Finally got my ticket wet...
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I passed my instrument airplane checkride on 1/31/2007. Two months to the day 3/31/2007 the weather and my schedule finally came together to allow me to make my first solo trip into IMC.
Many pilots get their instrument rating with only simulated IMC. This is unfortunate because the real thing is very different. I tried to get as much actual IMC during my instrument training as possible. However, I only managed to get 3 hours actual. This is better than none, but flyable IMC is not always that easy to come by. Unless you are a VFR only pilot then there always seems to be a constant supply of days where the only problem is a layer of low clouds.
In my case, contrary to most, I have always found actual IMC to be easier than simulated IMC. This was especially true when I was wearing glasses. I intentially used the most draconian hood that I could find to make sure that my training was as realistic as possible. However, this meant that the hood, especially with glasses, was a constant distraction. As a result in actual IMC things were a little easier for me.
In any case, back to the story. I filed LZU->AHN then AHN->LZU a trip of about 30 miles each way give or take. LZU is my home airport and AHN is a nearby airport and I often use approaches at these two airports to maintain proficiency. (I'm flying an average of about six approaches per month rather than the legal minimum of six approaches per six months). LZU and AHN have uncomplicated ILS approaches on closely aligned runways (25 and 27). I decided this would make for a very smooth flight. In order to make things even easier, I filed two flight plans allowing myself to setup for the ILS 27 approach into AHN on the ground at LZU and the ILS 25 approach into LZU on the ground at AHN. Since this was the real deal, single pilot IFR in actual IMC with an autopilot that does not function properly in heading bug mode and I would therefore not be using.
It turns out that I was not the only one wanting to play in the clouds. I was however the only one that had filed something other than a round-robin flight plan. Atlanta approach was not accepting practice flights due to the number of IFR flights. Two planes in front of me modified their flight plans to stop at AHN and we all lined up waiting for relase.
Things went very smoothly as our unintential congo line of planes made our way from LZU to AHN lining up on the ILS. I broke out at about 700 ft AGL and had the only real "excitement" of the day in the clear as I passed within 200 ft or so from 10 - 15 turkey vultures circling a thermal from 500ft below to 500ft above me.
I landed at AHN taxied to the ramp, ignoring the FBO lineman directing me to parking. I parked at the very end of the ramp and setup everything for the return flight. Then I called for my clearance to find out the only flying mistake I made for the day. I had filed my return flight as AHN -> AHN (a round-robin practice flight). The tower graciously amended my flight plan and I was off.
Flying into LZU was fairly routine this is my home ILS I fly this approach every time that I fly approaches. The only excitement was that my route took me through the biggest cloud around. It wasn't that big but it was pretty bumpy. I broke out shortly after passing the FAF and landed wrapping up my first solo IMC.
Chris
posted by The Geek @ 18:55
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