18 May 2007 - Time for an upgrade

The big day has come - time for a bigger plane.


Although I was flying a twin engine aircraft when I first got here - the B58 Barron that I was approved to fly - unfortunatly it was not long after this that the plane left our base. As I was not approved to fly the other plane that we have - the Cessna 310, I've had to wait until the boss got around to doing the 'endorsement' with me. Today was that day, and we departed with another pilot in the back seat, who was also to be endorsed.


The flight involved some general flying, normal procedures and (simulated) abnormal procedures, to make sure we had all things covered. Departing Darwin, we headed for nearby Batchelor for my training.


The plane is a little odd to fly. Things are in different spots, and it behaves differently, so it takes a little while to adapt, but did get there in the end. The heat was a killer, both because it was hot, and because I was being 'put through the wringer', so I was drenched by the time I got out. Unfortunatly there is also the problem that little planes have their wings on top - so you get some shade - but the big ones have their wings on the bottom, and hence feel like a greenhouse.


After an hour and a half, I'd had my go, so we stopped and the other pilot had a fly, giving me a much needed break. On return I'd been told I'd passed, though like every pilot I also now need to do another five hours with an approved pilot 'under supervision' so that I've been 'extra checked'. At least now things are progressing, and I should get some much needed time in the bigger ones.