After a couple of instructor changes, a switch in flight schools (see post on Dec 13), several weather cancellations, and a few weeks dealing with family illness, I was able to put some time in during January and February to get this done!
In mid-January, I completed the required dual and instrument time. My instructor and I did some night circuits, I spent a couple hours in the simulator and under the hood with him guiding me, and we did a night cross-country trip to Rocky Mountain House, 88 NM southwest of Cooking Lake Airport.
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| In the simulator |
On January 28, it was finally time for me to go solo, starting with some night circuits. I was a little apprehensive before heading out but it turned out to be a great evening. I was amazed at how precise my circuits and how greasy my landings were! It was a real confidence-builder and a great way to start off the solo time I had to do.
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| Solo circuits |
February brought some more nasty weather and some flights just for fun but when the chance to fly at night came again, I did a couple of cross-country trips to fill the remaining four hours of solo time. On February 22, I did a two-hour triangle from Cooking Lake to Camrose to Vegreville. I've traveled to these towns a few times before and chose it because I wanted to do a familiar route while adjusting to night flying. It was a lovely, peaceful trip and it went perfectly well.
I did the last two hours on February 28. Alberta had received some snow the day before, so I decided to head east/southeast to Killam, 62 NM away, where the runway was most likely to be clear. The moon was almost full and it lit up the night, shining off the white, snowy fields.
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| Moonlight and the Killam runway lights |
The flight was smooth and quiet (only a few people on the radios at night). My landing at Killam was a beauty. I shut down there and went into the small terminal to eat my pear and cheese. I like the Killam airport because they often have homemade cookies and I was not disappointed this night! I enjoyed being the only one at the airport in the quiet darkness. The flight home was pleasant. After landing back at Cooking Lake, I did one more circuit just to get to the required 5 hour total. Once I shut down, I went inside where my instructor filled out the paperwork for my night rating!
Last night I did my first flight as a night-rated pilot. My pilot friend, Cam, and I flew to Rocky Mountain House. I was PIC on the way there; he flew us back. It's a nice flight because it takes you just south of the city, through Class C airspace, so there's some radio work to do. But there's a nice, long, quiet stretch over the prairies, too, once the city is behind you.
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| Passing by the south end of the city on the way home from Rocky |
Night flying is very different. There are certain unique risks but there's also peace and quiet and the beauty of the stars and the lights on the ground. I'm glad I've been able to add this to my flying skills.