Learning Experience

Shoreham shenanigans, crossing at 2000ft, descending deadside and then round and round...

On Monday I flew my second solo land away, once again visiting Shoreham. It was an interesting flight to say the least. The forecast on the face of it was excellent - CAVOK and less that 10kts wind in line with the runway, but things weren't so straightforward. Visibility was actually pretty poor and navigation was trickier than normal but I thought manageable. Looking at the track I wasn't very accurate. It worked well enough getting to Littlehampton. I called into Shoreham and they had changed the runway from 02 to 20 - quite a change. It turned out to be extremely variable. My approach was very poor and I made the circuit far too small, with the result that I was far, far too high on final. Last time I'd been here we'd joined on the base leg and had missed the circuit entirely - a mistake really. Time to go around. The second and third attempts weren't much better - each with a bigger circuit. I was convinced I'd seen the circuit pattern roughly around a large road junction, that was one mistake. It was actually much bigger. Several others in the circuit were having trouble and I heard several go-arounds. It turns out there was a tail wind for part of the approach which was making landing extremely difficult. I finally made a big enough circuit, descended enough and was in a good position albeit at 80kts - a bit fast. I could see another aircraft on the runway and was jus about to announce a go-around when the tower instructed my to do so. It seems someone had positioned to take off in the opposite direction and the Cessna on the runway had aborted it's take-off.  Round I went. Finally everything lined up and I landed - again fast and used a lot of the runway but at least I was down safely. The controller even came down for quick chat after I landed saying I handled the situation well and hoped I never had a landing as difficult again! The first few go-arounds were still my fault though!

Look I'm on the arrivals board!

Alpha November and the blue Miles Messenger

 The return journey went pretty well - take off from Runway 02 just to show how much the wind was moving around. I really need to learn to keep a heading and fly straight and level though. Back at Blackbushe was another low and slow landing. Barrie would be very scathing.

And Solo Lydd!

With what seems to be a rare break in the weather in this country I've embarked on what can only be described as a lunge for the finish line.

On Tuesday I managed my first solo land away, Lydd having been chosen. I was flying the same route as previously but was actually in charge of an aircraft by myself! The day was CAVOK if a little windy, although that was almost straight down the runway at both Blackbushe and Lydd.

Is that a nuclear power plant in the background?

The outbound route felt good. Navigation worked well and I was spotting landmarks and timing went well. The RT was proactive and smooth. I did struggle to lose height coming from the dead side through the circuit for runway 21 with the strength of the wind but it ended up as a good landing. On the way back I had a little 'diversion' way to the east of Biggin - too paranoid about straying into Gatwick's airspace I think or the wind was stronger than forecast at 2000'. A sloppy cross wind landing rounded things off at Blackbushe but I got back and didn't bend anything. It was a fantastic experience and I look forward to more.

Today I flew dual navex to Shoreham. The weather wasn't bad - relatively calm with patchy sun and clouds at 4500'. Another approach over the sea here which is part for the circuit for runway 02. Once again outbound wasn't bad with the Shoreham landing being a bit timid and made my classic mistake of dropping below 70 kts on final. Bad! Coming back I got a bit behind everything with a more complicated RT for Shoreham - Tower and Approach. I got a bit flustered for the long leg but with some prodding from Barrie managed a decent landing. Shoreham has a lovely art deco terminal building which has been used for Poirot. It was sadly under scaffolding on today's visit. There was time for a nicely presented cup of tea though.

 You'd think I'd have taken a happier pilot selfie! Probably the £31 landing fee.