First Solo
After a couple of cancellations for my first solo flight the day finally came when I had my solo check with an instructor before being let loose for my solo. The solo check was pretty straightforward, I did a few circuits with the instructor until he was confident that I could give it a go alone. When the actual moment came I wasn't really nervous, more excited! The instructor jumped out and then it was down to me - running through the checks I went to turn the engine over and...nothing happened. The battery had died immediately and the instructor (who was waiting nearby) was as equally perplexed as I. We parked the aircraft out the way and headed in to get another one - first solo on hold for a little longer.
As it was a new aircraft, the policy was to do the whole solo check again but it wasn't long before I was back by the side of the runway and on my own. This time all worked normally, and I taxied out past my previous aircraft to line up on the runway. I completed my first circuit with no problems, and it felt like a real milestone to have achieved. Something I'll remember as a real highlight of my aviation career. Of course, it's a very small starting point, going from one circuit in a single engine propellor onto eventually navigating in a commercial jet, but it's another onward step!
Solo Circuits
The next few lessons were hours of solo circuits practising various approaches alongside a standard approach such as simulating flap failure, or engine failure. The flapless landings are basically just that - landing without any flaps set so you come in slighty faster and lower, while a glide approach (should you have had an engine failure) means judging your approach to make sure you don't fall short of the runway. Of course, we don't actually cut the engine power we just bring it back to idle to simulate a failure and if the glide looks short then we simply apply full power and rejoin the circuit. These lessons were pretty busy, however things like incorporating the checklists and talking to ATC became much easier and are now more like second-nature.
First out-of-circuit-solo
After two more lessons with an instructor doing PFLs (Practice Forced Landings) and Steep Turns it was time to go outside of the Hamilton control zone alone. PFLs are another safety drill, simulating an engine failure while away from an airfield - the drill helps you to prioritise finding a suitable landing area (a field) and flying the aircraft to give yourself more time in the air to get sorted. The DA20s are really good gliders, so you do get a decent amount of time to plan and work through checklists.
I went out to the east of Hamilton for my first out-of-circuit-solo, and it was an awesome experience. The aim of these lessons is to practice all the techniques that we've learnt to refine our flying skills, called General Handling (GH) lessons. This meant doing turns, stalls, PFLs, navigating all whilst keeping a good awareness or other aircraft and managing the arrival and departure procedures out of the Hamilton Control Zone.
 |
| GPS track of my first out-of-circuit-solo |
GHs, Navs
After completeing a few more solo GHs going to the east and west you move into the Nav phase. This is where we plan a full route, calculating wind, heading, speeds etc for each leg. This involves keeping an accurate time log of the flight to make sure you reach the turning points when you expect to, as well as being ready to plan a diversion should weather mean you can't make a certain turning point. Nav 1 & 2 are with an instructor, then Navs 3 & 4 are solo but the reverse of the two done with the instructor.
I then progressed onto planning my routes around NZ, and this is the part that a lot of people look back fondly on. I can see why! Already I've had some incredible experiences, landing at different airports around the North Island, passing down the east coast of Auckland at around 800 feet in a transit lane (this keeps us clear of all the busy, commercial and military traffic and airspace), flying over Mt. Ruapehu which is a Volcano topping over 9000 feet near Lake Taupo. The list goes on!
I was also fortunate to be able to reposition an aircraft from Napier back to Hamilton meaning I could explore a little further afield than one could normally do as I had 2.5 hours to fly a nav from Napier to Hamilton, whereas normally it would not be possible to go to Napier and back in one nav starting and finishing in Hamilton. Part of the deal meant I could get a 'taxi' ride down to Napier in the form of a backseat in a Twinstar (this is the aircraft I'll be flying in the next phase of training) - this was a huge bonus as well. The Twinstar is a definite step up from the Katana and started to give me an appreciation for the transition we will make from this single engine phase to the multi engine one. Once back in the katana, my flight from Napier to Hamilton took me to a Wanganui (a beach on the west coast) before tracking up past Mt. Ruapehu and onto Hamilton. The views were incredible - like nothing I've ever done before.
Cross Country Qualifier
Next up was the cross country qualifier - part of the criteria for our CPL (Commercial Pilots License) involves a flight over 300nm and landing at two airports en route. My flight took me over Mt. Ruapehu, back towards Napier where I had lunch in the terminal. Then I flew up towards Gisborne, refuelling there before heading back to Hamilton via Rotorua. The total flight time was around 4 hours, so it was a long day with all the stops, but really good fun to head into different airports and go to new places. Having done that I can now appreciate how far we've come in a couple of months - it's now a handful of navs to go before PT1 which is a test at the end of the VFR (visual flight rules) phase. Crazy!
Other News
We've been fairly busy with the flying over the last month, but managed to see more of NZ in the form of a trip to Taupo in October, Auckland and Raglan more recently to see some friends from home. We also experienced NZ bonfire night and fireworks, a local cricket match, and took part in a treasure hunt style challenge across Hamilton as part of a charity event organsied by two instructors here. The build up to Christmas is well and truly under way here, I'm still adjusting to the fact the weather is warming as we get closer to Christmas Day. Yesterday we went kayaking in the morning then BBQ'd before heading to the Christmas Lights switch on in Hamilton - definitely a summery festive period!
 |
| Ohaupo fireworks on Bonfire Night |
 |
| A fine evening for some local cricket! |
 |
| View from Auckland Sky Tower |
 |
Misty morning on the apron
|
 |
| Our collective Movember effort! |
 |
| View from the backseat of the Twinstar, looking down towards Napier |
