First, the questions...
I'm sure it's come up in a workshop, video, or something that I've read recently, but I got into a bit of a panic last night as I was getting closer to the Delta airspace of KPSP. I'd had Flight Following all the way from Ramona, but hadn't heard anything from SoCal Departure in quite a while, and I just wasn't sure if I should reach out to PSP Tower, or wait for SoCal to hand me off. So I asked ATC, "SoCal Departure, Baron 58E is just outside Palm Springs airspace, requesting handoff to Palm Springs Tower" And a moment later, I was given permission to do so. My question is: did I do the right thing, or should I have just stayed silent on SoCal's freq and waited for handoff?
My other question is about airway altitude. I initially requested 9000 ft for this NE flight (feeling that it probably ought to have been 7500, or 9500, etc.). However, since I was going to fly along V208 between JULIAN and THERMAL, I went with what I thought was the correct altitude for that airway. Perhaps I'm reading the chart wrong (here), but doesn't the "9000" right above the "V208" mean fly that altitude? Well, now I'm wondering if the "Lo" and "Hi" enroute charts are really for IFR only. But if that's the case, then why would it show an "8500" for V460 (just below V208)?
Anyway, here are some random thoughts and take aways from my flight...
First, I need to go back to a single engine! Things happen way too fast for my liking right now in the Baron Twin. I think I'll be dusting off my 182RG for my next flight. I'm just not practiced enough yet for the overly maneuverable (read: less forgiving ) low-wing Baron. The few r/w hours that I flew in a C172, I don't remember having to make constant adjustments [without autopilot], despite best trimming effort. So it's back in the saddle of a high-wing single for the most part, at least while I'm honing my flying and comms skills (might still jump in a Twin or even Learjet now and then for an LAS hop!).
As you can see from the PEaware map, I overshot the THERMAL VOR. I knew that I had for two reasons: First, out of my right window I could see that I was waaaaay past the northern tip of the Salton Sea (a pretty good VFR landmark!). Also, the rising DME numbers *from* THERMAL was a pretty good clue too! (
) At that moment I was getting flustered and everything was happening so fast. The pathetic thing is there was very little communications going on at the time, so I can't even blame radio nervousness. Basically, I think I spent way too much time messing with the OBS/HSI, trying desperately to stay on the inbound THERMAL radial and, ironically, I was distracted so much that I overshot it. I was still somewhat panicky during my descent to PSP, and didn't feel comfortable to penetrate the PSP Delta without further comms so, as you can also see, I bought some time and did a little loop (and did I say how much I love PEaware!).On the bright side, it was totally exhilarating flying without the GPS/moving map (and just using Foreflight on my iPad as a way to view the sectional) - and I thank Keith's recent workshop for making that recommendation. I had originally thought that having GPS and moving map functionality (especially on a separate device) for flight sims was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Now I realize that I'm going to learn essential skills a lot faster without it.
I really thought I was 110% ready to take the V-1, but now I can clearly see that I need a little more practice with the basics before I should attempt it. Two steps forwards, one back, and all that....
