Alphabet Challenge Leg 5 KEMT - KFUL
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 1:03 pm
Pilots,
So who would think there would be anything to learn from a flight that lasts less than the time to get a taxi clearance from KEMT?
Well I learned the heck out of this one based on my multiple screw ups. Enjoy.
Lessons Learned:
I transitioned back into the trusty C172 for this 5 min flight and one should never underestimate that it takes a bit to refamiliarize yourself with every aircraft type you fly when switching -- even going "down" from a high performance/complex aircraft to a simpler model.
- Had the usual difficulties seeing the airport with the stock scenery. Yawn. Trusted the GPS (which is abit lame but an essential crutch I'd use real world).
- Biggest mistake was ...thinking KFUL was treated as a NON-towered field and broadcasting on tower/CTAF (!)..."What?", you say,"how could you screw that up..."
I asked myself that too after announcing 5 NM north for landing, then short final for "8" at KFUL (um it's 6). KFUL tower then came up and cleared me to land. Great...
So THEN I was way too high and way to fast for the 172 (flying a BE36 much?) and ended up having to go around vs landing 2/3 down the runway. At least I made that decision properly. Landed without event on the next pass and ashamedly apologized to KFUL ATC for the SIM rules screw up (real world would not have been an issue at least).
So - how I did I miss that KFUL was staffed in PE? Unfamiliarity with the airport and area that led to a GOTCHA -- I checked the PE Coverage map before the flight and this is what I saw:
Big LA Basin -- no KFUL dot...must not be covered in PE I think. NO problem...problem was -- I was overzoomed on the map and didn't realize it (in my defense there is no scale) but there is no defense. Only excuses
Pioneers lead the way.
Todd
PS I wonder if our current alphabet king made this flight in his speedy T38??? I hope so
So who would think there would be anything to learn from a flight that lasts less than the time to get a taxi clearance from KEMT?
Well I learned the heck out of this one based on my multiple screw ups. Enjoy.
Lessons Learned:
I transitioned back into the trusty C172 for this 5 min flight and one should never underestimate that it takes a bit to refamiliarize yourself with every aircraft type you fly when switching -- even going "down" from a high performance/complex aircraft to a simpler model.
- Had the usual difficulties seeing the airport with the stock scenery. Yawn. Trusted the GPS (which is abit lame but an essential crutch I'd use real world).
- Biggest mistake was ...thinking KFUL was treated as a NON-towered field and broadcasting on tower/CTAF (!)..."What?", you say,"how could you screw that up..."
I asked myself that too after announcing 5 NM north for landing, then short final for "8" at KFUL (um it's 6). KFUL tower then came up and cleared me to land. Great...
So THEN I was way too high and way to fast for the 172 (flying a BE36 much?) and ended up having to go around vs landing 2/3 down the runway. At least I made that decision properly. Landed without event on the next pass and ashamedly apologized to KFUL ATC for the SIM rules screw up (real world would not have been an issue at least).
So - how I did I miss that KFUL was staffed in PE? Unfamiliarity with the airport and area that led to a GOTCHA -- I checked the PE Coverage map before the flight and this is what I saw:
- OVER ZOOMED
- KFUL-XCESS ZOOM.JPG (131.51 KiB) Viewed 5368 times
Big LA Basin -- no KFUL dot...must not be covered in PE I think. NO problem...problem was -- I was overzoomed on the map and didn't realize it (in my defense there is no scale) but there is no defense. Only excuses
Pioneers lead the way.
Todd
PS I wonder if our current alphabet king made this flight in his speedy T38??? I hope so