Rykymus
Line Up and Wait
IR ticket is 1 month old tomorrow. Decided to go up this morning to shoot the ILS in 200ft ceilings that were due to burn off in a couple hours. They didn't. What took me by surprise was that KSCK (my home drome) was using 11L instead of 29R while winds were calm. Later, I realized that it was probably because the forecasted wind was 150@7 or something.
My flight plan was KSCK to KSCK, and I got vectored to RNAV 11L. I don't know why I was surprised when I got down to 480ft and still couldn't see squat. Went full published miss, all the way to the holding point, trying to get the weather at my alternate. Finally, ATC asked what I wanted to do and gave me the ceilings at my alternate. (KLVK) Luckily, they were broken at 3500 so I got vectored to the ILS 25R KLVK.
Spent an hour on the ground there waiting for the ceilings to lift back at KSCK. They were reported to be broken at 600ft when I took off on an ILS FP back to KSCK. Got the Livemore One departure, was back in the clouds by 3300 ft, and stayed in them until FAF on RNAV 11L KSCK. Even got asked to do a turn in the hold at HAXEK.
So, I got about 30 minutes total actual in IMC, my first missed approach because I really couldn't see, and my first real hold in the clouds...All solo. All in all, a good experience.
Biggest lesson learned, better flight planning. I should have noticed the forecasted winds and realized that the precision approach would not be available.
Love flying IFR!
My flight plan was KSCK to KSCK, and I got vectored to RNAV 11L. I don't know why I was surprised when I got down to 480ft and still couldn't see squat. Went full published miss, all the way to the holding point, trying to get the weather at my alternate. Finally, ATC asked what I wanted to do and gave me the ceilings at my alternate. (KLVK) Luckily, they were broken at 3500 so I got vectored to the ILS 25R KLVK.
Spent an hour on the ground there waiting for the ceilings to lift back at KSCK. They were reported to be broken at 600ft when I took off on an ILS FP back to KSCK. Got the Livemore One departure, was back in the clouds by 3300 ft, and stayed in them until FAF on RNAV 11L KSCK. Even got asked to do a turn in the hold at HAXEK.
So, I got about 30 minutes total actual in IMC, my first missed approach because I really couldn't see, and my first real hold in the clouds...All solo. All in all, a good experience.
Biggest lesson learned, better flight planning. I should have noticed the forecasted winds and realized that the precision approach would not be available.
Love flying IFR!