Flying the Circuit

When I arrived at the airfield on Sunday everyone was in a very friendly Christmas mood, mince pies and chocolates galore! Not so good on the flying front though, what had been clear in the morning had turned into a solid layer of grey cloud down at 1000 feet. It wasn't looking good until Stu suggested we try my hand at flying the circuit, meaning we would fly just below the cloud. An extensive brief followed, with detailed intructions for flying from runway 26 and into a left hand circuit. This was a familiar approach for me since we've always used 26. A shame then when we came to take-off we were instructed to use runway 08 and fly the circuit on the opposite side! Stu let me handle the take-off - I really shouldn't stamp on those peddles so hard though. I also did one of the touches - again too hard!

So the briefing went a bit like this. Stu said he'd handle most of the RT and the checks, so all I had to do was fly. I have to say it was probably my favourite lesson so far!

From flyian

• RT - “Kemble Information. Golf-Bravo-November-November-Tango”
• RT - “G-BNNT. Pass your message.”
• RT - “G-NT, PA28, tower apron, two POB, flying the circuit, request airfield information and taxi”
• RT - “X” (hold at Bravo 1)
• RT - “G-NT Alpha-1 ready for departure”
• Runway checks, transponder to ALT / DI and compass / T’s & P’s / check heading matches runway.
• RT - “G-NT Hold” / “Line up and wait” / “take off at your discretion”
• RT - “G-NT taking off”
• Full power
• Instrument check / power 2000/2500 airspeed increasing
• Centre line, choosing aiming point off runway
• 60 knots & rotate
• Nose to horizon giving 75 knots in PA28
• At 300ft AGL after take-off checks – T’s & P’s, flaps clean, (gear up), trim 75kts
• Bank 15˚, climbing turn, look right in LH circuit first
• Select aiming point.
• Wind from right
• Turn (30˚?) and new aiming point – Ashton Keynes lakes
• At 950ft start to level (10% of rate of climb)
• RT - “G-NT downwind for touch and go” or “to land”
• RT - or “G-NT downwind for late touch and go” if radio busy
• Downwind checks BUM FFI LCHH which should memorise [B.U.M.F.F.I.C.H.L. - Brakes, Undcrge, Mxtr, Fuel, Flaps, Instmnts, Carb heat, Hrness, Lights]
• Wingtip on the runway for correct 1-1.5 mile gap
• 45˚ from threshold, thinking about turning
• Descent called Base Descent
• Power 1700 RPM / Carb heat on / nose up / trim 75kts /
• Reduce speed to Vfe / 2 stages of flap
• 500ft/min descent rate ideal – manage height to be on glide path
• Turn final
• Centre line with rudder, aileron & wings level
• 3 stage flaps / 65kts
• RT - “G-NT final for touch and go” or “final to land”
• Runway number as aiming point
• Judge the flare