." Phew!

The landing at KVKX was uneventful. Sarah, if you're checking this out, let your colleague know that he did not step on me. It was an equipment issue and he was BRILLIANT! He can be my final controller any time!

There at left is the little bastard that I think failed (unless it turns out that it's a wiring issue).

That little guy is a Mason 611-4302 momentary contact switch. If you want to buy it under the Mason part number, it's just about $200.00. Cessna assigns their own part number to the Mason switch. It's Cessna p/n S1985-1 and they want about $156.00 for it.

Now, it seems that Rob-Air Repair LLC in Silverdale, WA, offers a part numbered RA S1985-1 as a direct replacement for this silly little switch, for $17.99 each. I have an e-mail in to the Rob of Rob-Air, asking him to provide the approval basis for his switch so I can convince Dave at Three Wing to install the low cost option.

Meanwhile I trust you have one of these (left), and it works, and you can fetch it up without looking down to where it's stowed. Better if you can slip it back in it's holder without looking down. I couldn't, and just dropped it on my lap. Rest assured, stowing the handheld mike will now be practiced until I get it right.

As for Monday morning, I have one of these (left) left over from my Student Pilot days 17 years ago. A portable PTT switch, that can be secured to the yoke with Velcro strips and is able to bypass the yoke-mounted PTT switch. Should be good to go.

Never a dull moment, eh? Well, that's what makes it fun.

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