My Third Solo X-Country

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
CareBear wrote:
The leg to CTJ was kinda long (70 minutes) but it was relaxing. Flying to
BHM from CTJ was rather interesting. The sun was shining bright right at
me. The little sun visor in the plane really didn't help. Since I couldn't
see clearly, I really had to rely on the instruments.


Let me make a suggestion which has really helped me over the years when flying
into the sun. Order one of those sunshades from Sporty's or where ever... one
of those sheets of green plastic film that just sticks to the windshield where
ever you need it.

I'll second those stick-on visors. Our plane doesn't have visors, so we
really need them.

I also keep a baseball cap in my flight bag. The bill pulled down low
over my eyes is very helpful in direct sun.

CareBear wrote:

Good for you. They are fun.

The leg to CTJ was kinda long (70 minutes) but it was relaxing. Flying to
BHM from CTJ was rather interesting. The sun was shining bright right at
me. The little sun visor in the plane really didn't help. Since I couldn't
see clearly, I really had to rely on the instruments.

A couple of things here. I wear a baseball cap pulled down low. And get
a good pair of glasses. But most importantly, let ATC be your eyes. You
didn't say if you had dialed into ATC for VFR flight following. That is
key. You've got to look out of the plane, you have to see. It is really
important. Fender benders at 4500' make the newspaper. And that is quite
bad! :^)

That call sounds like ...
"Podunk Approach N12345"
they come back.
"Podunk Approach N12345 VFR from Kabc to Kxyz at [say altitude]
requesting flight following."

Short and sweet.

Then dial in the xpdr code and you are good to go. Always acknowledge
the calls back.


I still get a little nervous when I have to talk to Approach/Tower, etc. at
Class C airports. I guess it will just take time and more communicating
before I really get the hang of it. There is a great little book that
really helps me with this. It's called VFR Radio Procedures in The USA.
I'm sure most of you are familiar with it.

You'll learn to say more in less over time. It starts to sound like
"Podunk Approach N12345 inbound with Charlie"

And that's it. It is daunting at first. You don't want to sound like a
dope but people in this biz are pretty cool. They know. We've all been
there.

KC

"CareBear" wrote:
Flying to BHM from CTJ was rather interesting. The sun was shining
bright right at me. The little sun visor in the plane really didn't
help.

Late in the afternoon if you're flying west, sun glare can be a real
problem. The solution is to not fly right into the sun. Change course 20
degrees so you're not looking right at the sun. It'll take you a little
longer to get there, but that's better than being blind.

And, as another poster pointed out, getting flight following is always a
good idea.

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com wrote in message
...
CareBear wrote:
The leg to CTJ was kinda long (70 minutes) but it was relaxing. Flying
to
BHM from CTJ was rather interesting. The sun was shining bright right at
me. The little sun visor in the plane really didn't help. Since I
couldn't
see clearly, I really had to rely on the instruments.


Let me make a suggestion which has really helped me over the years when
flying into the sun. Order one of those sunshades from Sporty's or where
ever... one of those sheets of green plastic film that just sticks to the
windshield where ever you need it. You can stick it and peel it a million
times without wearing it out. Back in the old days, they were about $5.
You might even be able to find one in an auto supply store. It's a lot
more practical for the pilot than the driver, since our headings are
constant and the sun isn't going to be moving all over your windshield.

I used to be a courier pilot with a route that caused me to fly early in
the morning and then again around sunset five days a week. I'd have gone
blind with all the squinting if I hadn't gotten one of these.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com


Sounds like a good suggestion. I'll order the sunshade. Thanks!

--
CareBear

"B A R R Y" wrote in message
. com...
Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
CareBear wrote:
The leg to CTJ was kinda long (70 minutes) but it was relaxing. Flying
to
BHM from CTJ was rather interesting. The sun was shining bright right
at
me. The little sun visor in the plane really didn't help. Since I
couldn't
see clearly, I really had to rely on the instruments.


Let me make a suggestion which has really helped me over the years when
flying into the sun. Order one of those sunshades from Sporty's or where
ever... one of those sheets of green plastic film that just sticks to the
windshield where ever you need it.

I'll second those stick-on visors. Our plane doesn't have visors, so we
really need them.

I also keep a baseball cap in my flight bag. The bill pulled down low
over my eyes is very helpful in direct sun.

Another good suggestion. I've got a few baseball caps laying around.
Thanks!

--
CareBear

"CareBear" wrote in
:

Another good suggestion. I've got a few baseball caps laying around.
Thanks!

May seem silly, but the hood for your IFR work will help just as well, keep
it low enough to block the sun but not your vision to the outside world.

Allen