PilotEdge Forums

I decided to have a go at the v03 tonight, set off ok, then about half way to the first fix I found that that I couldn't adjust the headings and bearings in less than 10 degree increments, so I had to keep adjusting course, then on the way back I found the frame rate dipping to below ten (i normally get 40), bloody virus checker had kicked in!! So I had to resort to hand flying the mini route, but got through it ok thanks to some trimming and quite wild altitude changes due to the dipping frame rates. Eventually got to torrance and was instructed to go right traffic and I went left doh!!! Thankfully ultra kind controller let me pass as my transistions were good and thats what was been tested, but really, going the wrong way round a circuit? PLeased I got the v03, but must do better! And as for macafee....

I thought I'd have a go at replicating a flight done on Youtube by a British sim and PE enthusiast - Fullerton to Whiteman. I did it without PE perfectly.
Much later in the day, I did it in PE.

Mistake 1: Forgot to enter the code and switch on the transponder! Always use a checklist in the RW but usually don't bother in the sims. Silly.
Mistake 2: Another minor Class B bust. I was departing N out of Fullerton, and then climbing to get to 6500", which would be good for the coastal route. I did a wide U turn to get the altitude I wanted in the airspace with the 100/70 label, and then was going to head back down between John Wayne and SLI. Instead of giving the Bravo a wider berth, and going more over the John Wayne's Charlie, I edged too close to the Fullerton 100/60 block of airspace again. Duuhhh! Not just too close, but a mile into it, as I was informed. I thought I had just skimmed the edge, as I realised what I was about to do and was changing my heading - obviously not quickly enough. I thought I was just on the line, but no, I was in it. Was told to descend below 6000", and not to worry Pretty silly of me. I was way above the upper limits of the Charlie airspace, yet was trying to thread a needle that didn't need to be threaded. Oh well, lesson learned. In my time zone, it was 12:30 am (as I later mentioned to the controller), so that's my excuse!

I think I'll have another go today. BTW, my Coastal Route transition and the rest of the flight was fine, so I it could have been worse.

Thanks for posting. I see a recurring pattern of people practicing flying offline before flying on PE. The issue with that approach is that you're only practicing a portion of the tasks. The radio calls, the freq changes, the transponder assignments, obtaining the bravo clearance....they're all missing. About the only thing you can practice is joining a radial. If you already know how to do that, then the practice flight serves little purpose, near as I can tell. I only say this because we've been doing this for a while, and there is a pattern of, "I flew it offline and it went great, but when I flew it online, things were different." Yes, they're different, that's why practicing offline doesn't always make sense for a ratings where most of the workload is related to the ATC interaction

Btw, a much simpler version of the flight, if you're interested, is to fly from FUL to EMT, then to WHP, flying under the LAX Bravo. If your goal is specifically to fly the Coastal route, then by all means, keep at it, but if you're trying to fly efficiently from A to B, don't be shy about going under the Bravo

Keep at it, and thanks again for posting the story!

Keith Smith wrote:Thanks for posting. I see a recurring pattern of people practicing flying offline before flying on PE. The issue with that approach is that you're only practicing a portion of the tasks. The radio calls, the freq changes, the transponder assignments, obtaining the bravo clearance....they're all missing. About the only thing you can practice is joining a radial. If you already know how to do that, then the practice flight serves little purpose, near as I can tell. I only say this because we've been doing this for a while, and there is a pattern of, "I flew it offline and it went great, but when I flew it online, things were different." Yes, they're different, that's why practicing offline doesn't always make sense for a ratings where most of the workload is related to the ATC interaction

This, This, This!!! People stop flying offline lol! It's JUST PE, it's here to help you!!!

Keith, I do see your point of view on the practice flights. Certainly, you have a valid opinion.

However, you can also look at it in another way. Many RW pilots now use the sim. to run through a proposed flight, just to see how it works for them or, indeed, how it might not work for them! You have an opportunity, at leisure, to see what's coming up, go over the tasks you may have to perform, have another look at the charts, etc., etc. You can pause, re-evaluate, etc. If you are just a simmer, you can even swap planes (easy in FSX, a chore in X-Plane!). All this without the pressure of ATC and real time. You can use the sim. for what it is so good at - an IFR (and VFR) procedural trainer or refresher.

Then you add PE, and up the ante a lot.

There is also, surely, a feeling among many (and I've definitely seen this on Youtube and Twitch) that they would rather not screw things up in PE and get embarrassed! You are "damned if you do, and damned if you don't"! You can pat yourself on the back if you get it right, or castigate yourself if you get it wrong. Either way, you've learned something, so the time isn't wasted.

So, I do see exactly where you are coming from, which is absolutely on the money for what PE is setting out to do, but I also see another angle As they say, "Whatever works for you...." As a rule, I have generally not practiced flights in advance. I did this one, and I still made some mistakes!

On your other point, yes, of course going under the Bravo with a more direct route makes sense, but I was just copying someone else, and doing the Coastal Route deliberately. Thanks a million for your input.

And, Ryan, you are correct too. The controllers on PE do say that is what they are there for!

Keith had a bit of trouble parking at the gate, but to be fair there was apparently a disruption in the cockpit. I believe this is one of the reasons why spouses are not generally permitted on the flight deck.

At my VA, we don't just get you to the gate, we drop you off right in the restaurant!! Yes, bit of a rough time parking last night. I hurried my shutdown and skipped the parking brake, thinking I'd just have the toe brakes down, then I'd chock it. Well, during the shutdown I turned off the hydraulics (goodbye brakes!!) before the engines and that was the end of that. I madly started clicking the 'chock' button but apparently the line staff wussies at LAX weren't willing to chock the plane while it careened into the Starbucks. Where's the commitment to excellence?! Anyway, I got the hydraulics back online and stopped the airplane.

I then left the cockpit to resolve the source of the distraction

Keith Smith wrote:I then left the cockpit to resolve the source of the distraction

I really loved this story. Unfortunately my sick mind began thinking about Otto the autopilot.............
If this is inappropriate, please delete. However, I'm afraid my attempt at "humor" may actually just show my age.

You're fine

I can't find "He's flying like a klutz" in the PCG, but after several (reasonably ) well managed and correctly flown flights on PE lately, I blotted my copybook by "flying like a klutz" tonight! It was late at night, and reinforces the RW edict of never flying when you are fatigued!