I've finally started the instrument training. I
started off with 4 hours in the area around here
under the "hood" to get used to this whole
flying by the instrument thing. Instrument flying
is to fly without outside reference, and to use
different navigational aids to navigate, i.e. NDB
and VOR which basically gives information about
where you are in reference to a station.
Today I had my first instrument flight down to
Myrtle Beach to practice ILS (Instrument Landing
System). The basic idea is to get the plane down
to the runway only with reference to the instruments
by following an instrument approach plate (see illustration).
I try to center the needles so that they form a
cross which means that I'm exactly where I should
be in reference to a glideslope and a localizer
(see illustration). By using this method I can follow
the instruments all the way down to 200 feet above
the airport, break out of the clouds and land the
plane.
After the landing we flew back to Conway where
I flew an NDB-A. We have an NDB antenna right by
the runway here at Conway which we can use for an
instrument approach. We overfly the antenne and
procede outbound for a couple of minutes before
turning back toward the antenna and pass over the
runway at 600 feet. Fairly simple, but it takes
a bit of concentration to correct for winds.
The next hours in the air will basically be the
same - practice ILS, NDB and VOR approachesø.
|
Low clouds on our way into Conway.
600 feet, NDB approach. |
