First Solo X-Country (sorry no pics)

[Piper_Pilot]

So yesterday after two cancellation due to weather, I was finally able to do my cross country trip from Concord Regional Airport to Southern Pines and back. So after doing the flight planning and getting the latest up to date information (from CSC DUATS) I load up the trusty Piper Cherokee 180 N3663R and set out for Southern Pines. Now the first trouble was right after take off, when I started turning the wrong way, and why, because I got my flight plan mixed up. I quickly turned to the right heading and grabbed the right flight plan. Of course by this time I was with Charlotte Departure who told me to fly VFR at 3,000 or below. Well I busted it by 500 feet. Mainly because of my own poor planning with keeping my paper work in order. As soon as I noticed that I busted it, I quickly went into a quick dive back to 3,000.

After getting myself straighten out and calming myself back down. It was enjoyable. Until it was hand-off time. Now you have to realize that at this time, Charlotte Departure was busy, so when they tried to hand me off, my radio kept dropping off important parts of the hand off. I'd ask them to repeat, they repeat and nothing. After talking with Fayetteville approach on Com 2 to see if Charlotte Departure was talking to him. I tried once again to get my hand off from Charlotte. I was finally able to get it, and switched to Fayetteville. By this time I climbed up to 5,500 feet.

Now I was nearing my approach into Southern Pines, which was close to Maxton Airport which does parachute drops all day long, everyday. I couldn't descend from 5,500 to 1,600 until the aircraft carrying the parachuter's at 5,000 was behind me.

I descending down to 1,600 (after being handed off to Southern Pines UNICOM where I had to do a 360 to make it to the Pattern Altitude. I entered left base (while making sure traffic was cleared) and landed. I have to say Southern Pines is a great airport and it look beautiful. I taxied back to the end of the runway, made sure I got the right flight plan and I took off again. Once I left Southern Pines traffic pattern I switched back over to Fayetteville Departure, got my Flight Following and this time the trip back was a lot smoother. Until I was near Stanley Co. Airport, for some reason they lost radar contact with me for a brief moment but was soon able to pick it back up. I was able to make it back to Concord safe and sound.

I know I made a lot of mistake on this first run by myself. I turned the wrong way, I busted my minimums, and had some radio problems, and trust me I really do wish I could've done it a lot better, but I'm just glad no one told me to call them when I landed. Hopefully I can learn from my mistakes and not repeat them the next time I go up.

[danl]

Hey that was a wonderful story Sean. Thanks for sending that in I really enjoyed it. I can see why you didn't have pictures, you must have been busy enough with all the traffic and flying :)

Dan
danl@flightsim.com

[lnuss]

Congrads! Sure you made mistakes, as we all do, but apparently you corrected yourself without causing problems and you have learned from your mistakes, which is part of the purpose of solo flight.

As you gain experience, you'll improve and "push the envelope" further, making and learning from additional mistakes, as well as from what you do right. Mistakes will become fewer (assuming you maintain the learning attitude) as you progress, but even long experienced pilots make mistakes, though they're rarely serious ones, and continue to learn.

And thanks for sharing this with us.

[HR]
http://home.comcast.net/~lfn3/Cub_Pix/LarryCub03_s.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~lfn3/Peg_Ab...590Mklfn_s.jpg
Larry N.

[lnuss]

Hi, Dan -- good to see you back on the forums. It's been a while.

[HR]
http://home.comcast.net/~lfn3/Cub_Pix/LarryCub03_s.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~lfn3/Peg_Ab...590Mklfn_s.jpg
Larry N.

[FlyingKiwi]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us! Like Larry said, we all make mistakes, especially during the early training stages, but as long as you give them thought afterwards and try to improve for next time (which is what it sounds like you're doing) you'll find your flying improves immensely in a surprisingly short time. I remember on my first solo crosscountry I almost landed on a taxiway after being cleared to land on a grass runway I wasn't familiar with; had to do a subtle sidestep with about a mile to go on the approach! :+ Didn't make me feel too good at the time, but as a consequence I've learned to pay extra attention to the approach plates even for airports I'm reasonably familiar with to avoid situations like that.

[danl]

Thank you very much for that warm welcome Larry but as usual I'm on a mission. Wish it could just be for fun but want to keep improving on FlightSim.Com too :) So I will be in an out for sure and the best way to get my attention is still email!

Part of the reason as you know is because we are adding new software to the site. I've got that FSX Faq well in the works as I mentioned as well as a new Glossary among other things. Mike McCarthy has actaully been a huge help on the glossary adding entries everyday. That's all being intergrated into the Wiki I showed you.

I'm going to look for volunteers that want to add information as well as do a few other simple tasks periodically so if anyone has a little extra time a few days a week and would like to help out let me know. Should be fun and sure would be appreciated by everyone.

Dan
danl@flightsim.com