Flight Training - October 2011 - 26

FLYING CARPET

By Greg Brown

PLUS View a slideshow.

JAMES MCKINLEY poses with Fly Corona’s flyingclub Bonanza on a recent flight to Sedona, Arizona.

THE CASE FOR AN INSTRUMENT RATING
ecently I lost a friend to ‘controlled flight into terrain,’” said James Mckinley, a 150-hour Southern California private pilot. “This was the first time I’ve known anyone killed in an airplane crash.” James explained that his buddy, Andy, had flown out of Banning Airport, and every Sunday the two would convene with the “Coyote Aviation Breakfast Club” at Redlands and fly to a nearby airport café.
“Andy was headed to meet us when he struck a ridge in low clouds and fog. Sadly, on bad-weather days like that we normally all drive to a local restaurant, but Andy decided to fly.” James described his friend’s reputation for making risky flights in poor weather by following freeways and dodging terrain with a handheld GPS. “I feel guilty for not voicing my opinion on his poor judgment in this area,” said James, “but I wrongly assumed that after years of flying, Andy knew what he was doing. Anyway, I doubt anyone’s advice would have mattered.” I expressed my condolences, but James had more personal concerns. “Last Sunday I flew my 7-year-old from Corona to Banning in a Cessna 150 to drop him at his mother’s. Normally I fly a Bonanza, but my son loves the smaller airplane because it’s ‘his size.’ I departed Banning after dark, intending to

NEW CHAPTER

R

INSTRUMENT RATING REQUIREMENTS (FAR 61.65)D(OUBLE EAGLE II
Hold at least a private pilot certificate. Be able to speak or write English. Receive and log ground and flight training. Pass required knowledge test. At least 50 hours cross-country time as PIC. Total of 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time.

make night-currency landings at several airports on my way back. On startup I discovered the cockpit lighting was weak; fortunately, I was prepared with several flashlights. “Then, after takeoff, the airplane didn’t climb as I expected. Though it eventually improved, I became rattled. This was my first flight out of Banning, which adjoins a mountain pass, and believe me, there was lots of red on my GPS terrain display. I knew I was safe by staying over the I-10 freeway, but suddenly pictured myself in a bad situation similar to Andy’s on his final flight. I considered landing at San Bernardino, but with other nearby airports available as ‘outs,’ I continued uneventfully to Corona. “I was very frightened by this flight, though in reality there was nothing wrong with the airplane, and the weather was fine other than a high overcast. I think it was a mixture of flying an unfamiliar plane with poor climb performance compared to the Bonanza I’m used to, poor cockpit lighting, and my friend’s recent crash in the same area. “Here’s my problem: I used to love night flying, and was comfortable managing the added risks. But this time I kept wondering if the engine might quit, and whether I’d survive an off-airport landing. I never did finish my night-currency practice because I just wanted to get on the ground.” For the first time ever, James had lost confidence while piloting. Now he was beside himself. “I’m at a loss. Should I do more night training with a CFI? Or practice in my regular airplane? I love flying with all my heart; I read everything aviation, and fly as often as possible to stay current. How do

STACY HAGEN

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Flight Training - October 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - October 2011

Flight Training - October 2011
Contents
President’s Perspective
Right Seat
Letters
Dancing After Dark
This Weekend
Success Stories What It Looks Like
Training Products
Air Safety Institute
News
Tech Tip
Since You Asked
Member Products
AOPA Action
Final Exam
AOPA Action
Insights
Flying Carpet
Here Comes the Night
Do Over
Technique
Weather
Accident Report
Flight Lesson
Too Tired to Care?
Career Advisor
Tech Talk
Silence!
First-Lesson Etiquette
Watch Your Feet!
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - October 2011 - Flight Training - October 2011
Flight Training - October 2011 - Cover2
Flight Training - October 2011 - Contents
Flight Training - October 2011 - 2
Flight Training - October 2011 - 3
Flight Training - October 2011 - President’s Perspective
Flight Training - October 2011 - 5
Flight Training - October 2011 - Right Seat
Flight Training - October 2011 - 7
Flight Training - October 2011 - Letters
Flight Training - October 2011 - 9
Flight Training - October 2011 - Dancing After Dark
Flight Training - October 2011 - 11
Flight Training - October 2011 - This Weekend
Flight Training - October 2011 - Success Stories What It Looks Like
Flight Training - October 2011 - Training Products
Flight Training - October 2011 - Air Safety Institute
Flight Training - October 2011 - News
Flight Training - October 2011 - Tech Tip
Flight Training - October 2011 - Since You Asked
Flight Training - October 2011 - 19
Flight Training - October 2011 - Member Products
Flight Training - October 2011 - AOPA Action
Flight Training - October 2011 - Final Exam
Flight Training - October 2011 - 23
Flight Training - October 2011 - AOPA Action
Flight Training - October 2011 - Insights
Flight Training - October 2011 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - October 2011 - 27
Flight Training - October 2011 - Here Comes the Night
Flight Training - October 2011 - 29
Flight Training - October 2011 - 30
Flight Training - October 2011 - 31
Flight Training - October 2011 - 32
Flight Training - October 2011 - 33
Flight Training - October 2011 - Do Over
Flight Training - October 2011 - 35
Flight Training - October 2011 - 36
Flight Training - October 2011 - 37
Flight Training - October 2011 - Technique
Flight Training - October 2011 - 39
Flight Training - October 2011 - Weather
Flight Training - October 2011 - 41
Flight Training - October 2011 - Accident Report
Flight Training - October 2011 - 43
Flight Training - October 2011 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - October 2011 - Too Tired to Care?
Flight Training - October 2011 - Career Advisor
Flight Training - October 2011 - 47
Flight Training - October 2011 - Tech Talk
Flight Training - October 2011 - Silence!
Flight Training - October 2011 - First-Lesson Etiquette
Flight Training - October 2011 - Watch Your Feet!
Flight Training - October 2011 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - October 2011 - 53
Flight Training - October 2011 - 54
Flight Training - October 2011 - 55
Flight Training - October 2011 - Debrief
Flight Training - October 2011 - Cover3
Flight Training - October 2011 - Cover4
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