Posts Tagged ‘Dual’

Night Rating #2: A Burned out Bulb

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GYWN
Dual Time: 0.9 Total: 57.2
PIC Time: 0.0 Total: 26.5
Total Time:   83.7

After a couple of sessions in the 4040 Simulator, Louis and I were ready to spend some more time getting our butts frozen off and our night dual time worked on.   As mentioned previously the night rating is made up of some dual, some solo and a lot of Instrument time.  of the 10 required hours IFR 5 can be simulated and 5 must be hooded.  The trick here is that if you fly at night, and do hood time you cannot count both simultaneously.  It’s a tricky reg and I understand the spirit of it however it can cause one to do all their hood time during the day, and never actually see how hard it is to fly by instruments that you can barely see at night!   I opted to do some of my hood time at night, and then save $$ by doing as much as possible in the sim.

Louis was a great simulator instructor as he has a strong grasp of the equipment and has a small tell tale smirk that happens each time he “tries” something.  On our most recent sim flight I was captain of a C182 flying an ILS into Ottawa’s runway 32 when I noticed that no matter how much throttle I gave, the aircraft would keep descending at an unholy rate.  As I broke out of the cloud, I could see we were about to crash into the approach lighting.  I said Louis, she won’t climb, too much drag.  he asked “What could cause drag?”  I offered, flaps, up,  Gear?  Up, what else??!!  The lights loomed closer and then the simulator popped up with “you have crashed”.  It was almost as exciting as the real deal.  My heart pumped and Louis then showed me that I had accrued 60% icing on the airframe!  I guess he clicked it on and forgot about it.  I just flew the airplane.  Good one!
(more…)

Birds Flap, Cessnas Don’t Need Them

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GQQV
Dual Time: 0.4 Total: 53.2
PIC Time: 0.0 Total: 21.5
Total Time:   74.7

If you have been paying attention you’ll see that I haver not flown in almost 2 months.  Far more than the 30 day recency requirements of my club.  This was due in part to a tornado that ripped thru our small airport during the Wings appreciation dinner.  That whirlwind took out two of the club’s aircraft leaving me with only 4 to select from.  Since flight training trumps the PPL holders I have been at the end of the queue.  That is until I managed to score a booking for Ryan this morning.

(more…)

Max Demonstrated X-Wind

Sunday, April 12th, 2009
Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GBRI
Dual Time: 0.7 Total: 52.8
PIC Time: 0.0 Total: 21.5
METAR CYND 121600Z 32012G26KT 15SM FEW048 01/M11 A3026 RMK CU2
SLP251= 
Yesterday Rica and I went out to the club for a 2 hour flight just to go and do some circuits as well as get some sightseeing in.   Upon our arrival it was discovered that some aircraft were unavailable but ours was still online and ready to go.  I, however was not as much.  I noticed a lesson was about to get cancelled and since I knew I had a booking today as well as having flown with David just on Friday I gave up our spot to allow the student to go.  That was my boy scout duty but as I always say, no good deed goes unpunished!  

(more…)

Lesson 74: Currency is Obtained

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GYWN
Dual Time: 0.8 Total: 51.7
Solo Time: 0.0 Total: 15.4

METAR CYND 031600Z 28011KT 15SM SKC M11/M17 A3002 RMK SLP170=

Today really should have been my X/C to Kingston but due to many factors it was not.  Primary factor was the lack of reservation space in the booking system (The club must be training a lot of people right now!) and secondary was that I have not flown in exactly 41 days.  The club has a 30 day currency policy in effect.  

So I booked a flight and moseyed on in under clear skies and moderate winds.  As I drove up the access road the windsock stood erect indicating a wind of close to 15KT right down the runway.  I was happy to be coming in for dual!  Steven is my official instructor now so I was even happier that he was available.  I was a bit early so I called and obtained a transponder code knowing that my request today would be to head over to CYOW for some brushing up on radio procedures and mixing it up with the big boys.  I met Steven at the door and suggested this, he pondered for a moment and said “Well how about we head over there for a T&G then we’ll fly X/C to the practice area followed by a diversion back to Rockliffe.  I liked the sound of that so I went ahead and began to pre-flight GQQV.  I opened the door and was stupefied by the shiny new Garmin 430 GPS in the panel of the aircraft.  It was like the club immediately launched from the 70′s into the 2000′s within those 41 days!   My excitement was short lived as one of the Rockliffe crew came out to ask if I could switch to YWN due to a maint issue with QQV.   Although I wanted t see that 430 light up, I obliged and began to sweep the snow off YWN.

(more…)

Lesson 73: Look ma, No Goggles!

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

Getting closer to the goal of PPL each and every day. The Written, Passed! The Flight Test? Passed! The language proficiency test? Yep got it. Even the Medical test was a pass. Everything is a go except for one “t” to cross and one “i” to dot. I needed 0.8 Instrument and I need my Solo X/C to Kingston finished then they will grant me my license!

So today I worked with Steven Hyde and we dotted that i beautifully. I had booked the 4040 simulator and knew all week that I would be asked to do something more than a simple 180 to get out of simulated IFR conditions. Since the simulators are mostly alike in their operation I brushed up at home in Flight Simulator X. All week leading up to today I was working on getting exact numbers for descent rates, power settings for a 90 KT 500 FPM descent. Basically creating “profiles” for flight which I could recall later. I realize that even though I know how to track a VOR and how to work an NDB I’m generally lazy in FS and use the autopilot too much. This would not be the case in the 4040!

(more…)

Lesson 72: The Elevator Ride

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GYWN
Dual Time: 1.2 Total: 50.9
Solo Time: 0.0 Total: 15.4

The weather forecast was pretty good this morning with BKN cloud layers at 2500 and then over 8000.  I could see that the air was mostly clear over the airport and although it was cold (-8) I was excited to be back flying again.  

My booking was with Steven today to accomplish some hood work as well as regain currency.  Since I knew we would not be doing much maneuvering this flight I invited Rica along.  Steven didn’t mind and soon we were almost ready to go.  Steven offered that we will create a “diversion” using Constance Lake as a SHP and pick up a heading of 220.  This ought to get me to Kingston.   

(more…)

Lesson 70: A New Approach

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GBRI
Dual Time: 1.3 Total: 49.7
Solo Time: 0.0 Total: 13.8 

Since last time, I have not gone flying.  There was bad weather, I had to re-write my PSTAR because my student permit expired and this preempted me from any solo flight and I also had a lot on my mind due to the wedding coming up on the 18th!   Mat had made a good suggestion that if we forget the Kingston Solo X/C and just get the flight test done, then the pressure will be off and I can go on honeymoon with little worry.  I like the way he thinks.  

I was scheduled to fly in QUO but was told by dispatch that there was a funny thing happened to her.  I guess after a maintenance issue the aircraft was returned to service.  An instructor and student were ready to fly and after starting the engine, turned on the avionics master.  They then smelled and saw smoke in the cockpit!  After shutting down and checking things over there was no fire, but the aircraft would need inspection before flying again.  Back into our favorite C172, BRI!  

(more…)

Lesson 69: Close, but no Cigar

Saturday, September 20th, 2008

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GQUO
Dual Time: 1.5 Total: 48.4
Solo Time: 0.0 Total: 13.8 

The only flying I have gotten in since my last Supervisory check was a single solo performing circuits in C-GBRI.  This was not great but I did have a lot of things on my plate.  I knew that my weak area was still in the forced approach and also now in the steep turns.  Everything else was in pretty good shape.  (Or so I figured!)  Kathy was flying with me today and would give me a good indication as to if I were ready.  Contrary to the last time I flew with Kathy, the weather today was actually pretty nice!  

The startup and take off was very straightforward with little to go wrong.  Since Kathy knew we would be flying out to the West practice area I obtained a VFR code prior to departure by calling 1-866-VFR-CODE.  This would come in handy as I was climbing out of Rockliffe and contacted Ottawa Terminal.  They knew where I was coming from and where I was going to and simply cleared me on thru at 3500′.  

(more…)

Lesson 67: A Classy Signoff

Saturday, August 16th, 2008

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GYWN
Dual Time: 0.9 Total: 46.9
Solo Time: 0.0 Total: 13.1 

Today was to be my class 1 phase check and sign off day.  It did not turn out exactly as planned but did reveal some decent information.  Since my Pre-Flight Test was done by a Class IV instructor there is a requirement to have a Class I sign off on the recommendation for flight test form.  In order for this to happen there are a few simple requirements.  First, this Class I cannot be the designated examiner for the candidate and secondly I must make them impressed enough to want to sign!

(more…)

Lesson 66: A Pre Flight Test

Saturday, August 9th, 2008

Aircraft: C172
Registration: C-GYWN
Dual Time: 1.9 Total: 46.0
Solo Time: 0.0 Total: 13.1 

Due to my stellar performance last week, Mat has been pushing that I am likely ready for my flight test.  Although I have yet to finish my Kingston cross country solo this was not a concern.  Apparently there is a mechanism in place where I could do my flight test with that solo cross country still outstanding.  I will still need to do the flight but would do so with the pressure off.  That was good to know.  I have enough Dual hours to qualify but am short about 1.5 instrument.  I also am short a bit on the solo X/C time but all of this is so close that I would be splitting hairs to worry about it.  Since my wedding is approaching fast Mat made the good call to fast track my test.  If I can get this out of the way then there would be less pressure in the upcoming months.

(more…)