16 September 2008 - Issue 242 Flight Training News www.ftnonline.co.uk September 2008 - Issue 242 Flight Training News www.ftnonline.co.uk 25 G-EVIE| flies again to encourage | women into aviation Loch Earn Seaplane The wishes of a female pilot, who was awarded her licence aged 68 after harbouring a life-long desire to fly, was officially honoured this month when her newly-refurbished aircraft is unveiled to its first flying student. Fly-in 2008 After a three-month trans- ambition to fly but, due to the trip to Jersey in a PA 28 Piper formation, G-EVIE – a PA 28 war and other directions her Warrior. She also passed all Alan Newton Piper Warrior – is once again life took her in, she didn’t actu- the necessary exams to ready to fly and train students, ally pursue it until she was 64. become a fully licensed pilot in Alan is a co-founder and Head of Training for On-Track the long-standing wish of Evie Her fascinating life story the US. Aviation Limited (www.ontrackaviation.com). He is an RTF Saunders who died of cancer makes it all the more fitting She entered a number of Examiner and Flight Instructor Examiner on both land and in 2004. The aircraft was that her plane will be used to flying competitions against far seaplanes. After leaving College, Alan joined the Royal Air bestowed to Tayside Aviation teach other youngsters to fly younger and more experienced by Evie’s niece last year to pri- and hopefully a new genera- pilots, and won most of them. Force in 1979. During his 18 years in the Royal Air Force Alan marily benefit teenage Air tion of female pilots. When As a result, in 1992 she was saw operational tours on the Victor during the Falklands League Educational Trust Evie was ill, she couldn’t fly at awarded the prestigious Jean Conflict and the VC10 during the Gulf War. He also spent scholars. Since then, a scholar- all but now, Evie flies every day Lennox Bird Trophy for the many years as a flying instructor on the Tucano and Jet ship fund has also been estab- and, due to the refurbishment, most outstanding British Provost teaching both ab-initio and qualified pilots gaining lished in the name of Evie she’s now as good as a brand woman pilot of the year. an A2 Instructor Category. After leaving the Royal Air Force Saunders herself. new aeroplane.” Evie was a dedicated Alan joined Cathay Pacific Airways flying the Boeing 747- On Monday 1 September In 1985, Surrey-born Evie fundraiser for ‘The Blenheim 2008, Lorraine Richardson finally realised her dream and Society’ and also belonged to 400 which he continues to do today, alongside his other oversaw the first student’s les- started to study the various The British Women’s Pilots responsibilities with On-Track Aviation. son in her aunt’s aircraft - aptly subjects needed to become a Association (BWPA) and, a young female being taught pilot. It had taken many years among others, ‘The 99s’ – a Pictured left to right, Eddie Cox from the Air League, Jenny Tye, the first recipient of the Evie Saunders by a female instructor. of hard work and saving to get global women pilots associa- Scholarship, Emma Wilce, the first Air League Scholar to Fly Evie, Lorraine Richardson, Niece of Evie and James Watt, Managing to this stage. Four years later, tion started by Amelia Earhart. trustee, Jim Watt MD , Tayside Aviation. The day dawned bright and calm on the waters of Loch Earn - Director of Tayside Aviation Evie finally received her Pilot’s As the magazine and com- used to be train young pilots. It This year the Air League so Air League Scholarships . so much for the forecast of driving rain and low cloud. I have hopes that the plane will Licence. But she didn’t stop petition plaudits came in she has taken time and persever- Educational Trust awarded 90 These are sponsored flying always been a sceptic when it comes to forecasts in the Scottish inspire a new generation of there. earned herself the nickname of ance and thanks to Evie scholarships and bursaries packages to help young peo- Highlands, as the hills can produce their own micro climates, females to take to the skies: In addition to being a pri- ‘The flying Great-Grandma’. Saunders’ niece Lorraine and those who chose to train ple into aviation. These can meaning one can be faced with horrible weather in the surround- “We are absolutely thrilled, as vate pilot, she obtained her Evie still inspires women in avi- Richardson, the Air League at Tayside Aviation will now be range from 12 hours of flying to ing area, but with a flyable sector suitable for seaplane training I’m sure Evie would have been, night–rating, instrument-rat- ation today although she sadly Educational Trust and Tayside able to fly in G-EVIE. a full Private Pilots license or in the immediate vicinity. that the aircraft will be used to ing and twin-engined rating. passed away in 2004, surpris- Aviation refurbished the air- Tayside Aviation carry out support towards becoming an Loch Earn lies within the beautiful Loch Lomond and the teach young students to fly. Evie celebrated this by piloting ing her family by leaving a craft to make it ready for use some 150 Air Cadet scholar- instructor. Trossachs National Park in Central Scotland and is just an hour’s Evie herself had a burning her daughter Pamela on a day bequest to buy an aircraft to be by young aviators. ships per year and some 30 or drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports. At the western end of the Loch lies the town of Lochearnhead complete with sev- eral hotels, a shop come Post Office and a Watersports Centre. As I looked out towards the Watersports Centre, which is where Neil’s Seaplanes has its premises, I could see a Cessna 172 amphibious floatplane already parked on the grass adjacent to the red Husky Amphibian, which is the pride and joy of Neil Gregory, the CFI and owner of Neil’s Seaplanes. Loch Earn, situated in the picturesque Trossachs National Park in central Scotland Should be a fantastic day, I thought. Well, it was time to kick utes to walk from the hotel to Neil’s Seaplanes. circled overhead the Loch inspecting the water before landing, I the tyres and light the fires of my old body and get into the show- This is a unique set up as far as a Flying School is concerned hoped this could be the start of a steady trickle of seaplanes into er and go for a full Scottish breakfast in the Lochearnhead Hotel (or Registered Facility, as the CAA refers to it these days). Neil’s the Loch. where I was staying for the next few nights. As a regular at this premises are housed in an old double-decker bus, now resplen- Continued on page 26 fine establishment I can tell you the food is excellent, the beer dent in green and brown camouflage, as opposed to the bright plentiful and the hospitality of Robert and Amanda is charming red of London Transport. Neil tells me it was going for a song and, even better, seaplane pilots and students get a discounted compared to a ‘proper’ building and it adds to the ambiance of room rate! One feels so much better after a good breakfast in the seaplane flying here in Scotland. Neil said that he used to oper- morning. It was time to go and find out what news there was of ate from a large caravan, similar to those one would find on any the potential visitors to the Fly-in. It only takes a couple of min- trailer park along the English Riviera, but unfortunately the car- avan was the victim of vandals who burnt it down. So, how many seaplanes are we expecting? I asked Neil. “Well, as the forecast was pret- ty poor I rang the participants yesterday to say the meet would be delayed by 24 hours as the weather was due to be better tomorrow.” He said. My heart sank. But you know that forecasts are just that - fore- casts, and they can be wrong, I retorted. He shrugged his shoulders, as he stared at the blue sky above the calm waters of Loch Earn. Oh well, I resigned myself to a day of little activity as I gazed upon the Loch Earn International Water Aerodrome Weather Station, located on a tree next to the bus. A sunny day with calm winds, it said! What’s this, a seaplane over C Loch Earn? Yes it looks like a M Maule. Could it be that the pilots had made there own Y weather decision and ignored K Neil’s Seaplanes’ original take on a ‘clubhouse’ Neil’s phone call? As the Maule Loch Earn International Water Aerodrome Weather Station 26 | September 2008 - Issue 242 Flight Training News www.ftnonline.co.uk September 2008 - Issue 242 Flight Training News www.ftnonline.co.uk | 15 Loch Earn Seaplane Fly-in 2008 continued from page 25 World’s first MPL Microlight Flying of the seaplane. The float is compartmentalized with bulkheads, dividing each of the compartments. These bulkheads serve 3 functions: pilots to be laid-off School moves to 1. Any water within the float is prevented from moving fore The world’s first MPL-rated airline and aft within the float. This movement is undesirable as there pilots are to be laid off this November. Peterborough- would be significant pitch trim implications. 2. The bulkheads provide significant torsional rigidity and Danish carrier Sterling Airlines are strength to the float. dismissing 61 employees as part of Conington 3. The compartments created by the bulkheads prevent water cutbacks forced on the carrier due to ingress from a damaged portion of the float spreading to other high fuel prices and the economic Nene Valley Microlights has told FTN areas, resulting in the loss of buoyancy. downturn, and the MPL-rated pilots that it has moved its entire training will be amongst those to go. As part of the normal pre-flight you must pump out the water operation to Peterborough Business from each compartment. Access to the compartments is via a The thirteen MPL pilots are due to Airport-Conington (EGSF), UK. It joins hole on the top surface of the float, which is normally plugged by finish with Sterling this November and its sister company, FlyCB- a rubber bung. A simple hand-operated suction pump does the given their training at Danish Center Air Peterborough, to offer a full range of work. A word of caution to the inexperienced - ensure the exit Pilot Academy was focused specifically orifice from the pump is not facing you when you begin, other- microlight flight training using the on Sterling Airlines standard operating wise you could be in for an early shower! EV97-Team Eurostar and the SLA100 procedures (SOPs), they may find it hard to find Sterling’s Boeing 757NG fleet by the time they Pre-flight complete - time to get the show on the road. Engine Executive, high performance fixed-wing employment elsewhere. finish. Additionally, Sterling told FTN that while start and warm up complete and it is time to taxi to the ramp on A representative from Sterling told FTN that the pilot’s training was focused on the airline’s microlights. the beach from where we will enter the water. The ramp is noth- the dismissal of the MPL pilots was in no way SOPs, they are in turn closely modelled on ing more than a prepared and marked area of sand and gravel Bob McMaster, Managing Director of related to their piloting skills, but merely based Boeing’s own, so hopefully other airlines will that is used by amphibious seaplanes to enter and exit from the Nene Valley Microlights Ltd said: “This on their last-in, first-out employment practise. look favourably on them given the relatively water. move allows us to make maximum use of our FlyCB-Peterborough’s EV97-Team Eurostar Sterling have said that they were “extremely small amount of extra training that will be Taxiing the Husky is a bit like driving a shopping trolley, and I high performance microlight aircraft by taking satisfied” with their level of piloting ability, but involved. Due to the constraints of their licence advantage of the fantastic facilities offered by faced with the need for redundancies had no however, which affords them multi-crew pilot- Peterborough-Conington airport. This includes option but to dismiss them. ing privileges in 737NG aircraft only, their an all-weather, hard runway, a secure airport for But hopefully all is not lost for these pilots, employability will be limited to airlines who our aircraft, protected by CCTV surveillance, a as according to when they joined the airline operate the same aircraft as Sterling and in the licensed bar, cafe, briefing rooms, flight plan- (the first started last October) they will have current climate it could be some time before ning and simulator room and offices, all housed amassed between 500 and 800 hours each on they find new positions. in a modern three story airport building”. G-OMOL, a Maule 180, one of the few visitors who made it to the fly-in, pictured next to G-WATR, Neil’s Specific training undertaken by the school Seaplanes resident Husky Amphibian, and pride and joy of the club include the NPPL-Microlight course, including all ground and flight exams; refresher courses; Unfortunately this was not going to be the case, as I was to below the surface. Planning for your diary conversion training, particularly flex-wing to soon find out. The Loch surrounding Neil’s Seaplanes is busy ahead is a must in this game. As fixed-wing; basic, intermediate and advanced with water skiing, jet skis and other sailing craft and can prove Neil explains - you must think September 2008 four-day residential courses and GST Exams & to be a seaplane pilot’s nightmare. Especially when seeking a about how you will take off as Revalidations. The SLA100 Executive landing spot. Unlike land planes, which generally land on run- well as land. It is no good land- 1-4 JAR-FCL ATPL Examinations (A), (H) 16-17 JAR-FCL CPL Examinations (H) ways that are marked out for the purpose, seaplane pilots are ing on the water, beaching the Gatwick, Oxford Shuttleworth College and Glasgow Gatwick faced with an expanse of open water on which to alight. The seaplane, having your picnic www.caa.co.uk www.caa.co.uk standard visual circuit and join are also things that seaplane and then finding out you are 5-7 Air Magdeburg General & Sport Aviation 16-19 34th European Rotorcraft Forum pilots don’t generally adhere to when landing on water. So, after unable to take off again - very Exhibition Arena & Convention Centre, Liverpool arriving overhead your piece of water it is up to you, the sea- embarrassing, to say the least. Magdeburg, Germany www.raes.org.uk www.air-magdeburg.com plane pilot, to decide on how, where and in what direction you As I watched the Maule circle 17-21 Jet Expo 2008 International Business Aviation will land. over the waters of Loch Earn I 6 Oxford Aviation Training seminar Waypoint Exhibition Oxford Airport Crocus Expo Ctr, Moscow, Russia All seaplane pilots use some sort of pneumonic to remember realised that it was time for me www.oxfordaviation.net www.jetexpo.ru the things they have to check before alighting on the water and to start my own preparations to 7-10 JAR-FCL Examinations ATPL (A), (H) 20 Flyer Professional Flight Training Show BSc (Hons) in Airline a common one is WOODS: take to the air. I had been asked Gatwick, Oxford, Shuttleworth College & Glasgow Regency Hotel Dublin, by Neil to conduct a SEP (Sea) www.caa.co.uk www.flyer.co.uk Transport Operations WOODS check Class Rating Skill Test for one of 13 Young Aviators Day 20-21 British Aerobatic Association Glider Team Training W - Wind velocity his students this morning and Sywell, Northamptonshire Camp Check direction, strength, wave height, water surface condition, in preparation for this I was to Alan Newton (back) and Neil Gregory (front) in G-WATR, off for a familiarisation flight prior to Alan con- 01604 491112 Saltby, Leicestershire ducting an SEP (Sea) Class Rating Skill Test for one of Neil’s students. which will dictate the type of landing to be performed fly with Neil in the Husky on a www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk www.aerobatics.org.uk O- Obstructions out of water refresher to regain my proficiency on the aircraft. assume most readers have had that experience and know the 13-14 Kemble Open Day 24-25 Flight Crew Training: Advanced Technology – Check circuit area, approach and over-shoot for wires and One of the unusual aspects of the pre-flight inspection is the inherent problems. The floats are fitted with four wheels: two Kemble, Gloucestershire Threat or Opportunity? float inspection. As with many water-borne vessels they are not www.kemble.com No 4 Hamilton Place, London objects that may be a factor main wheels beneath each float and two small wheels on the www.raes.org.uk O- Obstructions in the water entirely watertight. Water will still make its way inside the floats, front of each float. All the wheels retract into the float when not 14 Vintage Cessna Fly-in Popham, Hampshire 25-26 2nd Very Light Jets Conference Europe WIT is a state funded Check for shallows, obstructions, sandbanks, trees and which of course adds to the all up weight (or should I say mass) Qualify as a professional pilot and in use. Steering is achieved by differential use of the brakes on 01256 397733 www.popham-airfield.co.uk Barcelona, Spain university level college of boats/surface craft; watch out each main wheel. I align the aircraft with the ramp and bring it to 14-15 JAR-FCL CPL Examinations (A) www.miuevents.com/vlj-eu-08 get a degree at the same time education and PTC is a Joint for the jet skier playing on the a stop. Gatwick 26-27 The Tiger Trophy Aviation Authority (JAA) water! Before entering the water it is important to plan ahead. www.caa.co.uk British Aerobatic Association – Lasham The three-year BSc (Hons) in Airline Transport registered and certified flight training organisation (IRL/FTO- D - Depth Where shall I go once in the water? What effect will the wind 16 Airworthiness & Maintenance Conference www.aerobatics.org.uk Operations has been developed by Waterford 005-03). PTC has been training Check for shallows, deep water, have on the seaplane? What obstructions are there and how Managing New & Future Technology 27-28 General Aviation Conference Institute of Technology (WIT) and the Pilot channels - is it deep enough to shall I avoid them? No 4 Hamilton Place, London Marshall Aerspace, Cambridge professional pilots since 2002. Training College of Ireland (PTC). take your seaplane? Having decided on my course of action I brief Neil, who is in www.raes.org www.raes.org Entry Criteria: S - Size the front seat, on when to lower the water rudders (which help The addition of an Honours degree to a Candidates will be selected on the Landing distance, take-off dis- me manoeuvre the seaplane at low speed on the water) and October 2008 basis of academic results, a skills tance, go-around - obviously when to retract the wheels, as I can’t reach these controls from professional pilot’s licence ensures the assessment test, interview and this is something you should the back seat. 5-8 JAR-FCL Examinations ATPL (A), (H) 11 Cabair Career Pilot seminar graduate has a deeper understanding of successful completion of a Class 1 have checked before departure, Down the ramp and into the water. “Water rudders down, Gatwick, Oxford, Shuttleworth College & Glasgow Stafford airline operations than is offered by a Medical. just like the land aeroplane landing gear up,” I call out over the intercom. I look down at www.caa.co.uk www.cabair.com/careerpilot standard ATPL course. Most graduates of Fees: pilot would for a strip landing or each float in turn to check the landing gear visual indicators to 6-7 On Track Aviation Instructor Renewal Seminar 12 End of Season Fly-in our ATPL programme are now employed a short runway. ensure the wheels are retracted. Inside the cockpit on the left Charlcote Pheasant Hotel Popham, Hampshire Full details about course fees are available http://www.ontrackaviation.com/ 01256 397733 www.popham-airfield.co.uk with major international carriers and the from the Pilot Training College, Waterford instrument panel are the landing gear lights. Unlike a land aero- addition of a degree will aid promotion Regional Airport, Waterford, Ireland. Most seaplane pilots will do plane, the amphibious seaplane has nine lights: four blue ones 7 Greener by Design Conference 12-13 JAR-FCL IR Examinations (A), (H) No 4 Hamilton Place, London Gatwick to a senior position within the aviation this inspection from low level to to indicate the landing gear is retracted, four green ones to indi- www.raes.org www.caa.co.uk get the best possible view of cate the landing gear is extended, and a single red light that industry. Application closing date: 15th September 2008 9 GAPAN Aptitude Testing for Commercial Pilots 14-16 Aircraft Structural Design Conference the landing area and try to dis- comes on when ever the hydraulic pump is running for landing RAF Cranwell (Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators) The Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool COME AND VISIT OUR cover what is beneath the gear operation. I see four blue lights. All is correct. It’s one of the 020 7404 4032 www.gapan.org www.raes.org C For further information, please contact: STAND AT THE FLYER water. This is very important, as most important checks to do on an amphibious seaplane, 10-12 Glider vs Power Team Match 27-28 The Aerodynamics of Novel Configurations, Joanne Kearney or David Knight once you are alighted on the because if you get the wheels in the wrong position and try to M British Aerobatic Association – Lasham Capabilities and Future Requirements Pilot Training College, Waterford Regional Airport, Waterford, Ireland EXHIBITION IN DUBLIN surface it becomes almost land on the water with them extended the ensuing crash can be Y www.aerobatics.org.uk No 4 Hamilton Place, London Tel: + 353 51 876 706 ON 20 SEPTEMBER www.raes.org impossible to see any obstacles Cessna 172 Amphibian G-DRAM both humiliating and expensive - assuming you survive it! So K www.pilottraining.ie 14 | September 2008 - Issue 242 Flight Training News www.ftnonline.co.uk September 2008 - Issue 242 Flight Training News www.ftnonline.co.uk | 27 Sponsored by AFE www.afeonline.com Europe’s Favourite Online Pilot Shop check and double check the position of the wheels. The manu- facturer has added a further safety feature in the shape of an automatic voice which states the position of the wheels whenev- er the aircraft speed reaches a certain value. This speed can be adjusted according to the owners/operators requirements. Most however have it set to the approach speed for their particular seaplane. Another difference from the landplane, and forgive me if I am stating the blindingly obvious, is that on the water the seaplane has no brakes! So all the checks, such as power and pre-take off, are conducted on the move. So it is essential to keep a good lookout during this high period of activity, which is essentially cockpit based. As part of the pre-flight procedure most seaplane pilots mem- orize another pneumonic, which can vary slightly between sea- plane types, that they use prior to taking off or landing. In the ftnreview case of the Husky, it’s FCARS:

FCARS check ASA ‘On Top’ and ‘IP Trainer’ Sorry to bang on about instrument trainers, but the amount of feedback and F - Flaps - set to 30° comment we regularly receive shows us that the IR (or IMC Rating) training is C - Carb heat – set cold (off) bundle A - Area - clear all around and in particular the direction of take the most daunting (and feared) portion of any advanced flying training off R - Water rudder - raise programme. As a follow up to last month’s review of IFR training packages, S - Stick – held fully back, to keep propeller out of the water and here’s another which should be on any prospective instrument pilot’s list for present the floats at an appropriate angle of attack to the water consideration. These two software packages are available separately, typically All checks complete and it’s time to take to the air. I apply full power, keeping straight with rudder. As the Husky accelerates around £120-£130 each, but as a money saving bundle they will cost you nearer across the water the nose raises. First rise, second rise, the nose begins to fall towards the planing attitude allowing a better view £200, a useful 20% saving, (or about 15-20 minutes of actual IF flying training). ahead of the seaplane. The planing, or on-step attitude is held As with other well-designed IF training software, of course, the idea is that they with slight pressure on the elevators, keeping straight with rud- der, ailerons neutral or as required if there is any cross wind. Returning to base. Neil’s Seaplanes is in the top left hand corner of the picture will actually save you much more than that… After only a few seconds the Husky takes to the air. Once airborne the Husky performs like its wheeled cousin. I have little time to appreciate the fine handling qualities of this Well, all this excitement was soon over and it was time to go CAA Flight Examiner Iain McClelland. So all in all it was turning delightful seaplane before it is time to set up for a landing. I per- back to dry land. So I Step Taxied (fast taxi) the seaplane back into a very successful day for a select few pilots. form several touchdowns on the water, just to get my hand in towards the ramp and then slowed to Displacement Taxi, before The Maule that had been circling over Loch Earn was by now On Top, version 9.5 IP Trainer v7.0 again from the rear seat before going onto some restricted area lowering the landing gear and driving the Husky out of the water parked safely next to the Cessna 172. Three seaplanes on the take offs and landings and a PFL to round of the flight. and back to its parking slot in front of the trees on the shoreline. shoreline was a great sight. Should have been half a dozen, but ‘On Top’ is ASA’s own dedicated ‘IP Trainer’ is a more venerable Of all the manoeuvres one can do in a seaplane, one of the It was all over far too quickly! for that dam forecast! flight simulator programme. program than On Top, in fact it still most unusual (as far as the land lubber is concerned) is the I then briefed and flew with the Neil’s student, John Amongst the guests was first time visitor Linda Hosier, from Version 9.5 improves on the other- carries a whiff of DOS-based pro- restricted area take off and landing. The take off is performed Anderson, on the SEP (Sea) Class Rating Skill Test and was the CAA’s Personnel Licensing Department (PLD). She hadn’t wise excellent v9.0 mainly by grams (remember them?) in the in a circle, with the seaplane taking off on a single float result- delighted to tell him at the end he had passed. John’s operation been to Loch Earn before, as she had only recently taken over as auto-installing various aspects simple text fonts and stark but- ing in a continuous turning climb over the water. The landing is and handling was really very good, with sound demonstrations the seaplane representative at CAA Gatwick, and had never been and good seamanship. I wish all tests were as easy as this one! in a seaplane until today. I asked her how she found the flight. whose manual installation was tons used for setting up various performed in a similar manner from a continuous turning descent, landing on one float and then continuing the turn In addition to John Anderson’s successful pass at the Skill “Great fun,” she said “an experience I will never easily forget. I slightly problematic in v9. The options and functions. whilst decelerating and eventually completing a landing on Test, one of my students, Hamish Mitchell, became the second can see why it is so addictive and why you are all so enthusias- manual still refers to v9.0, howev- two floats and coming to a slow taxi, which is referred to as a ever Class Rating Instructor (CRI) Single Engine Seaplane and tic about it.” One up for the good guys, I thought. Will she come It is also rather less sophisticated in er, but is no less relevant for all Displacement Taxi. Landplane in the UK after he passed his Instructor Skill Test with back again next year? “Yes please!” She said. that. the quality of its graphics; the instrument I believe it is very important that both the regulator and the panel is fuzzier and less finely detailed. industry grass roots pilots/instructors keep a close relationship Like its rival ELITE, On Top is aimed at Nevertheless don’t let this put you off, it like this, as it helps grow a mutual understanding of common the serious instrument training market, is still perfectly adequate to achieve the problems and concerns. It’s also a lot easier to communicate if not the bedroom games market and task at hand, which is to work through you know the other person at the end of the phone. therefore eschews fripperies like the large number (133) of training exer- There are around ten seaplanes operating within the UK at a detailed scenery, aircraft add-ons cises, from simple pitch, power and roll variety of locations - Loch Earn, Oban, Loch Lomond, Prestwick and so-on, in favour of more rel- adjustments, to complex joins and and Enniskillen, to name just a few. The idea of an annual evant features such as an air- manoeuvres at beacons or ILS facilities. Seaplane Fly-in came about after a positive response to an space editor for creating user- The exercises mimic what would typical- impromptu call for seaplanes to visit Loch Earn last year. This defined beacons and airports, ly happen in a real training flight, the was well supported by a number of seaplane owners and opera- the better to invent personalised ‘CFI’ demonstrates the exercise with tors including representatives from the CAA PLD and Flight ing a well-structured route training scenarios. On Top also voiceover (patter), the student tries the exercise with Examiners. One of the chief aims of the event is to allow an through the training exercises, the bundle also come comes with a useful variety of air- prompting and is scored on his efforts. Depending on opportunity for seaplane owners and operators to meet and with a copy of ASA’s own textbook, “The Pilot’s craft types, from a simple Cessna 172, the outcome, the exercise can be repeated from swap ideas and experiences, as well as discussing training and Manual vol 3, Instrument Flying” which is a weighty through conventional and ‘glass-cockpit’ Cessna 182s, Piper Warrior II and Arrow IV, scratch, repeated with prompting, or attempted technical issues with fellow pilots and instructors. And the and authoritative tome in itself. The supplied book Mooney MSE, Lancair Columbia 300, a V-Tail Bonanza, Beech Baron twin and Beech without prompting until the student feels sufficiently attendance of representatives from the CAA enhances the whole teaches IF the FAA way, however, so differences may 1900 turbine twin, all of which offer comprehensively adaptable panels, including confident to move on to the next exercise. IP Trainer event, by allowing the regulator to meet the people who fly, be encountered, but as an overall package, the On choice of HSI/RMI, Flight Director, and most having a handy Garmin GNS430 built-in also has a ‘free-flight’ mode, which is basically just instruct and examine on seaplanes within the industry. Top and IP Trainer bundle has lots to commend it, lit- (with a comprehensive tutor similar to ASA’s standalone Garmin GNS430 trainer). The the simulator itself, without exercises, allowing you As the day grew to a close those seaplanes that had made the tle to detract from it and offers pretty convincing supplied manual gives step-by-step instructions on how to set up and get started and to fly as you wish, rather than do the school stuff. It journey over to Loch Earn began to start up and depart for their value for money. anybody even slightly familiar with flight simulator software should have little diffi- is a very simple and user-friendly set up, it also home base. It was time to return to the Lochearnhead Hotel and culty. There are also adjustable settings for weather conditions and failures (so you seems to take rather less disk space and processor have a well-earned drink and, as is tradition, the two successful can set up realistic training scenarios with failed instruments, for example). There is power than On Top, so might be of value if your PC candidates were in the buying seats – funny how it always tastes an additional ‘scenarios’ disk supplied, which allows pre-set situations to be set up, is, um, less than state of the art. better when someone else is buying! so for example, the aircraft is pre-positioned at a specific height, heading & speed, I ran both applications on a 3 year-old Pentium 4 If you ever wish to try something really exciting and new I can flying towards a specific navaid or airfield, and the scenario has a specific task machine running Windows XP (On Top 9 is Vista com- thoroughly recommend a seaplane course. If offers you the assigned to it, for example, enter the hold, capture the ILS, and so-on. patible) without problems, so unless you’re an chance to experience a different world of flying and freedom. If anachrophile, or possibly flogged your new comput- ASA On Top, IFR Proficiency Simulator, you are up in Scotland next year why not pop over to Recent improvements to the venerable Microsoft Flight Simulator aim to take it typically £130 beyond the ‘gamer’ market and develop its capabilities as a training tool, but I still er to pay for flying, you shouldn’t really encounter Lochearnhead and visit the fly-in which will take place on 18 prefer a dedicated IF trainer such as On Top, simply because it allows the user to focus too many hassles running either of these excellent ASA IP Trainer, Instrument Pilot Procedures August 2009 with a back up day of 19 August 2009. programs. Course, typically £120 on the dedicated task of learning to fly and navigate an aircraft on instruments. The C versatility of On Top lies in the wide number of aircraft types available, and the flex- If you’re debating the purchase of a desktop sim- ASA On Top/IP Trainer bundle, including ASA ibility of the panel layouts, which can be selected by the user. ASA also provide excel- ulator program to help with IF training, then On Top Instrument Flying textbook, typically £200 M lent support (though not simulator training!) via their website and email. is worthy of very serious consideration. IP Trainer Y adds considerably to the benefits available by offer- Recommended. Available from pilot shops. K Taxiing down the ramp