25 - First Solo Nav: The going gets tough...

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="045085a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Golf Mike Bravo going around...</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Golf Mike Bravo going around..."><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Golf Mike Bravo going around..."><U><B><IMG SRC="03b0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>     </B><A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="24 Another Navex"><U><B><IMG SRC="02f0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="26 Divers Diversions"><U><B><IMG SRC="0300e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="046d2e83.jpg"> <div>     <IMG SRC="558a1780.jpg" border=0 width="161" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1 Trial Lesson"><U>1 - Trial Lesson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2 Effects of Controls"><U>2 - Effects of Controls</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3 A trip to Henstridge"><U>3 - A trip to Henstridge</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4 Straight and Level"><U>4 - Straight and Level</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5 Or not!"><U>5 - Or not!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6 Up, down and around"><U>6 - Up, down and around</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7 Stalls and Slow Flight"><U>7 - Stalls and Slow Flight</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8 More stalls and PFLs"><U>8 - More stalls and PFLs</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9 Into the circuit..."><U>9 - Into the circuit...</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10 Golf Mike Bravo Going Around. Again!"><U>10 - Golf Mike Bravo Going Around. Again!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11 Circuits and spice (and Things Not N"><U>11 - Circuits and spice (and Things Not Nice)</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12 More circuits (and brain fade)"><U>12  - More circuits (and brain fade)</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13 Developing a flair for the flare"><U>13 - Developing a flair for the flare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14 Close But No Cigar!"><U>14 - Close But No Cigar!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="15 Still no cigar"><U>15 - Still no cigar</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="16 Solo"><U>16 - Solo</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17 Getting the hang of it again"><U>17 - Getting the hang of it again</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="18 I Follow Railways"><U>18 - I Follow Railways</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="19 Head in the Clouds"><U>19 - Head in the Clouds</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="20 Second Solo"><U>20 - Second Solo</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="21 Reach for the Pie!"><U>21 - Reach for the Pie!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="22 Into the Zone"><U>22 - Into the Zone</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="23 Back to the Circuit"><U>23 - Back to the Circuit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="24 Another Navex"><U>24 - Another Navex</U></A></div> <div> 25 - First Solo Nav: The going gets tough...</div> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="26 Divers Diversions"><U>26 - Divers Diversions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="27 Diversions, in a roundabout way"><U>27 - Diversions, in a roundabout way</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="28 Landaways"><U>28 - Landaways</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="29 Solo Landaway"><U>29 - Solo Landaway</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="30 QXC"><U>30 - QXC</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="31 Where do you want to go today?"><U>31 - Where do you want to go today?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="32 Revision"><U>32 - Revision</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="33 Finals"><U>33 - Finals</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="21 Reach for the Pie!"><U>21 - Reach for the Pie!</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#CCCCE4" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>25 - First Solo Nav: The going gets tough...</I></div> <bR> <div> 27th November</div> <div> Nav: Stratford -> Tenbury Wells -> Monmouth -> Moreton-in-Marsh. </div> <bR> <div> As I write this at the beginning of December, it was announced on the radio that it has been one of the driest Novembers on record, with less than half the average rainfall. They didn't say anything about fog and low cloud though! Last week's lesson was scrapped  thanks to fog. We had hoped it might have cleared in time for us to do steep turns, but, it only started clearing just before 3pm -- even then it was marginal -- and with sunset at 4pm, there really wasn't time. Today was better. Birmingham and Coventry were reporting cloud bases at 3000ft, and Gloucestershire had scattered at 1800. The forecasts showed a front coming through late afternoon, but hopefully we'd be long gone by then. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5fc90100.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="272" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0">As before, for the journey from Enstone to Wellesbourne, Alistair just played passenger and let me get on with it. Enroute we were able to look at the condition of the Cotswolds: somewhat hazy with mist in the valleys, but the tops were well ckear of cloud. I joined downwind at Wellesbourne to land, my first landing for a couple of weeks. A bit of a bounce 'cos I didn't hold off enough. </div> <bR> <div> We taxied round to the tower and stop for a quick pit stop and to let Alistair out, then back in and taxy round to the hold for runway 18, to join the queue of planes doing their power checks. (The plane started first time, which for a hot start in the Katana is pretty much a miracle!) </div> <bR> <div> Takeoff was uneventful and I climbed out of the circuit to 2600 feet on the airfield QNH (1023). Overhead Stratford I started the timer. First mistake: I was still climbing and hadn't accounted for that in my timings. Abeam Alcester I changed frequencies to London Information and listened in for a bit before making contact. Not so busy as last time. They gave me the Barnsley Regional QNH, which was 1024. </div> <bR> <div> The rest of the leg was pretty uneventful. I dropped down a couple of hundred feet as I was catching a few wispies, and that'd keep me clear. I was still 100 feet above the MSA, so wasn't worried. A stronger eye on the DI kept me pretty well on track, and I was truly happy: Alone in your ship flying purposefully across the landscape. This is what it's about! I was pleased but not too surprised when Tenbury appeared bang on the bow. The only slight fly on the ointment being I was three minutes late. Maybe the wind was a bit stronger than the forecast suggested, or something. </div> <bR> <div> There was some murk on the high ground to the North, but my route from here was South, and that way was looking pretty good. Hazy over the ground but good distance visibility - I could easily make out the distant hills. Mid point on the leg was Hereford, and I passed just to the East of it, exactly on track and bang on time. Better! </div> <bR> <div> London Info gave the Cotswold QNH to some other traffic: 1018! WHAT??? Are you sure??? I'd got it myself only a few minutes before and it had been 1023! A quick call confirmed that this was the correct QNH, so I dialled it into the altimiter, and it put me below the MSA. URK! Climb! Back at 2300 feet, I do a FREDA check to calm my nerves (it's a bit like a mantra in that respect!) and a sanity check of my position against the map. There's high ground just to the South West. It's an isolated hill, marked on the chart as 904 feet, It should be to my right,and it is. Just beyond, a big distinctive loop in the River Wye, which marks the 3/4 point, and beyond... SH*T! where did THAT come from? </div> <bR> <div> There is now a huge bank of cloud over Monmouth and the surrounding hills. I'd swear that wasn't there a few minutes ago! It's not just murk or haze, it's stuff with teeth and an evil "you want some of this?" expression on it. Well no thanks! It's obvious I'm no longer going to Monmouth, but what to do? </div> <bR> <div> My first thought is to just abandon the trip and head straight back to Wellesbourne. But looking on the map, that would take me over Malvern, higher ground even than Monmouth, and a look out the window shows that to be covered in clag now too. South East looks the clearest bet. From here, 120 degrees roughly will take me to Gloucester, and I'll stay clear of the high ground. That has the added advantage of putting me back on track, having effectively cut the corner off. I tell London Information that I'm diverting to Gloucester to remain VMC, and change frequencies to Gloucester Approach. </div> <bR> <div> Well the clag is strengthening and I have to descend to keep out of it, and to make matters worse the QNH is dropping too. Gloucester is reporting 1014, and I'm down to 1700 feet on that! There's other traffic on the frequency doing similar and asking for a transit overhead, but they're refused because they are too low and would interfere with the circuit. </div> <bR> <div> If I do get back on track, I've got to get over the Cotswolds, and they're now covered in clag too, so that's not going to happen. Okay, options? Land at Gloucester, or do something else. As I'm debating what to do, another aircraft, departing Gloucester for Wellesbourne is told to report overhead Evesham. There's actually a fair bit of traffic around Gloucester. Admittedly a lot of it is staying in the circuit, but there is stuff departing, seemingly VFR. </div> <bR> <div> I'm just about to throw in the towel and ask for joining instructions, when some other traffic reports that they're at Evesham, and the visibility improves pretty quickly going North. And, bonus, not only is that a direct track, but it stays clear of the high ground, apart from one hill which I can go round. I have the direct track heading from the GPS, but I don't want to fly it, because of the hill and a restricted area just beyond Evesham. (R204. It says "see note 2" but my workload at this point is high enough without trying to unfold the chart in the cockpit along with the attendant spraying of pens and clutter around the place that that would entail, so I decide I'm going to avoid it regardless.) </div> <bR> <div> Getting to Evesham was pretty straightforward. The hill was clearly visible, and the top of it was below the clag, which was encouraging. It was pretty much a matter of following the River Severn and then swing round the hill and there it is. With the restricted area effectively off limits, I followed the A435 North to Alcester, at which point I was in familiar territory, and talking to Wellesbourne. I joined downwind for runway 18. There was one ahead and I could clearly see him turning base. I'm not sure whether I extended the downwind leg, but when I had turned final. the AFISO asked my position because she couldn't see me (there was a plane waiting at the hold. I wasn't sure the exact distance -- probably about 3 miles in retrospect -- but it was enough to let him go, and I radiod back to that effect). A moment later and "<I>Mike Bravo, I have you; I can see your lights now. Surface wind calm, land your discretion</I>". With another aircraft turning final behind, I let the plane roll without braking to get to the turnoff onto 05/25 as quickly as possible and so vacated the runway.</div> <bR> <div> Alistair came out to the plane and asked how things had gone. I explained quickly what had happened, and he said that on the face of it, many experienced pilots wouldn't do better. In any event, we'd debrief fully back at Enstone. So as with the trip out, he would play passenger and just let me fly back. We stayed pretty low on this journey, since the murk from the other side of the Cotswolds was now doing its thing here. Enstone announced that they were operating a displaced threshold, and please land before the marked runway. A good short-field landing (even Alistair said so!) and we'd vacated onto the grass before the runway threshold! A short wait for the plane behind to land, and we both backtracked to the pumps.</div> <bR> <div> On the ground, over a very welcome cup of tea, I discovered that R204 only applies to helicopters, so I could have flown across it (although with an active glider site there, staying away probably wasn't a bad thing).Thinking about the trip, as far as the navex itself went, I completed leg 1 and about 3/4 of leg 2. After that, everything went pear shaped pretty rapidly. So, first lesson: the weather can change very rapidly, or at least seem to. There were warning signs, but I didn't spot them, or at least assign the appropriate significance to them: stronger winds, rapidly dropping air pressure. Presumably the front was coming through much earlier than forecast. Presumably the cloud had managed to build up without me noticing. Was I spending too much time looking at nearby ground features rather than distance? Maybe, I can't be sure. </div> <bR> <div> In terms of what I did, I think diverting to Gloucester was the only realistic option. Anything else would have involved going over higher ground, which was out of the question. Trouble was, that got me fixated to an extent with getting back onto track, and in hindsight that was never going to happen. Should I have stopped at Gloucester? I don't know. I very nearly did, despite the fact that I've never done a landaway. On the plus side, I didn't get lost. Okay, so I had a GPS and I used it (it's just a basic one built in to the plane - It only tells you headings and distance, but then so does a VOR), although I basically navigated by landmarks and approximate (guessed) headings of the "North East" variety. So much for precisely calculated headings and timings! </div> <bR> <div> Ironically, next lesson: diversions!</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>