Flying IFR to face my Fear of Heights on a $2M Ladder?

Some Pilots have issues going up tall Ladders and Balconies - Do you?
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In this episode we’re #flying the museum fleet to an event that is in part about trying to save the local airport.
While there, I meet Jason a #firefighter (and pilot / supporter of the channel), who along with Trayce offer to send me up to the top of the reach of their $2 Million ladder truck. Small catch: I’m afraid of ladders and balconies (mostly the falling off part) - apparently a lot of pilots share this #fear.
I am proud to be a member of the Canadian Aviation Museum (formerly CH2A). They are a not-for-profit organization that anybody can visit, and (almost) any pilot can join and fly the planes. Please consider sharing their link, visiting the museum in Windsor, and/or sending a small donation to help them keep our historic warbirds flying! www.canadianav...
SOAR ’23 is confirmed!
It will take place August 11-13 (the 2nd weekend of the month) 2023.
The whole Hadfield family has committed to attend/support once again.
The Canadian Aviation Museum crew will be there, and so will Sarnia Fire!
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FLIGHT CHOPS DISCLAIMER:
I am a "weekend warrior" private pilot, I fly for fun with no intentions of going commercial. I have had my PPL for over 15 years, but still consider each flight a learning experience - I generally take detailed notes after each flight to remind myself what went well or what I could do to improve.... Having GoPro cameras to record flights like this is invaluable. I find these self analysis videos very helpful in my constant quest to improve, and am happy to share. Feedback is invited; however, please keep it positive.
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[@ryancrazy1]

FAA guy sweating behind a keyboard updating NOTAMS for the Unlit obstacle that keeps changing heights in the middle of the airport.

[@YANK951]

Love this 😂😂

[@AnsonChappell]

FAA? Not in Canada!

[@birds_eye_view]

😂👍

[@ProfSimonHolland]

great event....every town needs its airport...the council need to know..ga, is not just guys in cessnas, its medical flights, business, etc....and a military base. good luck.

[@GlensHangar]

Yep - Julie climbs all the ladders around our house... I won't get on one. Edited to add: I gave that fly in a pass this summer; problems the year before in the pattern with hot dog pilots who decided they didn't need to make radio calls / follow best practice procedures gave me a scare. They needed someone co-ordinating the traffic, good to see that they added that this year. Decided to do a multi grass strip fly out with a bunch of planes from North Bay instead.

[@FlightChops]

Yes they fixed the problems from 2021 and it should be good going forward.

[@theflyingfool]

Noooo problem with 90ft right up. Understanding all that VFR chatter on the arrival freq? No way! Awesome to know Chris Hadfield gave his time to help. Fingers crossed for Sarnia.

[@FlightChops]

Haha - yes - that frequency was a mess

[@PocketProjects]

underated comment . . . everyone on the ISS gets it 😂

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Yep, I don't like high bridges, ladders, balconies ... but I've flown hundreds of hours in small planes, and even in doorless helicopters!

[@dimaclipse25]

Flew as a cameraman in a news chopper for over twenty years, hover over the city no problem, doing a ladder like that...absolutely no chance.....!!

[@philipmcbride1275]

Oh heck no. Another pilot afraid of heights here. Or as I like to think, my brain knows my body can't be trusted up high near the edge. I'm pretending it's a smart thing. :)

[@noelkurth2123]

Used to be afraid of heights, then I got into bridge safety inspection as a career. Traded my fear for a healthy respect. Honestly, I was a little disappointed when I figured out that 90 in the video was only feet. I was hoping for some awesome video from 90 meters…

[@gtr1952]

I'm with you Steve! When you pointed that camera down at the top I got light headed and my palms started to sweat, in that short time!!! I am seriously scared of ladders, and heights!! You know the old saying "I get a nosebleed on a step ladder", that's me!! LOLOL But FL410 in a Citation M2, no problem! LOL Thanks much, great video!! 8) --gary

[@foesfly3047]

Anyone who makes efforts to close an airport should have the exit/on-ramps nearest their home, employer and favorite restaurant closed, so they can barely begin to understand.

[@robertfranz2924]

My fear of heights gets in the way of me flying, I'm a painter and decorator by trade 20 years in the industry, have to use ladders and scaffold but I'd never get up that ladder to 90 feet.

[@pursueadventure]

The "camera work" on the ladder was hilarious. The "lizard brain" had me laughing out loud. Kind of a cool testament to going IFR even if you don't have to.

[@ProfSimonHolland]

i so agree....20,000 ft ...no prob....wobbly ladder....no way

[@goatflieg]

I also laughed out loud at that line.

[@TNels]

Welcome to my line of work! Not sure why but I love being up in the ladder truck, I enjoy the views up high I guess. With that said I need to get started on my PPL, I've only done a discovery flight so far and loved it!

[@marc-andremuller1954]

i don’t think it’s unusual for pilots to be afraid of heights. It’s just not the same sitting belted in an open door super cub or standing at the edge of a cliff with nothing to hold on to. Just thinking of it makes my knees weak.

[@johnfriend862]

I honestly thought I was unique in my fear of heights. I can hang out a helicopter door and wave at people, but can't climb up on my roof to clean my gutters. I can fly in the levels in a fixed wing, but can't change the dead LED light next to my hangar door because it's about 15' off the ground. You have given me a serious boost in feeling normal by admitting you have the same issues. As an answer to your question, NO I would not go up in that bucket. I would pay them to replace my hangar light though....

[@FlightChops]

Haha - thanks for sharing your similar fears John.

[@smjj08]

Love your videos, and believe it or not, as a retired Captain Paramedic, we had some firefighters that feared heights, and we were required to climb that 100' ladder quite often. It's all about the angle, and we would put it almost straight, full gear and SCBA and climb it, was not for the faint of heart for sure; you did great Steve!!

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for sharing your insights here, and thanks for your service!

[@birds_eye_view]

Nice video. And I would probably not making anything at all anymore while being up there on that ladder!! I might try it for fun, not sure. Maybe. But when you were straight up and looking down … man I froze right there on my screen sitting comfy on my couch!!! 😰👀

[@ofdlttwo]

We have 7 ladder trucks in our department. None are "buckets (Platforms) Standing at the tip of a 106' extension ladder isn't comfortable even after 32 years but you gain confidence and become comfortable. Thanks for the video.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for your service, and glad you enjoyed this one.

[@niklaspilot]

Cmdr. Hadfield is such a cool dude. I had the honor of meeting him once and he even signed my copy of his book. And I can totally relate to the fear of heights on balconies and ladders Steve! If the railing isn't at least chest height, I will feel dizzy :D In the cockpit at FL450 though, not a problem...

[@craigsanders6925]

It's never too late, got my PPL when I was 60, currently doing tailwheel training, will be getting spin and aerobatics training as well. Then it will be back to IFR, commercial, and CFI. That's going to be my retirement gig. :)

[@billbrisson]

great gathering, I have flown the Sarnia school aircraft when they were doing a satellite school in Red Lak CYRL a few years ago, flew their 172 and Warrior they had based there. as for the fear of heights, all I can say is stay out of mining :)

[@johnopalko5223]

I'll fly airplanes. I'll jump out of perfectly good airplanes. I'll lean over the railing of a 20th floor balcony and watch all the ant-like people scurrying around down on the street. Go up more than two steps on a ladder? Nope!

[@Herofromzer0]

İ think every pilot afraid of Hight. Sometimes i invite friends to fly, they say im afraid of Hight when i told me too they can't figureout.

[@resurrectionautorebuilders8465]

I have the same fear. I can have the doors off a Hughes 300 doing steep banking turns at 6500 ft and it doesn't bother me a bit but stand on top of a 3 ft shaky step ladder and I have an anxiety attack. Weird how the brain works.

[@ChrisB257]

I do hope the airport survives - always more than bad news when any airports shut operations. That fire Dept rig is awesome - rather you and me on that ladder, though still a 'stimulating' experience! Enjoyed sharing with your flight and busy approach. :)

[@Cr480mx]

I've been asked as a firefighter and now pilot if I'm afraid of heights. And my answers is always, no. I can hang off a 200ft cliff by a small rope, I can be 10000ft in the air. But getting on ladders, terrifies me. Its not height that scares me. It's the sudden stop one comes to when you fall that terrifies me

[@kevinrangel6556]

Had to do this when I was training with my local fire department. We got to the top and one of the hydraulic tanks busted and had to make an emergency decent. Luckily my pilot skills paid off to follow the checklist ;)

[@triboarder06]

I hope the airport stays, Canada needs to do better to help support general aviation as much as they do the airlines. It is one thing that the USA does a much better job of, so many fun places to fly to for that $100 hamburger. Helps train pilots, keep pilots proficient and makes things safer if there ever is a problem in the air.

[@andyfehr3462]

I love heights! Went sky diving last week again! Great job again Steve. Used to fly out of Leamington so it's great to see content from an area I recognize.

[@mwmckendree]

Heights don't bother me and I would definitely do that. My issue as a private pilot is motion sickness. The more I fly the better it is but anytime I take a break building up tolerance again isn't fun.

[@theflyingfrog]

Had an opportunity to do this with the fire department in Bastia, Corsica (France) a few years ago. I ducked out of it, but my guitarist Jean went up... and took some amazing photos of his own face / nose / forehead, as he was so stressed out he didn't realise he had the camera pointing the wrong way! 😂 You're a braver man than me, Steve...

[@MattyCrayon]

Totally loved this. Local councils and city's really need to know how much commercial benefits airfields bring to their communities. As a guy who's made some kids aviation content. I really appreciate the comments about keeping aviation alive for the younger generation. I'm almost finished a CPL here in Australia and it's definitely on my list of things to do, to come visit you guys at the Museum. Being born in the UK, I definitely want to see the Lancaster, Spitfire and all the other amazing planes you guys have. PS, see if River likes my content. I've been told by a few people that my repetitive style and requests to verbalise, seems to engage autistic kids. ❤

[@JusOut4aRip]

I am River's father and we will put your KZbin on the tv for him to see

[@MattyCrayon]

@@JusOut4aRip Wonderful to meet you. I hope he likes it. I'm not a professionally trained educator, but I've spent over 6 years teaching English in South Korea and worked for a language acquisition software company in Utah, and had at least 2 people say how much the video's seemed to engage their autistic kids. I need to do more research to see how I can improve my content for them. Anything I can do to help really warms my heart ❤

[@realjohnmonarch]

So many pilots have a fear of heights it seems - myself included. Wonder why.

[@goatflieg]

Great event for a great cause; I wrote down the dates for this year. Great to see Emily again; I remain so grateful for her patience when she and Dave came over through horrific traffic and border hassles for the third test flight in my RV-8. I share your same exact fears of ladders, lifts and tall building edges, bridges and cliffs. As a concrete cutter I had to face my fears; as a result I got to go to the top of Sutro Tower in San Francisco and work at Beale Air Force Base with a high perch view of the SR-71s in their open hangars. Still planning my next visit to CAM; hoping for April or perhaps earlier. I'll keep you posted.

[@SeanAllocca]

I am a Paramotor pilot who hates heights but when I am in the air that all goes away.

[@jon00tz]

Never…..It’s all about aging structure around you.

[@scottmcnutt8371]

Helped fly a Citabria from Sarnia to Nova Scotia 13 years ago. As for the ladder truck, not an issue. I have a radio tower in the back yard that I climb at least once a year for maintenance. Hardest thing was learning to let go of the tower and let the climbing harness support you, to get the work done. Great videos! Fly safe!

[@morgidvmw0mdv]

I worked as a Part time fire fighter for 21 years. the highest I got to go was around 50ft on the training tower where we had to do carrying down drills. You had to have another firefighter across your shoulders, the person across your shoulders had a safty harness on, but the person carrying down didn't. When you reached the ground it left you with the feeling you were so light that if you jumped up you would fly up the full 50ft again. My fulltime job was as a Gas Technician responsible for Gas Holder stations, we had one gas holder in our aera that when full was a good 120ft and I had to climb up it on ladders that were fixed to the side, climbing that was a litte of putting.

[@Veritas1992]

Just tell people it’s not a fear of heights. It’s a fear of falling from those heights.

[@18robsmith]

I think me knees would be knocking louder than yours Steve

[@edcew8236]

I'm afraid of heights, too, and occasionally in the air. Flying formation makes me afraid of heights, and in a glider, doing steep turns (almost all turns in gliders are steep), watching the lower wing appear to be moving backwards...

[@nopenotme6369]

You wouldn’t like hanging out with me while inspecting an HF antenna on a KC-135. 😵‍💫

[@FlightChops]

Confirmed, I would not enjoy that 😂

[@mikercflyer7383]

Dave, did you get Mike Patey involved in saving the airport he is on a mission to help others save their airports. Great video Steve. BTW my son is a firefighter and so is his son. I forwarding this video to him.

[@FlightChops]

Awesome thanks for sharing

[@mrsaskriders]

I would totally do that on the ladder. The only thing I wonder is the higher the ladder went, was the stream yellow or clear? Love ur videos!

[@aratwithirons]

Thanks for showing off our warhorse! Now I need a ride in the RV. You’re awesome brotha - Firefighter Trayce

[@FlightChops]

Right on Buddy! Thanks again for keeping me calm up there - I was internally freaking out :) And for sure yeah - Let's get you upside down in the RV-14!

[@tyler_russell]

Great video Steve. Cool FD out there! Great view from up there on the ladder! Hope the airport stays safe from closure!

[@FlightChops]

I hope so too

[@halepauhana153]

I've been 35 feet up the mast of my boat several times, it's not my idea of fun, you just gotta focus on the job at hand, and trust in your crew members below to support you while you're up there. Think to yourself: "Stay. On. Target." Best wishes to Sarnia, I hope they get to keep their airport!

[@ryancrazy1]

i've taken our 105' aerial straight up... you can see pretty far!

[@jpaulholbrook]

That was a really fun one. Thanks for pushing through your fear enough to give us a ride along up the lader.

[@FlightChops]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dfmcintyre129]

Right across the river from my home base!

[@FlightChops]

Come visit us in Windsor too!

[@EpsilonGaming7]

Glad to see I'm not the only pilot that's "weirdly" afraid of heights

[@michaelrice500]

Heights? Yup; me too. I really respect you doing that and powering through it. For me, I spent a summer working on an arial tram maintenance crew, climbing 70m towers to replace sheaves, working on top of the gondola and inspecting track ropes from a maintenance car (like a boson's chair). I'm still not over it, and never will be. You got heart, Steve - I know how hard it is. Somewhere in Alaska, you can find my fingerprints squeezed into some 3/4" steel handles atop some tram towers.

[@FlightChops]

I can't believe you were able to work through the fear doing that job!

[@michaelrice500]

@@FlightChops It was miserable. I'm here to tell you - harnesses, lanyards and so forth will save you, but I had a hard time getting my head to believe it. My mantra was always "one hand for me, one hand for the company". The guys I worked with were very understanding for the most part; having people counting on you was also very helpful. Your pal on the ladder knows how that goes, but in a much more serious situation. For some reason, I don't have that problem when I'm flying. I fly an old PA-12, and I'm comfortable in it, probably because it's enclosed and feels secure.

[@scottbrown4534]

Hey Steve! I am terrified of heights, 10' is max for me, maybe less as I get older... BUT, I would totally love to go up with the firefighters!! I've found that a little terror here and there really makes you feel alive!!! I'm glad you got to do it.

[@colinwallace5286]

I would love to do that. Both my son and I are “height apprehensive”. We consider the situation at length, and usually decide to go for it in the end.

[@WingsOverTO]

Great to meet you there, Steve. And terrific video, as always! Your stuff is inspiring in so many ways.

[@FlightChops]

Right on - I suspect you had a better arrival that time? :)

[@WingsOverTO]

@@FlightChops LOL well I wasn't nearly killed, so it was MUCH better this time around. The traffic advisory service they were providing was a great addition. Hope to see you there again this year.

[@clarencewiles963]

Up and away. Thumbs up 👍

[@FlightChops]

Thanks Clarence - so am I reading that as you saying you'd do it and go "up" the ladder? :P

[@ericlozen9631]

Excellent Upload!

[@FlyingMarc]

I don’t have a fear of heights…. But I’m scared sh*toes of falling! Great fun, sad I missed the memo on the fly-in! I’ll be there for sure next year, put it in my calendar already.

[@bigdaddie40]

You have almost the same panel layout I'm putting in my Mooney. Are you happy with the layout? The only difference is I'm putting the GFC500 controll panel at the top of the center stack.

[@guyoreilly5670]

Steve, it was pleasure meeting you (ever so briefly) at Buttonville the other day. I am learning a lot from your videos and helps me improve my flying. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@PilotRobertMiller]

I’d totally do it. I own a roofing company so that ladder looks very stable compared to some on the job sites

[@FlightChops]

Haha - yes - that "ladder" was very stable. My brain still didn't love being up there

[@Mikinct]

Question 4 ya. I can handle commercial flying window seat. I can handle statue if liberty climb & empire state building. I didnt go out on open terrace though. Or roof top out in open. I hate tall ladders but do fine on high patios & decks. Notbsure if its all just a height thing OR more feeling safe & secure & in control. I tried ferris wheels and first few tines around is death grip on seat. But after 3,4,5 times it does improve. Does Flying in a cessna less daunting than sitting in a ferris wheel? Anyone?

[@leahholland6272]

Hate ladders! When preflighting I preferred climbing the aircraft (C172) instead of using a ladder.... one rental place I used took all the steps off the spars and gave us a rickety wood ladder to balance on gravel/old blacktop

[@CanadiansInCarsGettingCocky]

Thank you for coming to our local airport! It was great to meet you and see your plane!

[@danielbasovitch5087]

Steve! I am also EXTREMELY afraid of tall ladders and Hi Edges, like balcony's and roof edges!

[@FlightChops]

Yeah, it’s a thing for sure.

[@JMOUC265]

Nice paint job on the RV-14 and agree with your rationale. Only thing in my opinion that would improve upon it is to replace one of the wing circles (containing a Maple leaf) with Canadian colored roundels to match the roundels on the Harvard, for example.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks - I actually thought long and hard about how to handle the roundel treatment. In the end, I felt putting the museum logo there as a sort of nod to the roundel was the way to go - I didn't want to put real roundels on a not actual warbird / military aircraft... it felt like it would be stolen valour.

[@JMOUC265]

@@FlightChops I "created" a roundel in which the red Canadian Maple Leaf (official insignia) is replaced by a larger, red Canadian Aviation Museum (official logo). It looks nice. It's very similar to the one you placed on the RV-14 wings, but it is in color (blue, white, and red).

[@FlightChops]

@@JMOUC265 Cool yes. I had considered that too, but the museum branding guileless didn't allow for using blue. So I was required to keep it monochrome - either red or black. The black fit better with the paint scheme, so that is what we went with.

[@RowanHawkins]

We used to do rapelling practice with our ladder. Climb the ladder to the top of the practice building and then go off the far Side of wall, open wall, closed wall. Unclip and do it again.

[@neverclevernorwitty7821]

Here I thought I was weird earning a PPL, but still having a pretty healthy fear of heights!

[@InducedBank]

And now you know roughly how your nauseous passenger felt 🤣To be so far out of your comfort zone and still talking is an achievement! 👍

[@FlightChops]

Good point 🥸

[@gorgly123]

I don't feel it is a fear of heights. It is a fear of falling. When you are in a plane or some other aircraft I don't feel that I can fall out of it.

[@FlightChops]

For me it is worse than that, I feel this primal urge to step off the edge - it is gross

[@mikrobgamingchannel]

at least im not the only one who has that fear lol

[@paulcarstens2601]

Very cool. I’m happy to see you practice the IFR skills on a real world mission. There is no substitute.

[@FlightChops]

That's the plan! Thanks Paul.

[@pursueadventure]

"50 knot overtake" that RV is bananas, love it : )

[@FlightChops]

And I was climbing at that point I think 😎

[@paulie417]

How do you record audio in the plane? I would like to be able to record conversation between pilot and controllers.

[@nickwulf]

Dude you should try to get Bill burr on the channel, he’s got his ppl

[@mike321go]

it’s not the fall that scares me, it’s the sudden stop at the bottom

[@michaelrice500]

No, it's the fall!

[@christiangraves9340]

looks like a blast!

[@russhillis]

I love flying, completely hate heights.

[@papawheelie5835]

Personally, I have a paralyzing fear of widths. Heights, not a problem.

[@87bones87]

Love 90 degrees!

[@bj.roberts6410]

No way I would not do it.

[@aritapper4279]

I've been wanting to get my PPL for a long time and training for me starts soon. Glad to see you making videos, glad to see you're still trying to better yourself as a pilot, and thank you for the hype and motivation to feed my determination to fly myself. Keep being awesome, Steve.

[@FlightChops]

Greatly appreciate this friendly feedback Ari! Please keep in touch through your training

[@publicmail2]

Did someone make a doody in their pants?

[@1hornet1]

Oh man, Firefighter was my first job choice when I returned to Houston after my stint in the military. I wasn't a black woman so I didn't get hired at the time BUT at least I was a very busy volunteer firefighter while in high school. Since it was a small town, all the adults all worked in other cities so it was just us high schoolers to do the fire calls. Thanks to the awesome rules, I missed over half of my senior year of high school! It was awesome!!!