Multi Engine IMC Endorsement

On the 21st of August I finally was able to get my IMC (Instrument Meterological Condition) rating endorsed for multi-engine aeroplanes.

I wanted to combine this flight with some recurrent training in the Twinstar following my checkout at the end of May. So I discussed this with Martin my instructor/examiner and agreed we would do a stall in the approach configuration and some engine failure practice simulations. We did the stall first and it was a non event, no wing drop or abrupt stall just a mushiness as the plane descended. This over I successfully contained engine failures visually before going on instruments and doing the same again. Some turns towards and against the dead engine went well and so we called Blackpool and commenced an instrument approach via radar vectoring to the ILS (Instrument Landing System).

It had been a while since I had flown an ILS but I was very pleased with the outcome as I managed to track both localiser and glidepath all the way down to 500feet. As we taxied in Martin told me he was happy to sign me off for IMC flying on multi engine aeroplanes. Excellent!

Nine days later it was time to fly again, this time with Janet on her trip to the seaside. Once again it was over to Caernarfon where we spent a few hours walking on the beach and having a paddle and ice cream before returning to the airfield and then Blackpool. The return flight was routine although we had to hold while a 737 lined up and departed from runway 10. I requested runway 13 and we were soon taxing in from another trip. A meal in a local pub went down well as did my pint of lager before Janet drove us home. A good day again.

Me and the 42 stand 5 at Caernarfon

The beach near Caernarfon aerodrome

More Multi Engine Flying

On my last update I was hoping to get my IMC rating endorsed to fly multi engine in instrument conditions, but for various reasons it got delayed.

So it was back to flying the Arrow for a couple of hours on a flight out to Southport and one flying back from Caernarfon on a trip I shared with Steve (who is still waiting to checkout on the Twinstar).

I had booked more time in the Twinstar for the weekend at the end of July but was getting a little tired of driving up to Blackpool. So why not fly up in the Arrow, fly the twinstar and fly home in the Arrow again? Good plan!

On the Friday I took the Arrow into the air and made a direct track to Blackpool only to be thwarted by Warton ATC and asked to route to the East of Preston which was NOT what I wanted. However I did as requested and landed and parked up at Blackpool. I then took the Twinstar up to Morecambe bay for a play around and had some fun. The weather had turned as I returned to Blackpool and I went through some "interesting" turbulence before I had to break off an approach to runway 13 and reposition to 28 due to a huge wind change as the storm approached. Safely on the ground I waiting for the weather to clear through and then headed back to Barton in the Arrow. A tiring but good day's flying.

The following day I again flew into Blackpool before taking the Twinstar to Caernarfon to meet Steve who had flown over in his helicopter. We had some food and drink and as he headed off to Barton I returned to Blackpool and then on to Barton. Two great days spent flying!










Twinstar and Arrow