Simulated Instrument Flying - Safety Pilot

I got to go flying today, although nothing to log. I got the chance to act as a "safety pilot" for another pilot conducting some simulated instrument flying. It is actually quite awesome to be able to sit there, and, to an extent relax and enjoy the view! Obviously, there's also the requirement to be the "eyes" for the flight, and so keeping a good lookout is critical [and self-preservation is a wonderful incentive!].

It was a fantastic, smooth day for a flight, and so it was all rather uneventful. It's a bit weird looking out and giving instructions... turn this way or that way, climb, descend etc instead of being a passive passenger or the pilot, but I did enjoy myself.

Here are the best of a few photos that I got. The first is looking north up the Wairarapa valley, the second towards to south-east of Palliser Bay. The last is a photo of an Interislander ferry at the harbour entrance on the way back to Wellington. Note the smooth, clear water.

All in all, a very enjoyable flight. Thanks Rochelle!

Simulated Instrument Flight

I went up for a flight today in a Piper PA28-181 for some simulated I/F. I hadn't done any for a while, and so knew that I would be somewhat rusty... as it turns out that was probably an understatement :-), but that I guess is why we practice these things. After a couple of turns and some straight and level, I did manage to do a good impersonation of someone almost holding it together. My safety pilot at least had a good chuckle!

It is a very weird sensation to have your your head saying that you're straight and level, or even turning right, and those dumb instruments on the panel [what would they know?] saying you're turn left and descending. The instruments were right. Every time :-) PEBCAC [Problem Exists Between Chair and Controls?]. Ok, so once I got a bit more practice, and worked out that the artificial horizon [AH] was not much cop for keeping level, I started using the vertical speed indicator [VSI] more and that helped a bit.

All in all, a good flight with 1.1 hours total with 0.4 of simulated I/F.

Why only 0.4 I/F? Well, we had about 0.3 waiting on the ground. For some reason it got very busy, with the usual scheduled traffic, plus a formation of 6 [yes, 6!] RNZAF UH-1H Iroquois helicopters coming in, an Air Nelson DHC Dash-8 forced to go around, a navaid calibration aircraft hanging around, and 4 of us "lighties" all wanting to go for a flight. Still, the sight of 6 air force choppers setting down at one time is pretty awesome :-) Sorry, no photos - too busy with runups and other things.

The choppers were there as part of the tribute events to Vietnam veterans, including today a memorial service at the National War Memorial and a celebration at the Basin Reserve [cricket ground].