x/c help pls

[Pilotadjuster]

xc Planning

I felt much the same when learning xc planning. MY CFI had not given me any kind of checklist, so I developed one myself, pretty much the same as the one which has already been posted.

Yes, once you have your license, you may not go through every step (I confess to having done at least one xc just hitting the direct to button on the 430..), but you need to know how to do it and what the information is for.

That said, you may want to go through the steps, make your own checklist and have your CFI check through it for you. You have a checklist for everything else, why not this?

Last of all RELAX! At least on the first 2 your CFI will be with you, though you want to try not to use the right seat direction finder to get to the destination... This is actually one of the most satisfying parts of aviation--all the planning, then flying the plan and actually getting to the destination! Now WHEN you go on to your instrument, it is WAY cool to take of the foggles or break out of the clouds and see there really is a runway where you thought it would be!

Also--on the private checkride you have to SHOW your planning to the examiner. Nothing more than your CFI will require to go off on your own, but needs to be done correctly. If you go on to commercial, planning for that one is much the same, though the examiner will likely throw a few curves at you (take a gander at Moose Creek Ranger Station, ID if you have a sectional...had to plan a xc flight for my ride to there--any field marked "hazardous" on the sectional is an invitation for problems!).

Have fun with it! Like the rest of your training, if you're not having at least some fun, you must be doin it wrong...

Fly Safe!

 

[Archer]

One thing that always worried me.

You decide to go on a x/c with your friends, check the weather forecast a couple days early, they say partly cloudy or better, you draw your course line, do all you can do without the variable information days in advance.

Then 2 hours or less before take-off, you check weater, and do a detailed flight plan with the current weather. You are done half an hour before scheduled departure, the weather looks good, so you pre-flight the plane and meet your friends.

You take the x/c to your destination in the morning/early afternoon and get there safely.

But what happens once you land, park the plane and leave the airport to have some fun with your friends at your destination?

All this time your brain has been warm and you've been dealing with the flight.

But what if you spend say more than 2 or 3 hours at the destination.

How does the flight back work? And how do you get back into the flying mood? YOu know what I mean? You went to eat perhaps, had some fun, and have not thought of planes or flying for a good while. Then all of a sudden, you realize you are hundreds of miles from home, and have the responsability to getting yourself and your friends home SAFELY.

Well, do you have to spend another hour+ doing a detailed x/c planning for the way back? or even start from scratch if you see the weather is really bad on your previous route?

How does it all work? I mean, getting to your destination is only half the game...what about on the way back?

thanx

Archer

 

[TurboS7]

Just get a road map and follow the interstate. I am very serious. Always have yourself and out your out is going to what is most familiar will help reduce aprehension. The road is a perfect landmark to keep by your side. 5500 feet is way to high, you should be down around 2500 to 3500 feet so you can see all the landmarks. My first cross country was in a Luscombe with no radio or any electrical system. All I had was a compass a chart and a sharp pencil, I was 16 years old and sectionals were 35 cents each, I can still remember it like yesterday. You are flying one of the easiet routes in the whole country-relax and enjoy yourself.

 

[bigD]

Archer - I usually plan the flight back at the same time I plan the flight out. I just leave the spots specific to the wind conditions blank, and fill them out about a half hour before I leave. Getting in the flying mindset usually begins during the drive out to the airport. It happens automatically - something just clicks.

 

[Archer]

Do you feel comfortable figuring weather info out at airports other than your home base?

Are the services free? And does everybody use WSI? That is the only weather system I'm used to, as it's the only one I've used. There is this little room at my FBO, with a WSI station that provides all kinds of information, everything you could want in a nice black pc, with nice weather charts, and METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, winds aloft all printed out nicely...

Talking about variables...what are the variables that you could wait to put in until you are half an hour from departure? Winds, altimeter, temperatures, ceilings and visibility?

Altimeter and elevation give you Pressure Altitude, which is the main thing you need, along with temperatures, do determine performance and wind corrections angles.

Archer

 

[bigD]

Getting what you need weather wise at another airport is usually no problem. Weather sevices at different FBO's vary widely, but I have yet to see one that wasn't free, and regardless you can always call the FSS from a phone if nothing else is available.

As far as what's added to the flight plan at the last minute - just the wind information to calculate new headings, as well as ground speeds, ETA's, and fuel consumption. If I'm at an airport where maximum performance might be needed - I'll check over temperatures and run the figures, otherwise I pass. Of course, I'll be looking at whatever other weather affects my flight. Especially lately, I've been in the habit of checking NOTAMs whenever I can.

The other thing to remember is that even if you do all the flight planning in the world, conditions can change. You may find once you get up there that the weather is nothing like what was given to you earlier. Just remember to be flexible with your flight plan. It can be changed, and fight the urge to press on into deteriorating situations because the forcast said things would be okay.

 

[Please Hire Me]

Use DUATs

Archer-

I use DUATs for my weather. Gives you everything you need. Go to http://www.duats.com and register. Use that to print your weather, look over it, then call 1-800-WX-BRIEF to make sure you did not miss anything.

I have an x/c planning checklist that works pretty slick, and I'll post it for you later. Just practice your planning and get into the routine. It will be second nature after long. My CFI wouldn't sign me off for my Private checkride until I could do it ALL in 30 minutes.

It's not as tough as you think.

 

[Archer]

Is the DUAT weather information official, FAA aproved weather info like WSI stations?

And that x/c checklist would help a lot...I would appreciate it

thanx

Archer

 

[bigD]

DUATS is official, and very very helpful. You're eligible for a free account with your student pilot certificate. Go to www.duats.com and get one!

 

[Archer]

It rejected my student pilot certificate number.

But I think it's because I havn't been able to change my address yet with the FAA. An adress change without notification would cancel your student pilot certificate?

Because it's the only reason I can think of the number not working...

either that, or DUATs doesn't have it...but I doubt that...

any thoughts on this?

Archer

 

[redshirt]

Duats

Archer;

There is a pretty long lag time for DUATS to receive your student pilot number. However, there are instructions on the DUATS web page on how to forward your information to them if your number is not accepted. If your number does not work, I think there is an option that prompts you to the instructions on how to get signed up.

If I remember correctly, I made a copy of my student pilot certificate and current medical, along with a brief letter asking them to activate my account. A couple of days later, I was in business.

I second all of the comments about planning that have been posted so far. To me, the solo cross countries were the most fun part of training, hands down. I am almost done with my instrument rating now, and I had a blast flying the 152 all over the place this summer to build my xc hours. Have fun and be safe.

 

[Archer]

Did you fly on your own and pay the approx. 50 bucks/hour or so?

 

[redshirt]

Do you mean did I fly all of the XC by myself? Yes. Sometimes I took my wife or brother along. I was very cautious about weather (and we had really good weather in Chicago this summer). Some things I learned:

1) know the weather inside out before you fly (PIREPS, TAF, METARS, call FSS, talk to pilots who were up earlier, listen to advice given)

2) Plan fuel reserves for at least double the mins. (1 hour day, 90 mins. night)

3) Fly to familiar places at first, and do full planning for new destinations.

4) Practice good pilotage at all times (matching landmarks to the maps, taking note of the relationship between landmarks and navaids, know where the nearest airport is, think of where you would land if the engine quits). Its amazing how much more comfortable you will feel the next time you make the same trip, and how much better your skills become the next time you go someplace new.

5) Try not to make any plans to be somewhere at a set time, at least at first. Cross countries are less stressful when you are going there on your own schedule. For that matter, reserve the plane for an hour or two after you plan to come back, so you are not rushed to return.

6) Enjoy it , man. This is the fun part! There's nothing better than being a new pilot, just flying around and seeing new towns, new airports, meeting people who actually mistake you for a pilot. I'ts cool.

 

[cessna_driver2]

It rejected my student pilot certificate number.

But I think it's because I havn't been able to change my address yet with the FAA. An adress change without notification would cancel your student pilot certificate?

Because it's the only reason I can think of the number not working...

either that, or DUATs doesn't have it...but I doubt that...

any thoughts on this?

Archer

Man it sounds like your sweating about nothing. I went to a 141 school. We didn't have radar or duats to look at (that I had access to). I did all my planning through FSS (amazingly they provided good info.) and calling awos, atis of enroute and destinations. Just start from the begining and think about what you need to do and what variables there are.

Don't let it all over whelm you. Take one step at a time.

 

[COOPERVANE]

CANADIANS IS CRAZY!!