The long cross-country 2.0 - Solo

For my short cross-country flight, I ended up having to wait two months between the time I did it dual (Feb 24) and my chance to do it solo (Apr 29), thanks to bad weather. But this time, for my long cross-country, I only had to wait a week! The weather's been nice lately so I was able to head off alone on Friday, while the experience of last week's dual flight was still fresh.

I reversed the route we did last week so that the navigation was still a challenge and I'd have to approach the destination airports from different angles.

I got clearance into the terminal control zone a few minutes after taking off, this time heading over the very south end of city, just a few miles north of the international airport. The controller asked me to turn from my southwesterly heading to a northerly heading, to make room for some traffic on approach to the international. That little deviation from course didn't concern me since I was still over the city and there were many landmarks to get me back on track.

Between city and international airport

I was cleared enroute west of the international and by then I was halfway to Drayton Valley, which is 67 NM from my home airport. I passed over a large power plant - easy to spot - and then followed the river in.

West of Edmonton, enroute to Drayton Valley

I saw the town and airport from a long way off. My landing was fine. I recorded my times, texted my instructor, and taxied back to the threshold for take-off. There was nobody on the ground at the DV airport but there were helicopters in the area and someone passing just across my climbout path so I waited for the traffic to clear and then pushed in the throttle!

Two things make it very easy to navigate the 60 NM flight from Drayton Valley to Whitecourt: A huge lake and a big hill at the end. Chip Lake is halfway so I aimed for it first. The terrain is rolling but still mostly prairie so the big hill stands out as a great landmark. The Whitecourt airport is tucked right behind it.

Chip Lake

Whitecourt airport has a Mandatory Frequency, which means that you talk to a radio operator on the ground, who is not an air traffic controller but provides information and helps incoming pilots coordinate their arrivals. I contacted Whitecourt Radio when I was 15 NM out. About the same time, a somewhat pushy and obnoxious pilot, incoming from the south as well but a few miles west of me, contacted the MF. He misunderstood a question the MF operator asked and then was rude to him, as if it were the radio operator's fault. His radio transmissions were a little unclear so when he was asked to repeat himself, he spoke deliberately slowly, like he was talking to someone he thought was stupid. Anyway, we were going to be arriving at nearly the same time so I was focused on being sure I knew where he was in relation to me.

Circuits are flown counter-clockwise (left hand) unless otherwise noted and circuits on Runway 29 at Whitecourt are right-hand. The rude pilot did not know that and was not listening when told that. So I made the approach with a right-hand circuit and he announced that he intended to join left-hand. I was concerned that we were on a collision course on the base leg, the leg of the circuit just before turning final. I announced my position in the RIGHT hand circuit a couple of times to Whitecourt Radio but the other pilot never clued in and didn't announce his location as he approached. I kept my eyes peeled but didn't see him before I turned final. Meanwhile, it was windy there and flying the circuit was like riding a bronco so I was holding on tight while avoiding the traffic! I made it to the runway, greased the landing!, and taxied over to the terminal. Mr. Rude Pilot landed a minute after me.

By this time, I was over two hours into the trip so I needed to stretch and pee. I went into the little terminal and rested on the couch for 10 minutes. I called flight services to amend my flight plan since I had stayed on the ground longer than expected and then hopped in my plane for the last leg.

The leg between Whitecourt and Cooking Lake was the longest of the trip, at 104 NM. I decided not to bother with the overhead departure procedure, which makes it easier to set an accurate heading, because half of the flight home follows a major highway. So I climbed out, lined up with the highway and set my heading then. I checked the map from time to time since the highway weaves a bit, of course, just to be sure I was in line with other landmarks. It was very bumpy but it didn't bother me and I took some time to enjoy the beautiful views. I was feeling pretty relaxed.

As I approached the city, I got clearance to transition across the control zone, and was then cleared to descend into Cooking Lake as I left the city on the east side. My total flight time was 3.6 hours (231 NM). I was exhausted when I landed but definitely thrilled. The flight went very well. It's hard to believe that I just did that when I think back to the out-of-body experience of my first lesson, when I just had to fly straight and level for 2 minutes. A lot of the time, I still feel nervous and so novice but this flight showed me that I have learned a lot and I am becoming a pilot!

Onward and upward: The long cross-country

Today, my instructor and I did the second of the required cross-country flights. This was the long cross-country, which has to be a triangular route of a minimum of 150 nautical miles; this flight was 230 NM. We went west over the city, first to Whitecourt and then to Drayton Valley. I chose the route because it would take us through the Edmonton terminal control zone and give me some experience talking to air traffic control.

East side of Edmonton, just after departing Cooking Lake

Over downtown at 4000' above ground

It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful route. The prairies are very green right now. Heading west, the terrain becomes a little hillier and eventually the mountains appear in the distance. We took a short break in Whitecourt and then went on to Drayton Valley.

Leaving Whitecourt

I really like my instructor, which is nice when you spend hours in a tiny cockpit together. We both had fun and enjoyed the day and the flight went without a hitch. I will do this by myself next week. I'm ready.

Almost home - Cooking Lake on the horizon