From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary
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Good points Penguina.
Stress = screw ups is only too true, as is screw ups = stress.
A vicious circle until one takes positive individual action (informed decision) to break out of it.
Stress = screw ups is only too true, as is screw ups = stress.
A vicious circle until one takes positive individual action (informed decision) to break out of it.
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Stress = screw ups is only too true, as is screw ups = stress.
I'll let you know when I get some, until then.......
Mazzy keep up the writing !
I don't think I've met any honest pilot who hasn't had days like your last one.
It sounds like your doing the right thing - reflecting on your flight, working out what could have gone better, what you could have done differently to improve the outcome.
The advantage of being a student is that you have got some lattitude to make these mistakes now. Keep on thinking about the flight, mentally rehearsing whenever you've got a spare moment, and make sure your well rested prior to your next attempt. And remember how far you've got and what you've achieved so far.
I don't think I've met any honest pilot who hasn't had days like your last one.
It sounds like your doing the right thing - reflecting on your flight, working out what could have gone better, what you could have done differently to improve the outcome.
The advantage of being a student is that you have got some lattitude to make these mistakes now. Keep on thinking about the flight, mentally rehearsing whenever you've got a spare moment, and make sure your well rested prior to your next attempt. And remember how far you've got and what you've achieved so far.
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Totally agree with the others. First navex can seem really tough.
I think you are probably right about changing to the PA28 for Nav.
I did all my training in the C150 and it's a fine little plane for getting about in, but cabin space ??
The Warrior has a nice little pocket for putting your pens in and it'll take a small kneeboard and checklist as well. You can chuck stuff on the back seat too if you need to.
My first Navex was absolutely dreadful (Cranfield, Sywell, Conninton, Cranfield how easy is that ??) The second was not a lot better etc. and yet I got through the QXC without getting lost, lousy landings yes, but I didn't get lost.
Keep plugging on and it should all come together.
I think you are probably right about changing to the PA28 for Nav.
I did all my training in the C150 and it's a fine little plane for getting about in, but cabin space ??
The Warrior has a nice little pocket for putting your pens in and it'll take a small kneeboard and checklist as well. You can chuck stuff on the back seat too if you need to.
My first Navex was absolutely dreadful (Cranfield, Sywell, Conninton, Cranfield how easy is that ??) The second was not a lot better etc. and yet I got through the QXC without getting lost, lousy landings yes, but I didn't get lost.
Keep plugging on and it should all come together.
Spicy Meatball
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Thank you all once again for the positive and kind words. I hear what you all say and it is very good advice.
I had more gschool yesterday in preperation for tomorrow. As it turns out, my first solo out the zone will only be Seaforth, Ormskirk, Kirkby............something which can be done visual, and something which I do feel more confident about as it has been the route on most of my flights. I should be doing that tomorrow, hopefully solo, weather depending
I probably wont need a flight plan with headings etc due to the fact that it is mostly visual, but I will do it anyway in the morning before, just for practice
Wish me luck, and I hope to be alive to come back and post (just kidding),
Bests as ever,
Lee
I had more gschool yesterday in preperation for tomorrow. As it turns out, my first solo out the zone will only be Seaforth, Ormskirk, Kirkby............something which can be done visual, and something which I do feel more confident about as it has been the route on most of my flights. I should be doing that tomorrow, hopefully solo, weather depending
I probably wont need a flight plan with headings etc due to the fact that it is mostly visual, but I will do it anyway in the morning before, just for practice
Wish me luck, and I hope to be alive to come back and post (just kidding),
Bests as ever,
Lee
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The Warrior has a nice little pocket ...
I agree, but I also think that expereince will also help reduce stress when things do go slightly pear shaped.
Nav is incredibly satisfying when it all works out as planned - you'll love it!
Good luck tomorrow
(wx looks dodgy, mind 
)
Last edited by Penguina; 21st Jan 2005 at 12:28.
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Reading about your bad day mazzy reminded me of several bad days I've had with nav.
Took a map that was completely wrong once. One leg had duff heading, next had duff time etc. I'm not sure how nav is taught for PPLs because I've only done mil flying which is just heading times and the rest is worked out MDR in the cockpit, so this caused extreme embarrasment!
I found nav to be deathly boring until something goes wrong then it it takes some degree of skill and calmness to sort things out again as you have discovered. Nothing makes you develop that skill faster than getting lost every now and again.
I'm sure you'll get to grips with it very soon but don't get complacent once things start going well or you'll set yourself up for a fall. I found out the hard way on a GH flight with a short, two leg nav out to the GH area. Upon reaching the first turn point I realised the next turn was a completely duff heading. Couldn't beleive I made a mistake on what was probably the world's shortest navex.
Best of luck with the next trip, solo nav was a great confidence booster for me after a very shaky previous nav trip.
Took a map that was completely wrong once. One leg had duff heading, next had duff time etc. I'm not sure how nav is taught for PPLs because I've only done mil flying which is just heading times and the rest is worked out MDR in the cockpit, so this caused extreme embarrasment!
I found nav to be deathly boring until something goes wrong then it it takes some degree of skill and calmness to sort things out again as you have discovered. Nothing makes you develop that skill faster than getting lost every now and again.
I'm sure you'll get to grips with it very soon but don't get complacent once things start going well or you'll set yourself up for a fall. I found out the hard way on a GH flight with a short, two leg nav out to the GH area. Upon reaching the first turn point I realised the next turn was a completely duff heading. Couldn't beleive I made a mistake on what was probably the world's shortest navex.
Best of luck with the next trip, solo nav was a great confidence booster for me after a very shaky previous nav trip.
Spicy Meatball
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Well, after the last flight, all's I can say is that this time I got into the car with a smile on my face 
I had planned Liverpool - Seaforth, to Kirkby, to Ormskirk and then back in. We went over my calculations, got rid of one or two minor errors and then went out to fly.
Upon takeoff, I had clear in my mind everything that I found difficult last time, and all of my mistakes. Sorry for the Hollywood sounding movie quote, but "I knew what I had to do"
I had folded my map properly into more of a rectangular shape that covered the area better, then clipped it at the side with bulldog clips, and this has got to be the best thing I have done so far. The chart sat firmly on my knee in perfect position and didn’t move. My advice to anyone else in my position, PLEASE PLEASE fold your map as small as you need, then clip it in place at the sides to stop it form unfolding. It really did help and lightened the workload quite significantly. Ok, so we left via Seaforth and turned onto the calculated heading. At this point I felt a lot more confident because I could relate to the chart better and was using it quite a lot to pick out features (again, just folding it properly and clipping it helped enormously). We headed towards Ormskirk and upon reaching it, we decided on a small exercise. As we were to the right of Burscough Aerodrome, he said to me:
"Estimate a heading we would have to turn to be over the runway"
So I did, and got it reasonably correct. Here comes the interesting part (I will try and explain as best as possible). I then had to turn onto 190 to route to Kirkby, and that would entail a right turn, which is what I did, BUT because the wind was from the left, it meant that I had drifted over a mile, just turning onto Kirkby - which could have been overcome by a turn to the left, i.e. into the wind. This made so much sense and I have remembered this for the future. Ok, tune into ATIS, call approach and away we go - everything smooth so far, and we are both enjoying the flight. The weather was terrible actually, high winds, drizzle, low vis and a cloud base of around 25. Not solo weather, but still, I could pick out features, like I said, refer them to the map and it all made sense. So, on a clear day with nice weather, it should be even better
Ok onto the approach. We were told to join right base, so we set up. Now normally I am used to 70kts approach, but this time I was instructed for 80 - with no flaps. This threw me off course a little (mentally) but I got set up ok. The xwind component was 15kts - which is the limit on the Tommy, and it was such different approach. 300ft, carb off then line up with the rudder, aileron into the wind with left rudder. Now here my problems started - I must have been in driving mode and started using the wheel to line the nose up, instead of the rudder, however, unlike last time, instead of going up down up down up down, I held it there and let her sit down gently, even though it was rather bumpy on the approach (we were getting thrown around quite a bit). Very interesting indeed.
So to conclude, a very enjoyable and successful flight, and next time, it will be a solo on this route. Today was made easier probably by the fact that I didn't have to change frequency all the time to Warton/Woodvale etc. I aint sure, but what's the consolidation - do I turn up and do a few circuits or do I just turn up and fly solo? I think it is the latter, which will introduce a new angle into the way of thinking
Sorry for the length, I just had a lot to say!!
Safe flying,
Lee
You are all right about how things get easier, and once again, thak you for your kind words. I only hope the Northern route goes better than it did last time.
I had planned Liverpool - Seaforth, to Kirkby, to Ormskirk and then back in. We went over my calculations, got rid of one or two minor errors and then went out to fly.
Upon takeoff, I had clear in my mind everything that I found difficult last time, and all of my mistakes. Sorry for the Hollywood sounding movie quote, but "I knew what I had to do"
I had folded my map properly into more of a rectangular shape that covered the area better, then clipped it at the side with bulldog clips, and this has got to be the best thing I have done so far. The chart sat firmly on my knee in perfect position and didn’t move. My advice to anyone else in my position, PLEASE PLEASE fold your map as small as you need, then clip it in place at the sides to stop it form unfolding. It really did help and lightened the workload quite significantly. Ok, so we left via Seaforth and turned onto the calculated heading. At this point I felt a lot more confident because I could relate to the chart better and was using it quite a lot to pick out features (again, just folding it properly and clipping it helped enormously). We headed towards Ormskirk and upon reaching it, we decided on a small exercise. As we were to the right of Burscough Aerodrome, he said to me:"Estimate a heading we would have to turn to be over the runway"
So I did, and got it reasonably correct. Here comes the interesting part (I will try and explain as best as possible). I then had to turn onto 190 to route to Kirkby, and that would entail a right turn, which is what I did, BUT because the wind was from the left, it meant that I had drifted over a mile, just turning onto Kirkby - which could have been overcome by a turn to the left, i.e. into the wind. This made so much sense and I have remembered this for the future. Ok, tune into ATIS, call approach and away we go - everything smooth so far, and we are both enjoying the flight. The weather was terrible actually, high winds, drizzle, low vis and a cloud base of around 25. Not solo weather, but still, I could pick out features, like I said, refer them to the map and it all made sense. So, on a clear day with nice weather, it should be even better
Ok onto the approach. We were told to join right base, so we set up. Now normally I am used to 70kts approach, but this time I was instructed for 80 - with no flaps. This threw me off course a little (mentally) but I got set up ok. The xwind component was 15kts - which is the limit on the Tommy, and it was such different approach. 300ft, carb off then line up with the rudder, aileron into the wind with left rudder. Now here my problems started - I must have been in driving mode and started using the wheel to line the nose up, instead of the rudder, however, unlike last time, instead of going up down up down up down, I held it there and let her sit down gently, even though it was rather bumpy on the approach (we were getting thrown around quite a bit). Very interesting indeed.
So to conclude, a very enjoyable and successful flight, and next time, it will be a solo on this route. Today was made easier probably by the fact that I didn't have to change frequency all the time to Warton/Woodvale etc. I aint sure, but what's the consolidation - do I turn up and do a few circuits or do I just turn up and fly solo? I think it is the latter, which will introduce a new angle into the way of thinking
Sorry for the length, I just had a lot to say!!
Safe flying,
Lee
You are all right about how things get easier, and once again, thak you for your kind words. I only hope the Northern route goes better than it did last time.
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Hey well done
Glad you had a succesful trip.
I can curtainly relate to the importance of folding a map correctly!!!
Hope your next flight goes well and hope you go solo!!!!!
Best of luck
ADWJENK
Glad you had a succesful trip.
I can curtainly relate to the importance of folding a map correctly!!!
Hope your next flight goes well and hope you go solo!!!!!
Best of luck
ADWJENK
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Cool!
I would not have been allowed to land in a 15 knot crosswind during my training, I'm impressed!
Can't believe your instructor didn't make you do this the first time!! Did you have it completely unfolded flapping around the place? No wonder it was hard work! 
I would not have been allowed to land in a 15 knot crosswind during my training, I'm impressed!
PLEASE PLEASE fold your map as small as you need, then clip it in place at the sides to stop it from unfolding.
Last edited by Penguina; 21st Jan 2005 at 19:04.
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I've spent hours reading this thread, having just registered for the forum. To catch up on 33 pages is a "bridge too far"!, but from the pages that I have read I can see this will be a great forum to help me. I have just, at the age of 61, started on the long road to (hopefully) achieving my PPL, having just had my 5th hour at the East Midlands Flying School. I THINK these posts have given me some insight into the hard work ahead, but I did go in with my eyes wide open.
Being virtually retired, I have the time for two or three lessons per week, so continuity should be pretty good. A pal of mine flies "big 'uns" for BMI, and he's been suggesting I do this for a long while, and several mates have their own planes (Archers and a rather nice Malibu amongst them).
I've really enjoyed my time in the air so far, and having spent many, many hours on a Microsoft Flight Simulator at home, taking a real plane off myself for the first time was something else!! (I'm training on a PA28 Warrior - evidently at 15 stone and 6'2", I'm too big for the Cessna 152's)!! Charming........
Good flying to you all, and hopefully I'll get a lesson soon in smooth conditions!!
Being virtually retired, I have the time for two or three lessons per week, so continuity should be pretty good. A pal of mine flies "big 'uns" for BMI, and he's been suggesting I do this for a long while, and several mates have their own planes (Archers and a rather nice Malibu amongst them).
I've really enjoyed my time in the air so far, and having spent many, many hours on a Microsoft Flight Simulator at home, taking a real plane off myself for the first time was something else!! (I'm training on a PA28 Warrior - evidently at 15 stone and 6'2", I'm too big for the Cessna 152's)!! Charming........
Good flying to you all, and hopefully I'll get a lesson soon in smooth conditions!!
PPruNaholic!
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Chequeredflag: good luck mate - and welcome aboard!
You really can learn a lot here on PPRuNe: don't be afraid to start a thread and ask a question - there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers! Seriously, over the years I have had hundreds of questions answered and it really does help to be able to talk over things that may be confusing or worrying you along the way.
Make sure you let everyone know how you are progressing!
Andy
You really can learn a lot here on PPRuNe: don't be afraid to start a thread and ask a question - there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers! Seriously, over the years I have had hundreds of questions answered and it really does help to be able to talk over things that may be confusing or worrying you along the way.
Make sure you let everyone know how you are progressing!
Andy
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Thanks Andy - will do. I'm off to Spain tomorrow (testing race cars), back on Thursday, and have two lessons on Friday, and three per week thereafter! Busy, busy, busy.....and there's all that blooming reading/revising as well!!
PPruNaholic!
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and there's all that blooming reading/revising as well!!
Have fun with the cars!
Andy
Yes, I was thinking of www.airquiz.com - excellent!
Last edited by Aussie Andy; 24th Jan 2005 at 12:08.
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http://www.airquiz.com is the online PPL question bank, I found it very useful so far. also the PPL confuser is good too.
Good luck with your PPL, feel free to ask anything you want. We're here to help each other (and swap fun stories )
Good luck with your PPL, feel free to ask anything you want. We're here to help each other (and swap fun stories
)
Spicy Meatball
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Chequeredflag
Welcome aboard and thanks for joining us. I will echo the above advice, the PPL confuser is a MUST have. Airquiz takes the strain out of marking your own questions and gives you an instant reply, which is relatively cheap. I actually have a database which I built, which works in a similar way to Airquiz - the only problem is, I dont have any questions, as they are copyrighted and I aint got the patience to write my own!
Best of luck,
Lee
Welcome aboard and thanks for joining us. I will echo the above advice, the PPL confuser is a MUST have. Airquiz takes the strain out of marking your own questions and gives you an instant reply, which is relatively cheap. I actually have a database which I built, which works in a similar way to Airquiz - the only problem is, I dont have any questions, as they are copyrighted and I aint got the patience to write my own!
Best of luck,
Lee
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Welcome Chequeredflag, there's plenty on here historically, but also plenty of us still working towards that ultimate goal. Whatever frustrations you experience during your training, you can bet one of us will have been there!
Maz, glad to hear you had a better nav detail. I can't wait to get on to that now!
HH
Maz, glad to hear you had a better nav detail. I can't wait to get on to that now!
HH
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Hey guys, not posted for a cpl of days since I've been busy flying! Finally the weather up here has played ball and have flown lots
Had a flight on friday, this was a navex from edinburgh, up to leuchars for a matz penatration and then a full stop landing at dundee. Main point of this flight was so I could see dundee as I will be going there for my QXC. Weather was nice and clear but the wind was doin summit werid. In the leuchars overheard I was at full power and best climb speed and only managing to climb 50ft/min! The approach to dundee was possiblly the worst conditions I've landed in, being thrown about all over the shop, and with a near max cross wind. Once I was below 300ft tho it smoothed out and I decided it was ok to land and nailed it (cross-wind landings rock!) After paying the fees and having a quick cuppa we were off again. On the return leg to edinburgh I started doing unplanned diversions. I've been worrying about these as I wasn't quite sure how to go about doing them. It turns out that they ain't hard at all lol. Just gotta do a decent guess-timate for track, drift, distance, g/s and then just fly it. I had to adjust em slightly as my first guesses weren't quite on but I arrived at where I wanted within a minute of when I wanted. Not bad for a first attempt! My height holding wasn't that good, but I partly blame the turbulence, but its one of my weaker sides, really need to work on it!
Flight yesturday was to Prestwick! Now for those of you that don't know most of the airlines use prestwick for circuit training, and yesturday was no difference. Outbound leg was nice and simple, out of the edinburgh zone to the west and them change to glasgow to get a FIS, they were busy so couldn't give us a zone clearence so we had to go round the outside. Radio calls were all ok, if a little slow as I thought about what to say lol. Height holding was much better this time and so was very pleased with that. When we arrived at kilmarnock we had to hold for 20mins, which was slightly annoying! There was a easyjet 737 doing circuits there which was an interesting sight. However an even better sight was an Atlantic airways 747 arriving and also procedding to do circuits When clearence was finally given I gingerlly entered the zone approaching a right hand base leg for runway 31. This was the circuit of the 737 and so I had to join number two to him. The 747 was doing a left hand ciruit and just touched down as I enterd the circuit.
Apart from having to hold for 20mins Prestwick is a very friendly place. The flight back was uneventful. Good height holding, and glasgow were nice and let us transit their zone.
Today was an ok day, so went up to practice some VOR stuff, a brush up for stuff I did before and to do radio fixes. This was a good plan until we got 20mins outside of edinburgh to find out the VOR kit in the tommy is buggered lol. Got a vague idea about radio fixing so will practice that in MS FS2004 later (probably the only usful thing that can be done with it lol) after that did a PFL and then headed back to edinburgh, ending the day with a greaser of a landing
Hopefully off to glasgow tomorrow for a zone transit and a approach and go-around, then some more unplanned diversions.
Had a flight on friday, this was a navex from edinburgh, up to leuchars for a matz penatration and then a full stop landing at dundee. Main point of this flight was so I could see dundee as I will be going there for my QXC. Weather was nice and clear but the wind was doin summit werid. In the leuchars overheard I was at full power and best climb speed and only managing to climb 50ft/min! The approach to dundee was possiblly the worst conditions I've landed in, being thrown about all over the shop, and with a near max cross wind. Once I was below 300ft tho it smoothed out and I decided it was ok to land and nailed it (cross-wind landings rock!) After paying the fees and having a quick cuppa we were off again. On the return leg to edinburgh I started doing unplanned diversions. I've been worrying about these as I wasn't quite sure how to go about doing them. It turns out that they ain't hard at all lol. Just gotta do a decent guess-timate for track, drift, distance, g/s and then just fly it. I had to adjust em slightly as my first guesses weren't quite on but I arrived at where I wanted within a minute of when I wanted. Not bad for a first attempt! My height holding wasn't that good, but I partly blame the turbulence, but its one of my weaker sides, really need to work on it!
Flight yesturday was to Prestwick! Now for those of you that don't know most of the airlines use prestwick for circuit training, and yesturday was no difference. Outbound leg was nice and simple, out of the edinburgh zone to the west and them change to glasgow to get a FIS, they were busy so couldn't give us a zone clearence so we had to go round the outside. Radio calls were all ok, if a little slow as I thought about what to say lol. Height holding was much better this time and so was very pleased with that. When we arrived at kilmarnock we had to hold for 20mins, which was slightly annoying! There was a easyjet 737 doing circuits there which was an interesting sight. However an even better sight was an Atlantic airways 747 arriving and also procedding to do circuits
When clearence was finally given I gingerlly entered the zone approaching a right hand base leg for runway 31. This was the circuit of the 737 and so I had to join number two to him. The 747 was doing a left hand ciruit and just touched down as I enterd the circuit. Apart from having to hold for 20mins Prestwick is a very friendly place. The flight back was uneventful. Good height holding, and glasgow were nice and let us transit their zone.
Today was an ok day, so went up to practice some VOR stuff, a brush up for stuff I did before and to do radio fixes. This was a good plan until we got 20mins outside of edinburgh to find out the VOR kit in the tommy is buggered lol. Got a vague idea about radio fixing so will practice that in MS FS2004 later (probably the only usful thing that can be done with it lol) after that did a PFL and then headed back to edinburgh, ending the day with a greaser of a landing
Hopefully off to glasgow tomorrow for a zone transit and a approach and go-around, then some more unplanned diversions.