As Ardmore doesn't have a VOR or an NDB approach (there are a couple of GNSS approached but I'm not rated and the PA28's don't have GPS's) so there are a couple of ways to get to Ardmore. The first option is to plan to Auckland, fly an instrument approach and then break-off to Ardmore VFR. The second option is to file a "Y" flight rules plan. This is the option I took. It means you file to fly IFR to a point and then continue VFR. I planned to fly IFR to the Waiuku NDB and then VFR to Ardmore. The METAR for Auckland was reporting SCT035, ideal for this flight. So my flightplan was:
NZPM-RUGVI-OR-POKOM-WI-AR VFR
The ETE was 2.3 hours and no alternate was required. We (me and Talbot) got airborne at 1025, heading into the cloud (BKN030) and popped out at around 4500' on the way to 9000' (A090).
The great thing about having an Instrument Rating is being able to get on top of the clouds. It can be a crappy overcast on the ground but as soon as you get in the air and through the clouds it's a different world. Sunshine, mountain peaks poking through the overcast...marvellous!
The overcast stretched to about OR (Ohura VOR), from there was SCT to FEW. We were making good time with the groundspeed around 115 knots (pretty good for a 23 year old PA28-161!).
We got a great view of the Kaipara as we overflew at 9000'.
As we got closer to Auckland we started to get vectored around the inbound jets, and finally a vector to the Waiuku NDB and descent to 3000' we were visual. I cancelled IFR and tracked visually to Ardmore.
After a brief stop for a coffee and a toasted sandwich at the Ardmore Cafe (new owners again??!!) we were back in MBH and flew the Waiuku 3A departure bound for New Plymouth. Auckland Control held us down at 6000' until we had passed an inbound opposite direction Air NZ 737. After that we were cleared to 8000' and tracked POKOM-OR-NP.
Overhead Ohura (OR) at 8000' we got handed over to New Plymouth Tower. New Plymouth had been insight since about 30 nm to run to OR so I requested a visual approach. Tower cleared us straight in for runway 23 and gave us onwards clearance to Palmerston North at 8000' via RUGVI.
The leg back to Palmerston North was uneventful. At 20 nm from NP we were handed over to Christchurch, then to Ohakea. At RUGVI I requested a visual approach whihc we got and tracked for a right base for runway 25.
This gave me another 4.9 hours IFR. 10.4 total now, only another 15 to go before I get to do it all-over again in the Seneca. Can't wait!
The great thing about having an Instrument Rating is being able to get on top of the clouds. It can be a crappy overcast on the ground but as soon as you get in the air and through the clouds it's a different world. Sunshine, mountain peaks poking through the overcast...marvellous!
The overcast stretched to about OR (Ohura VOR), from there was SCT to FEW. We were making good time with the groundspeed around 115 knots (pretty good for a 23 year old PA28-161!).
We got a great view of the Kaipara as we overflew at 9000'.
As we got closer to Auckland we started to get vectored around the inbound jets, and finally a vector to the Waiuku NDB and descent to 3000' we were visual. I cancelled IFR and tracked visually to Ardmore.
After a brief stop for a coffee and a toasted sandwich at the Ardmore Cafe (new owners again??!!) we were back in MBH and flew the Waiuku 3A departure bound for New Plymouth. Auckland Control held us down at 6000' until we had passed an inbound opposite direction Air NZ 737. After that we were cleared to 8000' and tracked POKOM-OR-NP.
Overhead Ohura (OR) at 8000' we got handed over to New Plymouth Tower. New Plymouth had been insight since about 30 nm to run to OR so I requested a visual approach. Tower cleared us straight in for runway 23 and gave us onwards clearance to Palmerston North at 8000' via RUGVI.
The leg back to Palmerston North was uneventful. At 20 nm from NP we were handed over to Christchurch, then to Ohakea. At RUGVI I requested a visual approach whihc we got and tracked for a right base for runway 25.
This gave me another 4.9 hours IFR. 10.4 total now, only another 15 to go before I get to do it all-over again in the Seneca. Can't wait!
2 comments:
Mate, you should have said you were coming... I would have bunked off work and come said hello! ;)
The missus and I are coming down next weekend (early Sat morning) to see the 'rents in Levin. If you're going to be around, we can go get a coffee or something.
ps. are you hand-flying? The auto-pilot looks like it is off
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