Well stue, sounds like you had a good time and that's what counts. You appear to be gushing with praise for ATC. Sounds like you agreed to pay the fees for going to Manchester, did everything asked of you, if anything were going too fast on final, were actually cleared to land, but then you still got sent around and the plane behind you got to land first. Did you ask why there was a loss of separation? Could be something to learn there.

Slim Slag,
Yes, the ATC were very good. It wasn’t as complex and as daunting as I thought it would be. The landing fee was quite a lot, but its only a one off and I like the look of it in my log book, I’m sad I know!:p

There was quite a strong headwind when we landed so our ground speed was quite slow and we were getting a bit dizzy to! So on the 2nd attempt we decided to just increase the finals speed to get down and out of the way with as little disruption as possible. Obviously its very hard to fly a standard base/finals app trying to fit in to faster traffic so we just wanted to fit in so the a/c behind us wouldn’t catch us up.

I learned a lot that day, and here too reading about the go around procedures, so I’m glad that as a low hours PPL I got the guts to actually do it (although I did take an instructor just in case!)

Cheers!

Hi Stu,
Glad to see you made it. Did you try the GPS?

I am inspired! Thanks for this thread, I would never have thought of a trip to Manchester, so now I think I will pay Manchester School of Flying a visit in March/April together with a budding young pilot (solo at 16) who will enjoy this as much as I will!!

Thanks again!

Andy :)

Im glad that it inspired Aussie! Give it a go, and dont forget your camera!:ok:

Now u have done EGCC why not come and do EGCB:\ like you keep saying your gonna lol! Glad you enjoyed it mate :) :ok:

Not been that far north yet, but Manchester is a good one to get into your logbook. Stue did you log that one as P1????

Deadside, i will, i will! jeezz, your like my mum!:p I may have a drive up this weekend, you workin? (my sister is moving house, i want to keep as far away as possible!:ok: )

machlimter99,

No, unfortunately i was out of currency and so had to take an instructor up with me for a flight anyway. It would have been nice for it to be P1 but not to be, oh well! I got some good photos though, that makes up for it. :} It does look nice in your log book though!:}

Well done Stue - Manchester's a nice airfield although, as with all too many big airports, it is getting a bit more difficult and expensive to get in to.
Your next challenge, should you decide to accept, is:
http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/WebPix/EGLL3.jpg
Handling mandatory and around 600 quid. :eek:

You pay for it mate!;)

Happy Memories
 

Thanks Stu and the rest of you. You've brought back happy memories of flying from Manchester. Many years ago (in the early 80s) I used to own a share in a light a/c (an AA1B) that lived in the hanger on the 'South Side', so as young(ish) PPL holder, EGCC was my flying base. Even though I flew in and out of there on a weekly basis, it was always a big thrill. Manchester ATC have always been a friendly bunch. I had the opportunity to work there myself for a short while. It's good to hear that they still welcome private flyers on VFR flights and find the time to fit them in with all the commercial flights.