Confidence knocked post PPL
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Confidence knocked post PPL
Hello!
Has anyone had to ask a controller for a steer or vectors when lost in poor visibility? I flew at the beginning of last week and this was my first flight since gaining my PPL. I ended up being pretty unsure of my position due to really strong haze and a very low sun at that time of the day. It's just totally knocked my confidence. I was on my way back to my home airfield. Edit: I did end up asking for a vector back home.
Has anyone had to ask a controller for a steer or vectors when lost in poor visibility? I flew at the beginning of last week and this was my first flight since gaining my PPL. I ended up being pretty unsure of my position due to really strong haze and a very low sun at that time of the day. It's just totally knocked my confidence. I was on my way back to my home airfield. Edit: I did end up asking for a vector back home.
Welcome to the PPL learning club. At least you had the gumption to ask for help. When I did something similar I tried to do it on my own and got so disorientated I landed on the wrong runway.
It is one of those learning experiences which are very valuable as long as we do learn from them. As they say, a PPL is a licence to learn about flying. I learned to keep a mental picture of relative bearings to the nearest or home airfield. Another lesson I learned is, in conditions with a low sun and mist, arrange to return to your airfield with the sun behind you if possible. A low Winter sun and slight mist can be quite disorientating even in the circuit.
It is one of those learning experiences which are very valuable as long as we do learn from them. As they say, a PPL is a licence to learn about flying. I learned to keep a mental picture of relative bearings to the nearest or home airfield. Another lesson I learned is, in conditions with a low sun and mist, arrange to return to your airfield with the sun behind you if possible. A low Winter sun and slight mist can be quite disorientating even in the circuit.
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You did the right thing, and you will learn lots, even if you get more advanced qualifications like the IR(R). There is always an opportunity for some mishap.
But to help me, I'd do two things 1: Don't fly in low viz unless you are sure it wont get worse and even prevent you from landing somewhere 2: get one of the popular GPS units / software to at least give you some situational backup and more prominent choices.
You were right to seek help though, so be confident you are making the right decisions in the air and build up to more challenging flights to increase confidence
But to help me, I'd do two things 1: Don't fly in low viz unless you are sure it wont get worse and even prevent you from landing somewhere 2: get one of the popular GPS units / software to at least give you some situational backup and more prominent choices.
You were right to seek help though, so be confident you are making the right decisions in the air and build up to more challenging flights to increase confidence
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Get yourself a really good GPS and teach yourself to use it.
Forget what the old timers say about this, the GPS will be your best friend when you fly and will certainly get you out of trouble sometimes.
Then get yourself instrument trained - best thing I ever did and, believe me, it makes flying a lot more easier and possibly interesting.
Forget what the old timers say about this, the GPS will be your best friend when you fly and will certainly get you out of trouble sometimes.
Then get yourself instrument trained - best thing I ever did and, believe me, it makes flying a lot more easier and possibly interesting.
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really strong haze and a very low sun
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Also in case of thunderstorms
Originally Posted by BlueJays
Has anyone had to ask a controller for a steer or vectors when lost in poor visibility?
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Well done for asking for help rather than risking blundering into controlled airspace. I'm an 'old timer' but I agree - GPS is wonderful!
Many decades ago I flew to a distant fly in on a day like you describe, except probably worse. I could not see more than about 1/2 mile horizontally, but the view straight down was fine. so I followed a railway line. It was some 20 minutes later, when things didn't 'add up', that I realised we were following the wrong railway line!
No harm done on that occasion, but if GPS had been around back then it wouldn't have happened! But I did learn from it - I never did that again!
Many decades ago I flew to a distant fly in on a day like you describe, except probably worse. I could not see more than about 1/2 mile horizontally, but the view straight down was fine. so I followed a railway line. It was some 20 minutes later, when things didn't 'add up', that I realised we were following the wrong railway line!
No harm done on that occasion, but if GPS had been around back then it wouldn't have happened! But I did learn from it - I never did that again!
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I actually got lost on my QXC. I was between Stansted and Luton on my way back to Elstree and couldn't be sure of my position.
Instead of guess and run the risk of busting someone's airspace I used 121.5 to tell them. About a millisecond after I stopped transmitting I had a reply. They also gave me a heading to Elstree, and stayed with me until I had Elstree in sight.
IMO the most important thing is to accept you're not infallible, swallow your pride and ask for help.
However, that only counts in the air: in the car with my wife next to me, I would never admit to being lost, because I never am...ever!
Instead of guess and run the risk of busting someone's airspace I used 121.5 to tell them. About a millisecond after I stopped transmitting I had a reply. They also gave me a heading to Elstree, and stayed with me until I had Elstree in sight.
IMO the most important thing is to accept you're not infallible, swallow your pride and ask for help.
However, that only counts in the air: in the car with my wife next to me, I would never admit to being lost, because I never am...ever!
Yes, you can have "legal VFR" and an effective forward visibility of zero at the same time.
Ever since I have wondered about the legality of that "VFR" flight. If I hadn't had ADF that would have been a very unpleasant experience.
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After about the third negative I came clean and said I couldn't see anything.
Once when I admitted I still couldn't see the runway I was told to go around. Of course two seconds later the runway appeared.
I would not, of course, advise anyone to lie to ATC.
Hi BlueJays.
A lesson learned about visibility into sun that you now realise you could have predicted with a bit of thought prior to the flight.
As mentioned several times above, 'well done' for being smart enough to ask for help.
There are three risks associated with flying into deteriorating visibility:
1. Hitting other aircraft.
2. Becoming disoriented, and losing control.
3. Getting lost.
Of these three, the one that seems to concern most pilots, way beyond the other two, is getting lost.
As we have now as good as eliminated the risk of getting lost, with the almost universal presence of moving map GPS systems., I fear that we have also eliminated the one thing that used to deter most pilots from continuing to fly into deteriorating weather.
MJ
Ps. You can't legally be 'VMC' and at the same time have a visibility of '... no more than about 1/2 mile horizontally...'
A lesson learned about visibility into sun that you now realise you could have predicted with a bit of thought prior to the flight.
As mentioned several times above, 'well done' for being smart enough to ask for help.
Get yourself a really good GPS and teach yourself to use it.
Forget what the old timers say about this, the GPS will be your best friend when you fly and will certainly get you out of trouble sometimes.
Forget what the old timers say about this, the GPS will be your best friend when you fly and will certainly get you out of trouble sometimes.
Many decades ago I flew to a distant fly in on a day like you describe, except probably worse. I could not see more than about 1/2 mile horizontally, but the view straight down was fine. so I followed a railway line. It was some 20 minutes later, when things didn't 'add up', that I realised we were following the wrong railway line!
No harm done on that occasion, but if GPS had been around back then it wouldn't have happened! But I did learn from it - I never did that again!
No harm done on that occasion, but if GPS had been around back then it wouldn't have happened! But I did learn from it - I never did that again!
There are three risks associated with flying into deteriorating visibility:
1. Hitting other aircraft.
2. Becoming disoriented, and losing control.
3. Getting lost.
Of these three, the one that seems to concern most pilots, way beyond the other two, is getting lost.
As we have now as good as eliminated the risk of getting lost, with the almost universal presence of moving map GPS systems., I fear that we have also eliminated the one thing that used to deter most pilots from continuing to fly into deteriorating weather.
MJ
Ps. You can't legally be 'VMC' and at the same time have a visibility of '... no more than about 1/2 mile horizontally...'
Last edited by Mach Jump; 9th Feb 2015 at 15:01. Reason: Grammar
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BlueJays,
I second the idea of getting a good GPS - I would recommend PFMS Easy VFR on Android but there are others. Secondly - find an experience PPL who is prepared to be your mentor and help you in the transition between the book and real life. This swill help boost your confidence.
Rod1
PS I am not too far away so if you would like a trip with me drop me a PM.
I second the idea of getting a good GPS - I would recommend PFMS Easy VFR on Android but there are others. Secondly - find an experience PPL who is prepared to be your mentor and help you in the transition between the book and real life. This swill help boost your confidence.
Rod1
PS I am not too far away so if you would like a trip with me drop me a PM.
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I have on two occasions arrived at my home field with a low sun, haze & runway 24 impossible to see the ground. The field is grass with at least 150 metres of landable width at the left side, estimating height from the adjacent clubhouse and missing the strip by 50metres, set land attitude and wait for the bump is not a good way to behave! Therefore I haven't flew 24 on this kind of days since.
As for telling someone you're lost, absolutely agree.
As for telling someone you're lost, absolutely agree.
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Bluejays
You did everything right ! All pilots have had this type of learning experience and are better pilots for it.
The place that I differ from a lot of those above is that I would advise you to first re-visit your VFR navigation training and practice these skills as this skill is essential to being a pilot.
There is far to much reliance on GPS amongst PPL holders who over use the GPS, spend far too much time head in the cockpit looking and don't think past what is on the screen......... This is not a problem while the thing is working but as soon as the GPS quits the workload goes through the roof because the pilot has been thinking follow the GPS Not about his next waypoint or the heading he is using to maintain track.
Most GPS units used by PPL holders who rent aircraft are reliant on battery's or power from a very cheap cigar lighter socket in the aircraft with yards of wire hanging from them and so are inherently unreliable.
I now look forward to ten or so posts calling me everything from a Luddite to an out of date old fart who won't except modern technology to an idiot for not excepting the reliability of the latest thing that some have got from the Transair catalogue but aviation is seeing an increasing number of accidents that are as a result of over reliance on technology the worst example being the two pilots who put a perfectly viable airliner into the Atlantic ( along with 200 or so trusting souls ) because some technology failed and they did not know the pitch and power settings for straight & level flight.
Basic flying skills are the basis for safe flight and until these are second nature don't errode your skill base with too much technology................. The industry will try its best to do that as you move on !
The place that I differ from a lot of those above is that I would advise you to first re-visit your VFR navigation training and practice these skills as this skill is essential to being a pilot.
There is far to much reliance on GPS amongst PPL holders who over use the GPS, spend far too much time head in the cockpit looking and don't think past what is on the screen......... This is not a problem while the thing is working but as soon as the GPS quits the workload goes through the roof because the pilot has been thinking follow the GPS Not about his next waypoint or the heading he is using to maintain track.
Most GPS units used by PPL holders who rent aircraft are reliant on battery's or power from a very cheap cigar lighter socket in the aircraft with yards of wire hanging from them and so are inherently unreliable.
I now look forward to ten or so posts calling me everything from a Luddite to an out of date old fart who won't except modern technology to an idiot for not excepting the reliability of the latest thing that some have got from the Transair catalogue but aviation is seeing an increasing number of accidents that are as a result of over reliance on technology the worst example being the two pilots who put a perfectly viable airliner into the Atlantic ( along with 200 or so trusting souls ) because some technology failed and they did not know the pitch and power settings for straight & level flight.
Basic flying skills are the basis for safe flight and until these are second nature don't errode your skill base with too much technology................. The industry will try its best to do that as you move on !
Last edited by A and C; 10th Feb 2015 at 08:12.
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A and C, I agree with a lot of what you say but;
As a newly qualified PPL his traditional skills are probably good
In the conditions described a GPS would have been worth its weight in gold.
The transition from newbie to experienced PPL will involve GPS...
Rod1
As a newly qualified PPL his traditional skills are probably good
In the conditions described a GPS would have been worth its weight in gold.
The transition from newbie to experienced PPL will involve GPS...
Rod1