Flight Training - January/February 2020 - 16

PREFLIGHT FLIGHT LESSON

BY TOMMY LENT

MORE ADVENTURE THAN I WANTED
AN EVENTFUL CROSS-COUNTRY

WHAT HAPPENED

Tower probably had no idea
where I needed to go, so I took
the first taxiway to the right.
The taxiway leading to the FBO
was closed.

"IT'S TIME FOR YOUR LONG CROSS-COUNTRY," MY CFI

16 FLIGHT TRAINING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

PREFLIGHT PREP

KNOW YOUR
NOTAMS
How to check notices
to airmen
Notices to airmen
(notams) contain
time-critical information
such as taxiway
closures, temporary
flight restrictions, or
chart corrections and
are included in weather
briefings from Leidos
flight service.

D-notams, which
receive distant
dissemination, are
required to have
one of the following
keywords as the
first part of the
text: RWY, TWY,
RAMP, APRON,
AD (aerodromes),
OBST, NAV, COM,
SVC, AIRSPACE, U
(unverified aeronautical information), or
O (other).

LEFT: SARAH HANSON; ABOVE: STEVE KARP

announced. I was thrilled that I was at that point in my
private pilot training, but apprehensive. His selected
route for me would be starting at Skywest Airport
(7T7)-my home base in Midland, Texas-then on to
Abilene Regional (ABI), Lubbock International (LBB),
Midland International (MAF), and back home.
A few days later, we reviewed my flight plan. My
CFI reminded me that he expects his students to keep
track of where they are at all times by hand-plotting
their position on their sectional chart, and not to rely
on the GPS. When I called him to receive final clearance, he said again, "always keep track of where you
are-I don't want you relying on that GPS."
My flight to Abilene was normal, and after landing
and refueling, I headed for Lubbock. Things were
proceeding normally along this leg, too, and I was
beginning to feel pretty comfortable.
Then, somewhere north of Snyder, Texas, my GPS
unit lost its satellite signal. Suddenly, I understood the
wisdom of always knowing where you are, regardless
of how much instrumentation might be installed in the
airplane. Even though I had been tracking my progress fairly well on my sectional chart, I felt the sudden
urge to tune immediately to a couple of different VOR
signals, cross-plot my exact location, and mark it on the
sectional. I continued to do this every two minutes or
so, in between wiping perspiration from my forehead.

After about 15 to 20 minutes the
GPS unit reacquired its signal and began
operating normally. However, this latest
turn of events, coupled with the thought
of flying into a relatively busy, new-to-me
Class C airport, had caused my stress level
to rise. I contacted Lubbock Approach and
was given vectors that would put me on a
left base for Runway 17R. The airport was
relatively busy with jet traffic and I could
feel my tension rising further. Fortunately,
my landing was decent.
However, upon touchdown, Tower
said, "Skyhawk Five-Four-Two, take
the first taxiway to the left and contact
ground." I had a moment of slight panic:
The main airport terminal was to the left
but the FBO to which I was headed was
to the right. It occurred to me that he
probably had no idea where I needed to
go, so I took the first taxiway to the right.
Instantly, he was back on the radio: "Or,
take the one to the right, whichever your
little heart desires." The taxiway leading to
the FBO was closed.
I quickly stopped, got on the radio,
and stated, "So sorry about that-student
pilot needs progressive taxi instructions
to Lubbock Aero." Without a single note of
sarcasm he said, "No problem Five-FourTwo; just turn around right where you are
and we'll get you back to where you need
to be." Thank you, Lubbock Tower.
The rest of the trip was, thankfully,
uneventful. I learned a great deal: Always
know your position by relying on your own
navigational computations; GPS is fabulous, but it doesn't always work; always
check and pay attention to all notams
along your route; and never be afraid to
admit you're wrong and notify ATC you're
a student pilot.
By the way, upon telling my instructor
about the GPS going out, he laughed and
said, "Yeah, I know, it always goes out in
that stretch. Why do you think I reminded
you to always know where you are?"

Flight Training - January/February 2020

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