Today was a early one, after my planning last night I woke up wondering what I forgot. Knowing I needed to make every thing perfect, to get my pass to go on my own in a couple of days. I found a few errors before I headed to the field. As we headed out to run 28L, my confidence was growing. Once airborne, I was scrambling as I timed my check points, attempted to hold heading and altitude. Its harder when you are looking down looking at a chart. One must look up dummy! Brett, my instructor is over there, acting as self loading luggage, whispering things "climb checklist, are you looking for traffic? Doh! I'm thinking this kinda sucks. Soon I'm over my decent point and head down as I'm looking for the runway. Luckily I glide the plane in for a smooth landing.
Ok, one leg down, two more to go! I organize my charts and plans, and we take off, and I start looking for my check points, but this is mountain terrain, and I picked lousy checkpoints. After I realize I can't find my first check point I'm starting to panic. Then I realize, its about visual flying. Soon I figure out that I know where we are, and my original route is a little off, but I know how to get where I was going. Soon, I'm setting up for landing. God is gentle and graces me with another wonderful landing. Phew.. one more leg.
Soon we are headed down the runway, climbing out headed for the huge mountain ahead. Brett tells me to nail my Vy speed and I'll climb over it without the climbing turn I thought I needed. As we headed back to Montgomery, I kept track of my not so great check points. During a brief period, I was not so confident of my position, I thought I was on track, but wasn't able to convince Brett so he showed me how to conduct lost procedures. He joking states "it'll suck if you were right", and what do you know I was on track, but didn't trust myself enough to convince him, so lesson learned.
Thankfully we head over the mountains and I see Gillespie airport off the nose. Thank you god! I know my way back from here. After landing on 28L, I'm second guessing my planning and ability to fly a plane. As we taxi back, I get the "debrief". To my shock, he's happy. As I'd been talking to him, I learning alot of what to do and what not to do, what made great checkpoints and lousy ones too.
As Brett signs my logbook, he tells me "we are going to John Wayne and French Valley tomorrow, make sure you use the Victor airways and VOR navigation. Call me if you have any questions, and review your Class C approach procedures. This resolves, my question of what I am going to do tonight!
Overall it was a educational day, and I pray that tomorrow I can stay ahead of the plane instead of being behind it.
Ok, one leg down, two more to go! I organize my charts and plans, and we take off, and I start looking for my check points, but this is mountain terrain, and I picked lousy checkpoints. After I realize I can't find my first check point I'm starting to panic. Then I realize, its about visual flying. Soon I figure out that I know where we are, and my original route is a little off, but I know how to get where I was going. Soon, I'm setting up for landing. God is gentle and graces me with another wonderful landing. Phew.. one more leg.
Soon we are headed down the runway, climbing out headed for the huge mountain ahead. Brett tells me to nail my Vy speed and I'll climb over it without the climbing turn I thought I needed. As we headed back to Montgomery, I kept track of my not so great check points. During a brief period, I was not so confident of my position, I thought I was on track, but wasn't able to convince Brett so he showed me how to conduct lost procedures. He joking states "it'll suck if you were right", and what do you know I was on track, but didn't trust myself enough to convince him, so lesson learned.
Thankfully we head over the mountains and I see Gillespie airport off the nose. Thank you god! I know my way back from here. After landing on 28L, I'm second guessing my planning and ability to fly a plane. As we taxi back, I get the "debrief". To my shock, he's happy. As I'd been talking to him, I learning alot of what to do and what not to do, what made great checkpoints and lousy ones too.
As Brett signs my logbook, he tells me "we are going to John Wayne and French Valley tomorrow, make sure you use the Victor airways and VOR navigation. Call me if you have any questions, and review your Class C approach procedures. This resolves, my question of what I am going to do tonight!
Overall it was a educational day, and I pray that tomorrow I can stay ahead of the plane instead of being behind it.
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