planning my qualifying cross country

[Scott C]

That seem like a very unusual route to get to Gloucester!

As I mentioned in a previous post, when I did my QXC 2 years ago:

EGBM - Overhead Halfpenny Green (EGBO)
EGBO - Gloucester (EGBJ)

Had a drink in the cafe, then:

EGBJ - Overhead Wellesbourne (EGBW)
EGBW - Leicester (EGBG)

Had lunch and stayed for about 1hr 30mins in total, then:

EGBG - LIC NDB (Although you could now use Lichfield VRP or Measham VRP)
LIC NDB - EGBM


When I fly down to Gloucester nowadays, I either go EGBM - EGBO - EGBJ or I ask Birmingham for a Zone Transit and fly direct via their overhead.


Happy Flighting!

[The500man]

I think the title of this thread should be changed to "everyone else planning my qualifying cross country". Planning the route is part of the challenge if you like, which is why your instructor wants you to plan it instead of telling you exactly how to fly it. Your instructor should expect you to brief him/ her on your chosen route and will then be able to tell you if anything is wrong with it or what to be careful of. Posting here and asking for help is self defeating.

[Pull what]

Leg 1 Tatenhill - Halfpenny Green
Leg 2 Halfpenny Green - Gloucester
Leg 3 Gloucester - Draycott Water
Leg 4 Draycott - Leicester
Leg 5 Leicester - Measham VRP
Leg 6 Measham VRP - Tatenhill

Beware of the possibilities of leg 7 to the local magistrates court if you penetrate controlled airspace!

[Pull what]

I would question the wisdom of any school/instructor who sends solo students close to controlled airspace if it is not necessary. A qualifying X country should be a relaxing experince not an ordeal.

[BEagle]

From Leicester to Tatenhill, wouldn't the Nuneaton VRP be a safer bet to avoid airspace infringment:

Only about 3˝ miles longer than routing via the Measham VRP and the route would be further away from controlled airspace.

[Pull what]

Nuneaton would be my choice too for a student-its a lot more prominent than Measham but I would go via Mallory Park racetrack because.
1. You could mistake Nuneaton for Mallory anyway
2. If you miss Mallory it gives you more time to think of avoiding Bham CA
3 You should be able to see Nuneaton from Mallory
4 You should always have the belts and braces of two check points to keep you clear of CA-EG if you miss Nuneaton and keep going you will violate Bham CA

Consideration should be given to how you position from Leicester after TO if you are of the school thats turns directly on track after departure with a northerley element that could put you close to EMA.

The junction of the M69/M1 is a good exit point

[Pull what]

What nonsense. Controlled airspace is part of flying. If you train at say Newcastle you are in the zone so you HAVE to deal with it! Same for East Midlands.

Tatenhill is right beside East Midlands zone, and close to Birmingham. PPL training is about preparing the student for real life without the instructor, after the licence is obtained. Dealing with Controlled airspace is part of that training.

On my QXC donkeys years ago the first thing I did was call for a zone transit as the airfield I trained from was almost (but not quite) under part of a zone. We practiced it, I was taught how to do it, and it wasn't a big deal.

Well I cannot argue with you that ,CA is part of flying, stalling is part of flying too but its not carried out an a QXC, well not to often anyway.

The Lasors requirement for a QXC is to fly a 150nm solo XC with two full stop landings at different airfields. there is no requirement to cross CA -run down the side of a zone or have anything to do with CA at all. I believe that the mere fact that a solo student flys this distance & lands at two different airfields without upsetting anyone is sufficient and I want he or she to have the most enjoyable relaxing experience possible coupled with complete safety. I reiterate, the test is flying the distance, getting to the two airfields and getting home that is all that is required.I worked at a flying school that used to send solo students down the Manchester low level route between Manchester and Liverpool, I would say that 2 out of every 3 students penetrated the Zone. I in fact refused to send students down the lane and eventually after several warnings from Manchester so did the school.

There is plenty of time on the syllabus to investigate CA with an instructor as part of a dual navigation sortie and (as I/we do) part of the skills test (we insist that the diversion is to an airfield within CA)

In relation to the Tattenhill Leicester route I would not even send a QXC along any part of that route because its a very busy piece of airspace which funnels GA traffic routing North South between EMA and BHX and there have been quite a few conflictions in that area, one fatal.

Of course if you are learning to fly in CA that's a totally different matter that's why i said-'if it is not necessary'.

I see you base your opinion on your QXC donkeys years ago and a successful zone transit-well done. My 'nonsense' is based on 35 years instructional experience including CFI of two schools in a CTZ and as an airline captain who on many occasions has heard students unsure of their position inside CA.

Oh and the CAA's advice and this is for experienced pilots

3. Where possible, avoid planning to fly close to controlled airspace boundaries. If you do need to do so, be very careful. A small navigational error or distraction of any sort can lead to an infringement – and it doesn’t take much to ruin your day!