Fri Jun 03, 2022 8:04 pm
#1913838
A mixed bag of a lesson today.
Had a 4 hour session booked today as I missed one last week and instructor was available. The plan was to do a dual practice QXC, or at least part of it. From Gloucester, the ‘usual’ QXC route is Glos, Cardiff, Halfpenny Green (Wolverhampton) and back to Glos.
Last night, I spent a bit of time reviewing the VFR routes into Cardiff and being familiar with them as well as popping the lines on the map.
This morning we reviewed my planned route and changed the second leg to come back to Newport in preference to heading up over the Welsh hills. Today would have been OK but on a more marginal cloud day, it would be better to head back to Newport and up the lower valleys. Valuable experience gained in planning.
Flight plans have to be filed for Cardiff which today, my instructor did. I look forward to filing my own next time. We didn’t bother with PPR for Halfpenny Green as we didn’t ultimately intend to get there.
So off we went to Cardiff. No major issues with the nav. 3000 down to Chepstow. After all the talk on leaning, I asked to be shown how to do it. About 60 seconds later, we’d done it and keeping an eye on oil temp. No issues at all.
At Chepstow, switched to Cardiff approach and listened out. Very quiet compared to Gloucester where I’d just left. Radio calls all uneventful. Got given a squawk and told to standby for joining instructions. Carried on and just before Newport, dropped to 1400’ to ensure under the 1500’ ceiling. Given the routing by ATC of inbound via the published Cardiff docks, not above 1500’. Note that the readback must include the word ‘published’ so that it’s clear that we’ve read and acknowledged the published routing.
So, overhead Cardiff docks, head towards the factory chimneys behind the airfield, mental note of the Wenvoe mast for the out outbound and all going well.
Approaching the airfield, it was then a right turn to join the downwind for 12. Noted the visual reference for where to fly the 30 circuit. Noted St Athen and made a mental note to not try to land there in future (others have tried by mistake I’m led to believe). Good base turn and then onto final, noting that we were still on QNH to avoid accidentally busting the ceiling so altimeter reading about 200’ higher than AGL. Approach all fine and landing good. Taxi to the school, park up and pay up. All good so far. Advised by the school that instructors previous student earlier this week had been assessed by the tower as ‘superb’. No pressure for my QXC then…
Cafe due to open next week apparently.
Took off again and headed out just east of Wenvoe mast, ensuring not to mistake it with the other one (St Hilary). Climbed again to 1400’ started on changing the radio and some thermals started to push us up close to the 1500’ ceiling. Just about caught that in time. Skirt around the city, up to the M4, advised climbing to 2500’ and back off to Newport.
At Newport, we headed back up the valley, past the gliders at Usk and Monmouth. One glider spotted getting some great thermals and given a wide berth. Just after Monmouth, I was told to divert back to Gloucester. Line drawn on map (getting easier), rough guess on bearing accounting for a bit of wind) and off we Bearing worked out really well against some gross error references.
Back at Gloucester, we had a straight in on 09 and this is where the wheels fell off. Approach speed all over the shop and given a bollocking for getting too slow 60kts). At the last minute, drifted off centreline in the crosswind and landed at an angle. Not my finest. I still don’t feel really confident in landings.
Quick brew, then I asked for some circuits to practice landings. I won’t describe all, but let’s just say speed control not particularly good. One out of 5 was OK. The other 4 not the worst, but not the best either. 2 glide approaches and on one, I caught the throttle with my sleeve putting the flap down and didn’t notice.
Instructor just said don’t worry about the iffy landings. It’s not unsafe and everyone has an off day. Chalk it up to experience and crack on next time. There were things that were a bit unsettling and I don’t offer these as an excuse but just as a recollection.
There were aircraft taking off on 27 as well as 04 which we were given. Just seemed a bit weird. First circuit was LH, second RH, third LH, fourth RH and finally fifth LH. Between the first and second landing, a couple of Strikemasters (I think, don’t shoot me) took off on 27 for a display. Bit distracting and the reason we were given a RH circuit. After the fourth landing, we had to extend the downwind to let them land back on 09. As we turned base, they decided to do a low level pass over the runway. Impressive, but again, distracting. By the time we were on final on 04, so were they on 09. It was going to be tight and in the end, we had to go around for a final LH circuit. So, an interesting set of circuits, but I wouldn’t say I improved as a result of doing them.
So, to summarise… Cardiff trip was good and easier I would say than Gloucester. Radio work has to be pretty precise but apart from that, all seemed simple. Nav was better and getting used to picking up a variety of ground references including terrain and features. Landing I still want to feel more comfortable with. I don’t think they are too bad, but I just don’t feel on top of them yet which is maybe my issue. It feels that the aircraft lands with a bit of help from me and not really because I’m making it do it - hope that makes sense.
37:05 flown. About 7:05 solo.
Last edited by Milty on Sat Jun 04, 2022 3:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
PPL(A) gained 30/8/22, started Aug 21, C-152, EGBJ