60. Surviving a plane crash on a frozen lake, with Tom Comet

60. Surviving a plane crash on a frozen lake, with Tom Comet

Author: Sporty's Pilot Shop September 12, 2023 Duration: 53:50

When the airplane engine quits over a remote part of Canada, your options are limited. For Tom Comet and his friend, this was just the start of an incredible adventure—one packed with lessons for all pilots. In this riveting episode, he shares how they reacted to their emergency, where they chose to land, and what survival gear made a difference during a long, cold night on a lake. As a UAS pilot and former circus performer, Tom also talks about flying $150,000 drones for TV and creating huge pyrotechnic displays, including the lessons learned about risk management. In the Ready to Copy segment, you'll hear why the Cessna Skymaster is an underrated airplane, tips for learning to ride a unicycle, and why Tom found himself juggling chainsaws.

SHOW LINKS:

- Tom's article at Air Facts: https://airfactsjournal.com/2023/08/my-lake-rescue-in-northern-ontario/

- TomAir YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tomairtv

- Pilot Training+ membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html


There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens in the cockpit or after a flight, where the real stories and honest opinions come out. Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's captures that feeling, sitting down for genuine talks with some of the most compelling people in aviation. You’ll hear from flight instructors breaking down the real challenges of training, alongside airshow performers sharing the moments that truly tested their skill. Each episode goes deeper than the usual hangar talk, aiming to connect with anyone who feels that pull to the sky. Wrapping up every conversation is a favorite segment, “ready to copy,” a rapid-fire round that cuts past the cliches to reveal what each guest truly believes. This podcast, presented by Sporty's Pilot Shop, is built for those who live and breathe flying, offering a mix of grounded advice and unforgettable stories from the people who know aviation best. It’s about the shared language and passion that defines the flying life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's
Podcast Episodes
78. Young pilots and ditching tips, with Amy Laboda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
A new generation of kids is entering the aviation industry right now, and that’s exciting for Amy Laboda. The longtime flight instructor and writer explains why today’s student pilots are different, how writing can make…
77. Airport kids and CRM lessons, with Kevin Garrison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:06
Kevin Garrison grew up riding his bike to the local airport, then built time flying freight before enjoying a 30-year career as an airline pilot. In this honest (and hilarious) episode, he shares what he experienced alon…
75. Bush flying in Alaska, with Patrick Carter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:24
Having flown everything from aerobatic airplanes to airliners to seaplanes, Patrick Carter loves to apply the lessons from one part of aviation to another. In this episode, he takes us inside the world of Alaskan bush pi…
73. Flying a vintage airplane across the country, with David Tulis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
A spur-of-the-moment airplane purchase presented David Tulis with the adventure of a lifetime: flying a 1953 Tri-Pacer across the country. He tells the story of this fun and challenging trip in this episode, including wh…
72. Why most airports are poorly managed, with Mike Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:41
Airports are missing out on $35 billion in economic impact because they're not well run - that's according to pilot and airport management expert Michael Jones. He explains the cause of this underperformance and why the…
71. IFR proficiency and remote flight instruction, with Ryan Koch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
Earning an instrument rating can unlock new flying adventures, but only if you keep your skills sharp. In this episode, CFII Ryan Koch offers some tips for doing that, including: staying mentally engaged when you can’t f…
70. How musicians and pilots are similar, with Randy Waldman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
When you go on tour with Frank Sinatra at age 21, it’s hard to be intimidated—so it’s no surprise Randy Waldman jumped into the exciting world of helicopters with both feet. In this episode he shares his unique aviation…