EdFred
Taxi to Parking
6 calendar months is up at the end of next month, so yesterday I did my 6 and a hold with a safety pilot.
#1: GPS 18 approach into 3CM. Other than trying to figure out exactly where to turn onto the FAC and slightly overshooting the FAC this approach was locked in.
#2: GPS 27 to HYX with the HPILPT entry. Needle never strayed from dead center.
#3 ILS 5 to MBS - never more than a 1/2 dot off on the LOC half, and within 1 dot on the GS.
#4 ILS 23 to MBS - they were nice enough to flip the switch and let me fly the 23 back do I didn't have to go all the ay around and do the ILS 5 again. Same results as #3.
#5 GPS 14 to MBS - again needle locked in.
#6 VOR-A into 3CM. Other than the To/FROM flip and about 15 seconds in the cone of confusion with the needle slammed to one side, the needle never moved.
Now, here's the question as to whether it's good or bad. I haven't flown an approach since October, and I flew these better than I did on the practical. Sure we should get better as our hours build up, but I would have expected some rust. No rust. I've always been the type to pick up anything I do and be really good at it from the start. (Except roller blading - so lets not mention that.) First time I was ever in an airplane I made the landing. When I flew my first NDB approach with a 20kt cross wind, I nailed it. First ILS - nailed it. My first hold - I was off my 2 seconds on my 1 minute leg. I flew these approaches yesterday and was nearly flawless. Well that's good you say. But here's the other problem. Nothing bothers me, and I never panic. Engine out at 5,000? Whatever, that's 5 minutes to find someplace to put down, or prep the cabin for impact, or troubleshoot. Heck, on my very first flight after getting the my IR I had complete radio failure in IMC, and a set screw on my tuning knob for one of my NAVs come loose. No radios, and now down to one VOR. Out comes the sectional, check the elevations below me. 7600 on the squawk box, and down out of the clouds into an airport.
Nothing rattles me and my skills don't seem to rust. Somehow I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Or is it? I don't want to be an NTSB stat - how do you correct for a natural ability to conquer anything and a lack of fear?
#1: GPS 18 approach into 3CM. Other than trying to figure out exactly where to turn onto the FAC and slightly overshooting the FAC this approach was locked in.
#2: GPS 27 to HYX with the HPILPT entry. Needle never strayed from dead center.
#3 ILS 5 to MBS - never more than a 1/2 dot off on the LOC half, and within 1 dot on the GS.
#4 ILS 23 to MBS - they were nice enough to flip the switch and let me fly the 23 back do I didn't have to go all the ay around and do the ILS 5 again. Same results as #3.
#5 GPS 14 to MBS - again needle locked in.
#6 VOR-A into 3CM. Other than the To/FROM flip and about 15 seconds in the cone of confusion with the needle slammed to one side, the needle never moved.
Now, here's the question as to whether it's good or bad. I haven't flown an approach since October, and I flew these better than I did on the practical. Sure we should get better as our hours build up, but I would have expected some rust. No rust. I've always been the type to pick up anything I do and be really good at it from the start. (Except roller blading - so lets not mention that.) First time I was ever in an airplane I made the landing. When I flew my first NDB approach with a 20kt cross wind, I nailed it. First ILS - nailed it. My first hold - I was off my 2 seconds on my 1 minute leg. I flew these approaches yesterday and was nearly flawless. Well that's good you say. But here's the other problem. Nothing bothers me, and I never panic. Engine out at 5,000? Whatever, that's 5 minutes to find someplace to put down, or prep the cabin for impact, or troubleshoot. Heck, on my very first flight after getting the my IR I had complete radio failure in IMC, and a set screw on my tuning knob for one of my NAVs come loose. No radios, and now down to one VOR. Out comes the sectional, check the elevations below me. 7600 on the squawk box, and down out of the clouds into an airport.
Nothing rattles me and my skills don't seem to rust. Somehow I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Or is it? I don't want to be an NTSB stat - how do you correct for a natural ability to conquer anything and a lack of fear?
) during climb out from an non-towered field at night while approaching a mountain pass. The intercom box was way over on his side, and it took me a good 2-3 minutes to diagnose the problem. The important part was, of course, to remember to fly the plane.
