I read this book a couple of months ago. Highly recommend it!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A bit of IFR
It was a long weekend, Labour Day and all that. I thought it might be a good idea to do some "real" IFR flying as I need 50 hours on an IFR flight plan before I can teach it. They let me take ZK-MBC away, the same aircraft I did my renewal in.
Christchurch was my planned destination, being my home town (one-eyed Cantabrian!). I settled on the following route as it had the most direct routing, MSA's that weren't too high (apart from one leg) and it was mostly a VOR route:
Christchurch was my planned destination, being my home town (one-eyed Cantabrian!). I settled on the following route as it had the most direct routing, MSA's that weren't too high (apart from one leg) and it was mostly a VOR route:
NZPM-OTAKI-WN-KAMES-WAIMA-KI-STONY-CH-NZCH
The total distance was a tad over 230 nm and the EET was 2.10 hours based on winds from the Friday night ARFOR's. I planned on departing at 0700 Saturday morning. Simon and his Mrs hitched a ride too so we were fairly heavy.
The TAF for CH showed BKN006 and OVC010 but it looked pretty good enroute. My only concern was the freezing level which was 8-10000 ft through the SA, DV, ST, KK and PL area's. If there was no cloud it wouldn't be a problem. A quick check of the Radar for CB's and we were out of PM bound for CH!
After 40 nm of climb to 10000' (A010) MBC settled in the cruise. We were IMC and had been since about 6000' in the climb. Frequent SADIE checks were the call of the day as the OAT was reading 0-2 degree's. The DME was showing 85-95 knots GS, those winds were different to what was advertised!
Overhead WN VOR, Twiddle, Turn, Time, Talk and on to the next waypoint (KAMES). A little bit of ice was starting to form on the temperature probe. Icing will always adhere to the sharp, pointy objects first. Another few SADIE checks! We were indicating 90-95 knots so we weren't going too bad considering the draggy airframe that MBC has. as we got closer to KAMES we got a bit of ice forming on the leading edge. It was minimal but I tought we'd better get down a little lower. I requested and got 9000' non-standard and also got Radar Terrain on the KAMES-KI leg as the MSA on that leg is 9200'. It was fairly quiet on WN control so they were quite helpful.
As we neared KI (Kaikoura NDB) the clouds parted and we could make out the Kaikoura Ranges. We were probably around 500' above a layer of Alto-stratus. At 60 DME from CH I requested descent. He got us down to 6000' which relaxed me somewhat as I saw the OAT increase to 4 degree's.
The CH ATIS was reporting BKN006 and OVC010, the same as the METAR had said. I briefed myself for the VOR/DME 20 approach. My track was 196 to CH and the final track was 197 so we were pretty much on a 40 mile final for runway 20! CH Control got us to change to Approach on 124.1. As soon as I'd established contact with them a new ATIS was issued. It was now reporting BKN009 and OVC010. Nice(r)! Cleared direct to OD NDB and down to 2000' he cleared me for the VOR/DME 20. I called CH Tower after I'd established on finals. At 7 nm out they cleared me to land. After briefly skimming across a layer of Stratus we were back in the muck for 1100'. Finally at 3 nm and 900' I was visual. CH's big, long runway was ahead of me and all the runway lights were on. An awesome sight!
Tower cleared me to taxi to the aero club which was looking pretty dead. My stomach was grumbling and all I could think about was breakfast. I had a booking at Drexels (Farmers Breakfast, yum!!).
The flight took 2.9 hours with 2.6 hours actual IMC. No wonder I was buggered!!
The TAF for CH showed BKN006 and OVC010 but it looked pretty good enroute. My only concern was the freezing level which was 8-10000 ft through the SA, DV, ST, KK and PL area's. If there was no cloud it wouldn't be a problem. A quick check of the Radar for CB's and we were out of PM bound for CH!
After 40 nm of climb to 10000' (A010) MBC settled in the cruise. We were IMC and had been since about 6000' in the climb. Frequent SADIE checks were the call of the day as the OAT was reading 0-2 degree's. The DME was showing 85-95 knots GS, those winds were different to what was advertised!
Overhead WN VOR, Twiddle, Turn, Time, Talk and on to the next waypoint (KAMES). A little bit of ice was starting to form on the temperature probe. Icing will always adhere to the sharp, pointy objects first. Another few SADIE checks! We were indicating 90-95 knots so we weren't going too bad considering the draggy airframe that MBC has. as we got closer to KAMES we got a bit of ice forming on the leading edge. It was minimal but I tought we'd better get down a little lower. I requested and got 9000' non-standard and also got Radar Terrain on the KAMES-KI leg as the MSA on that leg is 9200'. It was fairly quiet on WN control so they were quite helpful.
As we neared KI (Kaikoura NDB) the clouds parted and we could make out the Kaikoura Ranges. We were probably around 500' above a layer of Alto-stratus. At 60 DME from CH I requested descent. He got us down to 6000' which relaxed me somewhat as I saw the OAT increase to 4 degree's.
The CH ATIS was reporting BKN006 and OVC010, the same as the METAR had said. I briefed myself for the VOR/DME 20 approach. My track was 196 to CH and the final track was 197 so we were pretty much on a 40 mile final for runway 20! CH Control got us to change to Approach on 124.1. As soon as I'd established contact with them a new ATIS was issued. It was now reporting BKN009 and OVC010. Nice(r)! Cleared direct to OD NDB and down to 2000' he cleared me for the VOR/DME 20. I called CH Tower after I'd established on finals. At 7 nm out they cleared me to land. After briefly skimming across a layer of Stratus we were back in the muck for 1100'. Finally at 3 nm and 900' I was visual. CH's big, long runway was ahead of me and all the runway lights were on. An awesome sight!
Tower cleared me to taxi to the aero club which was looking pretty dead. My stomach was grumbling and all I could think about was breakfast. I had a booking at Drexels (Farmers Breakfast, yum!!).
The flight took 2.9 hours with 2.6 hours actual IMC. No wonder I was buggered!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Crossing the Strait
Almost at the South Island! En-route to Woodbourne from Palmerston North. The Brothers on the right.
Long finals for 24 at WB, Omaka on the right.
Move to Blogger
I thought I'd move to Blogger as I was finding Wordpress a little restrictive. So here I am!
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