Day 2 Training – VH-YTF

Start from basic maneuver – Straight and Level

In the second day of training in ADL, everything seems better than before. Today, I have not traced the performance that I did yesterday. And of coz, I am trying to have more interaction with Dean, my kindly instructor. What I have learnt as well as practice in the air exercise is straight and level. The fundamental maneuver that I have to practice well before step into other maneuver. Although I only touch the basic standard, I do believe that practice make perfect.

Today timetable is similar to yesterday – Full day is full with schedule on exercise and briefing or sharing and reflection sections. The most significant difference is that I did the last schedule flight yesterday, whereas I can do the first one to get on board VH-YTF for the training. Yup, you may notice on the code, YTF (for today title) while I use YTE (for yesterday) diary. This is just the registration number. The starting of “VH-” is meaning that the aircraft is registered in Australia. Next time, if you have change to go airport by bus and if there is a stop outside Cathay City, you will know that replica was registered in which country.

Well, I maybe off the track already. However, I want to share my feeling and in the fact that I have a self expectation. I do remember what Dean and my mentors told me that I should be fly the plane well at the first. Therefore, I have tried to follow the work cycle: ALALP

Attitude, Lookout, Attitude, Lookout, Performance (Quick scan Alt., ASI) …Tommy, you have not been the IFR pilot yet. You are a VFR student pilot yet. VFR? VFR – Visual Flight Rule! As a VFR pilot, I should fly at VMC (Visual Meteorological Condition) which mean that the F.V (Flight visibility) should be more than 5KM and remain certain horizontal and vertical distance between my ACFT and the cloud. I also should compel with the speed limitation rule, find a visual reference point anytime with reference to ground or water at and bellow 2000′ AGL. The most important thing is that we can only fly at the day time (from sunrise to the last twilight. We also cannot fly solo unless obtain the Class 2 medical cert. and endorsed my our instructor. So what can we do?

Fly the plane “under supervision” by our instructor. Use my training exercise as and example. After I met Dean, we go the “dispatch” office (P.s I feel so exciting because that is somewhere I saw on the internet where I can see a real cadet pilot, no matter when I can be one of them, it is my checkpoint!) Back to topic, I signed the block out time (took the key of VH-YTF), he guided me to use the flight schedule sys to log my SAR time, that is the time that the search and rescue team will be alert if I do not cancel the SAR service after I land on the RWY. See! Flying do be a save activity. After that, my instructor just taught me how to fill and check the MR, that is a document that must be check if the ACFT is airworthy (suitable for flying) and the MR must be on board for every journey. See! Flying do be a activity that need us to compel the SOP.

Wearing a high vis safety vest, we can enter to the “plane park” (Apron). As a student pilot, it is not necessary but be welcome to do the pre-flight inspection. I can see a little improvement in the walk around section but it still have a gap if I do want to be a real qualified pilot. Just like yesterday, “Checklist completed” … “Clear Prop”… “Parafield Ground, TB-10 YTF, FTA apron, dual, received information C, for western training area, request taxing”….So precise and clear usage! The method of aviation standard communication is what I need to learn – listening to the question and answer to the point. 

After a few second, we received instruction from the Ground control, we started to taxi to run-up bay B under the speed that is liken walking. Remember, park the aircraft into wind on the run-up bay, if you know what is weathercock effect. Yup, fuel pump on before switch tank ……

At this point, you may have so much question just like me in the past when I knew nothing about aircraft. Now, even I want to share more (type something for my self-revision), I do need to go to sleep, as a pilot, we should the aircraft limitation and so it also apply on our body. Day 2 training completed, looking forward to tmr exercise. Hope that I have more and more learning and improvement. Have a good night!