This Month we are going to combine a NAVEX; Climb-to-height and an engine off exercise. Which will test your knowledge of your aircraft and your flying skills.

"There are OLD pilots and there are BOLD pilots" more of the latter than the former! ALL pilots wishing to become 'Old Pilots' RW or Flight Sim, Frequently practice the areas of the flight envelope that can cause a disaster.

The major ones are Engine failure at low level (especially during takeoff - EFATO) and high level/distance from alternate A/F. Stalls and spins (many training aircraft are noted as "DO NOT SPIN" in pilots notes). If you spin a PA28, below 3000ft AGL - you will need to be lucky. Thus learning your aircraft's performance and testing / practicing your skills is essential, for ALL pilots in every aircraft they fly.

Start Time and Place This event may be flown at any time during the month of August 2023. You will depart from Sherburn-in-Elmnet EGCJ. PlanG and LittleNAVMap plans are available. Here

I flew the exercise, in a club C172, departing with FULL tanks and 2 POB of 90Kgs each, and completed the exercise with 87% fuel remaining. The NAVEX is:- Depart EGCJ; T&G at Leeds East; then via EGNU; Pickering; Scarborough and Flamborough Head NDB, land at EGNY Linley Hill / Beverly. As you pass the NDB, Shut the throttle and attempt to glide into EGNY. You will need to calculate Altitude required and Fuel. See exercise 13E in the Club Flight Training Manual. You may also need to practice the flight. In Remarks, add "NAVEX, remaining OCAS."

You may use any single engine, fixed wing aircraft classified as GA (within the EASA "light" category), see club rules for details. But bear in mind the purpose of the exercise.

Before starting, check the weather. I recommend that all pilots set 'No Weather' so that it is easier to see other traffic [CAVOK]. But bear in mind the purpose of the exercise.

Remember to ANC (Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.) This event should be fun for all, both pilots and controllers. Bear in mind that other (non CIX VFR CLUB) traffic may also use the same airspace/airfields but everyone has equal priority (VFR). Should your enjoyment become impaired due to "unsportsmanlike" ATC, let someone know so that senior club members can pass on your concerns. Similarly, If you get something wrong, such as entering controlled airspace without authority, learn from the experience and follow instructions - even if requested to 'Disconnect'. However, if you have a problem, ask ATC for help, a lot easier that flying on regardless causing "confusion and mayhem"! And don't forget your first call for help is other club members, that is how we all learnt to do it.

Unless a group of pilots elect to do the exercise on a particular date and request ATC in the forum, ATC is unlikely. Do not forget, if no ATC, then on UNICOM use "Sherburn traffic, GGDAC, Taxying, departure to the North, Sherburn Traffic".

If we have ATC, the FAA NOTAM VFR arrival instructions include specific communications protocols for interfacing with ATC, be sure to be familiar and utilize those instructions.

Take care not to let our Teamspeak chat cut across ATC. Stop any conversation immediately the R/T comes alive, then continue if "he wasn't talking to us". This is difficult because when transmitting on Teamspeak you can't hear the R/T. So be brief on Teamspeak, and be aware that ATC might be trying to get through. If anyone hears an R/T message which seems to be being ignored, just say "ATC is calling G-CIXN" if you have identified the callsign, or "ATC is calling us" which is a cue for everyone to be quiet on Teamspeak until ATC call again (which they will). Remember too that if asked to "Stand By" by ATC, you do not reply - not even "Roger", but simply wait until you are called again.

A flight, on VATSIM, Departing EGCJ and Landing at EGNY. Members may PIREP 2 offline practice flights as "Authorised off-line".

I have provided some useful material and links, flight plans etc. on the Event Thread

Event Idea: Dan Cooper.
Event planning: Dan and Neville.
Briefing: Neville Munro