Morne
Line Up and Wait
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2011
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Morne
Last Thursday I had to be down at VJI for business. Getting out of my home drone, BJJ, could be done VFR but down around VJI ceilings were overcast and close to the mountain-tops. VFR, I would have had to swing wide to the west to try and find a way under the clouds where the ground is lower, then run up the valley.
Instead, I filed IFR (not the first time) and flew intending to penetrate the clouds. I got some actual on the climb out, going through a 500' thick stratus layer. I then settled in to cruise at 14,000' (nice tailwind), sucked oxygen and made good time. This was a personal highest altitude for me in my NA 182, amazing how little manifold pressure you get up there.
As I started my descent I was cleared to 7000' which was roughly where the cloud tops were. I don't like crossing the ridge north of VJI lower than 6000' even VFR, so I stayed just above the clouds until past the ridge when ATC cleared me to 6000'. Listening to the VJI ASOS they had overcast at 4000' (plus 2000' field elevation) so I should break out at 6000', and I did. Thus, I got the visual approach into VJI rather than the LOC24, which I had studied thoroughly and briefed myself on en route. Got into VJI without trouble.
Coming home the clouds were higher and so while I filed IFR it was VMC the whole way. I stayed at 7000' or 5000' the whole way back trying to keep below the really bad headwinds, despite unforecasted moderate turbulence over West Virginia (made a PIREP). Although, when you consider the gusting winds that day and you look at the rough ground it isn't a surprise that you're getting bounced around like a basketball.
All things considered, it was pretty easy. Having the rating didn't mean I had to shoot approaches to minimums, it just meant that a trip that might've been dicey VFR was a certain and easy "GO" with the rating. More tools in the toolbox to deal with the weather.
Instead, I filed IFR (not the first time) and flew intending to penetrate the clouds. I got some actual on the climb out, going through a 500' thick stratus layer. I then settled in to cruise at 14,000' (nice tailwind), sucked oxygen and made good time. This was a personal highest altitude for me in my NA 182, amazing how little manifold pressure you get up there.
As I started my descent I was cleared to 7000' which was roughly where the cloud tops were. I don't like crossing the ridge north of VJI lower than 6000' even VFR, so I stayed just above the clouds until past the ridge when ATC cleared me to 6000'. Listening to the VJI ASOS they had overcast at 4000' (plus 2000' field elevation) so I should break out at 6000', and I did. Thus, I got the visual approach into VJI rather than the LOC24, which I had studied thoroughly and briefed myself on en route. Got into VJI without trouble.
Coming home the clouds were higher and so while I filed IFR it was VMC the whole way. I stayed at 7000' or 5000' the whole way back trying to keep below the really bad headwinds, despite unforecasted moderate turbulence over West Virginia (made a PIREP). Although, when you consider the gusting winds that day and you look at the rough ground it isn't a surprise that you're getting bounced around like a basketball.
All things considered, it was pretty easy. Having the rating didn't mean I had to shoot approaches to minimums, it just meant that a trip that might've been dicey VFR was a certain and easy "GO" with the rating. More tools in the toolbox to deal with the weather.
