Hard airfields for new PPL?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: upminster
Hard airfields for new PPL?
Almost finished my PPL and was wondering if anybody could give me any examples of airfields to avoid as a newly qualified PPL? and also what would be the better places to visit?
I do most of my flying in the South East, Kent and Suffolk + Norfolk.
Thanks
I do most of my flying in the South East, Kent and Suffolk + Norfolk.
Thanks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: Oop North, UK
As long as you check the performance I would not avoid any! There are one or two you might want to have someone with you who has been there before (e.g. landing 26 at Popham due to the turn before landing, Old Sarum with its entry/exit lane), but the more variation you get in for where you go, the faster you will gain experience and confidence.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
In your neck of the woods, I'd avoid Middle Stoke, after that just do the maths. If you've got a reasonable margin, it should be fine, just always be prepared to go around.
G
G
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,631
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hmm south east, well i disagree with the last posts, there are some more challemging airfields to visit, albeit sometimes only in certain conditions which will challenge you. In the examples i have avoided farm strips some of which are a real challenge but having the right aircraft is also a prerequisite.
So start with giving bembridge a go. Now bembridge is not an issue with lightish winds but it can be a really interesting ride in strong winds and even more so with strong cross winds. Expect plenty of turbulence and sheer approaching over the cliffs with more than 20 knots and more of the same with a 90 cross wind. Without boasting with 1,000s of hours i still get caught out and ended up going elsewhere recently after two approaches.
Alderney is a must the perspective just looks a bit differeng the first time and the wind can always be a factor.
Popham has been mentioned the dog leg over the petrol station is a challenge the first time
Manston is just a very good example of an accessible long and wide runway
Earls colne is the other end of the spectrum if you give the hard a go, shortish and narrowish.
Four all a bit different than the standard stuff for starters, i could go on!
So start with giving bembridge a go. Now bembridge is not an issue with lightish winds but it can be a really interesting ride in strong winds and even more so with strong cross winds. Expect plenty of turbulence and sheer approaching over the cliffs with more than 20 knots and more of the same with a 90 cross wind. Without boasting with 1,000s of hours i still get caught out and ended up going elsewhere recently after two approaches.
Alderney is a must the perspective just looks a bit differeng the first time and the wind can always be a factor.
Popham has been mentioned the dog leg over the petrol station is a challenge the first time
Manston is just a very good example of an accessible long and wide runway
Earls colne is the other end of the spectrum if you give the hard a go, shortish and narrowish.
Four all a bit different than the standard stuff for starters, i could go on!
PPRuNe FirstOfficer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, UK
I wouldn't avoid Redhill Aerodrome, it's a nice place, I am learning to fly from the said aerodrome, however if you decide to pop over I would advise a careful reading of their operational procedure for every runway and the use of VRPs. Its close proximity to Gatwick makes it even more interesting.
I hope their plans for a hard runway gets approved.
I hope their plans for a hard runway gets approved.
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Job Centre
On the Plus side ...
Try Coventry - big, hard, highly visible runway, lots of easy VRPs, ATIS to make the radio easier, nice helpful people. Prob need to talk to Bham App, but they're nice and relaxed as well.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
Popham is a good trip for a new PPL - just challenging enough to make you work, not challenging enough to be dangerous, and on a sunny weekend, a really nice place to hang around and enjoy watching the world go by.
G
G
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: London
You have to go to Clacton, just for the insanity of there being a footpath through the middle of the runway! I've only been there once, but I do remember taxiing for departure when a local aircraft returned, only to go-around due to some geezer walking through the middle of the runway with his Sainsbury's shopping! The guy didn't even look at the aircraft!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: UK
Popham
Great thread!
After Ghengis' comment, I have looked up Popham and downloaded the airfield procedures. As I have a free landing voucher courtesy of Pilot magazine, I might well give it a go this weekend...
After Ghengis' comment, I have looked up Popham and downloaded the airfield procedures. As I have a free landing voucher courtesy of Pilot magazine, I might well give it a go this weekend...
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: London
If you're flying out of Stapleford I know they'll probably ask that you have 100 hours total and a trip with an instructor to Clacton before they let you fly there alone - that's what was asked of me anyway. It's due to there being a fairly short runway and, as already mentioned, a public footpath crossing the middle!
If you're not based at Stapleford - how about a visit.
Can be busy at times but you don't get bored of watching all the a/c from the ground.
I did my QXC to Beccles... That was straight forward, a nice little airfield but very quiet.
Went to Rochester the other weekend, again a nice place and has a cafe.
If you're not based at Stapleford - how about a visit.
Can be busy at times but you don't get bored of watching all the a/c from the ground.I did my QXC to Beccles... That was straight forward, a nice little airfield but very quiet.
Went to Rochester the other weekend, again a nice place and has a cafe.
PPRuNe FirstOfficer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, UK
I Love flying,
My friend and I did the same last year. He is a retired captain and I am a new PPL student, he kindly asked me if I wanted to go to Popham with him, he also had a voucher, so we set of on the DR400 that he rents locally, and it was such a great trip. You will have loads of fun
My friend and I did the same last year. He is a retired captain and I am a new PPL student, he kindly asked me if I wanted to go to Popham with him, he also had a voucher, so we set of on the DR400 that he rents locally, and it was such a great trip. You will have loads of fun
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: Hampshire
As someone else said, if you do your performance calculations and make a note of what obstacles may produce challenging turbulence then you can go to lots of places. If you only go to easy places you won't improve.
You may want to challenge yourself at your home airfield first, in order to be really confident in your handling. That way you will have spare capacity to deal with new places when you go.
Try gently stretching your personal crosswind skill envelope. Try getting it down on the numbers and stopped by a certain marker with less than 1 meter deviation from the centre-line. This is hard and will make you a better pilot. Once you're really on top of the aeroplane and don't need a mile of tarmac to put it down, the world is your oyster.
I fly into farm strips a lot and it feels wierd going somewhere with tarmac and a radio. The farm strips are definitely more satisfying as I've had to work harder to get into them.
Remember to plan well, get a proper briefing over the phone from the strip operator, and then fly 100 hours rather than the same hour 100 times.
You may want to challenge yourself at your home airfield first, in order to be really confident in your handling. That way you will have spare capacity to deal with new places when you go.
Try gently stretching your personal crosswind skill envelope. Try getting it down on the numbers and stopped by a certain marker with less than 1 meter deviation from the centre-line. This is hard and will make you a better pilot. Once you're really on top of the aeroplane and don't need a mile of tarmac to put it down, the world is your oyster.
I fly into farm strips a lot and it feels wierd going somewhere with tarmac and a radio. The farm strips are definitely more satisfying as I've had to work harder to get into them.
Remember to plan well, get a proper briefing over the phone from the strip operator, and then fly 100 hours rather than the same hour 100 times.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 2
From: Iraq and other places
Why do the petrol station at Popham have enough sway to force such a flight safety issue as the funny turn on finals? It's hardly like it's a residential neighbourhood being disturbed; and who was there first, the airfield or the petrol station?
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, USA
First time I went to Damyns Hall I got caught out by the power lines at the threshold and had to go around. They're in the worst possible place.
Maypole is hard to find and short-ish, but not really a problem.
Lydd can be hard to spot until you're more or less on top of it, but it's a nice and easy airfield. I also never manage to spot Headcorn for some reason and I always end up flying right over it when I planned on going around it. I bet they hate me there. I don't have a gps in the rental I fly there, so it's all a bit wide of target.
For some reason leaving Denham last time in the 152 it felt like those tree's at the end grew a 100ft after liftoff. Don't know what it was that pushed me down, but it was pretty windy that day and might have been some roll of the nearby hill.
Maypole is hard to find and short-ish, but not really a problem.
Lydd can be hard to spot until you're more or less on top of it, but it's a nice and easy airfield. I also never manage to spot Headcorn for some reason and I always end up flying right over it when I planned on going around it. I bet they hate me there. I don't have a gps in the rental I fly there, so it's all a bit wide of target.
For some reason leaving Denham last time in the 152 it felt like those tree's at the end grew a 100ft after liftoff. Don't know what it was that pushed me down, but it was pretty windy that day and might have been some roll of the nearby hill.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 2
From: Iraq and other places
It's never long before the standard "SoCal" attitude emerges 
I've flown into Popham several times. It's a damn petrol station; naturally we understand that they might be awkward so and sos, but that doesn't answer our question which is what argument does the petrol station make for needing this special treatment and making the approach more dangerous.
I've flown into Popham several times. It's a damn petrol station; naturally we understand that they might be awkward so and sos, but that doesn't answer our question which is what argument does the petrol station make for needing this special treatment and making the approach more dangerous.