12/7/14: Cross Country Navigation #6 (Dual): Lismore, Grafton and Stanthorpe (diversion to Park Ridge)

Sorry its been a while since my last blog post!  :-)

Continuing to work towards my RA-Aus Cross Country endorsement, I've completed a couple more cross country flights since my first cross country solo back on 15th June.

The first one was on 12th July - a Southern departure from Archerfield tracking to Lismore, then Grafton, onto Stanthorpe and a Southern arrival back to Archerfield.

Today's flight is like a pre-test assessment cross country flight with an instructor.  All going well and if the Instructor feels I'm ready, my next flight with be the Cross Country endorsement test.

Nav #6 (Dual): YBAF - LOGAN - YLIS - YGFN - YSPE - PKR - YBAF

My flight planned track with marked ground checks on WAC chart

Departing South from Archerfield via Logan Village, I tracked towards Lismore.  We landed, refuelled and departed Lismore.

You can see on the WAC chart above, I planned to track to Grafton via Casino coming out of Lismore.  This was to ensure I avoided the R638B restricted airspace south of Lismore.  You can see on the GPS track, the flight path actually followed the power lines going South West out of Lismore until I reached the Summerland Highway.

I overflew Grafton and turned onto my heading for Stanthorpe (via Baryulgil).  As we passed over Grafton, and about the cross the river, my Instructor asked I divert back to Archerfield.

To help make in-flight diversions a little easier, I use a DP-1 Diversion Plotter.  The real benefit is it gives you the ground speed and wind correction for each major direction on the compass.  This is worked out pre-flight using the DP-1 windstar app or web site simply by providing the TAS, wind direction and wind speed. It also quickly gives the estimated time based on ground speed and distance.

Check out the DP-1 plotter at http://digital-innovations.co.uk/ and the DP-1 windstar calculator at http://www.digital-innovations.co.uk/windstar.aspx

Here are the steps I use to do an in-flight diversion:

1.  Mark location and time on WAC / VNC where starting diversion

2.  Circle diversion destination

3.  USING DP-1 – Estimate general heading and turn aircraft (ensure cruise altitude OK)

4.  USING DP-1 – Rule line on WAC / VNC to new destination

5.  USING DP-1 – Measure exact heading less magnetic variation less/more wind correction angle = new heading degrees magnetic

6.  Turn aircraft to new heading

7.  USING DP-1 – Measure diversion distance (nm) using DP-1 plotter (double for WAC)

8.  USING DP-1 – Read time (from GS and distance) using DP-1 plotter

9.  USING E6B – Calculate fuel burn to new destination @ 21L/hr

10.  Use pilotage to reach destination

11.  Check ERSA for destination aerodrome information and radio frequencies

You can see on the WAC chart above, my diversion just outside Grafton back to Archerfield is shown in green marker.

Overall comments from my Instructor was my diversion leg was good although previous legs I let the aircraft get ahead of me.  In other words, I my ground check (T1 or T2) was coming up or I was passing it while I was busy doing other activities, eg CLEAROFF checklist or 1-in-60 calculation.

My Instructor suggested I do another cross country to work on those things I didn't do so well on this flight.

Like any flight, there are lessons learnt and welcome feedback from my Instructor.  For my next flight I'll review the feedback and will write out the sequence of key tasks I need to do for each leg.  This will ensure I don't miss anything and also I get tasks done in time  :-)

Until next time, have fun and fly safe!