So 6 months ago I moved to London. Obviously, I knew that my training is going to be put on hold - again. Plan of course was to finish at the UFC, way before end of the summer holidays 2013, but shhh happened. To be more precise, I was forced to switch to C172 due to an accident of one of Tecnams, low availability of the remaining one etc.
As soon as I moved to London, I knew I had few options - one of them, is to resume the training here. And so I set on a search of a place where I could do it. And whilst there was quite few options, I had to pick a place that is relatively close to my home - driving over an 1h one way to airfield is just simply not practical.
Closest place is Biggin Hill, however I was initially sceptical - due to the opinions voiced at different public forums, about draconian policies implemented (allegedly) at EGKB. Well, in the end - I decided to try it out anyway, of all the schools - I picked EFG. I wanted to see how things are done at a school. Club's being laid back, and such, I wanted to pick a place where my goal will be to finish things, not just piss around for fun. Don't get me wrong, having fun is in itself goal in life here, but things have to be done, in order to have more fun, right ;)
And so I booked a 'trial lesson', after a lengthy chat with an instructor at EFG. Very nice chap, very patient and seemed very professional and genuinely kind throughout the session.
After one weather cancellation, next booking was all green. Wind -12 kt, and a bit of gust, was rather calm compared to gusting 40kt+ week before.
I did a preflight of rather nice C152, G-BMGG. Carefully observing different habits of new instructor. Jumped in, got strapped in, and it was pretty much smooth sailing from there. It is amazing how these things get back to you very quickly.
Of course, Biggin Hill being full ATC airfield - I had to get familiar with local procedures. I did fly twice from full ATC airport before (Prestwick and Belfast International), so I knew what's involved - but details differed. No start up permission required, fire 'er up, tune in ATIS, and then ask for taxy instructions. No need to book out over the phone either, so all details are passed on the first radio contact. It's been a while since I had to chat on the radio, but all things considered, I think I've done pretty well.
Next on the agenda is the actual taxy, time to re-learn how to use feet and steer the C152. Always a challenge, when switching aircraft - but not to a new one this time.
Once I got to the taxy way A1 (I think), we observed nice landing by a jet, followed by PA28 who seemed to be all over the show on approach. I knew that there's a bit of a wind shear there, or gust closer to the ground. So take off will be fun.
"Line up and wait", "clear for take off". I ask the usual "you ready?" to the instructor, which always takes them by surprise btw ;) And off we go.
As suspected, bit of a struggle on climb out in keeping the aircraft on the straight track. There's a noise abatement procedure at EBKG (and pretty much most greater London area airports!) . In this case, the idea is to not overfly Biggin Hill village, so keep a straight 2nm track after take off. Nicely done, by utilising DME btw :-) After that, Seven Oaks, and switch over to Farnborough. Another name, that doesn't get a good press on forums. This time instructor took over radio, as it would take me a lot of time to repeat all the names of places we were suppose to overfly.
We got basic service and started the sight seeing session. The idea was to look outside, and see how different places that I would use during training look like from up there. Unlike NI, where you fly from Einneskillen to place like Clogh, and virtually nothing happens on the way - Greater South London is full of features. Only problem, it's all flats and there's far too many motorways and roads to use as navigation points.
Seven Oaks is nicely identifiable, road features (junction over M25), 3 lakes, etc. Next, Tonbridge. Again, Large town - hard to miss. But not obvious. We returned back, and this time I flew bit north, following the east edge of M25. Not to be crossed over - complicated bits of airspace around - you see.
Up the North East over Thames and then east towards Cliffe .There's marshes over there, where all steep turns, stalls and such exercises are done.
The way back was rather tricky, with us flying pretty much into the sun. So I suggested a little zig-zag. That worked out rather well. The procedure on the way back is rather simple. Call in Biggin Hill about 6-7 miles out (as far as I remember). They told us to report 3 miles out. Again, it only makes sense to do that with the airport in sight - where the sun didn't help. It was already afternoon, so sun wasn't at its highest, and there was quite a haze. Once I got the airport in sight, with some help from my instructor - I called them up, reported my position and got instructions to join downwind RH for runway 21.
Very uneventful approach and landing. Again, rather large circuit, due to the local rules. Approach felt rather long, probably due to the wind. It was also very odd to land with just single stage of flaps on. But due to the wind, and to speed things up - that's what was requested of me. Oh, the runway is massive as well. I felt spoiled.
All in all very nice lesson. Apart from me loosing height on few occasions (and always recovering as soon as I noticed), and the fact that I didn't trimmed it on climb out - I think I did rather well. The low sun and haze was rather annoying, but that happens from time to time.
The aircraft's abbreviated call sign is a mouthful too: G-GG :-) But I managed ;)
Next lesson already booked, this time apparently I'm to do a nav in the area. Seven Oaks->Bewl Water (no lochs in around here :D )->Maidstone->Seven Oaks, and back to Biggin Hill. Should be rather nice nav. Similar distance to Comber->Hillsborough->Bishop Court->Comber.
All in all, the time spent very nice. I was rather relaxed afterwards and rather chuffed. The airspace around here is far more complicated tho. For instance, the long cross country puts one flying around Gatwick airspace. Makes for a rather interesting flight. But lets not get ahead or ourselves, shall we.
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