Private Pilot

Lesson Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sunday July 26, 2009

What we covered today:

• Communication Failure and Emergency Signals
• Emergency circuit and runway changes
• Spins
• Forward slips
• Cross wind landings

I started my day at 7:30 AM, did some office work and then spent some time building a deck in my backyard and some work around the house, overall busy but relaxing day with the family. 

On my way to the airport I stopped at my local pharmacy and asked for Gravol (Just incase!) but I changed my mind after pharmacist's advice because it can impair judgment/reaction time plus can cause drowsiness. Instead, she suggested a natural remedy – something with Ginger such as ginger ale or Ginger Chewables.  I bought some ginger chewables and took a couple while I was on my way driving to the airport.

After arriving at the airport, I completed the pre flight check and went to the club office to do the paper work. I was flying was C-GJJL, the wind was at 170 degrees at 15 knots.

The plan was to start with circuits; I along with my instructor we taxied through taxiway Alpha to runway 34 and took off into the wind towards the north. My instructor informed the tower that we would like to simulate the communication failure. I recalled that in case of a communication failure, we need to check both radios, try different frequencies, ear plugs, head phones etc and once ensured that there is a true communication device malfunction, set the transponder to squawk code 7600 to let the tower know that we have a communication failure.  After reviewing the procedures, my instructor called the tower about our intentions to simulate the comm. failure and requested random instructions via light signals.

On the final leg at about 300 AGL I noticed flashing red (airport is unsafe to land) so I  Acknowledged by flapping wings and overshot (increasing the power to full, carb head off) once the aircraft was leveled, I pulled the flaps to zero degrees. Following that I was instructed to change circuits few times, so I did. All went well except few times I had trouble aligning the plane towards the approach. I was glad that did follow most of the instructions when communicated (of course with some help from Dave).

After circuit practice, we headed towards north west for some spins.I was a bit nervous but overall had a good feeling about it that I can do it. Dave provided the instructions again and started the spin. I recalled spin start and recovery steps (apply neutral controls, hold the left rudder to continue the spin and once spin has been fully developed, recover by ensuring  power is idle, use right rudder to stop the spin, slight forward pressure on the controls and then pull gradually).

Dave starts the spin and off we go down spinning, I tookover the controls and stopped the spin by using right rudder, pulled back ……back ….back….and more back…. Oops! and we were climb up again heading for another stall and I realized at the same monument when Dave pointed it out (pitching too high...). I leveled off by easing the controls……..wow, it was good.... I did feel sick at all other than just a little unconformable by the G force. Dave asked if I was OK?  I nodded and then said, I am good, we are ready for the next one.

We went again for another spin, this time I made sure I don’t forget the power (which I forgot last time ), so when recovering first thing I did was the power but instead of idle, I pushed it forward….Oops!

Thanks to my excellent instructor and his fast reflexes, he quickly pulled the power to idle. This time when we were spinning I was alert and not nervous and I could while we were spinning, I  stopped the spin and then slowly leveled off smoothly.

I was so happy that I was still OK and felt no sickness other than a mild nausea; its so amazing how fast human mind tunes in. Man! I was ready for another spin, this was fun!

I wanted to do more spins but we were running out of time as Dave has his next student waiting at the airport, so headed back. I for sure will be doing more spins for my own safety sake.

Overall, the lesson went very well,  we practiced so many things including: Emergency Signals, Runway Changes, Circuit Changes, forward slips, cross wind landings, spins…..wow!

Lesson Learned: 
1. A good night sleep makes a difference and Ginger does Help! 
2. If you feel sick the 1st time, trust me, it does not take long before your mind tunes in and you no longer  feel nausea when spinning.

Things to Remember:
- When Communication failure set Squawk to 7600
- Pull the power to idle when recovering from a spiral