jspilot
Cleared for Takeoff
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2011
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jspilot
First Solo Today!
Hi everybody. I just discovered this web site a few weeks ago and am glad I did. It seems like everyone here is really nice.
I wanted to share my solo story from today. It was a beutiful day here on Long Island, NY after some really not great days with heavy winds. Went to KISP where I've been doing my training and met up with one of my instructors. He asked me some scenario questions which I answered fine and so it was time to go to the plane and get some dual instruction time in before the solo. We took off and did 4 touch and go's before he gave me the go ahead. It's been over 2 weeks since the last time I flew so thank god for those dual landings as they cleared away the rust.
We taxied back to parking and filled out some paper work and then he got out of the plane and it was just me. That was a pretty awesome moment filled with a great sense of accomplishment followed by a few moments of "ohh boy" I listend to the ATIS, got taxi clearance and then taxied out to the runway. On the way out I noticed about 4 planes waiting to take off- Macarthur( KISP) was packed today because of the first nice day in a long time. I had to wait in sequence for about 5 minutes and then get takeoff clearance...nothing like icing the kicker before the winning field goal attempt. Put my landing and strobe lights on, line up on the center line, heels to the floor and off I go.
The first time around the pattern was crazy. Turn downwind and report to the tower and am "told cleared to land number two follow skyhawk on a four mile final." I looked for the skyhawk and could not see it. Tower called my base and I line up for runway 24 at KISP. Here's where the crazness begins. KISP is used by Southwest Airlines and whenever they come in for landing the entire pattern becomes organized chaos. I'm on Final about 2 miles out when Southwest flight 2423 from FT Lauderdale Florida calls in and reports they are making a left base for final on 24. I continue on my final and touch down making a really nice and smooth landing. Once I touch down, tower asks me if I can make a left on 15L as I'm rolling past the turn on 15L still doing about 35 knots or so. I report unable and let the tower know I can make the next right or left past 15L onto runway 33L. Tower reports back in a mild state of anxiousness, " Ok turn right at runway 33L no delay 737 on a one mile final" Needless to say I kept my speed up on the runway and turned as soon as possible onto 33L! I got past the hold short line, stopped the plane on 33L and looked back to see the Southwest 737 in full flare, just short of the runway, about to touch down. Craziness and awesomeness all rolled into one.
Taxi back to the active for my next trip around the pattern. This time I have to wait for another Southwest Flight to take off. Get my takeoff clearance, take off, report the midfield downwind and am told I'm number two. I see the traffic this time and report traffic in sight. Tower tells me I'm number two so I begin to prepare for the decent. I just began my turn to base and am told, landing clearance cancelled and to make one left 360 to make way for a cirus on a 4 mile final. Make the left 360, rejoin the downwind and make a normal approach. Land smooth again.
The final time around was the only normal time around with no traffic in the pattern at all. Made another smooth landing and taxied back to the flight school. One of my instructors was there to welcome me back. He said it was one of the best solo's he's ever seen and how great a story this makes for a first solo. We tie down the plane and head inside where he makes me ring the bell the flight school uses as their tradition when a student solo's for the first time. I have to say that the whole experience was amazing and I'm glad I have a great story to tell. I am glad I am training in such a high traffic airport with commercial traffic because it is great to encounter these new challenges. Today though, I was envious of the people who get to train in smaller airports where the traffic is less! I'm still smiling now and hope for even more fun to come!
Hi everybody. I just discovered this web site a few weeks ago and am glad I did. It seems like everyone here is really nice.
I wanted to share my solo story from today. It was a beutiful day here on Long Island, NY after some really not great days with heavy winds. Went to KISP where I've been doing my training and met up with one of my instructors. He asked me some scenario questions which I answered fine and so it was time to go to the plane and get some dual instruction time in before the solo. We took off and did 4 touch and go's before he gave me the go ahead. It's been over 2 weeks since the last time I flew so thank god for those dual landings as they cleared away the rust.
We taxied back to parking and filled out some paper work and then he got out of the plane and it was just me. That was a pretty awesome moment filled with a great sense of accomplishment followed by a few moments of "ohh boy" I listend to the ATIS, got taxi clearance and then taxied out to the runway. On the way out I noticed about 4 planes waiting to take off- Macarthur( KISP) was packed today because of the first nice day in a long time. I had to wait in sequence for about 5 minutes and then get takeoff clearance...nothing like icing the kicker before the winning field goal attempt. Put my landing and strobe lights on, line up on the center line, heels to the floor and off I go.
The first time around the pattern was crazy. Turn downwind and report to the tower and am "told cleared to land number two follow skyhawk on a four mile final." I looked for the skyhawk and could not see it. Tower called my base and I line up for runway 24 at KISP. Here's where the crazness begins. KISP is used by Southwest Airlines and whenever they come in for landing the entire pattern becomes organized chaos. I'm on Final about 2 miles out when Southwest flight 2423 from FT Lauderdale Florida calls in and reports they are making a left base for final on 24. I continue on my final and touch down making a really nice and smooth landing. Once I touch down, tower asks me if I can make a left on 15L as I'm rolling past the turn on 15L still doing about 35 knots or so. I report unable and let the tower know I can make the next right or left past 15L onto runway 33L. Tower reports back in a mild state of anxiousness, " Ok turn right at runway 33L no delay 737 on a one mile final" Needless to say I kept my speed up on the runway and turned as soon as possible onto 33L! I got past the hold short line, stopped the plane on 33L and looked back to see the Southwest 737 in full flare, just short of the runway, about to touch down. Craziness and awesomeness all rolled into one.
Taxi back to the active for my next trip around the pattern. This time I have to wait for another Southwest Flight to take off. Get my takeoff clearance, take off, report the midfield downwind and am told I'm number two. I see the traffic this time and report traffic in sight. Tower tells me I'm number two so I begin to prepare for the decent. I just began my turn to base and am told, landing clearance cancelled and to make one left 360 to make way for a cirus on a 4 mile final. Make the left 360, rejoin the downwind and make a normal approach. Land smooth again.
The final time around was the only normal time around with no traffic in the pattern at all. Made another smooth landing and taxied back to the flight school. One of my instructors was there to welcome me back. He said it was one of the best solo's he's ever seen and how great a story this makes for a first solo. We tie down the plane and head inside where he makes me ring the bell the flight school uses as their tradition when a student solo's for the first time. I have to say that the whole experience was amazing and I'm glad I have a great story to tell. I am glad I am training in such a high traffic airport with commercial traffic because it is great to encounter these new challenges. Today though, I was envious of the people who get to train in smaller airports where the traffic is less! I'm still smiling now and hope for even more fun to come!
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