Sept 14 - Precautionary Landings (Ex 21)
The next step in my training is to go solo to the practice area and build up my confidence by practising slow flight, stalls and steep turns. It will also be a chance to navigate and make all radio calls without an instructor to rely on. In order to do this, Lari needs to be assured that I would be able to land in an urgent or emergency situation. So, today we practised Precautional Landings (Ex 21 in the FTM).As with so many other things in aviation, an acronym exists: COWLS
C - Civilisation
Important to choose a field near civilisation, especially in winter, so someone can help you. On the other hand, it is also important not to land in the middle of a big city where you are liable to squash someone!
O - Obstacles
Ideally, you don't want to land immediately after or in front of hydro wires or all kinds of really tall trees.
W - Wind
If you have half a clue where the wind is comng from, try to land into it.
L -Length
Is the potential field long enough to land in AND take off from again later?
S - Surface Condition
Once you do a second fly by to inspect the field, check out the surface condition. The field I chose, upon closer inspection, had some pretty tall vegetation growing on it (corn, maybe?) and also some kind of strange path. It was NOT an ideal field to land in.
The adjacent field was incredible in colour -- we noticed it just before overshooting -- you couldn't see it from high up in the sky, but at 500 ft, you could see a field of gold, just a gorgous colour!
On the way home, the wind was picking up a little, and we were faced with a straight in (rwy 26), gusty, X-wind landing. Although the approach did not seem promising, I managed to slip, and actually landed rather smoothly in the end. Very nice... now if only I could get aligned with the centreline!! :)
C - Civilisation
Important to choose a field near civilisation, especially in winter, so someone can help you. On the other hand, it is also important not to land in the middle of a big city where you are liable to squash someone!
O - Obstacles
Ideally, you don't want to land immediately after or in front of hydro wires or all kinds of really tall trees.
W - Wind
If you have half a clue where the wind is comng from, try to land into it.
L -Length
Is the potential field long enough to land in AND take off from again later?
S - Surface Condition
Once you do a second fly by to inspect the field, check out the surface condition. The field I chose, upon closer inspection, had some pretty tall vegetation growing on it (corn, maybe?) and also some kind of strange path. It was NOT an ideal field to land in.
The adjacent field was incredible in colour -- we noticed it just before overshooting -- you couldn't see it from high up in the sky, but at 500 ft, you could see a field of gold, just a gorgous colour!
On the way home, the wind was picking up a little, and we were faced with a straight in (rwy 26), gusty, X-wind landing. Although the approach did not seem promising, I managed to slip, and actually landed rather smoothly in the end. Very nice... now if only I could get aligned with the centreline!! :)
