I've been quietly working on my pilot's license over the last few months after being a PE customer for a year and a half or so, and today I got to do my solo cross country. Since my piloting needs are really low key I'm working on a sports license which by default can be learned without talking to a soul on the comms (bad idea but I mean strictly legal) unless you're seeking a specific endorsement. Obviously as a PE customer I'm super comfy with radio work and practical cross country skills and my CFI and I agreed to at least class C endoresment based on our work at a Delta and textbook knowledge.
So anyway this means my solo cross country is really the first time talking with the big guys on Orlando approach and just went perfectly! I called up, got a squawk and some advisories, a switch to Jax for my destination...where it got fun. I was in and out of his coverage which we worked through and then some massive storms started popping up over my destination about 30 minutes away. After a new suggested heading faced me towards a new cell I was headed the heck back home
It was just a blast and I owe a big one to PE for getting me out solo on a cross country under the big MCO guys under 20 hours. It is a wonderful privilege to be comfortable with what I assume is a major stress for a pilot that has to add ATC to their skills. I even got a frequency change verified because I said "Jaxonville on eighteen point eight". I think it's also good for some "street cred" on the radios to nail that first VFR request. Jax had tons of planes moving around a storm and I was able to coordinate whatever I needed which ultimately saved my LSA from crappy weather. Again thanks a ton everyone!
