WEEK 46: START OF IFR #35

Airline Prep

CP116 started the second phase of flying this week; IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). The first two days were spent in the class room, being taught about some of the new techniques we will be learning, such as VOR and DME tracking, holding, instrument departures and arrivals using plates etc. We were also given a brief overview on the Garmin 1000 equipment that we will now be using. It's fair to say that it's a big step up from VFR flying with old school instruments. Some of the principles seem quite daunting and a lot of us, me included, have no idea how we are going to be able to do these things at 140 kts whilst trying to fly the aircraft and talk on the radio at the same time!

On the second day of briefings I had to go to Aukland to get my medical renewed which meant I missed the days briefings and had to do a day 1 on 1 with an instructor the next day. To be fair I think it was actually more beneficial for both of us. I honestly engaged a lot more than I would have done in a full class which meant I understood things much better than I would have done otherwise. I still think some of it seems pretty complicated and it will definitely take some time to get the hang of. Someone a few courses ahead of me who is just coming up to their CPL test said that this is normal and he didn't start getting the hang of it all properly until about ten flights in, which made me feel better.

A page on holding from the training manual

A Hamilton plate which we now need to get used to using

It's just a totally different style of flying. You have to be so accurate with everything you do. I've spent a lot of my spare time reading through the training manual trying to visualise the scenarios using these techniques but before you actually see it for real this proves quite difficult.

I had my first sim flight at the weekend which was so cool! The sim is a Twin star (DA42) and it's pretty realistic. So much nicer than the Katana! The lesson was pretty basic to be honest. The instructor went through all the pre-flight checks with me (and there's a lot of them) which gave me a good idea of how to operate the Garmin screens and get used to the layout of the cockpit. I then did the take off and flew an instrument departure out of Hamilton and then intercepted an airway towards the east using the VOR tracking technique we'd talked about. It was good actually seeing this stuff in practice and it did start making a bit more sense. I then did some general handling such as a few turns, climbs, descents to get used to the aircraft and the screens. We are taught about the scan, which I found was extremely important. The scan is keeping a good watch on the instruments presented on the screen in front of you. I found that if you fixate on one particular part for too long, such as the altitude strip, then one of the other things (the angle of bank and therefore direction) go! So keeping the scan going really helps monitor and maintain the steady and accurate flight that you desire.

The Twin star sim

I was then placed in a few different positions around Hamilton and asked to find where we were on the map by using the VOR DME. VOR gives you the radial you're on (bearing from the beacon) and DME is the distance you are from it. So by combining the two, you get a pretty good idea of where you are. This went well and then I flew an instrument arrival and approach, using the Hamilton plate which was pretty cool. I got visual with the runway at about 550 ft but then had to go go around because I was told an aircraft just pulled out on the runway in front of me so I didn't get to do a landing.

DJ on the approach for 18L @ Hamilton - whattheflight_ on instagram

It was great getting in the sim and 'flying' again. I did find it quite intense and draining though and I will definitely have to put more work in at home to give myself the best chance of getting to grips with it all. I thought the sim was very sensitive as well. The smallest inputs made quite large and abrupt changes which apparently isn't realistic to the real plane, so hopefully my handling will be a bit smoother once I get back in the air.