The latest flight by Multiflight PPL student Adam Rahnavard was made extra special when his father came to watch him as he completed his final solo nav exercise as part of his flight training towards his Private Pilot’s Licence. This flight saw Adam get 38 hours flying under his belt and move ever closer to achieving his PPL at the Multiflight Flight Training Centre. You can read here Adam’s account of the latest part of his PPL flight training at our Leeds flying school:
“This was to be my final solo nav exercise prior to the qualifying cross country part of the Private Pilot’s Licence syllabus. The route I had planned before today was to exit via Eccup, head over via Linton on Ouse to Pickering. Once over Pickering the plan was to route in a southerly direction towards Market Weighton and then back to Leeds.
The weather was behaving itself for once and high pressure (can’t help but make pilots smile in the UK) was set to be in charge for a few days. This would ensure fairly settled weather and good visibility. On arrival this was the case but it was a little breezy. I went straight out to begin my checks on this time ‘Lima Hotel’ one of the five other Robin 200 aircraft in use at the Multiflight Flight Training Centre at Leeds Bradford International Airport, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. All was in order so after a brief with Paul and checking my calculations I got back into the aircraft to continue my checks and request taxi and departure clearance. Taxi clearance was given straightaway but I sensed the airport had a busy afternoon ahead. Before long I was ready to go and cleared to take off on runway 32 with a right hand turn to Eccup. It was a very clear sunny day and the views as expected were amazing. Once above Eccup I was requested to stay with Leeds radar a while I did my checks and turned on to 050 in the direction of Pickering.
Shortly after Leeds radar ended my basic service and asked that I contact RAF Linton to continue my basic service. I did this and the controller quickly offered me the service I needed. I enquired about a MATZ penetration for Linton but was told it was closed and a MATZ penetration was not required. Instead my flight was to continue as planned and I was asked to report turning at Pickering. I was certainly getting the hang of this with controllers and what I mean is the ‘contact’ you establish to provide a certain service in return for certain information and complying with requests to ensure all traffic in the local area can operate safely. This is how it works in uncontrolled airspace.
The flight was going well: I was on time and I could spot my track markers to ensure I was on track such as some disused airfields and also Castle Howard. I could soon see Pickering and once overhead I informed the controller of my turn and set my new heading of 178 to fly south to Market Weighton. Every time I fly in the Vale of York I become more familiar with the area, landmarks and geography which will I am sure really help my training and run up to the skills test. I could enjoy the views and could see the North Sea in the distance to my left and directly ahead the Humber estuary so further confirmation I was on track and soon enough over Market Weighton. Once again turning and informing the controller before steering my final heading back to Eccup and then Leeds Bradford International Airport. I needed to obtain a MATZ penetration for Church Fenton and asked the controller to move frequencies in order to do so: he said there was no need as he could arrange that for me and to remain with him. I was cleared to route across North of the airfield no closer than 3nm which was fine. Church Fenton was quickly in view and I was able to see other landmarks to confirm my exact position and reassure me I was not drifting towards Church Fenton. I was on track and on time and pleased with how it was going.
As the A1 came into sight I planned to move from Linton to Leeds for zone re-entry via Eccup. On contact I was advised there would be a delay due to traffic and to remain outside controlled airspace and they would call me back. I put the aircraft into orbit over the A1 and waited. Soon enough the controller came back to me and I was given clearance to Eccup but had to look out for a helicopter to my left first, I spotted it and informed the controller. Once over Eccup I had another short delay but was then given permission to route downwind 32 to join the circuit for landing. A smooth approach ensures a smooth landing, I then taxied in to park up feeling good….it had all gone well.
The flight was made extra memorable as my father came to watch me set off and come back and he was very pleased with what he had seen. He is as keen as I am for me to achieve my PPL.
A quick de-brief with Paul but no issues so we now move on to the cross country. I need to fly up to Teeside airport,land, route to Humberside, land and then back to Leeds. Quite a tall order but it has to be completed as part of the Private Pilot’s Licence flight training. I fly it once with Paul and then once on my own. I now need to plan it up and hope we can do the first dual flight in the next ten days weather permitting. The weather is even more important now given the distance but fingers crossed it is the right time of year and I will have both flights completed soon.
38 hours under my belt, which has gone quickly and not too far away now from my goal of being a qualified pilot! No room for complacency though as the most testing part of the PPL syllabus is still to come.”