\n3 touch-and-goes, an emergency go-around (“There’s a heard of kangaroos on<\/em>
\nthe runway<\/em>” just as the flare was to begin) and then a final full-stop
\nlanding. Then we taxied back to the parking area and I filled out a rental
\nagreement for the plane. I had a few minutes to make a restroom break
\n(mostly to collect my thoughts) and then phone home.<\/p>\n
I then hopped into the plane and went through the pre-flight startup
\nprocedures – reading everything aloud for some reason. The cockpit was
\nsurely a lot bigger space then. Perhaps reading the procedures out loud
\nhelped to reassure the phantom voice of my instructor.<\/p>\n
I listened to the more recent ATIS – no change in wind or pressure. Good. I
\nrequested permission to taxi and let the controller know that I was a
\nstudent pilot, the words just sort of floating out with pride. I always
\nthought I’d be humbled having to tell the controller that. \u00a0I then taxied to
\nthe runway, went through the run-up – again reading everything aloud – and
\npulled up short of the runway. I received clearance and off I went.<\/p>\n
The first turn around the pattern was uneventful – as far as those outside Having completed the first touch and go I was back in the pattern. The controller had forgotten about another Cessna that was previously I was somewhat nervous from that point on – short approach, steeper glide The third and final pattern flight was as calm as the first. No other And then it sinks in – you’ve just passed a major milestone and the smile
\nthe plane were concerned. I did everything right, at the proper points and
\nfor the right attitude of the plane at that moment. On the inside, however,
\nit was a complete mind-trip. I made sure to enjoy<\/em> the flight, as
\ninstructed. I really worked mentally to not get caught up with nervousness
\nand let the experience overwhelm the reason I got into this: fun. I stayed
\ncalm, alert – even more alert I suppose. I got a kick out of feeling how the
\nplane reacted in climbing – and especially in turns – when the right seat
\nwas empty. The approach to final and subsequent landing was nearly flawless.
\nHowever, I could still hear my instructor letting me know to keep the big<\/em>
\npicture<\/em> outside, to watch my airspeed and so on. I wonder how long it will
\nbefore such things are in my own voice, or better yet – when the actions are
\ninstinctive and not spoken at all.<\/p>\n
\nEverything was again going well until I called for clearance during the
\ndownwind. The tower asked if I could do a short approach as there was another
\nplane not too far off. Since I had done a handful of these in recent weeks I
\nfelt comfortable in replying “affirmative”. Only after he cleared me and I
\nturned to base did I realize that I made one of the worse mistakes you can
\nmake: turning without looking, relying on the tower to be your eyes.<\/p>\n
\ncleared to land and was already on final – but a bit further out than I.
\nI was just abeam of the runway for the shorter approach. I spotted the
\nCessna only after making my turn and fortunately he had spotted me sooner.
\nHe was pulling away and calling the tower for permission to circle before
\nlanding – giving me time to land and get out of the way. Big lesson learned
\non my end.<\/p>\n
\npath and having just made a major mistake. Needless to say the landing
\nwasn’t great, but it wasn’t hard and I didn’t bounce. I started the flare a
\nlittle too high and floated over the runway longer than I’d liked. But I
\ntouched down and re-trimmed and setup for the next take off. (Santa Fe has
\nan 8,000 foot runway, allowing ample time to transition from landing to take
\noff without the need to taxi off and on again.)<\/p>\n
\ntraffic to contend with – believe me, I was looking much more vigorously
\nthis time. \u00a0The turn to final occured a little further out than it should
\nhave and I think I came in low. As a result the flare seemed to progress
\nmuch faster than any other I’ve done in the last few weeks but amazingly,
\nthe two back wheels touched down without so much as a jolt to the rest of
\nthe plane. I held the nose wheel off for a bit and it, too, settled down
\nnicely. The plane was then slow enough to allow me make the first taxiway
\nexit.<\/p>\n
\nthat everyone else has talked about unfolds across your face no matter how
\ncalm and collected you try and make yourself appear.<\/p>\n
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