8/8/14: Cross Country Navigation #7 (Dual): Warwick and Casino

As the Archerfield to Warwick leg of this cross country flight passes through Amberley restricted airspace, I needed to plan a diversion for this leg to avoid the airspace should it be active at the time of flight.

Leading up to the 8th August, I called the Amberley number listed against airspace R620B and R620D (as per ERSA) to ask for the likely status of this airspace on the date/time of my planned cross country flight.

Amberley got back to me advising the likely non-active times but to confirm with NOTAM (which I do anyways when obtaining the weather forecast) and contact Brisbane Centre in flight to check live status (which I had planned to do).  They also offered airspace transit if I contacted Amberley Clearance, although this means they would give me a transponder code and probably divert me around the place.  Not the best solution for a cross country navigation exercise.

So in my flight sequence steps done during flight planning, I noted at what point in the YBAF - YWCK leg I would contact Brisbane Centre to check Amberley restricted airspace status and at what point I would divert should the airspace be active.

It turned out the airspace was active, so my Instructor asked me to divert to Warwick.  This was relatively easy as I had done all the pre-work (heading, distance, etc) during flight planning  :-)

Nav #7 (Dual): YBAF - LOGAN - YWCK - YCAS - PKR - YBAF

In the GPS track above, you can see the turn left not too far after Logan Village to track around Amberley restricted airspace.

Cloud was low and scattered making it difficult for me to see ground references.  Warwick out to my right was clear although I was looking for a particular highway to mark as my turning point towards Warwick.  I basically followed the reciprocal heading for the Warwick departure.

We did a full stop landing at Warwick for a quick break and then onto Casino. 

Warwick aerodrome

Warwick aerodrome

Half way through the YWCK to YCAS leg, I started to slowly drift to the right meaning as I approached Casino it was not in front of me as expected, but to my left!  I wasn't aware of the drift in flight as the actual winds were stronger than the forecast winds.  I did a touch-an-go at Casino and tracked North back towards Archerfield.

Some weather was ahead of us preventing me from maintaining my planned heading and altitude.  This is where I messed up a bit by thinking about my options too long and not taking action quickly enough.  I knew what my options where but I failed to verbalise my decision to the Instructor.

To avoid the weather, my decision was to essentially do a diversion for this leg using pilotage and fly through the valleys North of Kyogle where I could see gaps in the weather.  The unexpected diversion threw me off a little and it took me about 7-10 minutes to correctly locate my position on the charts.

Another cross country flight with things I did well and things not so well... always learning  :-)

Both my Instructor and I agreed it would be best I do another short cross country flight before going for the test.  I certainly feel I need it. 

All I can do is learn from Instructor feedback and ensure I put it into practise for future flights  :-)

My next cross country flight is Saturday 30th August doing a Northern route this time (its been a while) - Archerfield to Nanango to Caloundra to Archerfield.

Until next time, have fun and fly safe!