My worst mistake was during my QXC. I took off from Sleap, climbed to 2000' then headed towards the Low Level Corridor aiming for Ashcroft Airfield, destination Blackpool. Bimbling along feeling good, I listened to MCR ATIS & dutifully wrote down 1013 QNH. Did my FREDA checks, changed to Mcr App freq & input the listening squawk. All good, so I entered the LLC 100' under the Class D. After about 30 seconds I got a call from Mcr Approach controller & feeling smug I asked him to pass his message... "Can you check your altimeter setting please?" I'd only gone and entered Class D airspace 300' higher than I thought. It was all down to me checking only the final digit of the QNH which was exactly the same as the Sleap QFE of 1003 that I had not changed from. A very quick descent and an apology over the radio followed by a proper change of setting saw me safely "under the roof"... how embarrassed was I. FREDA checks (and any other checks involving altimeter settings) have been done twice ever since in a "do them then check them" manner and I never take off from an airfield without setting QNH first.
Learn from the mistakes of others is something my instructors always drummed into me. I was always instructed that if you don't have two thirds of take off speed by the mid point of the runway abort.
Love this video Jon, I learned to fly at Elstree in a C42 Microlight, not landed there for a while, bought back lovely memories of circuits at Elstree! Did my first solo there too...
As a recently passed PPL, this video has come at the perfect time! Great to hear about the pitfalls of distraction, the different confessions, your own nervousness of that non-standard circuit and all the tips along the way during your flight! Keep them coming :)
You and I are of a similar vintage and like you I qualified about ten years ago: although you have many more hours and more experience than I could hope for. But one thing that I notice as I become older and possibly wiser, is how if anything I have become more cautious with every flight I take, to the point of "fearing" mistakes, that we nevertheless all make from time to time. I really enjoyed this particular video, because it shows that we are all still learning on every flight, and I particularly enjoyed the running commentary with Nigel: extremely helpful. Thank-you.
That was a great video very informative. As a newly qualified NPPL holder I took my 1st Pax up this week. I have few mistakes getting to this stage , on 1 occasion doing solo trip back to home airfield EGBO I didn’t change to QFE so I was lower than I should have been. We will all make mistakes but it what you learn for them. Learned a lot from this video 👍👍
Elstree... this brought many memories. I learned to fly at Elstree and remember very well all those complicated procedures, and the circuit... with the rugby poles on short final runway 26... my first solo ended up with an overhead join on 08 like yours, but a light aircraft above the airfield at the same time as me... I tried to hold it together but it was stressful
Again will say not flown for 30 yrs but really want to get back in the air. Can recall landing on the wrong runway at Manchester City Airport (Barton) when I took a pal up. We were too engrossed in watching some clubmates get out of their aircraft after an engine failure on takeoff. Felt like a total muppet !! This video is really good because it highlights that with just a little bit of thought and planning something that's scary and avoided can be quite easy/straightforward
Good video packed full of tips. Very useful as I have just gained by PPL and I am always looking for videos to learn from other pilots experiences. Thanks.
Such a useful video - many thanks. The other issue that comes up is the benefit of flying with a 'critical friend' which really keeps one sharp. I've really needed these videos and the wisdom of an experienced friend as I've got back into flying!
Hi Jon. Enjoyed the ride along as always! Thanks to you and Nigel. Great bit of honest there from everyone. Always good to learn from each others misgivings!
Excellent video as ever, Jon. Like the mix of "confessions" (I'm sure we all have some!), with the instructional refresher, and then the flight to an airfield with a challenging circuit.
Another great video, instructional as always!! Thank you!!! My home airfield is Elstree and I chose it also because it is impossibly busy with a downsloping runway with non standard circuits and no fly zones in the ATZ. I find this makes it easier for me when I land away. You nailed the landing on 08 though, it's never easy!!!
Good to see the overhead join in use and why it's important. Too many people (even visitors) try and cut their flight short. Why? 'IV fitted in to the traffic perfectly and you thus had time to concentrate on positioning, performance and stable approach. Nice one.
Fair play to the chap who recognising his mistake with the empty fuel tank. In an engine failure situation with adrenaline running that check could have been overlooked as well.
I was bashing out circuits touch and goes, when after one of my landings I forgot to retract the flaps. So I was trying to gain height but my speed kept dropping low. And then my brain finally kicked in and I spoke out loud my taking off mnemonics ' FELT', flaps, engine light and trim. Luckily the first one was my que, and boy did it scare me.
One thing find far easier and don’t understand why many people don’t do, is to fly with the SkyDemon on “Track up” not “North up”. Then you have everything you look at out of the screen is in the same aspect and position as what you see on the screen in front of you. It gives you far better orientation especially when approaching an airfield and trying to work out runway directions and circuits. It also means on your SkyDemon you are always flying up the screen, rather than all different directions. I believe the military always teach this way. It is so obvious as everything to your real left and right is the same on the screen. Surely the only reason people fly North up with a paper map, is because the writing is that way round, but not a moving map it is corrected.
Fascinating and enlightening video. I once had an aircraft state to ATC that they were parallel to me - they were faster - and heading towards an overhead join. I had to correct ATC (and thus the other pilot) that he wasn't parallel he was converging upon me (he should have given way or passed to the right behind me iirc). I was waiting for what he did next and that was cut me up, again, then he proceeded to over fly a noise abatement area, well outside of the circuit, only to then cut me up again as he tried to descend deadside. Dad and I also had a Hercules (after we were in comms with Lynham and detailing that we were final to land at a local farm strip) loom out of cloud, low level, straight across our course. I don't think Lynham was impressed. Similarly, Fairford and Brize were not impressed, when the "reds" flew around my father, unannounced at about 1000'. It was a standing joke after that, that he had flown in formation with the reds (good job his first time px didn't even notice!), dad was asked if he'd like to report it, but he, as a gent, declined. My most embarrassing cock up? Using a check list, jumping forward on the check list (not realising I'd missed a section out), in front of an instructor, forgot to turn the switches on, wondered why, the ruddy thing wouldnt start. It then dawned on me, after 2-3 attempts, red faced, I apologised to the instructor who'd sat there arms folded and saying nothing. I didn't do it again!🙄🙄😄
I almost had a mid-air collision with a plane coming from the left. I'm honestly not sure what to do in that case, since they are supposed to make way, but it took them quite a while. I kept going, wanting to avoid the possibility of both of us evading the same way and it ended up alright, but I do wonder if maybe I should have just done an initially steep right-hand turn to let them pass. My instructor was with me in the plane and didn't seem particularly bothered, but they were far too close for my liking. That was a long time ago and I never ended up finishing my license, with the pandemic and everything, but I intend on getting it eventually. I think I'm mostly going to stay away from 2,000 ft, since that altitude is so congested with GA planes. Oh, in case the rules are different in the UK: This was in Germany.
Hey, I also fly in Germany. Around the area of Frankfurt where it can get quite congested due to the class C above. There are a few factors to consider here: Did you have your transponder on ALT? Were you on FIS? Did your plane have collision warning systems like FLARM or equivalent? In what phase of flight were you? Generally it is not that easy to hit each other when in the air. That said I also have had an instance where I avoided a mid air collision with an ultralight coming from the front. In a situation like yours if I am not sure whether they have seen me, I would probably either descend below or climb above (depending on whether you are flying a low or high wing so you do not loose sight) or turn away from them. Also go for the license! It's worth it. And the fact that you are watching videos like these make me sure that you are a responsible pilot.
As an analytical chemist I'm guilty of failing to follow checklists at times for our instruments. It's a bad habit to have but at least I'm not a pilot and the consequences are less severe.
Really great video thank you John. . One quick q if you dont mind me asking - you didnt land on centerline and stayed left of that - was that intentional? @32:18
Hi there, looks like your nosewheel doors do not shut completely, or does the angle trick us here? I own an Arrow II and wonder: do you switch on the fuel pump before swapping tanks? do you check the fuel flow stabilizing before/while/after tank swap? Interesting to see, very nice vids, thx for that and Arrows are the best, greetings from Germany, Kalle
Not sure about the doors. They don't seem to be flush - agreed. Is that normal/Abnormal. There is no requirement on the PA28R201T to switch on the fuel pump for fuel tank change. Yes, I do check the fuel flow before, during and after change.
one more: you reached a sink rate of apprx 1,500ft/min on final, hence you were too fast, for my taste too high over threshold and - cause of the speed - you flared a bit with a tendency to veer off to the left, for my taste the touchdown was far to much to the left of the centerline, I have the same tendency myself coming in too fast and then flaring a lot to slow down, my left foot stands on the left rudder too much and therefore I tend to flare to the left of centerline, took me ages to correct that, maybe its the same with you?
Very good critique. The sink rate of 1500 was on base. By final, this was arrested - but good spot. You'll also hear me say, arresting descent (on short final) adjusting all the way down. I was managing this on final approach. I wasn't too fast on final, I was at 75 knots - the published speed for my aircraft at its weight. I did veer left...don't normally do that - so annoyed with myself that I did. Thanks for the feedback.
@@TheFlyingReporter huh, isnt it an Arrow II? I go 80 on base, 70 on final and 65-70 over the fence, depending on weight and gustfactor...but I heard the stall horn during flare so speeds seem to be on spot
My worst mistake was during my QXC. I took off from Sleap, climbed to 2000' then headed towards the Low Level Corridor aiming for Ashcroft Airfield, destination Blackpool. Bimbling along feeling good, I listened to MCR ATIS & dutifully wrote down 1013 QNH. Did my FREDA checks, changed to Mcr App freq & input the listening squawk. All good, so I entered the LLC 100' under the Class D. After about 30 seconds I got a call from Mcr Approach controller & feeling smug I asked him to pass his message... "Can you check your altimeter setting please?" I'd only gone and entered Class D airspace 300' higher than I thought.
It was all down to me checking only the final digit of the QNH which was exactly the same as the Sleap QFE of 1003 that I had not changed from. A very quick descent and an apology over the radio followed by a proper change of setting saw me safely "under the roof"... how embarrassed was I. FREDA checks (and any other checks involving altimeter settings) have been done twice ever since in a "do them then check them" manner and I never take off from an airfield without setting QNH first.
Learn from the mistakes of others is something my instructors always drummed into me. I was always instructed that if you don't have two thirds of take off speed by the mid point of the runway abort.
Love this video Jon, I learned to fly at Elstree in a C42 Microlight, not landed there for a while, bought back lovely memories of circuits at Elstree! Did my first solo there too...
Flew with Nigel earlier this year. Thoroughly enjoyed it
He's one of the good guys out there.
I learnt to fly at Elstree, and I'm now based here. We love our non standard circuits :-) As to 'its not set of rails....... wait till you deviate 🙂
As a recently passed PPL, this video has come at the perfect time! Great to hear about the pitfalls of distraction, the different confessions, your own nervousness of that non-standard circuit and all the tips along the way during your flight! Keep them coming :)
Couldn't agree more :D
Congratulations on passing.
You and I are of a similar vintage and like you I qualified about ten years ago: although you have many more hours and more experience than I could hope for. But one thing that I notice as I become older and possibly wiser, is how if anything I have become more cautious with every flight I take, to the point of "fearing" mistakes, that we nevertheless all make from time to time.
I really enjoyed this particular video, because it shows that we are all still learning on every flight, and I particularly enjoyed the running commentary with Nigel: extremely helpful. Thank-you.
That was a great video very informative.
As a newly qualified NPPL holder I took my 1st Pax up this week.
I have few mistakes getting to this stage , on 1 occasion doing solo trip back to home airfield EGBO I didn’t change to QFE so I was lower than I should have been.
We will all make mistakes but it what you learn for them.
Learned a lot from this video 👍👍
Thanks Ranbir.
Nice contents as usual !! I’m learning to fly at Elstree , circuits is really challenging due to obstacles and noise abatement.
denham circuits are also challenging
Elstree... this brought many memories. I learned to fly at Elstree and remember very well all those complicated procedures, and the circuit... with the rugby poles on short final runway 26... my first solo ended up with an overhead join on 08 like yours, but a light aircraft above the airfield at the same time as me... I tried to hold it together but it was stressful
As someone who one day wants to learn to fly, it's somewhat comforting to know that these mistakes do happen.
Believe it or not, we're all human - at least for now!
A great episode… very entertaining and very humbling! My own confession will be in the post shortly!
Looking forward to it.
For a newbie PPL now flying on my own this episode was fully devoured! thank you
Glad you liked it Kurt.
Well done for passing Kurt.
Again will say not flown for 30 yrs but really want to get back in the air. Can recall landing on the wrong runway at Manchester City Airport (Barton) when I took a pal up. We were too engrossed in watching some clubmates get out of their aircraft after an engine failure on takeoff. Felt like a total muppet !! This video is really good because it highlights that with just a little bit of thought and planning something that's scary and avoided can be quite easy/straightforward
Good video packed full of tips. Very useful as I have just gained by PPL and I am always looking for videos to learn from other pilots experiences. Thanks.
Thanks Richard - glad you found the video useful.
Such a useful video - many thanks. The other issue that comes up is the benefit of flying with a 'critical friend' which really keeps one sharp. I've really needed these videos and the wisdom of an experienced friend as I've got back into flying!
Nigel is just that - a very critical friend!!
As someone who has made a few mistakes (that I know of) over the years I found this very interesting and useful, thanks.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video.
Hi Jon. Enjoyed the ride along as always! Thanks to you and Nigel. Great bit of honest there from everyone. Always good to learn from each others misgivings!
Thanks Stuart.
Glad someone else had the same reaction to the Elstree circuit. I had one flight as a student there, and that circuit completely threw me.
It's certainly an odd one!
Excellent video as ever, Jon. Like the mix of "confessions" (I'm sure we all have some!), with the instructional refresher, and then the flight to an airfield with a challenging circuit.
Another great video, instructional as always!! Thank you!!! My home airfield is Elstree and I chose it also because it is impossibly busy with a downsloping runway with non standard circuits and no fly zones in the ATZ. I find this makes it easier for me when I land away. You nailed the landing on 08 though, it's never easy!!!
Good to see the overhead join in use and why it's important. Too many people (even visitors) try and cut their flight short. Why? 'IV fitted in to the traffic perfectly and you thus had time to concentrate on positioning, performance and stable approach. Nice one.
I really enjoyed this video - thank you
Really helpful video to a PPL student like myself!
Glad you enjoyed the video Jon.
Estree is my home field, where I’m trying for my PPL. Fab to see others dealing with what I deal with on a daily basis :)
Great video Jon. Can we have some more like this, as no one is providing informative quality content like this?
Fair play to the chap who recognising his mistake with the empty fuel tank. In an engine failure situation with adrenaline running that check could have been overlooked as well.
I was bashing out circuits touch and goes, when after one of my landings I forgot to retract the flaps. So I was trying to gain height but my speed kept dropping low. And then my brain finally kicked in and I spoke out loud my taking off mnemonics ' FELT', flaps, engine light and trim. Luckily the first one was my que, and boy did it scare me.
One thing find far easier and don’t understand why many people don’t do, is to fly with the SkyDemon on “Track up” not “North up”.
Then you have everything you look at out of the screen is in the same aspect and position as what you see on the screen in front of you.
It gives you far better orientation especially when approaching an airfield and trying to work out runway directions and circuits. It also means on your SkyDemon you are always flying up the screen, rather than all different directions. I believe the military always teach this way. It is so obvious as everything to your real left and right is the same on the screen. Surely the only reason people fly North up with a paper map, is because the writing is that way round, but not a moving map it is corrected.
Even with a paper map it is not difficult to fly track up if you are used t military map reading techniques.
Great video. Very informative and entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it Alan.
Fascinating and enlightening video.
I once had an aircraft state to ATC that they were parallel to me - they were faster - and heading towards an overhead join. I had to correct ATC (and thus the other pilot) that he wasn't parallel he was converging upon me (he should have given way or passed to the right behind me iirc). I was waiting for what he did next and that was cut me up, again, then he proceeded to over fly a noise abatement area, well outside of the circuit, only to then cut me up again as he tried to descend deadside.
Dad and I also had a Hercules (after we were in comms with Lynham and detailing that we were final to land at a local farm strip) loom out of cloud, low level, straight across our course. I don't think Lynham was impressed. Similarly, Fairford and Brize were not impressed, when the "reds" flew around my father, unannounced at about 1000'. It was a standing joke after that, that he had flown in formation with the reds (good job his first time px didn't even notice!), dad was asked if he'd like to report it, but he, as a gent, declined.
My most embarrassing cock up? Using a check list, jumping forward on the check list (not realising I'd missed a section out), in front of an instructor, forgot to turn the switches on, wondered why, the ruddy thing wouldnt start. It then dawned on me, after 2-3 attempts, red faced, I apologised to the instructor who'd sat there arms folded and saying nothing. I didn't do it again!🙄🙄😄
I almost had a mid-air collision with a plane coming from the left. I'm honestly not sure what to do in that case, since they are supposed to make way, but it took them quite a while. I kept going, wanting to avoid the possibility of both of us evading the same way and it ended up alright, but I do wonder if maybe I should have just done an initially steep right-hand turn to let them pass.
My instructor was with me in the plane and didn't seem particularly bothered, but they were far too close for my liking.
That was a long time ago and I never ended up finishing my license, with the pandemic and everything, but I intend on getting it eventually. I think I'm mostly going to stay away from 2,000 ft, since that altitude is so congested with GA planes.
Oh, in case the rules are different in the UK: This was in Germany.
The right of way rule is only any good, if both pilots can see each other. I always fly defensively.
Hey, I also fly in Germany. Around the area of Frankfurt where it can get quite congested due to the class C above. There are a few factors to consider here:
Did you have your transponder on ALT?
Were you on FIS?
Did your plane have collision warning systems like FLARM or equivalent?
In what phase of flight were you?
Generally it is not that easy to hit each other when in the air. That said I also have had an instance where I avoided a mid air collision with an ultralight coming from the front. In a situation like yours if I am not sure whether they have seen me, I would probably either descend below or climb above (depending on whether you are flying a low or high wing so you do not loose sight) or turn away from them.
Also go for the license! It's worth it. And the fact that you are watching videos like these make me sure that you are a responsible pilot.
@@Juhujalp Thanks for your comment. I'm getting started for a LAPl (A) license, and I always want to be flying safe and responsible.
As an analytical chemist I'm guilty of failing to follow checklists at times for our instruments. It's a bad habit to have but at least I'm not a pilot and the consequences are less severe.
Really great video thank you John. . One quick q if you dont mind me asking - you didnt land on centerline and stayed left of that - was that intentional? @32:18
Not intentional Dave! I swear the camera makes it look worse than it was...my excuse anyway.
@@TheFlyingReporter oh ok, that makes sense because the camera makes it look really bad
Very good guys
Thank you Kevin.
Come on John, pop to Denham at 1000ft QNH. You'll be most welcome. Just report at the local VRPs
Actually, flew by you the other day.
Where to go after landing 👍👍
Hi there, looks like your nosewheel doors do not shut completely, or does the angle trick us here? I own an Arrow II and wonder: do you switch on the fuel pump before swapping tanks? do you check the fuel flow stabilizing before/while/after tank swap? Interesting to see, very nice vids, thx for that and Arrows are the best, greetings from Germany, Kalle
Not sure about the doors. They don't seem to be flush - agreed. Is that normal/Abnormal. There is no requirement on the PA28R201T to switch on the fuel pump for fuel tank change. Yes, I do check the fuel flow before, during and after change.
my gear doors were adjusted at first annual and I gained a knot or two from it, so maybe a check is worth the effort
Try doing that with no radios. That is pretty much the norm in the US.
Centre line !!!
Thank you David. I hadn't noticed !!
Close and lock the cargo door because there is a video of one flying off and blocking the rudder
one more: you reached a sink rate of apprx 1,500ft/min on final, hence you were too fast, for my taste too high over threshold and - cause of the speed - you flared a bit with a tendency to veer off to the left, for my taste the touchdown was far to much to the left of the centerline, I have the same tendency myself coming in too fast and then flaring a lot to slow down, my left foot stands on the left rudder too much and therefore I tend to flare to the left of centerline, took me ages to correct that, maybe its the same with you?
Very good critique. The sink rate of 1500 was on base. By final, this was arrested - but good spot. You'll also hear me say, arresting descent (on short final) adjusting all the way down. I was managing this on final approach. I wasn't too fast on final, I was at 75 knots - the published speed for my aircraft at its weight. I did veer left...don't normally do that - so annoyed with myself that I did. Thanks for the feedback.
@@TheFlyingReporter huh, isnt it an Arrow II? I go 80 on base, 70 on final and 65-70 over the fence, depending on weight and gustfactor...but I heard the stall horn during flare so speeds seem to be on spot
It's an Arrow 3, turbo. And no, those speeds definitely wouldn't work with my airframe. I flew my POH speeds.
Back when the countryside was green... 😆