Lesson 15 - Circuits (7)

17 October 2011
Warrior III VH-TAE

Back again for yet more circuits.  It is a nice calm morning with an almost clear sky, when I arrive it MFS around 8:30am.  Jason hands me the keys to TAE which I haven't flown since my very first lesson.  It has an analogue cockpit (which I also haven't flown since my first lesson) and has a little bit better performance as it a bit lightly than the other Warriors.

Melbourne CBD - VH-ZMS

I'm still trying to get my landings right, so around and around we go.  In total we managed 8 circuits today.  

On the first couple of approaches I was a bit fast.  I need to get the speeds down to 80kts on base, 75kt on final, and 70kt on short final. I was going above 5-10kt to fast which is making my round-out and flare harder.

I also got a bit low on downwind a couple of times, just need to watch my altitude a bit more while I doing my pre-landing checks.

On my 3rd circuit for the day VH-ZMS made a "inbound" call and was instructed to join base ahead of us.  This plane is a Socata TB-10 Tobago in which my friend owns a share.  While I've taxied past in a number of times, it's the first time I've heard or seen it in the air. (The picture above is taken from ZMS when Peter took me up for a flight around the city before I started my training)

By the end of the lesson I'd manage a coupled of OK landings, was feeling more relaxed and starting to get ahead of the plane rather than being behind it. So things are slowly improving.

VH-TAE Piper Warrior III  - Circuits 1.2hrs Dual (Total time 16.2hrs)

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Things to watch in the future.

1. Watch my height on downwind (watch the trim)
2. Watch my speeds on Final and Base.
3. Don't try and push it back onto the runway if it balloons (one day this is going to get through my thick head)
4. Relax

Lesson 14 – Circuits (6) +Go Arounds.

10th October

VH-TXH

Today I wouldn't be flying at my normal 8:30 time slot.  I'd be flying at lunchtime so I expected a lot more traffic.  Even though we were later in the day it was still cool (around 10C) and  overcast. We would use 31R with a light crosswind.

We were taking out "Tango X-ray Hotel" for some more circuit practice, so I grab the keys and pre flighted the plane before we taxied out for run-ups. After getting the required taxi clearance it was off to 31R and a hold at "alpha", pre-take off check, more clearance and we were off.

Considering it was mid day there was only a couple of other planes in the circuit.  We started with a couple of normal circuits and then Jason showed me what I needed to know about doing a safe "go-around".  

There may be may reasons for going around, for example

1. If you're not comfortable with the approach - to fast, to high, gusts, not on the center-line etc.
2. You have a big bounce on landing (better to go around and try again than continue to force a bad landing)
3. If you don't get a landing clearance (If I don't have a landing clearance by the time I'm on short final I'd make a quick call to the tower "Tango X-ray Hotel, Short Final" and if I still don't get a clearance, I'd need to go around.)
4. The tower may request you go around. There may be something on the runway or the previous plane may not be able to clear the runway in time etc.

Go-arounds are a relatively simple procedure;

1. Aviate, navigate then communicate. Don't worry about telling the tower what you are doing until you have a positive rate of climb and are safely clear of other traffic.
2. Fully power - We need to transition to a climb which of course requires full power.  
3. Carb heat off (if it was still on)
4. Move to the active side of the runway (31R is right hand circuits so that means we move to the right.  When doing a left hand circuit we would move left) The aim is to be able to see the runway & other aircraft (the importance of this I experience in a few minutes)
5. Remove the third stage of flaps.  This is all drag and it not going to help as climb.
6. We are looking for 75-80kts and a positive rate of climb
7. Once we have a positive rate of climb, remove any remaining flaps, 1 stage at a time. Continue to watch the speed and maintain a positive rate of climb.
8. Communicate with the tower "Tango Xray Hotel is going around"
9. Maintain a lookout for other traffic.

So then it was my turn.  Just to make life harder I managed to caught up with the plane in front of me in the circuit.  As they are touching down we executed a go around.  I applied full power , move to the active side of the runway etc.  It was a good go around but now I was left climbing next to and inside another plane in the circuit.  While an early turn onto based fixed the problem it was just another thing to manage.

After that we did a couple more "go-arounds" (all uneventful) and a couple more "touch and goes".  My circuits are improving and I'm close to going solo, provided I sort out my Student license paper work.  (Just came back from CASA (after 6 weeks) because we hadn't filled out the "English Proficiency section".)

VH-TXH Piper Warrior III  - Circuits and Go-Arounds 1.0hrs Dual (Total time 15.0hrs)

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Things to watch in the future.

1. Get a positive rate of climb before removing those last 2 stages of flap
2.  Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.

 

Lesson 13 – Circuits (5)

1 October 2011

VH-TYD

Off for more circuits today, and while I’m not progressing as fast as I'd like, at least it is progress.  Jason would be back in the right seat today after he managed to shift some other lessons around.  We would be using 13L and the weather was looking ok.

Moorabbin's runways

As we taxied out of the northern run-up bay, the RVAC formation team taxied in.  They were heading out to the training area to practice and I must admit, they look pretty cool just taxing around together.

Today's lesson was a lot better.  I managed a couple of ok landings and that felt really nice – very exciting!!  I’m starting to realise just how high I’ve been flaring, and how important it is to get the speed right on final. But not everything is perfect. 

Firstly, I forgot to do my pre landing checks a few times when I became distracted by other traffic and trying to maintain 1000ft on downwind.

 I’m still jerking the yoke back during the flare.  It is not a smooth round out more a series of sharp pull backs followed by pauses as the plane balloons.

I’m also getting too low on my turn from base to final.  I should still be at least 500ft AGL when I stabilized on final.   The fact the plane in front is doing a very late turn on to base and hence we have a long final only makes matter worst.  I need to use a lot of power to maintain height on final,

And lastly on one occasion I forgot to fully close the throttle before the flare.  This of course resulted in the plane ballooning.

I general things are starting to look up. I’ve managed a couple of ok landings and getting closer on the rest. 

VH-TYD – Piper Warrior III 1.2hr (total 14.0 hr)

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Things to watch in the future.

1. Remember to do my pre-landing checks early,
2. Smooth round-out, don’t jerk the controls,
3. Remember to fully close the throttle before I start the round-out,
4. Watch my height on base .  I’m starting the turn to base to low.
5. Get out the runway map before I request the taxi to the apron.  (Today’s read back was – “Turn right onto echo, cleared to cross 35R, turn on to alpha 1, cleared to cross 35L to the main apron”)

Lesson 12 - Circuits (4)

25th September 2011  VH-TXH

CIRCUITS

Today I wouldn’t be flying with Jason, he already had another booking and I really want to get in a couple of weeks in a row.  So Warren would be taking me up.  Having another point of view turned out to be a good thing, it gave me a different focus.

The day was nice, with light winds from the southeast.  This meant we were going to be using 13L – a first for me.  As the threshold of 13L and 17L aren’t that far apart, I was doing to need to make sure I was aligned with the correct runway.

Off we went.  After the first circuit Warren got me to do a couple of things. 

1. Do less – He took over the radio calls, so I could focus on flying,
2. Use my feet more – It was rough coming in over the golf course and I was using the ailerons to try and keep the plane level and lined up with the runway (At low speeds the ailerons are less effective and once I got my feet going it was much easier)

Unfortunately, I’m still flaring to high and I need to watch my power control on finals.  I must admit that by the end of the lesson I’m feeling more relax (until the last 50 ft) and starting to feel like I have enough time to start thinking about landing properly.  

VH-TXH – Piper Warrior III 1.0hr (12.8hr)

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Things to watch in the future

• My height on downwind (a couple of times I let this wander)
• The height of my flare – I still strating to high.
•  Still have the urge to push forward on the york when we float or bounce.
•  Use my feet.  Ailerons are less effective than the rudder at slow speeds
•  Don’t taxi under landing planes – One distraction for them and two don’t want them landing on top of you.
• Use Power to manage height on Crosswind and final.

Lesson 11 - Circuits (3)

18th September 2011  VH-TXU

CIRCUITS

It had been a couple of weeks since my last lesson but it was a better day for flying  – still overcast (with low cloud) but much less wind.  I was concerned about the low cloud while heading for the airport but luckily we were doing circuits again.

This time we would use 17L – this was only the second time I’d taken off to the south and the first time for left hand circuits.  This meant different taxiways, different reference points and of course, left hand turns.  The other thing this meant was the wind was coming from the south, something I almost forgot as I entered the run-up bay and started to line up to the north for my run ups!.

The low cloud meant at one point Jason needed to request “Special VFR” (In Class “D” VMC requires you to be 500ft below cloud ) however for most of the time the cloud stayed above 1500ft and we always had the required 5km visibility.

So around and around we went again.  Flying the circuit is starting to come together, I’m trimming better and quicker, getting through the pre-landing checks more effectively, but still struggling with the landings.  While I managed a couple of rough landings, my biggest problem is wanting to "push" the plane onto the runway – especially when I “balloon” or "bounce".   I need to relax and wait for the plane to settle itself onto the runway.

Being a better day also meant there were other aircraft in the circuit.  It one stage we were following a slower aircraft doing looong finals.  This meant we needed to slow down on the  downwind leg in order to give ourselves some space.  Luckily the tower gave as the option to “pass” them after a very late landing clearance.  Jason took over and rather then best rate of climb (79kt) we climbed at “best angle of climb” (63kt) and at ~300ft we turned crosswind and joined downwind ahead of the other aircraft.  

Another enjoyable but frustrating lesson.  I making progress and while I managed a couple of rough landings, I was far from consistent.  –  maybe next week.

VH-TXU – Piper Warrior III 1.1hr (11.8hr)

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Things to watch

1. Think about the wind direction when entering the run-up bay.
2. Make sure to stay on the ground frequency until ready for take off.
3. Watch the turn on to final (especially overshooting as this puts you in conflict with the aircraft landing on the parallel runway.)
4. DON’T push forward on the yoke once I’ve started the round out. Pause and wait for the plane to settle or go-around.
5. Make sure to keep my feet off the brakes while landing,
6. Relax on the flare (couple of times I yank the yoke back which caused the plane to balloon) Aim is for a smooth round out.

Lesson 10 - Circuits (2)

4th September 2011  VH-TAJ

CIRCUITS 

It was never going to be a great day for flying, overcast, cold and windy.  Even though I estimated there was less than a 50% chance I’d actual get to fly, I head for the airport anyway (it’s only a 20 minute drive and I had a couple of other things to do anyway)

photo by V31S70

When I got to the airport it was blowing - Maximum of 30kts with of upto 8kts crosswind. After a brief discussion with Jason, we decided to give it ago anyway. 1) A chance to try some cross-wind landings 2) I’d rather experience landing in rough conditions for the first time with an instructor next to me.

So off we went, besides hitting my head on the roof a couple of times it was fun. Compared to my last flight (in much lighter winds) there are a number of key difference.

1. I’m the ONLY one in the circuit. No other aircraft to keep track of (do they know something we don’t :-)
2. Upwind is a lot shorter. In fact, on a couple of the “touch and goes” I need to make sure we are past the airfield boundary before turning onto crosswind.
3. Downwind is fast!! Need to get on to the pre-landing checlist quickly (BUMFOCH). I struggle with getting the plane trimmed and the checks done before I need to turn on to base. (I know it’s just a matter of practice – nothing in natural yet)
4. I need to “crab” to keep the circuit “square” across the ground – especially on crosswind and base legs.
5. I’m getting bounced around a lot. This didn’t worry me to much, but meant I was busier keeping the plane level (just another thing to manage while I’m trying to learn how to land.)
6. Cross wind landings. Watching the wind sock, Crabbing on final, side-slipping on short final (which I hadn’t done a formal lesson on, so needed to learn on the spot), putting 1 wheel on the ground at a time, and keeping the ailerons into the wind while on the ground.

After 3 circuits I hadn’t got close to landing the plane without a LOT of assistance from Jason. The weather was only getting worst, so we called it a day, landed and taxied back to the school.

While it wasn’t the best conditions for a lesson, and I didn’t manage to land the plane, I felt I learnt quite a bit.

1. It is possible to land safely in those conditions. If the weather changed while I was out flying at least I’d know I can get down OK,
2. Those conditions are beyond my abilities at the moment. I need to learn to land the plane properly before I try it in those conditions again,
3. I remembered the pre-landing checks & radio calls way better this time, and
4. I got to experience crosswind landings, fast downwinds and the amount of crabbing required to maintain a nice “square” circuit.

Looking forward to better weather next time.
 
Warrior III VH-TAJ 0.7hrs (total time 10.7)

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Things to watch on future flights

• Be careful with ALL the check list items – Jason left one of the door locks open to see if I was REALLY checking – I wasn’t.  It is very easy to glance and not really look and check.
• I’m still flaring to high.  I need to relax and get the landing "picture" right and get over the feeling I’m flying into the ground (I don’t think my experience of paragliding landings is helping)
• Don’t forget to turn the carb heat –off at the landing no/no-go point (300ft on final)
• Still turning too early onto final. (it was made worst by the crosswind)

Lesson 9 - Circuits (1)

21 August 2011  VH-TAJ

CIRCUITS

It was time to learn how to fly "the circuit" and land the aeroplane.  We would be using 35R, which meant right hand circuits, for what was to be the first of many circuit lessons. The winds were light and almost straight down the runway - another great day for flying.