PPL EXAM AND FIRST CROSS COUNTRY
Written: 21 AUGUST 2003

The day has come when I had to take my first FAA theory exam. We've had 4 tests here at school to prepare for this one, and it was as we've been told by the other students easier than the school tests. The test was done in the schools FAA Lasergrade computer testing center and I spent a little more than one hour on it. The result couldn't get any better: 100% and that means that I'm theoretically ready to do the PPL Checkride to receive my Private licence. But first I have to clock more hours in the air.

I came a bit closer today actually. After the exam I got ready to go on my first dual cross country flight with Anna. I spent a couple of hours yesterday planning the flight, plotting the course and taking out checkpoints, and I showed up at school three hours before the exam to do my final planning based on todays weather. Surprisingly enough the planning worked pretty good, which is good considering this is my first planning. I had planned a trip to Wilmington with a fuelstop and then to Laurinburg-Maxton for a touch and go before the return to Conway.

We took off at 1700 and followed my plan to Wilmington which is in Class D Airspace and is a controlled airport. I got to talk to several control centers on the way. I haven't really been in touch with ATC so far, so that was new and exciting even though I had a hard time understanding everything. As we entered the Wilmington airspace I got vectored in for landing at rwy 17 behind a Citation. Another major difference was the size of the runway which was alot longer and wider than Conway. We were waved in and parked at BP and got refueld while we went inside to check the weather and file a new flightplan.

We were soon up in the air again and on our way to the next destination, Laurinburg-Maxton. Halfway there Anna got me to divert to Columbus for educational purposes so that I got to do all the course plotting, speed and time while in the air. Not exactly easy, though I managed to get us right on top of the airport. After a touch and go we went back to Conway.

Incredible feeling to be out there flying with real pilots even though there were times a bit more hectic than I'm normally used to. The were a bit too much going on on the radio, but I guess that'll get better after I've done it a couple of times. Tomorrow me and Anna are going to Myrtle Beach to practice this communication thing. The PPL is closing up fast!!!