Peter's Flight Log

Summary

In this flight I had the opportunity to practice a variety of skill at the training area west of Bankstown airport, near the new (under construction) Western Sydney International Airport.

My instructor on this flight was Filip, and my ride was VH-XAR, a Cessna 152 that I also flew in flights 40 and 41.

As with my last two flights at Bankstown, today I was definitely not disappointment. So many firsts happened. New skills (forced landings), new departure and arrival locations, birds on the runway, and interesting exchanges with ATC (including one telling me to get back in line in the circuit!). 

And, of course, it is always fun to fly in a Cessna 152!

Having the opportunity to be exposed to such a variety of conditions is a big reason why I like to fly at Bankstown. While Camden is a relatively quiet place where new pilots can build their basic skills, Bankstown is where pilots with a few more hours in their log book can stretch these skills and grow their confidence.

So, what did I do in this flight? Here's a list in chronological order, with more details to follow:

Let's look at some of the details.

My Arduino GPS recorder prototype

Another "first" in today's flight was the testing of a prototype of a Arduino-power GPS loger that I'm building. This logger is based on an Arduino MKR1010 with the ENV shield and a GPS module from Adafruit. I am using the SD card module on the ENV shield to record GPS data in a CSV file.

The prototype worked OK, but there's plenty of room for improvment. My goal is to have a GPS logger that is plug-and-play (just turning it on), that can record at least one accurate GPS record per second. I want to use the data to superimpose useful infomation (like speed, altitude and heading) over my flight videos.

Yes, I can do this with recorded like the ones in the OZRunways and GPS Tracks phone apps, but I want to make my own. Not only I find this an interesting project, and a cross between my aviation and electronics interests, but I will also be able to evolve my own design to use additional sensors (especially a barometer and compass), and include other features that an off-the-shelf recorded does not have.

In its first flight, the prototype worked well. It recorded data along the entire flight, including latitude, longtitude and altitude. I noticed, however, that the quality of the GPS signal was not good enough, so the data it not suitable for my gauge overlay. I have ordered an external antenna to try and improve the signal quality.

More news to follow on this front.

The flight

TBA

Steep turns

Steep turn exercises are a fundamental component of pilot training, designed to enhance a pilot's proficiency in aircraft control under higher load factors and various bank angles. These exercises require pilots to execute turns at angles typically around 45 degrees while maintaining altitude, airspeed, and proper coordination throughout the maneuver. In my flight today, I practiced 60° turns, which can be a bit stresfull at the beginning.

These excercises not only improve the pilot’s ability to manage the aircraft in more demanding flight conditions but also sharpens their overall handling skills.

During steep turn exercises, students learn to apply and maintain a constant bank angle and use the appropriate elevator and rudder inputs to balance the aircraft correctly. This teaches them about the effects of increased load factor, which includes a greater demand on the aircraft’s lift and the potential for accelerated stalls if not handled properly.

Stalls and wing drops

Stall and wing drop exercises are crucial parts of the flight training curriculum that teach student pilots about the handling characteristics of aircraft at the critical angle of attack, where the wings can no longer produce sufficient lift and a stall occurs. Understanding and being able to recover from stalls is essential for ensuring flight safety.

In these exercises, students learn to recognize the signs that a stall is imminent, such as buffeting, decreased control responsiveness, and the stall warning sounds (like the stall horn in the Cessna 152 and 172). The objective is to understand how to properly manage the aircraft’s pitch and power to either avoid or recover from the stall. These exercises are performed at safe altitudes to allow sufficient room for recovery.

During a stall exercise, pilots are taught to reduce the angle of attack immediately upon recognizing a stall, typically by releaving back pressure on the control column to lower the nose and simultaneously applying power to increase the airspeed, which helps the wings regain lift.

Proper rudder control is also emphasized to counteract any asymmetric wing dropping, commonly known as a "wing drop." This occurs because one wing may stall slightly before the other, particularly in uncoordinated flight, leading to a rolling motion which must be corrected swiftly to prevent a spin.

The training also involves varying the scenarios under which stalls might occur, such as during level flight, in turns, or when flying under different flap configurations. This variety helps student pilots understand how different flight attitudes and speeds affect the aircraft's stalling characteristics.

In my flight, I practiced recovery from stall and wing drops with and without power, and flap. This simulates a stall during the turn to base or final in the circuit, which is where most of these stalls occur.

HASEL check

The HASELL check is a crucial pre-maneuver checklist used by pilots to ensure that the aircraft and its surroundings are safe before conducting certain flight maneuvers, particularly those that are more complex or demand higher levels of piloting skill, such as stalls, steep turns, or practice emergency procedures. The acronym HASELL stands for:

H - Height: Ensures sufficient altitude is available to complete the maneuver and recover safely. This altitude provides a buffer in case something goes wrong, allowing the pilot time and space to correct the situation.

A - Airframe: Requires checking that the aircraft configuration is appropriate for the maneuver. This includes setting flaps as required and ensuring that the airframe is ready and capable of handling the stresses of the maneuver.

S - Security: Involves securing anything loose within the cockpit and the cabin, including passengers and their belongings, to prevent shifts that could affect the aircraft’s balance or distract the pilot during critical phases of flight.

E - Engine: Involves checking the engine parameters such as temperatures and pressures, fuel supply, and ensuring that everything is functioning as expected to support the maneuver.

L - Location: Ensures that the area is suitable for the maneuver, free from other aircraft, and clear of restricted airspace, terrain, and other hazards that could impact safety.

L - Lookout: Before initiating the maneuver, performing a thorough visual scan of the area to check for other aircraft. This often includes a 360-degree turn to ensure there is no traffic that could enter the area during the maneuver.

Executing the HASELL check is part of disciplined flying practice, teaching pilots to methodically prepare and assess conditions to maximize safety. This checklist is a fundamental tool in pilot training, helping to instill habits that maintain safety standards and ensure every maneuver is performed with the utmost caution and preparation. It's vital for both training and regular flying, contributing significantly to the safety and success of each flight operation.

Forced landing

A forced landing exercise is an essential part of flight training, designed to prepare pilots for the scenario where an aircraft must be landed due to engine failure or another critical in-flight emergency. This exercise is crucial for enhancing a pilot's ability to handle high-stress situations effectively and ensure the safety of everyone onboard.

During a forced landing exercise, student pilots learn to quickly and efficiently handle the loss of engine power and plan an immediate landing. Here’s how this training typically proceeds:

1. Simulated Engine Failure: The instructor simulates an engine failure by reducing the throttle to idle, which forces the student to react as they would in a real emergency. The key is to maintain control of the aircraft and quickly assess the situation.

2. Selecting a Landing Site: The student must promptly choose a suitable landing site. This could be a field, road, or other safe area that is flat and free of obstacles. The choice of landing site is critical and depends on various factors like terrain, obstacles, wind direction, and aircraft altitude and speed.

3. Aircraft Configuration: The pilot needs to configure the aircraft for the best glide speed, ensuring that it remains airborne for as long as possible to reach the selected landing site. Configuring the aircraft involves adjusting the flaps and gear (if retractable) according to the situation to optimize the glide.

4. Emergency Checks and Communication: Pilots perform emergency checks to try restarting the engine if feasible and manage other aircraft systems to ensure safety during the descent. Communication with air traffic control or declaring an emergency via radio is also practiced if the situation allows.

5. Approach and Landing: The student must plan and execute the approach, considering factors like wind direction and speed to make a safe landing on the chosen site. It involves managing airspeed and descent rate carefully to avoid stalling or overshooting the landing area.

6. Go-Around Decision: Typically, these training exercises end with a go-around maneuver rather than an actual landing, where the instructor restores power, and the aircraft climbs away safely. This go-around teaches students how to abort a forced landing if conditions at the landing site deteriorate or if the engine restarts.