As a student pilot applying for the Private Pilots Licence you must complete 10 hours of solo flight time in an appropriate type of aircraft and 5 of these hours must be solo cross-country flight time.
This flight is to be considered as the qualifying cross country test, should cover a distance of at least 150nm and make two full stop landings at two other aerodromes that are different from the aerodrome of departure. This flight is to be treated as one flight and must be completed on the same day and flights taking more than one day are not valid for this part of the test.
Each flight must be signed for by the control tower at each of the two aerodromes and get your documents signed to confirm that you arrived at that aerodrome and that the landing and your radio communications with the ATC are good. Below is a link of the form needing to be completed by the tower:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/SRG2105FF.pdf
The flight planning started a night before at home where I worked out the route. This would take me from Shoreham via Crowbrough (Around Gatwick ATZ), Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, over Gillingham and straight into Southend International Airport, Essex.
From Southend airport its then a quick (15 minutes avg) flight over the Themes River to Manston Airport, Kent. And then direct home to Shoreham over Ashford and Tenterdon.
On this flight there is a lot of open spaces and correct time keeping, correct headings and height is important.
http://www.manstonairport.com/
http://www.southendairport.com/
The next morning I then was able to see that the weather was perfect and work out the wind speeds for my flight. The wind speed would then give me my TAS (True Air Speed) which in turn would give me my timings from airport to airport and then I can then work out my fuel needed for the flight. The Wind was at 12knots on the day, just on the limits of the PPL student. The weather was perfect on the day with all the Airports in the East showing weather as “CAVOK” which means no clouds below 5000 feet, no CBs (Certain Clouds) and visibility in excess of 10 kilometres, and forecasts showing this too.
Before the flight I had to have a brief with my instructor. I had to show him my PLOG, my weight and balance spreadsheet, the airport information (Below links) for both Southend and Manston and all emergency procedures that may happen i.e.: Engine failure, Lost procedures of flying into bad weather. It was like a test.
Once this was done I was ready to go. I had checked the plane out, fuelled it, and was all booked out. All the sectors of the flight went well and all the timings I had were perfect.
I stopped at both airports for about 30 minutes to reorganise myself and my lap board, pay the landing fees and have a look around, pictures below.
The overall day was amazing, it was a great experience and I enjoyed every minute of the flight, it really homed all the training I had put in before and flying to other airports is something I am much looking forward to in the future. Below are a few pictures from the day.
Next up: My PPL Test.
http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-28BCCFDF72994294D98126FDF32256B0/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/Charts/AD/AIRAC/EG_AD_2_EGMC_2-1_en_2011-06-02.pdf
http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-28BCCFDF72994294D98126FDF32256B0/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/Charts/AD/AIRAC/EG_AD_2_EGMH_2-1_en_2011-01-13.pdf
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