XC?
 

Aviators,

Those who have read my other posts, im roughly 14 hours into my PPL. I just wanted to ask, generally, when do you start Nav lessons and doing XC's? My jnstrcutor has already said that my next lesson will be on steep turns if the weather is good or if not so some more time in the circuit building confidence on going solo (also weather depending).

The comments on my 'Everybody should be able to pilot an aircraft' thread have really got me excited for more soloing and flying XC hence asking this question.

Happy flying
Pilot CR

What do you mean by XC, only leaving the field or actual starting small scale orientation training?

I don't remember exactly when I started NAV training, but first acquaintance with VOR/HSI etc must have been around 20-25 hours into PPL, with dedicated training right before x-country flying myself (does make little sense before, you will forget anyways). Started x-country flying at about 45 hours and passed exam end of 50ies in the hours (all JAR-FCL, so including extensive CVFR). But I have to admit, passing exam was not my goal, learning to fly was, so I did not hurry at anything.

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Hi CR, my first dual XC (Ex 18A.) was at 32hrs, then my first solo XC was at 34hrs. (Second XC at 37hrs.) Fortunately, I followed the correct railway-line out of Crewe, unlike one member of our school who ended up into Manchester airspace.


Up until then all my solos where in the circuit (Ex 12-13.), must have racked up way over 100 T+Gs.
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I was past 20 hours into my PPL (and had gone solo) by the time of my first nav lesson. It will vary with each student I imagine.

Interesting issue - I just looked up my number of landings: at 14 hours about 40 LDG, at 40 hours first solo about 200 LDG, start x-country 230 LDG, licensed 250 LDG. So at 14 hours I was a long way from ready ...

If you have not gone solo, Ex14, why on earth is you instructor doing Ex 15 Advanced Turning? Its not a case of gaining confidence to go solo, its demonstrating to the instructor that you have the ability to do it and cope with any contingencies. Once you have completed you first solo, you have another 2 hours in the circuit before moving on to the out of circuit work.

Its perfectly acceptable for the instructor not to follow the exact sequence of the syllabus. There are many factors that might mean on a particular day that a first solo is inadvisable. Its not right to delay progression through the exercises just because a suitable day for first solo hasn't come along yet.

Whopity,

I went solo last week...

Pilot CR

I did my training at the old Sheffield City airport, where no circuits were allowed, so we would always start with some XC with a flight over to either Gamston, Sandtoft or Beverley.

Maybe I have been unclear what I mean. What I mean is generally when do you start lessons involving navigation and flying to other airfields etc. I mean I have left the ATZ in my earlier lessons before circuit work, but I meant visiting other airfields?


Pilot CR :)

Ask your instructor if its OK to fly to another airfield while doing whatever exercise is planned for that day, stop and have a bacon sandwich with the debrief, and then fly back. Most instructors will jump at the chance for the change of scene and it will be a good introduction for you to other airfields. They may be happy for you to start to do some of the nav too, but it will depend.


Sounds like you need to discuss this with your instructor. I'm very keen to make sure my students do this fairly early on - it can be pretty boring just flying exercises in the local area.


My comments relate to leisure flying PPL students spending there own money of course.


It may be that the flying school schedules wont allow this (it will take a bit longer) but its worth asking.

Most schools will have a specific Navigation syllabus detailing the order of things with details of routes to be flown and any land aways. Are your Training Records not kept alongside the syllabus so that you can see where you are and what comes next?

I regard diverting to the neaest suitable airfield in case of an accident at the base airfield rendering it unavailable, to be part of 12+13e, before 1st solo.


MJ:ok: