Tag: C172

  • IR Part 141: Instrument Approaches

    Probably the most challenging, but also the most interesting, part of the Instrument Rating training program is instrument approaches. This phase of flight requires a transition from the enroute portion to landing, and demands even more attention and better multitasking skills. Although I know how to perform the approach in theory, putting it into practice…

  • IR part 141: Flying Holding Patterns

    The next part of the course includes flying holding patterns. Sometimes it is not possible to make the next planned step or maneuver right away, such as due to congested air traffic or rapidly changing weather. In this case, an aircraft must wait in the air. However, the airplane is constantly moving through the air…

  • Passing the First Stage Check of Part 141 Instrument Rating Course

    The Part 141 Instrument Rating course requires a proficiency check after every stage of training. There are a total of three stage checks and a final end-of-course check. The Part 141 course also mandates a strict order of lessons, so one cannot begin the next stage before completing the previous stage check. I had been…

  • IR Part 141, Lessons 9 and 10: Improving Proficiency with VOR and GPS

    It’s vital for an instrument pilot to be proficient with airplane navigation equipment. We’re continuing with VOR and starting with GPS. All airplanes have the Garmin 430, and its interface is not very complicated. However, the main problem is multitasking: it’s not so easy to fly the airplane properly and simultaneously tune frequencies while communicating…

  • IR Part 141, lessons 7 and 8: Brush Up and Radio Navigation

    Lesson 7 is a review of all previous lessons, focusing mainly on airplane control and unusual attitudes. Lesson 8, on the other hand, is completely new and focused on navigation, particularly VOR interception and tracking. The theory is easy, but in practice, the workload is pretty high, especially the first time when you need to…

  • IR Part 141, Lesson 6: Radio Navigation and Maneuvers

    Today’s weather is pretty challenging, with occasional wind gusts up to 15 knots. Apart from that, everything is great, and we’re going to fly at about 3000 feet, where the air is less turbulent. Today, I flew a different airplane, and I had the impression that it was not properly trimmed and tended to turn…

  • Partial Panel Flying: Dealing with Instrument Failures

    For every pilot, it’s crucial to deal with any system failure promptly. Recognizing failures and taking corrective action can be vital, especially in bad weather. Today’s lesson was about flying without some instruments, a technique called “partial panel.” In practice, the instructors covered some instruments, and I had to perform the usual maneuvers, including stalls,…

  • Revisiting Crosswind Landings and Unusual Attitudes Recovery

    The airplane I flew today was great, but the weather wasn’t ideal. Crosswinds and gusts of up to 15 knots weren’t something a beginner pilot dreams of. We made a couple of landings, but one of them had to be aborted due to a gust of wind we encountered at about 100 feet above the…

  • Flying a 737: My Experience with Instrument Flying

    I’m proud to say that I flew a 737! It was so cool that I’m going to tell all my friends about it! Okay, not exactly. It was not a Boeing 737, just a small Cessna with the registration number N737HW. But hopefully I’m on the way! Actually, the airplane itself flew a little worse…

  • My Long-Awaited Return to the Skies: First Flight in Florida

    After dealing with all the necessary legalities for studying in the US, I finally have the opportunity to fly again! However, it’s not without its challenges. There are four new factors that I have to work with: it’s been a while since I’ve flown (since August), I’ve never flown a Cessna 172, I’ve never flown…