June, 2009

...now browsing by month

 

Sunday 14th June 2009 – Class 2 Medical

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Had to go to Alnwick for it, but it was worth the trip. Lovely doctor (Colin Brown), really nice.

Can’t remember everything that was tested, but here’s what I do remember….

  • Urine (yes, tasted fine)
  • Ears (check I could equalize while he looked inside)
  • Eyes (Near and Far Vision, including colour blind test, squint test, cross-eye test, quite a lot of eye stuff)
  • Height/Weight (5ft 8in, 87kg (short and fat, I knew that!))
  • Reflexes
  • Some leg bending whilst lying down (not sure what that was about)
  • Lungs + Heart (with stethoscope)
  • Prodded all over my stomach and sides (?!)
  • Hernia test (COUGH COUGH)
  • And an ECG (which I don’t remember having to do last time)

All fine. My nearsight is poor (get that from my mum), so I have a “limitation” on my licence, which means I need to wear glasses. But, all good apart from that. I asked him if there was anything that may cause me not to get the Class 1 Medical (required for a Commercial Pilot’s Licence) and there was nothing that his tests found. There are more tests on the CPL one, like running whilst connected to a breathing apparatus, x-rays etc etc…

On a plus note, he explained my ECG to me, and he was very complementary of that. Apparently, I am “Sinus Brachycardia” (or something like that), which means I am “quite fit”. Pleased all these bike rides aren’t wasted :-) So, when Steve tells me it’s solo time, I’m ready to rock’n'roll (not literally I hope !) ;-)

Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »
Tags:

Lesson 11 – 12th June 2009 – 12.15pm – 1hr 20mins – Total so far – 11hours 21 min

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Well, first off, the Aviation Law exam. The first few questions were all about the Chicago Convention, and the very kind of questions I was dreading. So, not the best start, but after that, they were more practical and I enjoyed it. Well, perhaps “enjoy” is a little strong !

Anyway, 88.5% with a pass mark of 75%, so I am a happy bunny.

One of the examiners said something which made me think that my theory tests from when I had the PPL(A) (25 years ago), might still be valid and I needn’t have resit the exam. I was pleased on the one hand, ‘cos it meant I wouldn’t have to resit all the exams, but on the other hand, I learned so much by resitting this exam.

I rang the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on my return home, and I DO need to retake them ‘cos it’s been 10 years where I haven’t been current. So, strangely pleased at that AND disappointed.

After the exam, it was Lesson 11. Today was going to be more circuit work. It went brilliantly 90% of the time ;-) And with a cracking ending !!

Steve booked us out and told me that it was going to be a different model of Robinson R22. It was the HP model.

dp :- “High Performance ?”

Not quite !

It was a model which had less weight and less endurance. 20 gallon tank, compared to 30 (over 2 tanks). It also had the battery at the front of the helicopter. What difference does all that make ?

Quite a lot actually. The CoG is farther forward and as I found when I took off, It lifts off the back of the skids first and the front of the skids are the last thing to lift off. This affects takeoffs AND landings as I found out. It felt like we were doing 2 landings for every 1 real landing. Land the front skids, then the rear and then stop it leaning back. Very strange, but nice helicopter with little else different. This helicopter belonged to a pilot member at the club and he has an arrangement with the school so they can use it. I think one of this student’s headsets was in the helicopter as I could hear everything very clearly !!

Favourite Lesson so far. Hope that’s not going to be my new catchphrase !

So, Steve showed me the slightly different checks for this model. Without the extra fuel tank, I had a lot more visibility of the rotor gearbox and other bits’n'bobs. Once checks were complete. Steve left me to do all the checks and start her up.

I got the ATIS, called for startup. All going fine so far. But, I missed a critical step out of the checklist. Now, previously, I have been using a checklist on my phone where you tick when you’ve done them and I never missed a thing, but it’s a bit of a fart-on to get the phone out, secure it on the kneepad etc etc…. So, I had reverted to a paper one, but I kept losing my place.

Anyway, when it came to starting her up, she wouldn’t start, she’d tick over, sound like she was starting and then immediately conk out.  I can sense people reading this, shouting what I’d missed ! Yes, You’re right !!!

I hadn’t set the mixture to rich, so there was no fuel. And strangely, engines need fuel !

Steve gave a wry smile !

So, with Steve’s help, I took off. He came straight on the controls when it was getting light, as he knew this model lurched forward ‘cos of the CoG, but once he’d stablised the hover, it was all me. :-) Love it.

I hover taxi’ed to Holding Point F, called for departure. We were told to hold position pending a taxi’ing light a/c. And all this time, I am successfully hovering. This still amazes me ! Can’t believe I’ve cracked it given where I was 5 hours ago !!

Then we were given takeoff clearance and I transitioned it directly from the holding point straight across the runway and we were on our way north of Morpeth.

I made all the R/T calls. I misheard one thing, but steve kept me right.

And then we went to the plateau (next to a quarry) and I took us down, transitioned to the hover, and then we basically did circuit after circuit. Now, we’re not allowed to land away from a licensed aerodrome, so when I say we landed, I mean we got to a couple of feet above the ground (stationary) before taking off again. More circuits with some landings and takeoffs. And they all went great !! I was in total control.

Steve then picked a spot that I had to land on, and again then went fine.

After about circuit number 6 or 7, my concentration was going. I’d been up since 5.20am revising and I was a bit knackered. Steve (excellent instructor he is) sensed this and asked me if I was ok. Told him I was flagging and his response :-

Steve :- Take me home James.

Here comes the best bit. I flew us ALL the way home. Did all the R/T, transitioned onto the runway adjacent to the taxiway to the flying school and here’s the best bit………….

Hover-taxi’ed us back AND landed. Now, it gets better !!

The flying school has a fuel bowser, and 50 metres from the fuel bowser was another helicopter. I asked steve where he wanted it, thinking he would say miles from the bowser, but he said :-

Steve :- Put it between the bowser and the helicopter

And what finished the day off beautifully, was I did it and it was my best landing of the day !!

Awesome. Still on a high about it.

So, good day. 1 of 7 exams out of the way. Now to (re)learn Meteorology ready for a test next week. Thankfully weather is a topic I’m really interested in, so this should be easier.

I think I’ll be solo next trip. Think it would have been today, were it not for the medical, but that’s on Sunday.

Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »
Tags: , , , , , ,

Ready as I can be for the exam today

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Head FULL to brim with Aviation Law, ready as I can be to dump it in the exam and then forget it all ready to cram in Meteorology :-)

Lovely weather up north, so hopefully some great flying too. I think the solo might have been on the cards today, if only I’d been able to get the medical done in time. Heigh ho.

Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »
Tags:

88% – Now you’re talking !

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Now, why not 100% ;-)

Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »

First Trial Test Done. 75% passmark required. 65% achieved

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Not good.

More work required, or ideally, the answers to the questions tomorrow ! ;-)

Example question :-

The holder of the JAA licence must hold a current Medical Certificate in order to exercise the privileges of that licence. Themedical certificate must be issued in accordance with :

A – JAA-FCL -Part 4

B-JAR OTPS – Part 1

C-JAR FCL – Part 3

D-JAR OPT – Part 1

What happened to…..

E-I don’t care ! I’m happy that the law says a medical certificate is required and as a private pilot I shouldn’t need to know which document it’s in ! Grrrr!

Posted in Helicopter Training | 2 Responses »

Revising revising revising – Aviation Law

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

And with a few exceptions, it’s dull, dull, dull.

Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »

Lesson 10 – 8th June 2009 – 4.30pm – 55mins – Total so far – 10hours 1 min

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Before I forget, one of Steve’s mates had flown in, in a Eurocopter. He used to work for the flying school and was explaining the good fortune of how he got his current job flying for the Ford Rally Team. He flies all over the world and it sounds like a dream job. Very interesting listening to him describe how hard the Instrument Rating was to get and how being 50 feet out had caused him to need to resit the exam at a personal cost of £4000+. Yikes !

He had lots of good advice and it felt 100% right, what he was saying. He told me to enjoy the PPL and not worry about the big picture ie the mountain I have to climb. It will all come in time !!! Words of Wisdom indeed.

So, the flight back was against a headwind, but we made good progress, but unfortunately arrived back at the airport at rush hour !!! So, we were asked to hold just north of the Emirates Control tower. I was flying in circles and must have done about 10 of them easily in total. All the time, we had the best view in the world of all the departing and arriving jets. Awesome. At one point another light a/c was also waiting to get back to land. He was AFTER us, but was hinting at landing before us. Someone said “Patience” on the radio, which we both thought was funny. When our time came to land, Steve (AND ME!) didn’t want to lose the opportunity, so Steve took it straight in landing at Holding Point F. All good !!! He’s so skilled at flying helicopters – I am always in awe !

So, great day overall. An expensive one, I expect, although I haven’t paid for this one yet.

Next job – get the medical and get ready for the Aviation Law exam !

Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »
Tags: ,

Lesson 9 – 8th June 2009 – 13.30pm – 50mins – Total so far – 9hours 6mins

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Loved this lesson. It was hovering/transitioning/circuits and autorotations, and my favourite, landing/taking off. I did everything bar the autorotations.

So, Steve caught up with Rupert and he had a chat with him about how his cross-country had gone – interesting to listen in on.

I went out to do the checks, start her up, and Steve let me take off, hover taxi along the yellow taxi line cross all the way to a grass triangle (size of a football pitch (I NEED IT THIS BIG !!!)). And then using that as a BIG helipad, we did circuits and they felt much more polished this time, plus as a lovely twist, after each one, I landed and took off. Once I get it on the ground, I always have this huge sigh as I push the collective down as if to say “I’m still alive”, Steve always seems to find this very funny, which in turn makes me laugh. So, we probably did about 5 circuits and they felt really good. With only a minor thing wrong here and there (ie speed, tightness of turns) they went really well. And then we finished off with 3 autorotations. So, the first one, I followed Steve through – I did a circuit, but we end up very high on approach and then Steve did the first one and I followed through. Then the second one, I did it and he monitored the rotor rpm, and then a third ‘cos I didn’t get what he meant by “POP” which is what he says at the very end as he “POPS” the collective to bring the engine back in.

He let me hover taxi back and then he did the “park by the fuel pump” manoeuvre, although I’d loved to have seen the fuel guy’s face if he saw me hover park next to the pumps ;-)

It was then Rupert’s turn again. Whilst he was out, there was a lady in the cafe who was waiting for her son to fly in. He was one of the pilots who was flying a Lynx helicopter in a formation consisting of 2 Lynx and 1 Sea King helicopters. I think I overheard that they had come all the way up from Yeovil (Devon) to Carlisle, NOT ABOVE 200 feet !!! And sure enough, when she pointed them out (flying in), they were at about 200 feet.

Here’s a picture of them getting refuelled (rotor’s stll running and VERY loud).

lynxseaking

And here’s some video of them taking off beautifully and flying off (in formation).

Once they had gone, Steve and I had a chat along the lines of “You need to get your medical Dave”. That’s a sign that Steve thinks I’m nearly ready to go solo. He mentioned this the other day but I thought he was joking when he said “We’ll have you solo by 10 hours”. I thought he meant in 10 hours time, but I think he meant 10 hours flight time. Yikes !! But, compared to the other day, where I thought he was joking and one screw short of a full bag, when he said it this time, I thought, “Yes, I could do a circuit on my own, and there’s a good chance I can land it”. That felt good !

Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »
Tags: , , , , , ,

Lesson 8 – 8th June 2009 – 10.30pm – 60mins – Total so far – 8hours 16mins

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Weather surprisingly good today. Wasn’t expecting much flying at all this week.

The plan for today was to fly over to Carlisle, do some circuits there (where it’s cheaper and less R/T required), some autorotations, take offs, landings, transitions and fly back. Sounds like a lot of flying, but another student pilot (Rupert) was going to be flying also, so we were giving each other breaks.

We didn’t plan the trip and legs as I thought we would, but rather, pretty much checked the heli over and set off. I suspect the full cross-country planning stuff will come later. I forgot to mention that on the last trip, Steve was confident enough in me to get me to do all the checks, initial R/T and start the helicopter up without him there, which strangely I found quite nerve-racking. It was the same today, so….

  • External checks
    Before Start Checks
    Get the ATIS (weather, runways in use)
    Call for Startup
    Startup
    Post Startup Checks

    • At this point Steve joined me and it was Run-Up Checks, call for taxi and then I took us up in the air and started the hover taxi off. Steve took over approaching the hold and he did the transition to forward climbing flight and then it was my turn :-)   I flew us to Carlisle, with Steve explaining the landmarks to look out for (Stagshaw Masts, Craggy Cliff in the distance, and then Haltwhistle). Pretty straightforward routing. We had to fly south of Spadeadam, which I think is a big army/air force expanse used for military training. The R/T was trickier, because we were passed to Newcastle Radar and then Spadeadam, and then finally Carlisle. I’d like to say I did it all, but Spadeadam was very hard to understand, and not knowing what to expect (comms-wise), there were a number of times, I had to say “Steve, can you get that ?”.

    On the routing from Stagshaw Masts to Haltwhistle (just south of Spadeadam), we were receiving what’s called a Basic (Information) Service. And in a nutshell, that’s them informing us of information that’s useful for the safety of our flight, eg weather, traffic. They called us and informed us of a fast jet flying south in our vicinity. VICINITY !!!!! Well, we scoured the sky and Steve spotted a Tornado which passed about 300 feet below us and 300 feet in front of us. Moments like this are just awesome. It had a full load of ordnance on too.

    Carlisle is a beautiful little airport, much more suited to private pilots. It has views of the Lake District, the sea, and the most amazing variety of birds. I know all the birds that visit our bird nut offerings, but didn’t recognise one of the birds that I saw. Must look them up. Anyhow, back to helicopters. So, arriving at Carlisle, we were ok’ed for circuits with negative R/T (a dream), no talking on the radio. Full concentration on helicopter flying ! I did all the flying from the transition to hover (which I feel much more confident in), and then from the hover to forward/climbing flight, turn left, left again and then left again and another transition.

    My first circuit was pretty poor (and that’s being kind). Steve told me circuits should have 3 x 90′ (90 degree) corners, whereas mine were more 2 x 180′ turns. I knew where he was coming from 100%. But, after the initial awe at getting back in a helicopter and hovering, they became better. I am sure I did about 4 circuits and the last one definitely had 3 x 90′ turns. All the hovers, at this point, were much improved. FAR FROM perfect, but safe and I was confident that I could bring it back to the hover if I lost it, which is key really ;-)

    Then, Steve let me hover-taxi to the apron and he took over to do the final parking next to the fuel pumps. I can’t think why he didn’t trust me to put it down within 10 feet of 20,000 gallons of aviation fuel ;-)

    That was Flight 1 of the day !!

    Steve left me to shut it down, which was nice, another sign he trusts me to stay alive and not damage the helicopter. I followed him in to the office the school has there and met Rupert (the other student).

    Rupert was further on in the course and he was going to be doing some cross-country solo work and some solo circuits.

    I followed them out to watch Rupert take off and get some pictures.

    gmavi

    Plus some video of his takeoff (very like mine!)

    Whilst they were away, I got chatting to some microlight aircraft pilots. I was asked where I did my microlight aircraft flying and who was my instructor, and was told that my instructor Tony Wells (one of the first microlight instructors) had passed away a couple of years ago. Very sad ! Nice bloke.

    When Steve had done a few circuits with Rupert, he got out, leaving Rupert to do his cross country and Steve and I went to the cafe for a cuppa ! We then went to have a look at the tower at Carlisle Airport. Very helpful crew in there who explained all the equipment.

    insidetower

    We saw Rupert return and land on the helipad…..

    fromthetower

    And then it was my turn again…..

    Posted in Helicopter Training | No Responses »
    Tags: , , , , , , , ,

    Lesson 7 – 4th June 2009 – 3.25pm – 55mins – Total so far – 7hours 16mins

    Sunday, June 7th, 2009

    Today’s lesson was hovering and hover taxi’ing. It went great – one of those lessons where I left buzzing !

    This is the first lesson where Steve let me takeoff from the original position the helicopter was parked in and start the taxi off. I think Steve took over a few seconds later to get us to the holding point, and then we were cleared to enter the hover square, which is an area where we can practice hovering right next to the runway. The hovering wasn’t great but I was well pleased with it. There were a couple of maneuvres, where I impressed myself. One was where I was hovering and asked to do a 360 turn around the spot. This is trickier than it sounds as the wind affects the turn and can move you off the spot. It went really well, so well, I asked Steve if he was helping me, to which he replied the only thing he was doing was “praying”. Made me laugh.

    I lost the hover a couple of times, but I think this is the first lesson where I have got all the lost hovers BACK to a hover – really pleased at this !! It was going so well, we then proceeded to do some hover taxi’ing. Basically, we were (or I should say I was), taxi’ing from one point on the hover square (more a rectangle about 300 yards long) to the other side, turning round, back again and repeat until dizzy. I was really pleased. Not perfect, but I was happy with it.

    We also did some takeoff and landings. One of the landings had some sideways movement (NOT GOOD!), but we got down. Landing is HARD. It requires the perfect hover and a lowering of the collective, which changes the hover in itself – they will be a challenge.

    That aside, all good !! Steve then let me taxi back to the parking spot and attempt a landing, which I did. he then took off and got it 20 yards closer to the fuel bowser. Loved it !!!!

    Posted in Helicopter Training | 5 Responses »
    Tags: , ,

    « Older Entries
    Newer Entries »