San Francisco Bay Tour KRHV --> KSTS - Part 1

On Sunday 15th July I met up with three Twitter friends for the first time at KSTS (Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport).

Marc picked up a lovely C172SP from KHWD and picked me up at KRHV.

We then departed KRHV on our flight over to KSTS which is located north of the Bay Area. I acted as PiC with Marc taking care of the radio frequency changes.

Our route took us immediately through the Class Charlie airspace at San Jose International Airport. I have always enjoyed the radio work, but today I was working SJC Tower, NORCAL APP (3 freqs) in the first 15 minutes of the flight. Loved it!

I recorded the majority of the flight on my GoPro. The battery

died before I arrived at KSTS but I managed to capture the departure and transition through the charlie and bravo airspace.

The first video is the departure from KRHV and the transition through the Charlie airspace. 

Click link - GoPro YouTube video

N926ME C172SP

N926ME C172SP

Overhead KSJC 1500'

Flying in San Diego

On the 26th July I met a Facebook Friend for the first time. Ended up flying 1.1hrs with him out of Montgomery Field (KMYF).

I will summarise this flight and the others from CA in a blogpost soon.

CA Update

CA has been amazing. Logged 1.3hrs PiC last week. Then came the chance of a second flight. Flew as a Safety Pilot for an IFR flight which meant I was able to log 3.0hrs SiC.

Added several airports to my visited listed. And I added the C172SP to aircraft flown!

Video's, audio and photo's to follow next week once I return from vacation.

California Dreams.......................

In January 2010 I blogged about a business trip I had in California (http://getmyppl.blogspot.com/2010/01/california-dreams.html#comment-form).


This weekend I am heading back there for the first time since then. I will be flying in California with a friend who I will be meeting for the first time via Twitter. Our plan is to depart KRHV and fly around the Bay area before heading to KHAF to meet some other Twitter Pilots. 


On my return from vacation (holiday to those Europeans out there!), I will be sure to post several photographs, video and audio from what I hope is an aviation packed vacation touring around California.

Tour de Phoenix

At the weekend I flew two tours of Phoenix. I captured some pretty cool video and audio with my GoPro.


On both flights, I departed CHD and headed through the class bravo airspace towards Scottsdale (SDL). Following a full stop/taxi back, I flew south towards Phoenix Gateway airport (IWA) where I had breakfast. 


In total, 3.6hrs PiC was added over the weekend.

When I return from vacation in two weeks time, I will be sure to upload the video to YouTube.

Let the adventures begin...........

Now that my kids have flown with me, I am going to be more adventurous starting this weekend with two flights with work colleagues. Stay tuned here for more ATC audio and GoPro video's.


YouTubeChannel

First Passenger............

This morning I had my first flight with a passenger. I promised my 9 year old son a couple of years back that he would be the first. Today we flew 0.8hrs south of Phoenix. Planned a further flight but the visibility was poor plus we departed later than expected. Small steps. I have 12 months to explore the State!


Seeing his smile, made me realise that the wait was worth it.


It's going to be a great 12 months flying over here in the US.


Next flight - tomorrow morning with my daughter.

I did it.....................................

12 years ago, I started my flight training in EI-CFP. Today, the first chapter of my aviation life came to and end. After 100hrs JAA/FAA training, I finally passed my FAA checkride.

I now have a license to learn. First flight planned for Saturday morning. It's going to be another great 12 months.

#letsgoflying

Lesson 28 - Stage 4 check

DATE: 3rd June 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> on route --> KCHD

DURATION: 1.9hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 55.4 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Stage 4 check. This was basically a mock of my checkride. Flight planning, leg 1, diversion, hood work, manoeuvres and short/soft field procedures.

Next Flight - 10th June 

Solo 12

DATE: 2nd June 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 0.9hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 2

TOTAL TIME: 53.5 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Practised stage 4 stage check. 

Next Flight - 3rd June  

Training Update

I am starting my last few days as a Student Pilot. Checkride date is set. 


Had my mock checkride last weekend which went well. Air work was good. Feel I am ready. Hitting the books hard right now in order to get ready for the oral. 


Soon I will be a Private Pilot.

Now the 2nd.

Enjoy my 2nd GoPro video. This was recorded on a very busy Saturday morning. I enjoyed another solo flight before returning to a busy traffic pattern.


GoPro Video

1st GoPro Video

Check out the following link for my first GoPro video. I am still working on getting the audio from my MP3 recorder on top of the video feed. Hopefully this will be working by the next time I make a video.


The video is from my 0.6hr PiC flight on Saturday morning. Turns out the wind was too strong in the practice area. Also, the visibility wasn't the best so I cut the flight short. The wind was pretty much down the runway but well within my capability.


The next video opportunity will be on Saturday.


GoPro YouTube video

Lesson 27

DATE: 27th May 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 0.9hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 2

TOTAL TIME: 52.6 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Practised stage 4 stage check. 

Next Flight - 2nd June  

Solo 11

DATE: 26th May 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 0.6hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 1

TOTAL TIME: 51.7 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Flight to review air work pre checkride. Vis. bad. Turned around after leaving the Class D and headed back to the airport.

Next Flight - 27th May 

Written Passed

Passed my written Sunday morning. Celebrated with a 0.9hr dual flight with my instructor.


The end is in sight.

GoPro

I will be filming my flights from Saturday onwards with the new GoPro HD Hero 2 that I have just purchased.

To see the videos, follow my YouTube channel .

Lesson 26

DATE: 23rd May 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 1.0hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 1

TOTAL TIME: 51.1 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Air work in prep for check ride (stalls, turns, ground ref, engine out, hood work).

Next Flight - 26th May 

Lesson 25

DATE: 15th May 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {KCGZ}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 1.2hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 4

TOTAL TIME: 50.1 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Soft field landing practice with added cross wind (checkride prep).

Next Flight - 19th May 

Solo 10

DATE: 6th May 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 0.9hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 2

TOTAL TIME: 48.9 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Solo ground ref. man. (checkride prep).

Next Flight - 9th May 

Lesson 24

DATE: 30th April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 0.8hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 1

TOTAL TIME: 48.0 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Revise ground ref. man. (checkride prep).

Next Flight - 6th May 

Solo 9

DATE: 30th April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 1.0hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 4

TOTAL TIME: 47.2 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Solo stalls, steep turns (prep for checkride).

Next Flight - 7th May 

Lesson 23

DATE: 25th April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> {Southern Training Area}  --> KCHD

DURATION: 1.0hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 46.2 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Re-visited stalls and steep turns.

Next Flight - 30th April 

Solo Cross Country 2 : >200nm

DATE: 22nd April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288 

ROUTE: CHD --> KPRC / KPRC --> E25 --> KCHD

DURATION: 3.5hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 45.2 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Long cross country. Departed KCHD. Class bravo transition to KPRC. Stopped at KPRC. Then departed to E25. Departed E25 back to KCHD. Part of the flight had to be a previously un-visited airport.

Next Flight - 25th April 

Lesson 22 - Stage 3 check

DATE: 21st April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172N N734HC 

ROUTE: CHD --> GOLDFIELD --> CHD

DURATION: 1.0hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 1

TOTAL TIME: 41.7 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Stage 3 stage check with one of the chief CFI's. Had to navigate to an unknown private strip and then divert. Hood work. Back to CHD.

Next Flight - 22nd April (long solo cross country)

getmypplcast #006 / First Solo Cross Country

This audiocast covers part of my first solo cross country flight. I flew KCHD -> KTUS -> KRYN and back to KCHD. I am sharing the audio from my initial contact with Tucson Approach through to leaving the active runway at KTUS. As you will hear 

The Flight - 18th April 2012 / C172N N734HC 

Direct Link 

getmypplcast #006

KTUS Audio

Want to share with you a small piece of audio from my solo flight today. Soon I will release more audio from this flight.


Today, I was cleared for take off on 11L shortly after two F16's landed on the same runway. Was expecting 11R which is generally used by GA. Ended up having a American Airlines lining up and waiting behind, plus a Southwest 737 on a 5nm final to the same runway.


KTUS 11L Audio

Solo Cross Country 1

DATE: 18th April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172N N734HC 

ROUTE: CHD --> KTUS --> KRYN --> CHD

DURATION: 2.7hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 40.7 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - First solo cross country to KTUS and KRYN.

Next Flight - 20th April (stage 3 check)

Correction in total hours

Seems I have lost track of my total hours on this blog. Have updated my logbook this evening.


New corrected hours are as follows;
Total FAA Training = 38hrs
Total FAA PiC = 6.7hrs
Total FAA Night = 3.5hrs (10 landings)
Total FAA Cross Country = 7.3hrs
Total (FAA + JAA) = 83.5hrs

Lesson 21

DATE: 16th April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172N N734HC 

ROUTE: CHD --> CHD

DURATION: 1.0hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 34.6 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Stage 3 check preparation. VOR, GPS navigation to AK CHIN. Diversion to KCZG and KCHD.

Next Flight - 18th April (2nd dual cross country)

Mountain Flying

This week I had my third (second day time) cross country flight. This particular school incorporates mountain flying into the syllabus. I flew from KCHD to Prescott Airport (KPRC) north of Phoenix and then onto beautiful Sedona (KSEZ). Had breakfast in Sedona before returning back to KCHD.


There is a mountain ridge north of Phoenix. This flight basically took us either side of this mountain at a height of 8500'MSL northbound and 7500'MSL southbound. Flying higher would have been an option, but the winds aloft were relatively light.


The flight incorporated training from my previous two flights, i.e. flight planning; opening a flight plan; class bravo transition; flight following and landing at other airports. 


Both Prescott and Sedona lie at elevations at approx. 5000' above MSL. I therefore had my first introduction to arriving/departing at an airport with an altitude >3000' MSL. This meant leaning procedures. We departed Sedona with a density altitude of 6600' which resulted in a loonnngggggg takeoff run.


Here is a sample of the cockpit audio on the first leg to KPRC.
KCHD --> KPRC Sample Audio

My instructor had time to take a few photographs for me as we headed northbound and then southbound.

Cross Country 2

DATE: 9th April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288   

ROUTE: CHD -> KPRC -> KSEZ -> CHD

DURATION: 3.0hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 33.6 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - 2nd dual cross country to Sedona and back via Prescott.

Next Lesson - 1st April (2nd dual cross country)

Solo 8

DATE: 7th April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288   

ROUTE: CHD -> {Southern Training Area} -> CHD

DURATION: 1.1 hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 7

TOTAL TIME: 30.6 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Solo flight practising short and soft field procedures.

Next Lesson - 9th April (2nd dual cross country / Mountain Flight)

New Flight Bag

My old flight bag that I bought 12 years ago has fallen apart. I was basically carrying too much inside it. I de-cluttered when I started my cross country, but the bag started falling apart last week.


I have treated myself to a new flight bag. Was looking for something durable but not too big. Decided to go with the Jeppesen Aviator Flight Bag.

Jeppesen Aviator Flight Bag

Mixing with Military Traffic

A cool part of flying in Arizona is getting to mix it with Military traffic. On my two flights down to Tucson, I have had a chance to listen to ATC talking with Military Pilots.


Check out this audio;
KTUS Audio 
KMZJ Audio

Night Cross Country

DATE: 2nd April 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288   

ROUTE: CHD -> KAVQ -> CHD

DURATION: 1.8hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 5

TOTAL TIME: 29.5 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Night Cross Country

Next Lesson - Solo Soft and Shorts (7th), 2nd Cross Country (9th)

1st Cross Country

This week I had an early start for a cross country flight from KCHD to KTUS and back (Tucson International Airport).


Planning for this flight started the night before. I pulled out the sectional and determined some headings and distances. I arrived at the airport at 07:30L and started to pull the weather data. I then finished off the nav sheet. We then filed our VFR flight plan with 1-800-WX-BRIEF. Wow, what a service!


By 08:45L I was in the aircraft ready to start the flight. 

The plan was to fly CHD -> TUS -> RYN -> CHD. For the first leg to TUS we flew using dead reckoning. Had issues with radio on the way down, so we didn't bother filing for flight following. 


My first flight into an International Airport was just amazing (okay, I have flown once into EGNT which is international). KTUS is a hive of GA, Civil and Military traffic. 


After departing KTUS, we flew to RYN (8 miles west of TUS) and then onto KCHD. We filed VFR flight following with TUS DEP. Received this service all the way back to KCHD. Signed off with PHX APP once we had KCHD in sight.


Many lessons learnt during the flight. Work load was high especially on the radio. For my next flight, I know how to manage my kneeboard, charts etc more efficiently. I will also be more confident talking on the busy frequencies.


Selection of audio from the flight
TUS CLEARANCE DELIVERY audio
VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING audio


Selection of photos from the flight

Tri-fold - Try-harder!

You can't accuse me of not being prepared for my first dual cross country. I had everything except the kitchen sink (that would have thrown off the weight and balance!).

I bought a tri-fold knee board back in 2000 but never used it. Thought I would check it out this week. To be honest, it was ditched during the taxi out. Everything just felt cluttered. I couldn't get full deflection on the control yoke. There was sufficient space for my E6B, pencil, student certificate and my flight plan. But that's it.


I found it easier to place the E6B in the side pocket near the primer. I then used a white A4 size clipboard with my nav log on one side and the appropriate sectional on the other side held on with a large paper clip. The airport taxi diagrams slotted in nicely behind the nav log. My pencil remained in my top pocket and the plotter slotted nicely underneath the sectional. I ended up using two maps for the flight. One was the Phoenix Terminal chart (for the departure) and the other was the Phoenix Sectional (covering airspace down to Tucson). The one not in use was placed n the back seat where I could easily reach when needed. A side note, having the sectionals folded correctly back on the ground at the flying school was important to help keep the time off the controls to a minimum during the flight.

Maybe, it's because I am tall, but I just can't see the tri-fold working out for me. I'm going to stick with the clip board for the next couple of flights. The tri-fold needs to try harder!


Compare the two pictures. I think I have well and truly spring cleaned my navigation tools.

Cross Country 1

DATE: 28th March 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288   

ROUTE: CHD -> KTUS -> KRYN -> CHD

DURATION: 2.5hrs Dual

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 27.7 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - 1st dual cross country.

Next Lesson - 1st April (2nd dual cross country)

getmypplcast #005 / Night Flying

Audiocast

This audiocast covers my first Phoenix Class Bravo crossing at night! Flight lasted 1.7hrs. Route = CHD, KPHX Bravo transition, DVT, SDL, FFZ, IWA and back to CHD.

The Flight - 20th March 2012 / C172N N734HC 

Direct Link 

getmypplcast #005

Solo 7

DATE: 26th March 2012

AIRCRAFT: C172P N54288   

ROUTE: CHD -> {Southern Training Area} -> CHD

DURATION: 0.9 hrs PiC

LANDINGS: 3

TOTAL TIME: 25.2 hours (+ 45.5 JAA)

Lesson Summary - Solo flight practising stalls and steep turns.

Next Lesson - 28th March (1st dual cross country)

Night Flying - Class Bravo transition

For many wannabe Pilots, there is a burning desire to transition bravo airspace across the top of a major international airport.


In 2010 I had the pleasure of sitting right seat in a C172 over the top of KSFO during the day (N84695 in the photo.

This week I had another chance, but this time I was in the left seat of a C172N . On Tuesday evening at 1915L, we departed 22R at CHD and proceeded to climb west to 3500'. At that point we called Phoenix Approach on 123.7Mhz with the transition request. 


http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/339116_fznop/Bravo%20RT.mp3


The Bravo transition was approved.

On the other side of the bravo we descending into Deer Valley for a touch and go. For the rest of the flight we flew to SDL, FFZ, IWA and back to CHD. I will release the audio from the cockpit soon.