As part of your regular club skill checks, the Operations Department has suggested a NAVEX to blow away the cobwebs of the festive period. This is just a simple excursion from Clacton heading north to Great Yarmouth, then Cromer climbing as high as you can, then turning south and overflying Norwich before returning back to Clacton.

So there you are at 10,500ft overhead the Norwich NDB (NWI, not ND) en route back to Clacton when BAM!!! The engine fails catastrophically. You look at your location and see that you have a number of options. There are several airfields not far away, but with such a choice, which one do you choose? Whilst deciding…pause and remember this is a simulation so we can add a bit of virtual fun. So - keeping in the spirit of the event, which is the furthest possible airfield where you can safely land? To be successful of course, you have to land and walk away… but to brag you have to land on a runway and to really really brag, land on a runway at the furthest possible airfield from your present position.

This event is open for the whole month of January to give all members an opportunity (and to ensure ATC doesn’t get 10+ Maydays in an hour!) and to enable worried pilots an opportunity to try without being watched. So check out your engine failure procedure (See Exercise 13E of the Club Flight Training Manual) and then get on the ground and walk away.

As differing sim platforms have different airfields or scenery, the following are the ONLY ones available for the event.

• EGSD North Denes
• EGSM Beccles
• EGSV Old Buckenham
• EGSA Shipdham
• UK07 Swanton Morley
• EGYC Coltishall
• EGSJ Seething
• EGSK Hethel

This event may be flown at any time during the month of January 2020. You will depart from Clacton EGSQ using runway 18.

Before the event you will need to plan your route. Note all UK airspace restrictions and correctly use the semi-circular rule. Highest Northbound altitude available is 11500ft and southbound, 10500ft. (Ensure virtual Oxygen is available.) Your planned route should be EGSQ Dep RW 18 RH Cct – EGSQ – VOR CLN – NDB ND – NDB CM (@11500ft) – NDB NWI.

Overhead the Norwich NDB NWI, at 10500ft, 100 knots and on a heading of 188°, cut the engine. Now - which is the most distant of the permitted airfields where you can land? (Make you decision in the air not pre-calculated on the ground). So will it be North Denes, Beccles, Shipdam, Old Buckenham, or Swanton Morley or do you simply opt for the closer safety of Coltishall, Seething or Hethel. Or perhaps, in order to walk away, one of the small farm strips around the area such as Felthorp, a disused airfield or a farmer’s field? (Remember - in an emergency you can land at inactive fields if necessary).

It's your call. You can fly the route as often as you wish, but for the first attempt, try not to do too much calculating - use your experience and intuition first. For subsequent attempts, you can try to stretch your flight a bit further. After all, Practice Forced Landings (PFLs) are good to practice. Your first attempt should really be the one you brag about on the forum, but please note that only one Star will be awarded for taking part.

Remember to ANC (Aviate, Navigate & Communicate). This event should be fun for all, both pilots and any controllers on line. Should your enjoyment become impaired due to ATC instructions (emergencies are often not permitted if a controller is busy with normal traffic) you may have to try again on a different day/time. You must accept any refusal of service or admonishment lightly if you get something wrong, such as straying into Controlled Airspace without clearance, and use it as a learning point if required. If you wish to receive help and training for / before the event, please ask on the forum. Everyone wants to help…It’s the CIX way!