Passed!

After various delays, including a trip to the UK, I finally got the chance to resit the final theory exam I had left to sit for the Commercial Pilots Licence - CPL Performance. I had hoped to sit it on 21 September, but a month and a bit later finally got the chance to make the trip to the exam centre.

I arrived at Bankstown at around AM and after getting the bottle of water and Mars continued to the assessment centre. One hundred and fifty minutes later, I clicked submit on the on line testing system to be greeted with "Pass"!

This exam was certainly the most difficult of the lot, and I'm pleased I left it until the end else I may have been put off continuing had I started with such a difficult subject.
The difficulty came down to having to learn a number of formula's, in particular for weight and balance calculations and for understanding Points of No Return and Equi Time Points. Scary stuff! Learning the names of clouds seems easy in comparison. The test included 30 questions on:

- Density and Pressure Height- Take-off and landing performance- Climb cruise and decent performance- Loading- Flight planning- Airworthiness and equipment- Calculating equi time points and points of no return

With the theory out of the way, I'm now looking forward to the flying the 44 hours I need to complete before I can take the practical flying test. Should be a fun summer!

Camden - Mittagong - Goulburn (and back again)

Today I decided to give my navigation skills a bit more of a test than can occur from the Sydney Scenic flight which I've been doing quite a lot of recently. Instead, I headed south to Goulburn.
I had the aircraft booked from 12:00 until 14:30 but with no bookings prior to mine, I decided to turn up a bit early to see if we could head offer a little earlier.

After checking the plane out, learning it had quieter gyro's installed (hence the missing whirring noise when you click the master switch) I had no concerns in using Y-SCN one of the two Cessna 172's I had used during my training.

With Billy as my passenger - clinging to my old GPS unit and his vintage 110 camera, we started up, got the traffic information and headed off for runway 06 and took off at about 11:55.
As it was a weekend the tower was manned. This certainly helps from compared to the unmanned tower during the week as it was reasonably busy with a few aircraft in the circuits. But today was not for circuits, it was for heading off south, firstly via The Oaks, then Mittagong before reaching Goulburn.

The navigation worked out well. Most places appeared on the nose as they should have, but with the Hume Highway going from one side to the other most of the time its not the most difficult navigation exercise. Billy had the GPS unit too which provided a little reassurance but I was determined not to let it become a primary navigation aide, preferring my map and getting used to using NDB's again.

I think I surprised Billy by actually landing at Goulburn, I think he thought we were just going to head back. I was however, pleased to get the practice landing away. There were a few aircraft in the circuit at Goulburn and with limited taxi ways it makes it interesting for anyone wanting to land and do a full stop. We landed fine, and then had to 'backtrack' along the runway to the parking area. This occurred just as another aircraft was going to land and take off again (touch and go) so with us having right of way he had to go around without landing.

After parking up we managed to find a fridge and some cans of drink to refresh ourselves. At a $1 a can it was a bargain. We then took a look round the airport building which apart from a few new hangers, certainly look antique to say the least.

A small jet aircraft was also flying out of Goulburn and came in to land shortly after us. It had its own Shell tanker stood by ready to fill it up. The pilot also seemed to have his own fan club with about 10 onlookers greeting him like a celebrity (maybe he was!).

After dipping the tanks, checking the oil we headed off again, but not before the jet pilot kindly told me I had a strap hanging out the cargo hold - thank you! By the time it came to take off, the wind had changed to a cross wind and I waited to see what happened with the another aircraft that landed about the same time as us. Would they use the main runway or the shorter one? They used the main runway and took off fine. I used the main runway and the cross wind did catch me a bit unaware taking me across the runway a bit but we took off okay.

On the way back the navigation was again as it should be - uneventful. Places appeared on the nose, although there was a bit of drift this time. The air was smooth which was evidenced by Billy falling asleep during this part of the flight :)

We got back to Camden at around 14:40 so it was as well we left that bit earlier enabling us to have the stop at Goulburn. I was the only traffic in the circuit at Camden on my return and carried out a good landing.

After doing the paperwork I headed off home content that I could remember how to navigate beyond Sydney and am now looking further to getting further afield.

Victor 1 with twiddly bits

For a treat for my brother and nephew who are currently in Australia, I offered to take them for a scenic flight over Sydney. Whilst I've done the scenic flight a few times before now, I decided to have a go at doing the optional orbits over the harbour. I've been reluctant in the past as it involves a bit more radio work as you have to get permission from the guys at Sydney International Airport to be able to do this.

Anyway, whilst the radio was certainly busy, I managed the calls okay and even got back to Camden before dark. I later learnt that my flying instructor was in one of the other planes flying around the harbour. It was perhaps as well I didnt know this was the case until after the flight!

Back in the air, just...

After a month in the UK, and finally having a few cents in my pocket I managed to reach to the skies again to fly a few circuits.

Today there was a bit more wind than the last time I flew, which actually helped on the landings. On my previous flight, the wind was 'light and variable' and I was cought out on one circuit with a clight tail wind. With a few knots of headwind today, and a slight cross wind at times, it lead to some better circuit practice.

Take-off was delayed a bit though through a faulty aircraft. On switching on the Masters to lower the flaps prior to my pre-flight inspection the usual whir of the Gyro's was not present. A phone call to the engineer soon sorted this. I'm pleased I noticed the problem as the flight could certainly have been a bit too interesting with only some of the flight instrucments working!
The flying school has now added a new online booking system to its website which makes booking even easier - its just like booking a flight online with Virgin Blue :)

Round and round we go...

After obtaining my Australian Private Pilots Licence in October last year I have been remarkably lapse in not flying for the last month or so. Yesterday I decided to put this wrong right and drove off to my flying school at Camden.

It was hot, 37 degrees according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Kneeling on the tarmac to check the fuel of the Cessna confirmed this as I swiftly got a rag to kneel on to save burning my knees.

Anyhow, after fueling the aircraft and checking it out (and remembering how to start it) I taxed off to runway 04. After the pre-takeoff checks I took off and headed into the local area before rejoining and practicing my circuits with five take off and landings. I was pleased that I had not forgot how to land the plane!

After flying on such a great day, albeit a bit on the hot side, I can't wait to get in the cockpit again soon. I'm hopefully taking two friends up on Sunday and doing a flight along the Sydney coast line - I hope the weather holds!