Never again on PE - share your mistakes

[zachdecou]

Last night I flew VFR out of KVNY for KRIR. My instruction from tower when cleared for a turn to the east was to remain south of KBUR at all times. I looked at my chart and saw my out bound course from VNY VOR just shaving the whiskers off the south end of Burbank's south runway. That's south of isn't it? Well, to Burbank tower, I appeared to be barreling toward the numbers of runway 33. Burbank tower kindly reminded me that the controllers really have no idea what my flight plan is when flying VFR, and that their instructions and restrictions take presidence over my plans.

Next time, remain south of will mean remain SOUTH of.

[ChristophPreinfalk]

Had my first PE crash last night. Was trying to do my first full V-3 practice flight. Took off, no aileron control!!!!!! The plane started to roll to the left (propeller torque), I had full elevator and rudder control, but no aileron control. Just like my aileron axis on the joystick wasn't assigned. After I crashed I told the controller that I need to log off due to equipment problems. I logged off of PE and tried again, everything was working fine. No joystick configuration problem. I have an X-Plane 10.11 installation and never changed the equipment failure settings, so I guess I ran into a rare case where something "broke" on my plane! At least that's my only explanation. Oh well. By the time I was ready to try again, it was too late to do the V-3 practice flight.

Lesson learned:
- Check the control surfaces before each flight, just like in real world.
- Or, turn off failures in X-Plane!

[arb65912]

Hi Chris, in my opinion it was not really a mistake except checking controls before flight.
I was thinking many times if I should have the failures turned on in X-Plane and decided against it.
When/IF I even get proficient enough with my ATC interaction, flying and navigating, I might enable it but for the learning purposes, for me , there is enough to deal with. Cheers, AJ

[arb65912]

Here comes my turn again...

Busted class Bravo. I was flying COLISEUM ROUTE, all good, switched to next SoCal frequency, was told maintain VFR and started getting in trouble.

I was still few miles from the Bravo boundary, somewhere at the beginning of SNA class C below when I started descending to 5,500'.

I was instructed about my mistake by the Controller.

I simply did not realized that "maintain VFR" did not release me from flying COLISEUM ROUTE at 9,500'.
After leaving Bravo, I would be OK to descend as long as I would not violate descending below top of the Charlie.

NOW, I know. Lesson learned. Cheers, AJ

[ChristophPreinfalk]

AJ,

When I did my first Coastal Route flight for V-3 practice, I did the exact same thing for the exact same reason. I took "maintain VFR" as "do whatever you want from now on, you're done with the bravo" and I descended while still in the bravo and the controller made me aware that this is not okay.

[arb65912]

Hi Chris, I love learning on PE. So far , out of all LAX Class Bravo transitions, MINI ROUTE and LAX SFRA are the hardest for me, things go fast... Cheers, AJ

[ChristophPreinfalk]

Tell me about it! Yesterday I did the Coastal Route North, turned south to do the Mini Route South. Boy, there are a lot of frequency changes!

[Pieces]

Don't mess with icing folks. I just went to participate in the Wheel of Fortune flight. Got cleared to my final altitude of 9000. Started losing power, and was soon unable to maintain altitude. Called up approach, was approved for a descent. Got down to the new altitude, still didn't have power. Got clearance to continue descending, and decided its not a good time to be flying so I asked for the nearest ILS. Got cleared and landed safely. Ice cleared up at about 5500.

During my brief planning, I hadn't looked at the weather at all. Never thought I would have to deal with Icing in the sim. After I got down I checked the weather and sure enough, a large portion of the SOCAL area is under an icing airmet.

I think I had REX's icing settings way too high, so I've dialed it down now. But still, I'll be checking that from now on. Thanks for the great handling Eugene.

[breadwild]

This evening was my first time on PE after watching all the workshops on YouTube and laughing out loud at Keith's quips.

The controllers were gentle albeit I left the pattern by flying over the airport for reaching the runway terminus, and crossing an active taxiway after landing. The workshops don't cover it all, but sudden reminders from my actual flying days and help from the PE controllers made it tolerable. Lots to learn, but thanks.

[ChristophPreinfalk]

I try to learn stuff before I go on PE, but any time I do something new, the helpful controllers make me aware of my mistakes. I try to make every mistake only once.

Last night my mistake was as follows: I was practicing the I-2 flight. Once I got to Socal App and got cleared for visual approach, I requested ILS. Got the clearance and kept on flying. And kept on flying. Eventually the controller remarked that I'm 5 miles off course (or something like that) and asked me for my intentions. I said "Uhm ... you cleared me for the ILS, was kinda waiting for vectors ..." ... he then clarified for me that if I'd get vectors, he'd have told me ahead of time. I was supposed to fly the approach plate. Funny thing is that I practiced the I-2 flight off-line several times, flying the approach plate with no issues, but it didn't occur to me that I should have flown the approach plate on-line as well! Not sure why I didn't think of that.