UK Instrument Rated Private Pilot and Instrument Flight Instructor
Circular slide rule is no longer mandatory There has been a “Rite of Passage” when learning PPL navigation theory that required all aspiring pilots to master the circular slide rule. Many YouTube videos explain the technique for applying wind drift to ground track/distance, some using a wind arm and others not, some using wind up and others wind down. In my experience, few private pilots ever use these devices after
Continue reading
Today I conducted my first theory e-Exam as examiner, after having witnessed a couple delivered by the CFI. System Setup UK PPL theory exams moved from a paper to computer based system in October 2020. Any registered ATO or DTO can apply to the CAA for authorisation to conduct them, but only authorised Ground Examiners can do so. There are four separate websites involved in the administration and operation: Student
Continue reading
COVID-19 has made this a difficult year for many, and I have been fortunate indeed not to be too badly affected. A lockdown until mid-April was mitigated with a few engine maintenance flights (once per month) and a few flights to retain currency as an instructor – this included a couple of standardisation flights that undoubtedly improved and aligned my technique with others in the club. Surprisingly, my hourly total
Continue readingToday I received my Ground and Revalidation Examiner authorisation from the CAA as an early Christmas present. This will allow me to conduct theory exams at the two flying clubs where I instruct (but not elsewhere), having been sponsored by both. Ground and Revalidation Examiner approval process The CAA turned this around in a couple of weeks. Application sent by email on 9th December, card charged on 23rd, paperwork by
Continue reading
Today was my first and hopefully last report to the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). I was instructing at the Bristol Aero Club at Gloucester and taxied out for power checks for the third instructional flight of the day. While parked at the A2 hold, commencing power checks, a large EC135 helicopter hover taxied close behind us from Spot 5 towards the fuel pumps, tipping the aircraft significantly forward and
Continue reading
Our last of the four days would be a busy one. We had planned to depart France from Limoges, taking about three hours to fly back to the UK direct in G-CORB, our shared TB20 aircraft. French Immigration/Customs has a permanent presence there and so only requires two hours notice. I also filed an IFR flight plan and GAR form for 1500 local which would get us back to the
Continue reading
My turn to fly the TB20, this time Figari to Perpignan. The direct route over water was almost two hours and I considered whether to file VFR or IFR and what altitude to cross the water at. There are prescribed VFR routes which reduce the overwater time but take you up north towards Nice and Saint Tropez. A more direct route was suggested by Autorouter with VFR legs at both
Continue reading
We were keen to make the most of flying within France in our shared TB20. Nic had managed to obtain PPR for Figari, which published a 72 hour advance requirement although it seems is really not very busy at all. He had flown to Corsica before on an intensive flying trip and was keen to return. He filed a VFR flight plan and determined a route flying down the mountain
Continue reading
Our earlier planning had focussed on entering/exiting France, with all the regulations around COVID and BREXIT, aiming to visit Annecy and depart from Limoges. Some further flight planning we conducted in Auxerres involved flying into Annecy for some quick sightseeing and lunch, then onward as far south as we could while remaining in France. Figari in the southern tip of Corsica published a 72 hour PPR requirement so we were
Continue reading
My TB20 co-owner Nic and I had discussed a few days touring abroad during September, intending to make the most of the capabilities of the aircraft but with no firm plans. Longer term dreams of Croatia, Italy or Romania would have been severely constrained by COVID travel restrictions as well as time constraints. Travel rules have been changing frequently, both in the UK and abroad, and there was a risk
Continue reading