Back In The Sim

This week has been a pretty slow one having only managed to have 2 flights in the simulator. At the moment, the course ahead of us are taking priority due to them currently undertaking the CPL profile/mocks and actual CPL skills test. The idea is though that after they complete these within the next week or two, we should then be able to press ahead and complete the remaining New Zealand flights.

Morning Sun

This weeks flights introduced me to NDB holds and approaches, as well as ILS approaches. NDB holds and approaches are very similar to those conducted with a VOR, however the ground-based navigational aid is less reliable and accurate. We are also affected by 'dip' where, when we turn, the instruments in the aircraft dip downwards into the turn giving false indications which we have to compensate for. All-in-all though, a relatively straightforward lesson.

Twinstar Glass Cockpit

The other lesson, which I had today, was ILS approaches. These are the approaches carried out by the majority of airliners, and give more information (vertical plane, lateral plane and distance) and we basically just follow the indications that the instruments are telling us. It was a lot simpler than I was expecting and I can't wait to do it for real, as the nearest airport to have one in NZ is Auckland International. The only problem there is the commercial traffic; we therefore have to have a much faster than normal approach speed - just so we don't have to slow down an A380 or B737 !!!!

That is it for this week, not much else has been done. I was on standby a few times this week incase instructors came available due to the weather, however 2 out of the 3 days I ended up with no flights. Its still around 25C here (nice enough for autumnal golf), but rain has been forecast for the next week and fog has become a common problem for morning flights.

*Navigational Aids (VOR = VHF Omni-Directional Range) || (NDB = Non Directional Beacon) || (ILS = Instrument Landing System)