Here’s another video of the approach into Newcastle, which I completely forgot to upload! Clicking through to youtube will let you watch a full size HD version!
Archive for the 'PPL' Category
Something i’d been wanting to do for a while, was get my name printed on the back of my high vis jacket. After what was probably a year of procrastination on the subject, I eventually got around to doing it myself yesterday! - And there’s good news, it looks great! It has ‘Captain Coxy’ on the top in large letters, and then this website’s URL at the bottom. See the gallery for a picture!
Also, just as an aside, I updated my progress checklist for exams for the last time today (PPL wise at least!). Yesterday evening I passed my RT ground exam, meaning I have no more ground exams to do! Wahey!
As part of the PPL syllabus, you have to complete a Radiotelephony exam in order to be given a radio license. Before qualifying you operate the radio with student privleges, however once you obtain your PPL you’d no longer have those to rely on!
Today I sat a practice exam in the so called ’sweatbox’ in the flying school. It has a simulated aircraft panel and radio equipment, and you use it to speak to one of the flying instructors in the next room along. You’re given a route to fly, and have to pretend you’re flying along it, giving position reports and responding to any requests you’re given. There are certain points where you also have to pretend you have an engine failure, and make a mayday call.
My first experience with a Radio telephony style exam was in the written portion (’Part 1′), where you answer several multiple choice questions about the radio theory. After doing several practice exams in this case, it seemed easy enough to do without much revision, given that I use my radio knowledge every time I fly, so I took the exam and passed first time!
I apparently did fairly well today in the practical portion of the exam, given that it was my first go. I was given my exam sheet to look at and learn from, which i’ve kindly uploaded to my gallery for your viewing pleasure!
Today I completed my PPL Qualifying cross country flight. I feel quite lucky, as it’s quite often that pilots wait several weeks to get the weather required to fly the required 150nm distance. But alas - it is done!
I departed Newcastle at 08:45z in GBRJV, and routed West towards Stagshaw VRP. I was advised that the Spadeadam danger zone was active, and so routed further South than my intended route. From there, it was a hazy journey to Carlisle - and then onwards to Silloth A/D. The visibility was quite good at altitude, but a complete cloud covering at around 4000ft, and a generally light misty atmosphere made it seem worse than it was. The ‘extension’ of the flight to Silloth was to ensure I had the necessary distance on the flight, and after the 20 minute flight from overhead Carlisle to Silloth and back, i’d officially been further than i’d ever flown before!
After a ‘Good’ landing and ‘Excellent’ airmanship (Air traffic control’s words, not mine!), I parked up on stand 2A at Carlisle and went inside the operations room to get my first signature and stamp of the day! The main objective of the cross country flight is to land at 2 other aerodromes than your base, and complete a flight of over 150 nautical miles. As just mentioned, at each aerodrome you get a small report from the controllers, detailing how well you did in your time under their control, which is sent to the aviation authority along with your application for a license.
At precisely 10:00z I departed Carlisle airport and routed East towards Hexham, once again tracking overhead the Tyne and Haltwhistle to avoid the danger area. Once overhead Hexham, I steered South East and routed past Derwent Reservoir, Consett and headed directly for the main zone entry reference point at Durham, the Sedgefield racecourse. I was given a clearance to enter the zone, and promptly looked for the prominent reservoir just North of Durham Tees Valley airport. The runway in use was 23, so the reservoir lined me up nicely for right base.
After an ‘Excellent’ landing, and ‘Excellent’ airmanship, I taxied to stand 13 and awaited the handling agent (Midwest) to take me to operations. I paid my landing fee of £24.00 (!!) and handling fee of £5, and then proceeded this time to Durham tower, to get my sheet signed. Once I stepped up into the actual tower, there was an eerie silence, only broken by the faint chatter of the two controllers on duty, and sliding of aircraft strips. With this signature, my certificate was complete, and it was time to jump back into the aircraft and head back home. The 15 minute leg back to Newcastle was rather uneventful, aside from a Canadian pilot navigating the ‘Hexham Gap’ and Newcastle Radar warning me of a ‘Pretty big plane’ which would be passing overhead my position. He however assured me it wouldn’t be less than 1000ft above me - which is always a nice thing to know!
The landing at Newcastle was quite smooth, with a 9 knot crosswind from the left, compensated for with a bit of crabbing. Expedited due to to traffic on final behind me, I vacated onto Foxtrot and the flying school apron, ending my cross country flight!
I feel quite at home with the local area from the skies now. When I first started my lessons, everything would (inevitable pun) fly by. Now i’ve become accustomed to spotting features and towns without even needing to think about it. It’s quite encouraging, knowing that in 12 or so flying hours time, i’ll be a qualified private pilot!
Cross Country Certificate