300 nautical mile commercial cross-country

My pilot friend and fellow commercial student, Cam, and I have been trying for some time to get our 300 NM cross-country flight done. Weather has thwarted us several times but we were finally able to do it yesterday, on a sunny lovely prairie day.

In Canada, we are required to complete a cross-country flight to a destination 300 NM in a straight line from our point of origin, with two landings enroute. We chose to go to Humboldt, a very small town in Saskatchewan, which is 300.1 nautical miles from Cooking Lake, our home airport. Our waypoints were Lloydminster, on the Alberta/Saskatchewan border, and North Battleford, Saskatchewan. We chose the route because a) the weather was good in that direction b) it was the right distance without going much farther than necessary and c) it happened to be on the VNC (VFR navigation chart aka map) that we already had. I flew there and Cam flew back so both of us got our 300s done!

We did a quick review of our flight plan with an instructor on Friday, the day before our flight. Saturday morning was calm and beautiful and we took off just before 8:00 a.m.

Lloydminster, our first stop, is on the wide-open prairie and I loved the feeling of spaciousness as we approached. Our arrival into the busy MF there went smoothly after we were handed off from flight following with Edmonton Centre. After a short rest, we departed for North Battleford. I expected the prairie scenery to be similar all the way but there was a lot of variation – hills, rivers, lakes, different crops and colours – and the landscape sparkled in the sunlight.

The arrival into North Battleford was beautiful, with the town set beside the wide North Saskatchewan River. 

On the ground there, I checked the weather and filed the next flight plan. Once we had refueled, we began the longest segment to Humboldt. The weather briefer had told me that there were isolated thunderstorms developing across Saskatchewan but that we'd be able to get around them easily. We never did see them but there were showers and there was more cloud build-up on that leg and it was bumpy! 

Just after setting out, we heard a radio call from another 172 that was also heading for Humboldt. I never saw him but I made frequent position reports to ensure we maintained safe spacing. 

The area around Humboldt has a thousand tiny lakes dotted amongst the fields! 

Humboldt Lake

The airport is small, the runway short and narrow, but I was thrilled to land there. We met the pilot of the other plane, who landed just behind us, and then chilled for a few minutes in the tiny terminal before starting Cam’s trip back. 

This was an amazing day! I experienced a longer trip in unfamiliar airspace and over new geography. Cam was easy, fun company and it made me feel secure to have another pilot with me but I knew what I was doing and I realized on this trip how much I've grown as a pilot. I reflected on how aviation has introduced me to some great people and given me a whole new appreciation for the beauty of the prairies. It was such a privilege to be able to do this!