Sunday Shabbiness

Another lesson on Sunday - it's nice to be getting down to it. Weather was fine for circuits, quite hazy but not too bumby for a change. Not such a succesful flight though. Terrible approaches and way behind the aircraft. Tony says I need to practice the walk though in the garden more or on the flight sim. So to cheer myself up I've bough a Saitek yoke and throttle quadrant controls on e-Bay.

I've found somewhere quiet near work to practice the circuit walk though on a lunch time. So while it's sunny you'll find me there, walking in squares and talking to myself.

I've also joined AOPA - free for student pilots, so that's nice. Very efficient sign up too - I filled out the form on the web and my membership stuff was with me in a couple of days.

RT Lesson

Tony's basic rules are WHO, WHO and WHAT.

WHO are you speaking to (Blackbushe Information)

WHO you are and where (G-BPTE, downwind)

WHAT you want (Request radio check, airfield information and taxi)

In reply 'repeat like a parrot'.

So the initial conversation at Blackbushe would go:

Blackbushe information, Golf-Juliet-Juliet-Alpha-November, request radio check, airfield information and taxi.
Golf-Alpha-November, taxi to holding point Alpha, runway 2-5 in use, Qfe 1005, (wind?)


There are three airfield comms standards:-

Radio: Advise of ground movement and air information. They have no control and are simply a central point for information.

Info: Control ground movement only, up to the runway. Provide air information.

ATC: Control ground, runway, circuit and approach. May have different frequencies for different services - ground, approach, tower and ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service).

Further Friday Flying

I had half a day off work on Friday and managed to squeeze in another couple of lessons. Once again the weather was pretty clear but very bumpy which made the finals approach pretty interesting. Tony thinks I'm getting better at the first three quarters of the circuit, but neither of us are happy with approach and landing. Tony had a go at videoing the sessions - it will be interesting to see those!

So I need to work on getting ahead of the aircraft while turning from downwind to base and turning from base to final. 

We also had a long briefing about RT, classifications of airfield radio and responsibilty.

Blue Sky Circuits

Another lesson on Sunday in what seemed to be absolutely perfect weather after the 'orrible stuff we've had recently. Tony did mention it was a bit bumpy - he really wasn't kidding.

Today we're flying G-BPTE. I enjoy flying Tango Echo more than Alpha November for some reason - better pedals perhaps. Tango Echo has one down side though, the airspeed indicator is in mph most prominently which means we're remembering 80 mph rather than 70 kts. That and the left tank fuel gauge doesn't work.

So a few more circuits cut somewhat short because of the gusty conditions. Several times we were all nicely lined up on finals and a gust throws everything around. We were using runway 07 today. It seems Blackbushe only uses the M3 side of the airfield for circuits, so today was all right hand turns.

I seem to be picking up the beginning of the circuit, the initial climb, turn crosswind, level at 800ft and then turn downwind. It's the base and final legs that I was struggling with.

• From downwind, initiate turn, turn on carb heat.
• As soon as the turn is complete immediately reduce power to [1600 rpm] and maintain 800ft.
• Once we're within Vfe lower two stages of flap - maintain altitude and slow to 70 kts (or 80 mph if you insist).
• Trim for 70 kts. I'll say it again because I keep forgetting. Trim the aircraft for 70 kts.
• Initiate descent and use a 15° turn onto final.
• Choose the aiming point on the runway.
• At 300 ft add the third stage of flap and turn off carb heat.
• Are we high, are we low, are we fast, are we slow.
• Maintain 70 kts, keeping the runway picture.
• If we're too high reduce power, too low increase power. Don't use the control column to adjust that. Adjustments of 100 RPM or so.
• If we're too fast or slow adjust attitude.
• Once we're over the runway reduce power.
• and then flare.

Which of course the real trick.

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PA-28 Pre-Landing Checklist

On the grounds that I need to learn this, here is the list from the Piper checklist.

1. Mixture – Rich
2. Carb Heat – Check for ice
3. Fuel – sufficient
4. Flaps – up
5. Engine instrument – within limits
6. Seat backs / Seat belts – erect / secure
7. Altimeter – Set / Cross Check
    o Airport QFE No 1
    o Airport QNH No 2
8. Brakes – Off
9. Recognition / Landing Lights – on
10. Air conditioner – off

And finally here's Tony's version

Brakes
Undercarriage
Mixture (rich) (carb heat on)
T's & P's
Fuel (sufficient) (perhaps swap tanks)
Fuel Pump on
Landing lights on
Carb Heat off
Hatches and harnesses

I prefer Tony's because he includes a round the cockpit check - brakes to mixture in the middle, jump left to engine instruments, work right to fuel, switches, carb heat and finally hatches and harnesses.