Qxc Cancelled AGAIN
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Skipton, Yorkshire,England
Qxc Cancelled AGAIN
Well the great british weather has done it again.
Supposed to do my QXC today and had to "not even think about it" again.
Try again tuesday. Fingers crossed.
Supposed to do my QXC today and had to "not even think about it" again.
Try again tuesday. Fingers crossed.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 399
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From: www.tiovicente.com
This must be a pain. Luckily I was due to do mine just as the weather turned brighter so I was able to get it out of the way quickly. When you finally get to do it the wait will have been well worth it.
Simplicate and Add Lightness
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 254
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From: EGSG, mainly
Yup - four cancellations here too, finally managed it about a month ago.
By the time I did it I was so frustrated that it took the edge off it a bit. In fact that sums up my flying at the moment...
Anyone have any good ideas for beating the weather/availability blues?
By the time I did it I was so frustrated that it took the edge off it a bit. In fact that sums up my flying at the moment...
Anyone have any good ideas for beating the weather/availability blues?
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: Chichester, UK
I guess that sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Waited three months to solo and cancelled well over half my lessons this year but did the QXC at the first attempt. Finally something went to plan
Got the skills test booked for two weeks time - last chance before Goodwood closes for about a week for the revival meeting. And it always seems to rain when there's motor racing there...
As for beating the weather/availability blues, that's flying in England, isn't it? Sadly it's not going to change once we have a PPL
Got the skills test booked for two weeks time - last chance before Goodwood closes for about a week for the revival meeting. And it always seems to rain when there's motor racing there...
As for beating the weather/availability blues, that's flying in England, isn't it? Sadly it's not going to change once we have a PPL
PPruNaholic!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 0
From: Buckinghamshire
On the wx/availability blues: I think this problem is no different since having my license than it was before I passed, but maybe I am less impatient now. You just have to become a bit "Zen" about it, if you know what I mean - accept that a bit over half of what you book will be cancelled due wx, and be pleasantly surprised when a trip actually goes ahead. then the good days are even more special :-)
My family are generally OK with me devoting one or two weekend-days a month to flying (and I can't generally fly during the week). So I book a little more than this, and it kind-of works out - of course some months are better than others.
I know its frustrating when you are doing your license, but its no different afterwards - except that YOU have to make more of the go/no-go decisions yourself - so its good practice.
My family are generally OK with me devoting one or two weekend-days a month to flying (and I can't generally fly during the week). So I book a little more than this, and it kind-of works out - of course some months are better than others.
I know its frustrating when you are doing your license, but its no different afterwards - except that YOU have to make more of the go/no-go decisions yourself - so its good practice.
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Get used to it, as everyone's been saying.
When I was doing my PPL, I used to say I was learning more about patience than about flying. The only difference once you've got your licence is that YOU make the decisions - and after a couple of scares I started realising that 30 PROB TS in a TAF did NOT mean it wouldn't happen to me and could be ignored, and erred on the side of caution. I've lost count of the number of days I've arranged to fly, and never made it to the airfield; or made it to the airfield and realised I couldn't fly; or even got airborne and come straight back. I tell prospective passengers that the fact we've arranged to fly doesn't mean we will, and that I'm the one who'll decide.
Flying takes over your life, not because you end up doing a lot of it, but because you don't have time to do anything else - you're always checking the weather, driving to ain airfield, or sitting in one drinking coffee.
So I repeat - get used to it. Or emigrate. Experience and further training will help, but only a little. That's GA in the UK for you.
When I was doing my PPL, I used to say I was learning more about patience than about flying. The only difference once you've got your licence is that YOU make the decisions - and after a couple of scares I started realising that 30 PROB TS in a TAF did NOT mean it wouldn't happen to me and could be ignored, and erred on the side of caution. I've lost count of the number of days I've arranged to fly, and never made it to the airfield; or made it to the airfield and realised I couldn't fly; or even got airborne and come straight back. I tell prospective passengers that the fact we've arranged to fly doesn't mean we will, and that I'm the one who'll decide.
Flying takes over your life, not because you end up doing a lot of it, but because you don't have time to do anything else - you're always checking the weather, driving to ain airfield, or sitting in one drinking coffee.
So I repeat - get used to it. Or emigrate. Experience and further training will help, but only a little. That's GA in the UK for you.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 357
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From: North Weald, UK
Hey BlokeinanArcher - you've done you're QXC!! Well done!
I seem to remember a month or so back you were complaining about the weather delaying you're progress so it must be grand to feel you are on you're way again. Did you go into Southend as planned?
I was all fired up to go up to Skegness on saturday. Thursday & friday had been fine & the forecast for saturday was ' still hot & sunny'. So saturday morning dawned foggy! It didn't really clear until 11:00 which was to late to go.
I seem to remember a month or so back you were complaining about the weather delaying you're progress so it must be grand to feel you are on you're way again. Did you go into Southend as planned?
I was all fired up to go up to Skegness on saturday. Thursday & friday had been fine & the forecast for saturday was ' still hot & sunny'. So saturday morning dawned foggy! It didn't really clear until 11:00 which was to late to go.
Simplicate and Add Lightness
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: EGSG, mainly
WhC
Thanks. Yep - did base -> Beccles ->Southend -> base. Beccles was a bit wierd - you land pretty much off the end of the visible runway (at least that's how it seemed
). Control did put me into an orbit on base leg at Southend - not sure if that was for spacing, or just to see if I was listening...
Everyone Else
Thanks for the encouragement on 'the blues'. I think what really gets to me is that I'd not been as enthusiastic about anything for donkey's years, but the weather and 'the system' eventually take their toll and grind it out of you.
Underneath it all I'm still really hooked though - so I suppose it's just a case of getting through the GFT (and R/T) and getting on with it
Thanks. Yep - did base -> Beccles ->Southend -> base. Beccles was a bit wierd - you land pretty much off the end of the visible runway (at least that's how it seemed
). Control did put me into an orbit on base leg at Southend - not sure if that was for spacing, or just to see if I was listening...Everyone Else
Thanks for the encouragement on 'the blues'. I think what really gets to me is that I'd not been as enthusiastic about anything for donkey's years, but the weather and 'the system' eventually take their toll and grind it out of you.
Underneath it all I'm still really hooked though - so I suppose it's just a case of getting through the GFT (and R/T) and getting on with it
