KFRG to KPOU

I’m pretty behind with my posting, it’s been quite busy lately and getting little sleep.

It actually started before my last lesson. Last week and this week, I’ve unexpectedly been working two jobs. It’s been fine for the most part, but Wednesday I did a matinee and then rehearsal. I texted my CFI after leaving rehearsal at 9pm asking what we were doing the next day so I could prepare because I was so excited to be moving on! We were going to go to KPOU, I’ve never done flight planning so I quickly texted Jake saying when I got home he was teaching me how to get there.

I got home, ate dinner, and then we watched Slings and Arrows while I ate. Afterwards, we started planning the flight. I printed out his navigation log sheet he made and then also a checklist he made. We got the weather and started planning. I was getting tired after finishing the climb portion of the way there. I was ready to end, then he realized the flight was tomorrow, so I wasn’t allowed to go to bed until we finished the entire flight at 2am. I was very cranky.

I got up at 6:30am and went out to the airport. The trains were running late and it was the time my instructor actually showed up to the train station on time, of course it happens like that! On the ride there, I showed him all my work and we talked a bit about the flight.

Got the airport, got ready, and took off. I headed for the Northport Stacks, which is how we get to the north practice area, so that part was easy. He explained flight following to me, I have gotten it once or two at the practice areas, but haven’t done it in a while or really by myself. He told me what to say, I repeated it back. Then I called, as soon as they said “Cessna 757AD, New York Approach” everything was wiped from my mind. My CFI answered back, it did get complicated because the controller said we weren’t in his airspace yet so squawked and then had to squawk back to VFR and call again in a minute.

I didn’t use any VORs on the way there, but just pilotage. It was pretty simple, I had nice headings written out to fly to and I was rocking at staying on them.

I cancelled flight following once KPOU was in sight, contacted their tower. It’s weird to talk to controllers you’re not use to talking to. I know the controllers at our airport, so I know how they respond or I know if they are too busy to talk to me, etc. This controller was just kind of weird, we thought he was talking about us but just using the wrong tail number. Like, really wrong tail number. Finally got him to acknowledge us directly (still wrong tail number) and corrected him to the right one. Landed, taxied back to the runway and took off.

Right after I finished the climb, my instructor pulled out the foggles. This was my first time wearing them and doing hood work. I was surprised how much harder it is. My heading was wondering more and my altitude wasn’t staying stable. I didn’t understand! I also felt really weird, edging on nauseous. He said that was normal. I also used a VOR on the way back. I was surprised how sensitive it is when far away. Jake explained afterwards to me when I said that, it made sense.

Got back to our airport, and they threw me for a loop and was told to shoot for Deer Park. Never heard of that. It’s a VOR! How funny the first day I work on VORs I get it from the tower as well? They were in the process of changing runways. I landed alright, definitely a crosswind with a bit of a tailwind.  I got pushed off the centerline too much but it was a fine landing.

I was definitely exhausted after this lesson, can’t wait to do another one though. My instructor did acknowledge that all this timing, math, etc. I’m doing now after my check ride, I probably won’t ever use again. I like his thinking, because I agree with it since there are two GPS systems in the plane. But I know, I know, I have to learn it. I WANT to pass! But I just like when people actually think in real world terms.

Lesson Time: 1.8 hours

Total Time: 31.5 hours