16 Sep. 2006: Instrument Work Out

Since it is getting close to that final checkride, I thought I would sign out the 172SP for a double block to get in some extra practice. I also figured it would be nice to work out a practice plan that would give a wide variety of approaches but would be widely enough spaced to give a little set up time between them. I also thought some scenic vistas, although unseen by yours truly under my foggles, could still be appreciated by my CFII. I think I may have come up with the perfect IFR training hop!

We departed Hanscom at 0730, simulating a zero-zero takeoff. After lining up the plane on the runway and setting my heading bug, it was foggles down and full throttle. It felt like an hour before reaching rotation speed and seeing that VSI moving toward the top of the scale never looked so sweet. After contacting Boston approach for flight following, we were cleared direct to ONRAE intersection, the IAF for the GPS 07 approach into Provincetown. ATC through in a hold at JOBEB due to other traffic approaching the airport which was a nice touch and after 1 turn in the hold, we were cleared for the approach. I reached the MDA just before the beach and my instructor told me to take off the foggles and look up.......there was runway 07, dead ahead with a quaint black and white lighthouse passing just below the plane. With the foggles back on, I started to execute the missed and contacted Cape approach who cleared me direct to WHIPS intersection, the IAF for the GPS-A approach for Chatham.

This is an NDB overlay approach which I planned in case I rented a plane with an ADF, but no such luck today. I flew to the IAF and flew a parallel entry into the hold/procedure turn and decended to the MDA of 660' MSL. After going missed, I received some delaying vectors to the north and once again glanced outside to see Pleasant Bay and Nauset Beach below where I spend many a great day with my father and mother-in-law in days gone by. But before I could get too caught up with memories of days gone by, Cape approach was once again on the radio giving me vectors back to Hyannis.

I had planned on the localizer 24 approach into Hyannis nut the wind had shifted to the northwest so we opted for the VOR 06 approach. Cape vectored us to the final approach course and I removed the foggles about 2 miles from the runway. Landing was good and I taxied over to Cape Cod Air to stretch my legs and get a coke. It was sunny with a nice warm breeze blowing and I met another guy at the FBO who had also departed Bedford earlier in a Tomahawk for his long VFR cross country. We both left together to continue on the trip.

After taxiing to runway 06, I did a runup and lined up for another zero-zero departure.....I think the CFII was getting a chuckle of my increased breathing rate over the intercom. After climbing out and turning west, I contacted Cape approach for flight following to New Bedford. We remained clear of Otis Air Force Base and set up a 4500' cruise to New Bedford. After being handed off to Providence approach, we were vectored to intercept the back-course localizer for the Loc BC 23 at New Bedford. I did get a minute to peek ot and see the BAttleship Massachusetts, "Big Mamie" moored at Battleship Cive in Fall River. With the foggles back on, I intercepted the BC localizer and turned to the final approach course, but rather than hit the BC switch on my GPS, I decided to fly the back course the old-fashioned way. It took a little remembering to "drag the needle" rather than fly toward it, but I reached the airport right on the money and executed the missed approach due north, as per New Bedford Tower's instructions.

Providence Approach then cleared us for the full VOR approach into North Central State airport in Pawtucket, RI which starts at the Providence VOR. Flying the approach was pretty easy by this time but I have to say that North Central was the busiest airport by far this morning with 4 or 5 planes in the pattern, all self-announcing their positions. I was pretty glas to execute the missed and get the heck out of there, flying the published missed to a hold at FROSTY intersection which required some quick retuning of both #1 and #2 VORs. After a turn in the hold, we wre told to procedd direct to Bedford and to contact Boston approach.

Boston was unbelievably busy but still managed to vector us to the ILS for runway 29 at Bedford. The CFII failed the attitude indicator this time so I flew the partial panel approach down to DH but just as I took off the foggles, the tower controller cleared the hold short aircraft onto the runway! I guess it's time for some go around practice as well! I sidestepped the runway to keep he departing aircraft in sight and turned around to join the downwing for 29 again. The tower called my base this time and what do you know...........he cleared another aircraft to depart ahead of me. Luckily, this guy expedited his role and got off the ground just before I touched down. A pretty exciting ending to the day.

By the time I tied town and got back to the FBO, it was almost 1130.....great timing. This flight was a good workout, not too long and not too short with a welcome break at Hyannis. I shot 6 approaches.....2 GPS, two VOR, a back course localizer and ann ILS and managed two holds and a procedure turn. What a great circuit to fly. Once I get my instrument rating, this would be a good course to keep current with so many approach options available.