faasafety.gov

If you're not familiar with it, http://faasafety.gov/ is an excellent site for learning and they also have regular safety related events. I went to one yesterday at the Fairfax County Government Center and saw 3 speakers on several topics. Each was excellent and well worth the time.

firsts...

So, for the first time in my life today I flew alone in an airplane. I did my first solo today (in a Cessna 172R, N409ES to be specific). This involved going up with the instructor for a couple of landings so that he knew I could do them ok. Then I went up by myself and did 3 full stop landings. Each landing was decent and I didn't have any fear/concern at all.

ms flight sim x and emergency practice

I decided to buy a new (much faster) computer this weekend and have doing some emergency practice flying with Microsoft Flight Simulator X. One thing that I tried a number of times (and failed each time) was a low altitude engine failure on takeoff with an attempt to turn back to the field. It is very interesting to see how tempting it is to try to make it back at around 400 AGL. I found myself wanting/hoping that I could make the 180 turn but just couldn't make it work.
I should point out that this fits exactly with the adage "don't try to stretch a glide".

instruction expenses and the Wash ADIZ

My new instructor does something differently than my previous one that has a bearing on time spent instructing vs transit I think. Previously, I would depart JYO (inside Washington ADIZ) for the Hoage intersection (outside ADIZ). That requires leaving and re-entering the ADIZ (and the related clearances and ATC contacts). My new instructor has us stay in the ADIZ which has had a few benefits I hadn't realized:

• inside ATC contact and radar coverage (for safety)

• less transit time which leaves more time for instruction

• additional radio traffic (in the background) which I think is beneficial for getting used to it

• since we don't have to re-enter the ADIZ we can start heading back in when we're ready vs waiting for and new squawk code and ATC approval

AOPA Fly-In and Open House - fdk - 2-jun-2007

http://www.aopa.org/special/fly-in/

AOPA Fly-In and Open House

Saturday, June 2, 2007

AOPA Headquarters
Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK)
Frederick, Maryland
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

flying with a new instructor

I flew with my new instructor yesterday for the first time. I was impressed with his teaching style and professionalism. We went over the basic maneuvers and so on so he could get a feel for where I am. I think I did reasonably well but my landing was not the best. I was a little high so he had me side slip to drop some altitude quickly and the nose was a little canted on landing so I caught one wheel before the other and was off the centerline as a result.

new instructor

Rather than wait (for some unknown amount of time) I decided to be proactive re getting a new instructor. Someone else that went to the same ground school class I did had already transitioned to another instructor and recommended him. I just got a callback from him and he sounds a bit serious/professional. Next flight is in a few days and we're going to go over where I am at, goals and so on.