Lessons Update - February 2022

Lesson 35 - 44 - 3rd August 2021 - 3rd Feb 2022

It is a long time since my last update, in fact it was July 2021 since I last wrote any update here.  To be honest with anyone who may be reading this (probably only me!), I decided that writing up each lesson was not that helpful.  I found that I was repeating the same things over and over and writing that up in a blog was not productive.  However, I have now completed 2 more important steps in my progress towards my NPPL(M) and it was worth writing up.  They are the Cross Country Navigation exercises, or Navex, and my Solo Consolidation.

Solo Consolidation

To complete the licence, you need to have completed a minimum of 25 hours instruction, of which 10 hours has to be solo.  Probably only about 1% or 2% of trainee pilots would complete their training in the minimum time, it is more likely to be 1 hour for each year of your age.  On this basis I should take about 60 hours in total, although I am currently at just over 48 hours so may have this completed in the low 50 hour range.  I am not setting this as a target, but it may happen.  I actually don't mind if it takes 60 hours or even 70 hours, it is not a race.

By chipping away at this, I now have just over 10 hours solo.

Cross Country Navigation

As part of the license, I had to complete 2 separate Navex exercises to 2 different airfields, landing at both and getting a form signed by an official at the airfield.  This also required me to study the Navigation part of the exam syllabus, which I am happy to say I passed.  Although most people will use an Electronic Flight Bag application such as ForeFlight or SkyDemon, you still need to be able to plot the course on a physical map and work out the true direction allowing for wind speed and direction and several other variables.  The physical map has to be carried in the aeroplane at all times as a back up to the EFB so it is important you understand the map and its content.

Once the route is planned, it can be check on the EFB and that can be used to print out a flight plan.  This will give you compass directions, an estimated time on each leg, safe heights and other things.  This is an example:

From	To	TAS (Knts)	Wind/ Velocity	Track	Drift	Heading (True)	Variation (Nearest Whole Degree)	Deviation (fixed)	Heading (Magnetic)	Ground Speed (Knots)	Distance (Nautical Miles)	Time (Mins)	Safe Altitude	Planned Altitude
Wellesbourne	Bitteswell	70	210/10	040	1	041	1W	0	42	80	21	16	2200	2500
Biteswell	Sittles Farm	70	210/10	309	8	301	1W	0	302	71	24	20	2500	2500

A final thing will be to check with the airfield you are going to, to see if PPR is required.  PPR is Prior Permission Required and some airfields will not allow you to land unless you get prior permission.  Phoning to get PPR also gives you chance to confirm the runway in use so you can pre brief this before setting off.  Airfields with a FISO or full ATC would be less likely to require PPR, but you should still check.

Navex 1 - Clench Common to Popham.

Popham Airfield is an unlicensed airfield located 6 NM south west of Basingstoke in Hampshire. It lies alongside the A303 and the airfield has two grass runways, designated 08/26 and 03/21.  We phoned in advance to confirm runway 08 was being used.

First time doing a Navex will always be with an instructor.  This is to make sure you are comfortable with the map reading and also landing at a different airfield, probably for the first time.  In addition, going straight to Popham, was too simple so the route was to go from Clench Common to the M4 junction 14 and then to Popham.  The return route would be a reverse.

I had the route set on my iPad on SkyDemon, but I was not using it as Dave wanted me to us the map and the PLOG (Pilot Log).  I had to use the compass on the aeroplane, a stopwatch and looking at the map and landmarks to make sure I was on course.  I found this a very rewarding process and fairly simple to do.  Dave kept checking the route on SkyDemon and I was very close.  

Landing at Popham was new, but Dave was able to talk me through it and it all went well.  After paying the landing fee and having a drink, we repeated the journey back.

A week later I was back at the airfield to repeat this Navex but this time on my own.  It is all a bit nerve wracking being solo, but the whole process went well.  This time, although I had the map, I used a combination of the map and SkyDemon to get me there and back.  Again, the route showing on SkyDemon closely followed the planned route, so I was happy.  

Navex 2 - Clench Common to Comptom Abass

This was more of the same, but this time there was no dual practice, just the Navex.  Compton Abbas Airfield is located 2.7 NM south of Shaftesbury, Dorset, England.  The route involved a dog leg route to avoid the Salisbury Plain danger areas as it was unlikely that I would have got permission to route through them due to scheduled exercises.  It would also have been the first time calling up a different controller and using a Squark code, which would have been too much for me to handle on my own.

As with Popham, I phoned ahead to get PPR and confirmed that 08 was in use.  This was the runway we briefed, but as I approached and radio'd to the operator, I was told that the wind was favouring 26.  I just had to think on the fly a little bit, but that didn't matter as SkyDemon has the information you need to show you the circuits and the heights required.

All went well, and I was happy with the Navex as a whole.  The plot on SkyDemon also showed that I stayed pretty much on course and I was able to show this to Dave on my return.

Pre GST Revision

As I write this, in February 2022, I still need to study and take the Metrology exam and I also need to take my RT practical exam.  I also need to to take a GST, or General Skills Test.  This is like a driving test and is to make sure you have a good general level of skill to fly the aeroplane safely.  It is not expecting you to be 100% or a perfect pilot, as no one is one of those, even after thousands of hours in the air!!  The GST can be taken before the final exams so I am currently doing GST revision flights.  This will go over all elements of flying.  Straight and level, changing speeds, climbing and descending, turns at different angles, stalls, unusual attitude recover, PFLs, precautionary landings and also general aeroplane knowledge and other general knowledge about licences etc.

I am in the process of writing myself a document to help me revise and that can also be used as a reference document doing forward.

The totals below are now updated from a separate spreadsheet I am keeping.

Totals

Total Costs = £9571.82

Total Dual = 38h 10m

Total Solo = 10h 15m

Total Hours Icarus C42 = 48h 25m