Will Samurai Husky Solo?

[carusoam]

I have a Jepp Textbook for IFR / Commercial.  Nicely written, modern graphics, real data.  Feels like a college level text book.  Weighs like one too...

For PPL, I used a Cessna Pilot Center (CPC) text. It was specific to flying the C152/172.  It had film strips and cassette recordings as part of the experience.  1970s technology still in use in the 90s.  20 years without an update just like the planes on the line.  The text book was written at the high school level.  The book itself size of a HS text.

I got my CPC text out the other day looking to get refreshed on a particular detail...  There is so many underlines and highlights, I made 20 years ago, it didn't make anything in particular stand out...  Other than there are approximately 100 pages, 1,000 paragraphs with 1,000 details that are all important and new to a student pilot. It was a modern book, airspace had just been revised to the current class system of A, B, C, D, and E...

Getting to know all 1,000 is a challenge. Especially when it comes to how mechanical instruments work, why some data has a delay in it, and how to notice they have failed.

The un-fun part of all of this is learning mechanical instrument stuff and old nav stuff that you may never use.  Loran was new and ADFs were old when I started flying...  Blue tooth and digital cell phones were science fiction.  There is always going to be some history that you have to learn along the way.  It is all part of the bigger picture...

There is no end to learning...

the real fun part comes with X-country travel.  To make X-country travel more reliable, it helps to learn the IFR system.... Jepp is well known for their nav data.  They pushed a wave of technical modernization improvements that the government was unable to do on it's own.

Keep learning.  The dogs are going to love you more (it works for kids and other family members as well).

Best regards,

-a-

[Samurai Husky]

Had another lesson today, this is the last lesson until next week Thursday. It looks like the plane is going in for maintenance to fix some of the squawks; There is a chance they were addressed during the annual, but the book still has them in there, so its a ??? as to if its ready to go or not. That means we will just be going through the mandatory ground school stuff for the next week.

Today over all another really good day. There is some light rain moving through the area, but yet calm winds. By the time we were ready to go the winds went from 5knts variable to 17knts perpendicular to the runway  i smile because thats what we had been looking for. The wind was short lived through, 3 crabs and 2 forward slips, all 5 on the center line with varying levels of how good i did the flare; 1 small bounce that was controlled perfectly all of them passable. 

Once the wind changed I ended up switching to power off approaches. 2 were perfect, 1 go around after i slide slipped and didnt come out of it soon enough to have the plane parallel to the runway, ended up touching down the left wheel first an in the small bounce did a go around (there was no saving it, i made the call); 

Overall, I am pretty confident landing at kpao now. I can still use some work on my flare as i am either late or early and flaring high, but thats only about 20% of the time. Even roll outs are going really, really well. I still wait longer than i need to for applying BRAKES, but better that then risking uneven pressure; I end up having to add power near the end of the runway to make the turn off, I could coast, but i like making sure i am in control and that i dont have to worry about breaking hard if i keep rolling fast. Once or twice i made the earlier turn off, but it took considerable BRAKING, i was told to just let it roll since it was better for the plane.

I was also very comfortable on the comms, only 1 other person in the pattern today, everybody else left because of weather. 

Now its just a question of if today was enough cross wind practice or if he wants to see some more before trying a solo. (fingers crossed); 

 

Edited May 6, 2016 by Samurai Husky

[carl]

Well tomorrow is May 12, this is my predicted day for Sam's solo.

 

Sam , you up ?

carl

[Samurai Husky]

Sorry not happening

Saturday is the check ride test  I pass that, then I can solo. 

There were a ton of forms to fill out and 3 different tests i had to take just to schedule the check ride test at my club. 

On test for solo a bunch of 'what if' scenarios, personal minimums, instructor limits etc. One test for the plane including reading the entire POH and memorizing all of its performance attributes, one for general aviation knowledge as well as area specific information. 

Then there were about 5 different forms to fill out and had to have approved. Defiantly not the 'im getting a burger, stay in the pattern' i was expecting.

 

[Pritch]

 Wow, times have changed.  Back in the day (1985) I had 20.3 hrs before soloing with no forms no tests. And a 172 rented for $36 and hour Wet.  Check ride at 72 hrs.

Pritch

 

[cnoe]

So the only things left are cross wind landings, night and x-country. We also need to do all the ground work to get signed off. The club requirement is 2 practice check rides with different instructors before they will endorse for the FAA one. So from the sounds of it, a lot is just on me to insure i can do all of the maneuvers correctly to check ride standards.

Saturday is the check ride test  I pass that, then I can solo. 

There were a ton of forms to fill out and 3 different tests i had to take just to schedule the check ride test at my club. 

On test for solo a bunch of 'what if' scenarios, personal minimums, instructor limits etc. One test for the plane including reading the entire POH and memorizing all of its performance attributes, one for general aviation knowledge as well as area specific information. 

Then there were about 5 different forms to fill out and had to have approved. Defiantly not the 'im getting a burger, stay in the pattern' i was expecting.

 

Is this for REAL? Night? Cross-country? Practice check-rides?

Are you prepping for your PPL check-ride, or do you truly have to jump through all these hoops just to solo the damn plane?! Amazing!

[Samuri Husky]

Yea, lots of hoops. I wasn't kidding when I said this is a challenging area. But I don't need night flight or x-county for solo, thought I did, but don't.

There was a crash last weekend. Solo student went up in cross wind beyond his endorsement. Got rattled around from the unsettled air an started to panic. Came back to the air port with the mind set of he had to get the plane on the ground. Ended up porpusing twice before stalking, breaking off the front gear an smashing the cowl into the ground; plane is basically totaled. He's fine, but i think he's to affraid to fly again.

overall, I think the club wants you as close to ppl before solo as possible. So my hope is that after almost minimum solo time, I will be check ride ready. This is considered a pre test to ppl. Gone are the days of kicking the chick out of the nest an making them learn to fly, we are in the days of lawyers an no one taking responsibility.

i've gotten pretty good at landings at Palo Alto, even power off landings. Today I had a perfect 10, with about 15knt wind. 

So I think I just have to clean up my tendency not to hold alt in 30d+ turns; 25d, np, 30+ I end up +/-100ft, normally at the end when I'm turning out and for a second take my eye off the screen. It doesn't always happen, but more than I feel comfortable with.

[bonal]

Who the heck is Samuri Husky, what happened to Samurai?

[DXB]

8 minutes ago, bonal said:

Who the heck is Samuri Husky, what happened to Samurai?

And what have you done with the dog Avatar?!  That fluffball better be ok.

[Samurai Husky]

lol; thats the first thing you notice?

I responded on my iphone, i guess it has the old account on there from when i created an account but realized i spelled it wrong

The fluffball in question is ok, though might be suffering from high colesterol after eating a lb of butter when i wasnt looking

 

[Raptor05121]

I'm glad to read this thread, it reminds me I'm not the "new guy" anymore. I did my checkride.....a year ago today! Keep up the work, you'll be right behind me.

[carusoam]

Summary of what I see...

1) parachutes don't save the day for a lot of reasons.

2) student pilots are capable of making some crummy decisions. Usually, a CFI approves each solo flight. This would usually keep a student pilot from flying in challenging conditions.  What happened? There is a lesson in there somewhere.  In the Mooney world, a bounced landing is an automatic go-around. A porpoise has the probability to end poorly...

3) Young buck ain't the new guy anymore. Alex needs a younger Mooney owner to arrive...

4) MS members are watching everything.  Nothing gets missed. Not even the spelling of Sam-I-Am.

Best regards,

-a-

[mooniac15u]

10 hours ago, cnoe said:

Is this for REAL? Night? Cross-country? Practice check-rides?

Are you prepping for your PPL check-ride, or do you truly have to jump through all these hoops just to solo the damn plane?! Amazing!

Have you looked at the airspace around KPAO?  It is under KSFO Bravo and immediately adjacent to KSJC Charlie.  There are about 8 towered airports within 15 nm. It is a very complicated operating environment. I understand why they need to make sure students are prepared before turning them loose. 

[cnoe]

15 minutes ago, mooniac15u said:

Have you looked at the airspace around KPAO?  It is under KSFO Bravo and immediately adjacent to KSJC Charlie.  There are about 8 towered airports within 15 nm. It is a very complicated operating environment. I understand why they need to make sure students are prepared before turning them loose. 

I got my PPL at KAXH which is under an area containing TWO class bravo airports and five class deltas inside the mode C ring. One mile from the field you have a 2,000' ceiling, and there are 7 towers within 5 miles that are all ~2,000' AGL. I was over 50 years of age (i.e. feeble minded) when I started my flight training and am in no way related to Chuck Yeager. Still, after 14.9 hours of dual my instructor hopped out of the plane and told me to go do some touch-and-goes.

It just seems to me that requiring PPL checkride proficiency before allowing a student to even SOLO is not only excessive, but is also discouraging for the student. Solo typically means pattern work from what I understand, and busting SFO's airspace shouldn't be a big concern.

The slow progress might also be the usage of a Cirrus for training rather than a more traditional trainer.

After these $0.02 my tab is approaching a dime. Sorry; I just want to see SH solo!

[Samurai Husky]

Actually the student that crashed was in a 172... not a cirrus. So no parashoots available. But even if he had one, i dont think he would have used it. I think the better lesson is, if it doesn't feel right, then go around try again. If it still doesn't feel right, redirect to a airport with a wide long runway and land there. 

If solo is just pattern work, then I think I am ready for PPL  I can do patterns with no issues, i can land with no issues. Right now the only thing i need to brush up on are steep turns with in check ride standards and ground reference maneuvers (i really dont like the spot we use for that, its basically 8 salt ponds surrounded by more salt ponds, which arnt all square. https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5143109,-122.0152641,2087m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

[mooniac15u]

1 hour ago, cnoe said:

I got my PPL at KAXH which is under an area containing TWO class bravo airports and five class deltas inside the mode C ring. One mile from the field you have a 2,000' ceiling, and there are 7 towers within 5 miles that are all ~2,000' AGL. I was over 50 years of age (i.e. feeble minded) when I started my flight training and am in no way related to Chuck Yeager. Still, after 14.9 hours of dual my instructor hopped out of the plane and told me to go do some touch-and-goes.

It just seems to me that requiring PPL checkride proficiency before allowing a student to even SOLO is not only excessive, but is also discouraging for the student. Solo typically means pattern work from what I understand, and busting SFO's airspace shouldn't be a big concern.

The slow progress might also be the usage of a Cirrus for training rather than a more traditional trainer.

After these $0.02 my tab is approaching a dime. Sorry; I just want to see SH solo!

Take a look at FAR 61.87.  There is actually a long list of instruction that is required in addition to a presolo written test. Perhaps not everyone follows this but it is in the regs.

Also, you can't legally make that first solo without an endorsement on your student pilot certificate. That endorsement is good for 90 days. So, once endorsed for that first solo a student pilot can legally go on other flights without express permission from their instructor. 

[carusoam]

Are you collecting flight data using CloudAhoy?  This APP can help with measuring the quality of your maneuvers, and help with your memory of all the maneuvers you performed over the flight.

Best regards,

-a-

[Samurai Husky]

1 hour ago, carusoam said:

Are you collecting flight data using CloudAhoy?  This APP can help with measuring the quality of your maneuvers, and help with your memory of all the maneuvers you performed over the flight.

Best regards,

-a-

didnt even know about it; Though my ipad doesnt have a GPS chip in it. I would have to use my iphone. 

Can foreflight do the same thing? 

[wishboneash]

5 hours ago, mooniac15u said:

Have you looked at the airspace around KPAO?  It is under KSFO Bravo and immediately adjacent to KSJC Charlie.  There are about 8 towered airports within 15 nm. It is a very complicated operating environment. I understand why they need to make sure students are prepared before turning them loose. 

Actually KSQL is butting right up to KSFO and one tends to get specific instructions for VFR flight. KPAO isn't too bad. The problem with KPAO is that it is a zoo with a single runway and a crowded ramp. Interestingly with all the congestion in this area, one can actually do the "Bay tour" without talking to a single controller if you study the charts carefully. Not that it is a wise decision :-)

[Samurai Husky]

I was told when I PPL, my CFI will teach me the 'bay tour' since he is the one that wrote it

 

[carusoam]

6 hours ago, Samurai Husky said:

didnt even know about it; Though my ipad doesnt have a GPS chip in it. I would have to use my iphone. 

Can foreflight do the same thing? 

Foreflight and wingX can record your flight... But, CloudAhoy is a different type of tool.  It auto recognizes and grades the standard PPL procedures.  It also has some tools specifically related to the IR.

you need a phone with a GPS in it, or a GPS source with wifi or BT abilities, And the app.  Turn on the app, connect to the GPS, let it do it's thing...  Fly your best...  Review the details later on...

The really cool part is it can actually measure T/O and landing distances.  You would need a WAAS GPS for that though.  This will give some insight to how important WAAS can be, graphically.

Best regards,

-a-

[Samurai Husky]

seems that even if i pass tomorrow, my first solo wouldn't be until sunday's lesson. Tomorrow is just a check ride

Though i did confirm, after solo, PPL check ride is very close behind. Basically 5 hours of solo, then back with the CFI for X-country, then Cross Country solo then PPL check ride.

So maybe 15 more hours? depending on how well i do with all of the maneuvers. My CFI's are mean, they want me to learn stall recovery when uncoordinated. So let the wing drop and recover, freaks me out everytime. So i am building in more CFI practice time to learn that enough where i'm not nervous anymore. Overall, I have done a lot of 'extra' lessons to get things right; 

We did 1.5hrs of night flight last night and got the x-country night out of the way. We would have done more, but during flight the ALT2 failed and we didnt want to risk anything with the marine layer starting to roll in.

 

Edited May 13, 2016 by Samurai Husky

[Dave Colangelo]

2 minutes ago, Samurai Husky said:

Though i did confirm, after solo, PPL check ride is very close behind. Basically 5 hours of solo, then back with the CFI for X-country, then Cross Country solo then PPL check ride.

Close Behind? Who was telling you this and what is their definition of close? While Im sure everyone here has a different story I (flying almost every weekend) was 7 months from first solo to check ride. You should expect a fair amount of time to get your XC's done. Whats going to change is that the weather has to not only be good where you are but where you are going as well. Although the summer is coming so you may be in luck. Have you worked short/soft field stuff yet?

 

Good luck on sunday!

 

 

[Marcopolo]

Just looking at the PPL pre-requsites you'll need 10 hrs solo of which 5 hrs of that will be cross country of 50nm or more.  So you'll be at least 10 hrs away from PPL after solo, and usually there's 1 or 2 long dual cross countries and at least 3 hrs of check-ride prep.  But this is the fun stuff so don't get discouraged...home stretch!

[bradp]

41 minutes ago, Dave Colangelo said:

Close Behind? Who was telling you this and what is their definition of close? While Im sure everyone here has a different story I (flying almost every weekend) was 7 months from first solo to check ride. You should expect a fair amount of time to get your XC's done. Whats going to change is that the weather has to not only be good where you are but where you are going as well. Although the summer is coming so you may be in luck. Have you worked short/soft field stuff yet?

 

Good luck on sunday!

 

 

Agree good luck on Sunday.

 

Also tend to agree that this seems to be a different training methodology than what most of us that did the good old FAA civilian PPL route did.

There is benefit to slowly leaving the comforts of home in a relatively controlled environment (i.e. your CFI watching out for you and your preflight decision making process) prior to your DPE check. 

My pessimistic view would be that with the fewest number of hours that the flight school has in terms of student pilots flying solo, they are assuming the least risk exposure, and their insurance may be a bit lower as a result.  All under the guise of safety that you we're making sure that you are really really really ready to go solo. 

The downside is that very steep learning curves occur when you are 1) learning the mechanics of flying in those fist few hours with your CFI and 2) when you are totally responsible for your own well being during solo flight.  It's also valuable to be able to work on certain aspects of fine-tuning your mechanics solo after a lesson with your CFI. 

My opinion is that a flight school that solos its students 15 hrs prior to PPL is doing a disservice to its newly minted pilots.  This approach may go out the window with part 141 schools or training academies as you'd then progress to the next stage of training or what not.  But, if your goal is to accumulate experience, only having minimal solo judgement / decision making and execution before being cut loose seems like an inherently bad idea.   To me it seems like the flight school is saying with all the forms, tests and pre-solo multi instructor check rides prior to solo flight that they'll hold your hand just long enough so if you fall it's not on their watch.