Flying is a skill that requires constant training. While every flight helps to keep your skills sharp, some skills need extra attention. I have an instrument rating which allows me to fly when visual minimums are not present. In simple language, I can fly through the clouds. Having the rating is one thing but you must be current to exercise the privileged.
Currency requires at least 6 instrument approaches in the last 6 calendar month, tracking and holding. You can combine activities such as using a holding pattern as part of an approach to satisfy both requirements. Florida has some great weather which can make it hard to practice for real. This is solved using a safety pilot and a view limiting device. I have some safety glasses that are fogged on the top and sides so when worn, all you see is the instruments and not outside. If you go this route you need another current pilot to watch outside and make sure you follow the rules for visual flight.
Today turned out to be a great day for actual practice. Saturday morning I saw this developing but by the evening, the forecast was for clear weather. I was a bit bummed as I thought my plans would be ruined by sunshine. When I awoke, it was cloudy, yeah! I filed a flight plan, got a weather briefing and headed to the airport. When I checked, the weather was still quite low in places, 400 feet. I figured I would wait for it to improve but by the time I was on the road, I could see the tall radio antennas were just below the clouds. They are right at 1000 feet so I was ready to go.
I had planned to go solo but ran into a friend at the airport and offered him a ride. He agreed and soon we were taxiing out. I picked up our clearance and after the normal checks we were off. First approach was to Cecil. The automated weather was calling 1000 overcast and 400 broken.
We were vectored to final for the 36R ILS. Everything worked as it should and even though we were in a grey bubble we descended on the right track and vertical path. At 1000 feet we broke out. we reported this to tower as it is useful info for the next person and they can't observe conditions away from the airport core.
The weather was better than forecast and I started to get concerned it might clear. I did not have to worry, it was marginal all day. Our missed approach instructions had us climbing and turning on the missed approach. We went back up to 3000 and headed South to Palatka for our next approach. leveling off we were just above the clouds and captured the included pictures. Standing on the ground looking at the grey sky, it is hard to remember that a few thousand feet up is is a blue and beautiful day.
At Palatka I shot the GPS 9 approach. This time we did the full procedure which starts at a fix 5 miles perpendicular to the extended runway center line. You cross this fix fly 5 miles and then make a 90 degree left to intercept the final approach about 10 miles out. Then you descend on the glide slope starting about 5 miles out.
After Palatka it was back to Jacksonville. The Instrument approach in use was 90 degrees off the wind so I did a circling approach. A circling approach starts like a regular one except you cannot go as low. Once you break out of the clouds you level off and then maneuver to land on the preferred runway. I flew the ILS 32 and landed on runway 5. Circling adds some risk as you are making your pattern from 500 feet which is half the normal height. Add in low visibility conditions with unfamiliar terrain and you can easily get disoriented.
Today the ceiling was 1000 and I was on my home turf so it was much additional workload. Touching down after 1.5 hours of actual practice I felt good. I stayed within all limits but still noted a few places where I was not perfect. Having a second person watching is good for this as they can watch you and critique. I now have 9 approached in the last 3 months so I am good to go for a while but will likely shoot some more next month as you are only as good as your most recent training.
Currency requires at least 6 instrument approaches in the last 6 calendar month, tracking and holding. You can combine activities such as using a holding pattern as part of an approach to satisfy both requirements. Florida has some great weather which can make it hard to practice for real. This is solved using a safety pilot and a view limiting device. I have some safety glasses that are fogged on the top and sides so when worn, all you see is the instruments and not outside. If you go this route you need another current pilot to watch outside and make sure you follow the rules for visual flight.
Today turned out to be a great day for actual practice. Saturday morning I saw this developing but by the evening, the forecast was for clear weather. I was a bit bummed as I thought my plans would be ruined by sunshine. When I awoke, it was cloudy, yeah! I filed a flight plan, got a weather briefing and headed to the airport. When I checked, the weather was still quite low in places, 400 feet. I figured I would wait for it to improve but by the time I was on the road, I could see the tall radio antennas were just below the clouds. They are right at 1000 feet so I was ready to go.
I had planned to go solo but ran into a friend at the airport and offered him a ride. He agreed and soon we were taxiing out. I picked up our clearance and after the normal checks we were off. First approach was to Cecil. The automated weather was calling 1000 overcast and 400 broken.
We were vectored to final for the 36R ILS. Everything worked as it should and even though we were in a grey bubble we descended on the right track and vertical path. At 1000 feet we broke out. we reported this to tower as it is useful info for the next person and they can't observe conditions away from the airport core.
The weather was better than forecast and I started to get concerned it might clear. I did not have to worry, it was marginal all day. Our missed approach instructions had us climbing and turning on the missed approach. We went back up to 3000 and headed South to Palatka for our next approach. leveling off we were just above the clouds and captured the included pictures. Standing on the ground looking at the grey sky, it is hard to remember that a few thousand feet up is is a blue and beautiful day.
At Palatka I shot the GPS 9 approach. This time we did the full procedure which starts at a fix 5 miles perpendicular to the extended runway center line. You cross this fix fly 5 miles and then make a 90 degree left to intercept the final approach about 10 miles out. Then you descend on the glide slope starting about 5 miles out.
After Palatka it was back to Jacksonville. The Instrument approach in use was 90 degrees off the wind so I did a circling approach. A circling approach starts like a regular one except you cannot go as low. Once you break out of the clouds you level off and then maneuver to land on the preferred runway. I flew the ILS 32 and landed on runway 5. Circling adds some risk as you are making your pattern from 500 feet which is half the normal height. Add in low visibility conditions with unfamiliar terrain and you can easily get disoriented.
Today the ceiling was 1000 and I was on my home turf so it was much additional workload. Touching down after 1.5 hours of actual practice I felt good. I stayed within all limits but still noted a few places where I was not perfect. Having a second person watching is good for this as they can watch you and critique. I now have 9 approached in the last 3 months so I am good to go for a while but will likely shoot some more next month as you are only as good as your most recent training.
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