Cross country qualifier

[tobster911]

Congratulations on your "QXC" which I can confirm is still called Original Qualifying Cross-Country Certificate. I submitted all my papers yesterday and fingers crossed I've done it right and it all comes back soon.

Good idea about the Sky Demon in the pocket, and I'm hoping to get a subscription for Christmas to activate when we have some good weather.

[Dougie_diesel]

Thanks tobster!

Congrats to you too!
What was your route? Anything interesting along the way?

I don't think I've even scratched the surface of SkyDemon yet, as I'm still using charts and plogging, but from what I've seen its a good piece of kit.

[tobster911]

Thank you My route was EGSR - EGSH - EGMC - EGSR

It was interesting to say the least. I arrived in the morning and weather was marginal. It then cleared up over colchester, and looked like I wasn't going to be doing the XC, so I just went up for a quick flight (taking all my planning with me - still not sure why, but glad I did). As I got airborne, my instructor came over the radio and told me the WX was clearing up, and I could start my journey, which was great news.

As I got closer to Norwich, the cloud base was pushing me towards my MSA, but I managed to stay a few hundred above. Norwich, despite being huge, is notoriously difficult to spot, so I did have to request a bearing to fly from them as I entered their airspace. They even turned on the lights for me, which was very kind. If you're ever that way, I recommend going in. The Saxonair lounge is lovely with loads of drinks and biscuits, and really GA friendly.

After a bevvy or two (orange juice), I set off towards Southend. The weather was clearing up in the south, but still a bit of rain over Norwich, so that was quite interesting. As I got to Wattisham MATZ, the weather became stunning and really bright (I didn't take my sunglasses as I didn't think the weather would become like that - bad decision in hindsight). Flight to Southend was very uneventful bar having to hold for an approaching A319. With that landed, I was cleared onto 05 and had a short break in the lobby before the 15 minute flight back in. Was a really enjoyable experience, and I can't wait to do more cross country stuff.

I've seen the instructor use it a few times, but even on my free trial, I can't really figure it all out. Looks like it will be really useful though, although I will still always use a chart to plan my route too. Technology can and does stop working when you may need it most

Best of luck when you do your LST, let us know how you get on

[cotterpot]

although I will still always use a chart to plan my route too

You may think that now, but when you realise how easy it is to do it - even on SkyDemon Lite - and produce a plog, you may find you change your mind.

I do still draw a line on a chart.

[alex90]

I do still draw a line on a chart.

You can even print the pre-drawn lines out of SkyDemon, on the charts, as well as include the weather, plog, weight & balance, fuel calculations... etc... Everything you may need along the way, even including your aerodrome plates, as well as your alternates in a nice "package" by tapping the button "Generate Briefing Pack". In which case you won't ever need to buy real maps ever again!

The only thing I can't yet do is get IFR charts at the same time - that's when I use autorouter to generate the same path with GRAMET, and IFR charts.

What if you iPad has all your plates on it, but also SkyDemon or equivalent?

EasyJet now does this on all commercial routes (the plates bit). But they do have means to plug in the iPads in the plane, and have spare battery pack(s) in addition to 2 separate backup iPads. But I've been told that the likelihood of 2 iPads failing / breaking / running out of battery was highly unlikely.

I would ALWAYS have a paper copy of the charts / plates (just in case). Also for planning its really useful when in unfamiliar territory to have a slightly broader picture of what is around in paper form. Especially if you can't divert to your alternate(s), and need to pick a new airport to go to.

Even the most basic of smartphones now has a GPS/maps function.

True - but if you're flying at 5,000' you are unlikely get any reception to download the map. A blue dot on your location is a good idea - but only when you have a map to overlay it on! Also be wary of the accuracy of the blue dot, I sometimes find myself several miles / occasionally hundreds of miles away from my actual location.

[Dougie_diesel]

Good info Alex90, and FR have the iPads too, however the latter 2 quotes from my pervious posts have been taken slightly out of context, as they were in reply to a comment about carrying GPS on your QXC.

[Flyingmac]

I lost interest at the first ICAO code. What's up with plain English?


Many moons ago, my QXC was Cambridge-Ipswich-Norwich-Cambridge via Chatteris.
All said without encryption.

[Heston]

I also deplore the use of ICAO codes instead of names of places. It sounds like the writer is pretending to be an airline pilot.

Mind you, ICAO and QXC are encryption too, no?

[thing]

Well done DD!

I've printed out a kneeboard-size sheet with all the frequencies I could use locally. 42 frequencies. On the other side are distances and mag tracks between likely points.
It sits behind my flight note sheet on my kneeboard-sizesheet. Very helpful for in-flight directions.

I do the same. I've been known to forget the tower frequency of the airfield I've been flying at for years. If it's forgettable, I write it down (so that's everything for me then) and I thank whoever it was that decided that aircraft reg plates have to be in a prominent place on the instrument panel from the bottom of my heart.

I also deplore the use of ICAO codes instead of names of places. It sounds like the writer is pretending to be an airline pilot.

Yes, one of my pet dislikes too. Even the passengers do it on the passenger part of the forum. I haven't got a clue where they've been or are going. Makes them sound seasoned I suppose.

[Dougie_diesel]

Thanks for posting anyway Flyingmac despite losing interest after a couple of lines.

I posted codes instead of place names as it seems to be the common practice, and also for fear of having my head bitten off for being unprofessional.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[Jan Olieslagers]

Nobody forbids posting both, e.g. EGPK Prestwick

Too easy, perhaps, for some. Or are UK keyboards extremely sensitive to stress or wear (I almost said "wearable" ) perhaps?

As for looking "unprofessional": who cares? You never pretended to be a professional, did you?

[Dougie_diesel]

Valid points Jan!

[The Ancient Geek]

Airfield codes do have an important function in being definitive.
I dont know of any duplications of names in the UK but in South Africa, for instance, Olifantsfontein and Sterkfontein are the most common place names with dozens of instances, most of which have either their own airstrip or one very close by. Some are sizeable towns, many are farm strips, good luck in sorting them out without some other reference.

[Flyingmac]

I've flown to and from several South African strips. I found the codes useful. Stopped me flying from the wrong Square Kilometre Array to the wrong Groblershoop.