Commercial Training & Time-Building - The Slow Version

Today the wx looked like it may prohibit the flight but that it did not.

The plan was to go up shoot a few approaches, do some work under the hood, and then knock out some XW ldgs.

If it can be avoided, never let your currency lapse. I have learned the hard way as I now need an IPC. Anyhow, I called up FSS to file and they say btw, an airmet for turbulence was just issued below 8k. Great! Just what I did not need. I have not been under the hood for a long time and did need any extra help with turbulence. There would be plenty of PIT; Pilot Induced Turbulence…

I am beginning to think instructor likes Airlake as we headed there again….No problem. Not too far, has an ILS, and is uncontrolled…. So off we go.

As we are headed to Airlake we do some maneuvers under the hood to be sure I still can and get used to being under the hood. A few turns to hdgs., slow flight, and then as we are jsut below the cloud deck the instructor calls up approach and asks for higher so we can et some actual….Yipeee! More stuff to throw at me….. :sarcasm: Anyhow we do some maneuvering in the clouds and I log .2 actual. It’s not a lot, I know but it was nice to get in the clouds on my first time back up doing instrument work.

Maneuvering done, Now the work starts.

1st approach - goes o.k. but as to be expected, I get behind the plane.

2nd approach - a little better but as with everything, there is some rust that needs to get knocked off.

3rd approach - gets better but this time we go with the published missed (full procedure). Goes not as well, but overall it starts to get better.

We leave the hold and it’s time for some pattern work. The rw laout is 12/30 and the winds were 180 at 10 I believe. Not too windy, but enough to give me some x/w work. We get set-up for 12 and off we go.
4 landings here in total:

1st ldg. - o.k.

2nd - survivable.

3rd - best of the day. not sure if the winds quit at the right time or what but it was relatively smooth.

4th - teh suk. off-center, a little bounce, and not enough rudder on landing. Damn X/W’s.

Notes for the day:

Rudder control - keeping the ball centered

RW alignment

Rectangular patterns (rw numbers on the corresponding wing-tip)

Pitch for altitude

Power for airspeed

Set-up for the approach

Trim - lose the death grip on the yoke and use a light touch

Again, the tach time rocks…..1.7 on the tach and 2.2 in the TT…Yeah… :rawk:

Today went over some groundwork for the BFR and then it was time for some pattern work. The wx really stunk and the instructor was hinting at doing some imc work but I didn’t feel ready so I was hesitant to go up. Since the wx stunk: 4sm 019sct ra I the field was empty.

Went up and did 6 to/ldgs and did pretty well. The winds were not bad so that helped. I am glad I went up this day because it felt good to accomplish something good when I didn’t feel up to it right away. As I said the wx/rain made me sit up a little straighter so it did feel good.

.4 on the tach and about .7 TT. Jimmy like saving some money….

Bye-Bye fbo for now……

Today was my first flight in a l o n g time. It was the start of my club checkout. Because I have been out of flying so long, I needed a BFR, IPC, & a club check out.

It was a little hazy but the clouds were high enough.

To say I was nervous was an understatement on a number of reasons:

1. have not flown in a long time
2. club checkout
3. new instructor
4. instructor is a CA for a major carrier

Things covered:

1. stalls
2. steep turns
3. xw to/ldg

We flew to an apt close by, did some pattern work and after a short period it was time to head back as the layoff had left me slightly queasy.

That’s all for now.

C-Ya

Yea, shame on me. Kind of forgot about the blog, but haven’t really flown much either so No Biggy.

Anyhow, I recently purchased a share in a flying club at the local airport where I have done all of my training. It will be nice not having to drive 45 mins each way to go flying again.

Being that I have not flown much, I need a BFR/IPC and a club checkout. I am scheduled to do that this week. Wednesday I am doing the BFR/club checkout and then if the wx holds up the IPC will get done on Thursday. It’s a lot being I have not flown in some time but it is time to knock the rust off and get going.

Stay tuned for more updates! I promise not wait so long to update again