So Navigation then. What's that all about? Well essentially, getting from A to B to C and back again safely. Previous navigation experience certainly proved useful, although I found myself reverting to the techniques I had used on the Tutor some three years ago. Whereas on fast and pointy aircraft the wind doesn't affect too much, in slower aircraft a lot more consideration and appreciation of it is required. Having said that, the Nav phase was a fairly straight forward affair and culminated in what became known locally as 'Daz and Rich's Grand Day Out' or more formally as the CPL Cross Country Qualifier.
One of the requirements for the Commercial Pilot's Licence we get eventually, is that we complete a three leg Nav Flight of a least 300 miles with two full stop landings, where we have to get out of the aircraft and get a signature to say that we were where we said we were. Myself and Daz were both programmed to do this on the same day and so had arranged to have morning tea in Rotorua and lunch in Tauranga. Sadly my aircraft went unserviceable causing me to be delayed by 30 mins. Thus, morning tea in Rotorua fell by the wayside, but lunch in Tauranga was achieved. The day although tiring, was great and some good photos came out of it as you can see...
So, having completed the Navigation Phase, it was time for the final stages of the PPL course, which consists of a couple of Instrument Flying and General Handling flights and then Pre-PPL Test. This is a 2.5 hour flight during which we complete the Navigation Test part of the PPL Qualification and then do a GH package equivalent to that which we do for the actual PPL Test. All went well, leaving me ready (apparently) to do my PPL Test this morning.
Having had a few days of glorious weather with no change forecast, it was with some consternation that I opened my blinds this morning to find that it was overcast, with a fairly significant amount of low cloud around. Not a good start, but into the airport I went nonetheless, to report to the examiner at 0830. The hour and a half before the flight at 1000 was spent doing various bits of paperwork, and being quizzed on various aspects of PPL flying.
Luckily the weather cleared up enough for us to get airborne and vacate the Hamilton Control Zone to the east to complete all of the general handling exercises for the test. All seemed to go fairly well and we then came back to Hamilton Airfield for some circuits. After 3 circuits in various configurations, the examiner instructed me to land and taxi back to CTC. As we shut down the aircraft at the fuel pump, he informed me that I had passed the test, and after refuelling the aircraft I went inside or a full debrief and to start the paperwork to get the licence in my hand.
It's taken a while, but the first step is now complete. It seems like a small step in a long journey at this stage, but an important one nonetheless. Now it's time to get on with the hours building phase in the Single Engine Wings Course. I'd better get moving too, I come home in 7 weeks.....
