When I'm ready to take the Instrument Checkride, the examiner will expect me to fly to another airport, complete approaches and fly us back to our departing airport without their assistance.
So, Thursday, May 1, that's just what I did. I flew to KSET, completed the VOR RWY 18 approach twice and flew back to our departure airport. For the first time I felt I could say "I can do this" after this flight.
Here's the process I went through:
Pre-flight Inspection Complete
Before Starting Engine
-Master Switch on
-Avionics on
-Com 1 123.0; departing airport frequency; set squelch & volume
-Com 2 118.075; KSET local weather (ASOS); set squelch & volume
-Nav 1 117.4 STL, dial 031 outbound radial, (once receive vectors, dial 208 for app crs)
-Nav 2 116.0 TOY, dial 303 intercepting radial & IAF BYRNS 10 DME from STL DME 117.4 STL, matching NAV #1
-Comms on phone (as opposed to overhead speaker)
-Avionics on phone (as opposed to overhead speaker)
-Master Switch off
-Set/Check Instruments:
Set Altimer to airport elevation of 442 or current pressure altitude
Set attitude indicator to white line
Set heading indicator to compass
Starting Engine
Once Engine started, Set/Check Instruments again:
Set Altimer to airport elevation of 442 or current pressure altitude
Set attitude indicator to white line
Set heading indicator to compass
Communications:
Me: St. Charles Muni Unicom, N# on ramp, taxi to 09 (set ailerons according to wind, watch correct turn coordinator/ skid/slip and attitude indications)
Before Takeoff Complete
Communications:
Me: St. Charles Muni Traffic, N# back taxi 09, St. Charles Muni (continue to set ailerons according to wind)
Takeoff
TILT check
T=Time: record time taking off
I=Check instruments: attitude indicator, heading indicator w/compass, oil temp/pres
L=Lights: on
T=Transponder: to ALT
Communications:
Me: St. Charles Muni Traffic, N# departing 09 North, St. Charles Muni (continue to set ailerons according to wind)
Enroute
-Head for STL VOR remaining under Class B airspace, to 1500 ft.
-Identify and listen to ASOS on 188.075 (comm #2): obtain weather
-Identify NAV #1 and NAV #2
-Tune Comm 1 to 124.2. STL Approach
-Brief the approach VOR RWY 18
Communications:
Me: STL Approach, N#
STL Appr: N# go ahead
Me: STL Appr, N# over St. Charles Co Airport, 1500 ft, climbing 2,300, request practice approaces VOR RWY 18 St. Charles County with ASOS (if listened to ATIS, will have weather identifier to give; ex: information Lima)
STL Appr: squawk 0246
Me: 0246, N#
STL Appr: N#, turn right 040, how many approaches and what is your request after approaches?
Me: right 040, 2 approaches, then return to 3SQ, N#
-Dial VOR #1 to appr crs 208
STL Appr: N#, turn left 330
Me: left 330, N#
STL Appr: N#, turn left 300
Me: left 300, N#
STL Appr: N#, turn left 270
Me: left 270, N#
STL Appr: N#, turn left 240 (~30 degree lead-in to approach course), cleared
straight-in VOR 18 at SET, join, maintain 2,300 until established, remain VFR
Me: left 240, cleared VOR 18 SET, join, N#
VOR RWY 18 Approach KSET
-Watch VOR #1 to start moving to center, complete T's:
Turn: to 208 adjusting for wind
Tune: check #1 NAV dialed for 208
Time: none yet
-GMC: check gas on, mixture rich, carb heat on
Throttle: 1500 rpms, 90 kts, descend 500 fpm for non-precision (700 for precision)
Talk: no need to talk yet
STL Appr: N#, on the missed, turn left 360, climb and maintain 2,300, change to advisory frequency approved
Me: Advisory approved, on the missed, turn left 360, climb and maintain 2,300, N#
-Prior to 2,300 and FAF, lift nose and add power simultaneously for 2,000 rpms/90 kts to remain at or just above 2,300.
-Watch NAV #2 center.
-Watch DME for 10.
-Tune Comm #2 to 122.7
Me: St. Charles County Traffic, N# on VOR RWY 18 approach, touch-n-go, St. Charles County
-When NAV #2 centered and DME at 10, complete T's:
Turn: no change
Tune: no change
Time: start timer, monitor for 3:20 min (MAP time) in case DME lost (adjust time for wind)
Throttle: 1500 rpms, 90 kts, descend 500 fpm to 1160 until DME at 6.7 NUPDE, then continue to 800, level off at 800, at 6.0 DME land if able or decide to miss. If unable to land, continue to 5.0 DME at 800, complete missed as instructed.
Talk: No communications needed here, as Appr didn't ask to report BYRNS
-Complete missed instructions (in my case didn't complete the entire missed as I was to obtain vectors to complete the approach the second time.
Me: St. Charles County Traffic, N# going missed VOR RWY 18
-Climb straight to 1,000, then climbing left turn to 2,700 via heading 360
-Tune 124.2 Appr
Me: STL Appr, N# heading 360, 1,500 climbing 2,700
At this point, STL Appr gave me vectors to begin the approach all over again instead of holding at FASHE at 19.4 DME.
Returned to 3SQ
After completing the VOR RWY 18 approach for the second time, Appr requested I squawk VFR (1200) advisory frequency change approved, and remain VFR. I flew back to my departure airport 3SQ and landed.
After this flight I truely felt I was making a great deal of progress. I knew what to dial in and where on the radios. I was at ease talking to approach. I stayed ahead of the airplane by planning my "next steps". It felt really good for a change. I look forward to taking along a "Safety Pilot" to practice approaches on my own.
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