Single-Pilot Mountain Flying at Night | Day in the Life of a Pilot | PilotKaity

🌌 Join me for a thrilling day in the life as I take on the challenges of single-pilot flying into the stunning yet demanding mountains of Idaho-at night! This vlog captures everything from pre-flight prep to the nighttime approach into a remote mountain airport. Along the way, I’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at my day, from morning routines to cockpit moments, and even a few surprises!
What You'll See:
**Pre-Flight Prep**: How I plan for a night flight into mountainous terrain, including weather, navigation, and performance considerations.
**Stunning Nighttime Scenery**: The beauty of the Idaho mountains under a blanket of stars-aviation views you don’t want to miss.
**Cockpit Insights**: Real-time flying decisions, cockpit workflows, and ATC communication as I navigate the challenges of single-pilot operations.
**A Full Day in the Life**: From my morning routine to post-flight reflections, see what it’s like to balance flying with everyday life.
Why Watch?
**Aviation Adventure**: Night flying and mountainous terrain make for an exciting and educational experience.
**Single-Pilot Operations**: Get a unique look at what it takes to safely handle a PC-12 solo in complex environments.
**Personal & Professional Balance**: See how I juggle my life as a corporate pilot and aviation enthusiast.
🔔 *Subscribe* for more flying adventures, aviation insights, and behind-the-scenes vlogs.
👍 *Like, Share, & Comment* if you’ve ever flown into mountainous terrain or want to! Got tips or questions? Let me know below!
Follow me on [Instagram]( / pilotkaity ) and [TikTok]( / pilotkaity ) for even more updates and behind-the-scenes fun.
#PilotKaity #MountainFlying #NightFlight #PC12 #AviationVlog #SinglePilot
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*Gear I Use:*
*Camera:* DJI Pocket 3
*Microphone:* Shure MV7+
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*Disclaimer:* This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All operations comply with FAA regulations, and safety is always my top priority. Cameras are mounted before flight or during noncritical phases of flight. Videos are significantly edited for time and do not show all tasks. All checklists are completed and all CFRs complied with at all times. Consult with a CFI for your own flight training as these videos are for entertainment purposes only. Opinions stated in this video are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer. All videos are filmed on empty legs or part 91 operations.
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Take off with me on this exciting journey into the mountains-hit play and experience the adventure! ✈️🌄

[@xoniwebmaster1]

Beautiful scenery and the commentary is greatly appreciated.

[@pilotkaity]

Thanks for watching!

[@danielreuter2565]

Pivot mounts and case. Absolutely the best. Been using them for several years and they're as good as new still. Couldn't recommend highly enough.

[@pilotkaity]

Do they mount right onto the yoke?

[@stevenkish4581]

Great video sis. Loved it

[@gtmako]

great video, gave me a few laughs ;) I fly single pilot 90-95% of the time. My co-pilots are kids and/or wife. I fly for fun and to work. You have some good ideas for flying at night that I know I should do. Love your videos

[@pilotkaity]

Thanks for sharing!

[@khmaladze719]

All my life i was a car racer/drifter. I love driving and enjoy it a lot, but i never wished to become a bus/truck driver (with all the respect to them from the bottom of my heart). Recently done my PPL license in Czech Republic and was wondering what to do next... Thanks for sharing and showing how to progress in aviation world without ATPL and of course motivating. Best of luck and progress to you too! 🧑‍✈🙂

[@pilotkaity]

For my job I actually do have the ATP. Even though it’s not legally required most insurance companies want their pilots to have it

[@cherokee180driver6]

I enjoyed watching your video. I'm a 75 year old pilot still flying my Cherokee 180 out of the Caldwell airport. The McCall area is beautiful to fly to... I just do it in the daytime!

[@pilotkaity]

Caldwell is a great airport!

[@rumblethis2023]

Wow, 5.75 million bucks and no USB outlet!!! What was pilatus thinking!😂

[@pilotkaity]

😂

[@Straightahead101]

This gig isn't as good as she makes it trust me

[@kurtalan7808]

As someone who came from the regionals to a 135 PC12 i love the single pilot. Same when I was in the caravan. However I would never fly single pilot in the 121 world. Looks like you have a beautiful place to fly. I fly the PC12 mostly around the midwest.

[@747boy]

Love your channel. Been flying in the airlines for 27 years. I don't think this single pilot airliner would be a thing before I retire in 14 years. I feel sorry for the up and coming pilots. I will never fly again if it happens, because I think it's that dangerous. Thanks

[@AirJoe]

Single pilot flying a Pilatus ifr is pretty impressive!

[@pilotkaity]

Thanks!

[@arctain1]

I, also, occasionally fly single pilot at night. I notice you were using a white light on your headlamp. Just a friendly suggestion - check out the Petzl Actik (600 lumens) or Tikka (450 lumens) in red lighting to maintain night vision. I find the Tikka to be more than enough when flying at night, and it seriously helps keep the night adaptation of my eyes. Plus, it will ONLY shine red, so I never accidentally destroy my night vision with while light. I just need to convince Petzl to use a green light instead of red! Boise, Pocatello, Caldwell, McCall - all beautiful airports!

[@PoulGo]

Single engine single pilot operation is never for me. Once I experienced multi crew flying I can never imagine myself working like this anymore. This used to be my goal when I was a student pilot. The likes of you and steveo1kinevo have my respect. Also… I can never go fly an airplane without a lav anymore. I have a pretty bad bladder 😂

[@EduardoAbreu-Counsell]

An interesting insight into Single pilot IFR - and the part 91 world. I think you are a good operator with high personal standards. I like the way you constantly assess your performance. These long days at night in tricky conditions are a worry though.. Have you considered moving to a company that operate multi crew? Safe flying.

[@pilotkaity]

I love the company I’m at now! I don’t think I’d find a better quality of life at an airline

[@EduardoAbreu-Counsell]

@ multi crew in a business jet I meant.. Airline flying is rubbish! ;)

[@1milliondrops.]

info packed! great vid kaIty. I especially enjoyed the info on ur route as thats the general route i fly commercial (passenger not pilot) im apiring to be the principal soon and have looked into charter flights. Nice to see the pilatus squeeze out that trip. Its a efficient platform

[@pilotkaity]

That’s a great route for sure! And the Pilatus does well on it as long as we aren’t to heavy we can go pretty far

[@anthonydail6596]

I like the light around your neck. That's a good idea 👍. I just fly 172s for fun, but I hope in 5 years to fly as a career. I been waiting for 10 years now I can't wait much longer lol. I still have 2.5 years left before I can retire, then I plan on living my dream. 👌 I love your videos. It's reality. You don't show yourself getting on a plane and going to a beach or ski trip somewhere. Your videos are realistic and shows what it takes to fly the plane. Your videos are simple and realistic 👌 Thanks for what you do.

[@pilotkaity]

What do you do for work now?

[@markloos1388]

You can tell a real Pilatus operator when they know to grab the steps opening or closing the pax door. Bonus if you’ve ever opened the cargo door when someone left an open drink in the cup holder 😅

[@scottyscott9965]

I had a knee board, (still training but got checkride scheduled finally) dang thing grew legs. Would like something that is modular cuz slip seating small planes. Great video. About reroutes, my instructor and I decided to file east of the PHX bravo to go up the hill and get some actual imc for grins, got cleared as filed, soon as we switched to departure they routed us over sky harbor and north of Scottsdale. It was nice since nobody was flying and a different view for both of us in a Cherokee. Take care.

[@pilotkaity]

Lots of reroutes in those busy airspaces haha it’s just part of it but can be tough if you really wanted to go a specific way for training etc

[@frankward67]

I don't do much night flying but that is a really good idea to have the light around your neck like that.

[@pilotkaity]

I picked that up in the Army and it’s been very helpful

[@MrNice-gw5dt]

thanks for the ride Kaity !

[@pilotkaity]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@747FoSophie]

Thank you for sharing and I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Happy Sunday from Wisconsin, as I am back home for December. Have you looked at the two mounts I mentioned? Pivot and I see RAM Mounts has a PC-12 yoke mount.

[@pilotkaity]

Thanks for the well wishes and happy holidays to you too! Happy Sunday!

[@PaulRempel-kk3cz]

Great,thank you for sharing this. I am working on my PPL but I plan to fly a turboprop in the future

[@pilotkaity]

Best of luck!

[@BEHAviation]

Thanks for the video! Mygoflight has the best suction mount systems, hands down!👍

[@pilotkaity]

Thanks I’ll have to check that one out

[@jamesharkness1058]

Love your level of preparedness! I guess the other consideration is survival gear during winter. I got a feeling winter is going to be brutal.

[@pilotkaity]

Definitely true! I always say “dress to egress”

[@dawsonhollingsworth3535]

have you tried the Pivot case and mount?

[@pilotkaity]

I haven’t! Does it mount on the yoke?

[@dawsonhollingsworth3535]

@pilotkaity They do! Im not sure how it works exactly but I know they make a window mount that’s what I use and it’s great super sturdy and durable it’s what a lot of 121 operators use!

[@chrislovett6120]

I’m trying to steer my 13 yo granddaughter into a career path like yours. Love you channel, this was a great one As to your iPad mount that’s a great one. The Ram XGrip is what I’ve used in tractor trailers cars and motorcycles for over a decade. Ram makes tons of great stuff. You may have to re glue the rubber pads at some point

[@pilotkaity]

Is the rubber pad means to be glued straight onto the mount? I could figure that out

[@chrislovett6120]

@ if you bought the X Grip new it should have come with a little thing of super glue to glue the 4 rubber pads that grab onto the iPad. I’ve never even used the elastic strap that comes with them on a motorcycle or truck. For a phone mount I have switched to the Ram Quick grip because it’s an easier one handed in and out with the iPhone

[@RobinReedCoach]

Thanks Kaity!

[@pilotkaity]

Thanks for watching!

[@justinsalaskanadventures]

Awesome, watching from Alaska, just passed my ifr a few months back, working on commercial now, single pilot ifr is the real deal especially on a fast mover, you ever pack on a lot of ice on your travels?

[@pilotkaity]

Yes I definitely have. It’s something to be very aware of and have a plan to get out of it.

[@rumblethis2023]

Is it not possible to get approach plated on one of the MFD's?

[@pilotkaity]

It is but I prefer the idad

[@pilotkaity]

Ipad

[@rumblethis2023]

See you wearing a winter coat on flights. Why would pilatus not have a good cabin / cockpit heat system?

[@pilotkaity]

It does. I’m wearing it because I’m about to get out of the plane

[@tc1739]

Nice watch I have that one myself but orange band 😅

[@pilotkaity]

Garmin 235?

[@RonSchwoyer]

Great vid! I noticed the cockpit door was open with no pax. Was that to allow heat from the cabin to warm the cockpit? Also, did I correctly count 3 bananas? lol

[@pilotkaity]

Just the 1 banana 😂 the door is just open because there’s no reason to shut it

[@MyOldDroidCellphone-w6j]

Is it cold in the cabin

[@pilotkaity]

Haha I bet!

[@rumblethis2023]

What was your experience in pt 121 and 135? Interested to learn why you transcended into part 91? Love the channel3

[@pilotkaity]

I flew charter and air ambulance part 135. The schedule is much better part 91

[@rilloman]

Hi, im a new subscriber... love the videos and the fact that you have chickens... I've always wondered how pilots get in and out of the cockpit when there is that center console to step over... any chance of you showing us in your next video you post how you get in and out??? I figure for a slim person, it's a breeze... but a tall, not so slim person it may be challenging.. Thanks.. Ryan from Fort Lauderdale...

[@pilotkaity]

I have a short of my husband getting into the front seat you should check it out

[@rilloman]

@pilotkaity is it the one with the apple in his mouth?? I can just imagine getting out...

[@more-left-pedal]

I fly the PC24 so same avionics package basically. Do you find that you prefer the full HSI vs the Arc? At first I felt more comfortable with the full HSI coming from other platforms but then based on all of the available overlays (such as terrain, traffic, weather) I’ve now switched fully to the arc. Great content! Excited to follow your career! Lots of opportunities to move to the 24 from the 12. Cheers!

[@augggie]

Once certified for the PC 24, is it easy for a pilot to jump back and forth into a pc-12?

[@more-left-pedal]

@@augggie Yes I would say so.

[@pilotkaity]

I like the HSI better. Idk why guess I’ve just used it more. I use the arc in other planes I fly and I don’t find it too hard to switch between the two. I do use the arc when I need terrain etc though of course

[@more-left-pedal]

@@pilotkaity cool. You training at FlightSafety?

[@jmead6121]

New subscriber Nice Plane 5 blade prop wow & on solo flight out to PU ur Passengers now ill watch rest on Tye flight ..Thanks

[@pilotkaity]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@XAirForcedotcom]

You could switch to married to pallet operations : )

[@XAirForcedotcom]

Pilot

[@bobbrown3612]

Yes Done that No autopilot No glass No GPS No iPad I did use a kneeboard… Retired now Flew 50 years

[@pilotkaity]

Wow what kind of plane were you flying?

[@cmritchie04]

How do you maintain verbal contact while up in the air with "dispatcher"? Since you are part 91 operation....for the Private Pilot status, would you consider "the private pilot aircraft dispatcher"? Ham radio tech license required! Looks like the King's do it...dispatcher

[@pilotkaity]

We don’t have a dispacth

[@pilotkaity]

*dispatch

[@cmritchie04]

@@pilotkaity sorry old computer and the keyboard is very crusty

[@dgarcon]

Hi, curious about the salary. How does it compare to the current part 121 world? My guess is the salary is lower but the quality of life is higher. I've heard it's often a fixed annual salary, but you may only fly a few times a month during the slow season. So overall, much less flying and time away from home.

[@pilotkaity]

That’s exactly right

[@Pa27pilot]

I would handle it the same way I would any other time of the year, single pilot, over flat land, during the day. I’m based in Chicago reroutes are the norm. Unless there’s an emergency what is the difference?

[@pilotkaity]

Do you plan any differently?

[@Pa27pilot]

@ plans are made before the fact but you asked how would handle 5 reroutes single pilot over the mountains in the winter at night? Why would any of those things cause you to handle a reroute any differently? Am I missing part of your question?

[@Pa27pilot]

@@pilotkaity Anyway I’m not trying to be a smart ass. I was genuinely trying to answer your question and my point being that as long as youre not dealing with any emergencies then there’s no difference in handling a reroute in those conditions or in CAVU other than your state of mind. A pilot can unnecessarily stress him or herself out overthinking about those things when as long as everything is working just rely on your training and fly the plane.

[@Gilles45]

@@Pa27pilotYou're not trying, but you managed really well...

[@jmead6121]

wow @ 10 mins In over the Little bitty mountains below lol ...wonder what there peaks are & or Ur Altitude while crossing 24K maybe

[@pilotkaity]

They’re about 10,000 feet

[@topofthegreen]

If I was 40 years younger with a collage degree and 2,000 hours thais might be doable, but with the mandatory retirement age of 65, there would be no chance of getting into this, operators want young experienced pilots, competition is fierce for flying jobs.

[@pilotkaity]

Unfortunately I do tend to agree with you

[@redmesa2975]

A friend of mine was an airline pilot for probably 15 years. Then he went to the corporate route. He likes corporate much better. Better pay too.

[@pilotkaity]

Wow very interesting thanks for sharing

[@frikkied2638]

Wow you can’t pee as a single pilot? Makes sense but that’s quite brutal. Guess you have to plan around that for how much you drink before and during flight.

[@splvega1]

Pivot Mount

[@Gmantsb]

Have you ever busted a checkride ? Be honest

[@pilotkaity]

No I haven’t

[@XAirForcedotcom]

You could switch to married pilot operations. Apple voice dictation is not working well.

[@XAirForcedotcom]

Don’t tell me you’re gonna actually read my silliness. Lol. Just skip over this.

[@XAirForcedotcom]

If that had been me, you would’ve just seen me walk out the door with my pajamas on still.

[@XAirForcedotcom]

I see you’re serving breakfast to include eggs on this flight

[@XAirForcedotcom]

Wow, you must be rich Katie because you have a $6.2 million banana : ). A Chinese crypto billionaire bought a banana duct tape to a backboard for $6.2 million and then ate it.

[@XAirForcedotcom]

Yeah, I wouldn’t appreciate my iPad falling on me while I’m flying. Not that I’m a pilot but if I was that would not make me happy. I was an amateur radio operator that had the mount stuff and if it moved around, it was problematic when I was weather spotting.

[@berniemccann8935]

Sorry, while I agree with most of the other admirable comments, the talk-over commentary added after a flight full of hand signals just doesn't work for me -- It certainly distinguishes you from other pilots.

[@pilotkaity]

What do you mean it distinguishes me from other pilots? I’m not sure I’m following

[@flatlandflying]

IMO, nobody should fly at night in the weather single pilot!

[@pilotkaity]

I don’t agree people do it all the time

[@user-et9ww8do4f]

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