New Instructor
I turned up yesterday for a Nav exercise, (EMA/Bruntingthorpe/Oakham/Markfield/EMA) to find my regular instructor has crocked himself, and is likely to be off for several weeks. Now, I've only ever had the one, and he's someone I get on well with and trust implicitly (though whether he would say the same about me is something else!!)
I was therefore sent off with another chap, who has been at the school since I started flying, so is no stranger outside the plane at least. We got on very well, and it was interesting to see the difference between the two. The new guy was somewhat more laid back ("No, don't bother to speak to Coventry, we're a fair way off, and they wouldn't be very interested in us") type of thing, whereas my usual guy is a bit more pedantic. Looks like the poor souls' stuck with me for a while anyway, so it's a good job we 'clicked'
I didn't think I did very well yesterday - I was very tired, and it's surprising what an effect it has. I screwed up my ATC zone out call, something I've never done before, though the nav was spot on, as was all the other R/T. I was not over happy with my landing either, though it was pretty gusty, and, as he said "You got away with that!!" It was smooth enough, but more by luck than judgment.
Anyway, I was pleased that he was generally complimentary, and bollocked me for not completing my exams to allow me to go on solo navs etc, which are looming. I HATE the exams, but must get down to it and complete the last three (Nav/Coms/Aircraft technical) over the next couple of weeks or so - I'm just lazy I guess.....
I've just turned 40 hours now, with 3 1/2 hours solo. Todays double lesson (for PFL practice) was canned for bad weather, so I've dived into the books instead,
Cheers all, and safe flying....