1 month to go...

It's exactly one month today until I sit the first of the final six exams for Module 3. My lack of posting recently is a sure sign of the level of revision I'm undertaking! Lots of early mornings, late nights and revision crammed lunch breaks at work and many more to come! 

 I feel the revision is going fairly well, I've got a structure in place to follow over the weeks so it means that each subject gets an equal amount of  attention, I've structured it so that it will be a mix of exam questions, timed exams and re-reading the manuals. I've found that re-reading certain topics is highly beneficial as I've understood things better and been able to get my head around certain subjects areas once studying them a second time around. 

From what I've gathered from friends who have just completed Module 3, it certainly pays to gain a really good understanding into some subjects like Principles of Flight (PoF)  and Performance rather than just familiarising yourself with questions. I enjoy PoF and find the content interesting, but need to spend time practicing more and more exam questions. Mass and balance is quite systematic but again, I need to practice more and more as the time restraints will be a concern in the exam! 

Anyway till next time, thanks for reading 

Graphs and diagrams

 

Just another quick update from me with regards to the ongoing Module 3 study. I've now completed all the required reading for VFR/IFR Comms, Mass & Balance and Operational Procedures, next up is pure revision for them! 

As the title suggests, I'm confronted with more and more diagrams and graphs for subjects like Principles of Flight (POF) and Performance whether it being force diagrams or lift/drag graphs. I'm really enjoying POF, which surprised me, maybe because it's interesting and I can relate it to my 'physical experience' of flying an aircraft. I have a little more to read for these two subjects then it will be onto revision as per the other subjects 

I also booked my exams earlier in February with the plan to take them at the end of May. I was quite shocked at how the sittings were already being booked up, so I had to act fast! It also meant paying for them in advance so six exams at £68 wasn't a pleasant welcome to the bank account! Anyway, atleast I can rest in confidence that they are all booked, just now to revise and prepare! Time to go to town with post it notes and flash cards!!

I'll try and update sooner next time, as always thanks for reading :) 

The final push-Module 3

Firstly happy new year! 26 days in, not sure I can still get away with saying that!  Anyway first post of 2017 so here goes...

Going back to the end of last year, after a tense wait before Christmas I received those valuable emails from the CAA, it was results day! Luckily all Module 2 subjects passed - Aircraft General Knowledge, Air Law, Flight Planning and Radio Navigation. This was a great relief and thankful yet again to Bristol Ground School for this success! 

After a few days off for Christmas, I then started the reading the content for the final 6 exams. I set myself a deadline and booked the brush up revision week at Bristol Ground School for the end of May, giving myself sufficient time to study for the following final exams; 

- Performance 

-Principles of Flight 

-Mass & Balance 

-Operational Procedures 

-IFR Communications  

-VFR Communications 

The study is so far going well, and I've now got an appreciation of the more harder subjects and the easier ones. Performance and Principles of Flight seem quite mathematical in places whereas Ops Procedures is fairly factual based, IFR and VFR Comms was completed in a week!  

So back to the books I go, until next time...

2016-An airborne review

As 2016 officially ends tomorrow, I thought I'd share a few moments from the year relating to all things aviation, in no particular relevant order! Enjoy and once again thank you for your support and continued following of In Plane View, more of the same for 2017!  Happy New Year! 

 

In the cruise on way to Hurghada ,Egypt, for a post exam holiday, onboard a Thomson Boeing 737-800

Looking smug after my first aeros experience in the Harvard 

  

DC3 appearing at the Goodwood Revival 

 

The Needles, IOW pictured during an engine run-in flight in a Cessna 172

 

Prior to boarding to Vancouver on Air Transat Airbus A330-300, surprise holiday from my girlfriend! 

 

In the cruise overhead Greenland, Gatwick to Vancouver 

 

Downtown Vancouver Seaplane terminal 

 

Prior to boarding a DHC-2 Beaver seaplane for a short flight around Vancouver, really exciting! 

   

A few shots of the DHC-2 cockpit display 

  

Head in the charts...ATPL study in progress, Flight Planning and Monitoring to be precise! 

 

A frosty start to the day at the flying school, two Cessna 172s at rest before a busy day 

 

In the climb out from Goodwood, Chichester in view. Onboard a PA38 

 

Myself looking super smug again after soloing the Piper Super Cub for the first time during my tailwheel conversion in August. 

One week to go!

Once again, apologies for the lack of posts recently, a week tomorrow I pack up my car and head to my accommodation in Bristol prior to the revision/brush up week and following Module 2 exams at BGS. 

Revision is in full swing at the moment as I undertake mock exams and questions on the hugely helpful question bank! 

I've also found that creating digital flash cards has helped me to revise-creating questions and answers and reviewing them frequently. There are a number of decent apps for the smartphone or tablet which enable you to study whenever, wherever-really useful for people like me! 

I'm looking forward to consolidating my revision during the revision week and finally get the next batch of exams done, which will be between 19th and 21st December and then head home for Christmas for a break! 

Anyway enough from me for now, till next time...thanks for reading 

Module 2 update

August and September were busy months mixed with flying, work, study and birthdays, so I found time to study more during the evenings. The pace of study and revision is building by the week as I work towards my revision and exam weeks at Bristol in December, I've got a strange feeling two and quarter months are going to wizz by, so preparing myself now!! 

I've just finished reading the lessons for Air Law and Radio Navigation and nearing completion of the other two subjects. Thankfully I have moved on from electricity in AGK (by no means my favourite subject!) and just finishing up on Powerplants, some of this is familiar from PPL theory (piston engines) whilst some parts not so, but interesting all the same! 

In Flight Planning and Performance, I've recently covered VFR and IFR Navigation, which again I found very interesting but a very high degree of accuracy is certainly needed when reading the charts as I found out! I'm now covering the fuel planning topics which should near completion of this subject. 

Anyway, just a short post this time, I will try to update regularly as I can when time allows! 

Thanks for reading 

Newly qualified taildragger pilot!

Cheesy grin time! Post solo flight in Super Cub 

Downwind for runway 24 at Goodwood

The seated position of concentration, holding height in downwind leg! (All photos thanks to instructor Charlotte Dadswell) 

Last Wednesday I landed the Cub, kept the aircraft straight during the landing roll and taxied off the active runway.  I stopped momentarily, with a huge grin on my face and a series 'wahooo' exclamations! I'd flown the Super Cub solo around the circuit for the first time, completing the final stage required for  my tailwheel conversion.  

 I really enjoyed all training towards gaining this endorsement on my licence having completed the general handling, ground handling and a lots and lots of circuits! Working in flying school ops, I was lucky to gain quite a few 'taxy' trips taking the Cub from its daytime spot outside the flying school to its nighttime retreat in the hangar. This helped me to gain experience and confidence in taxying a taildragger on the ground. With this training under my belt, I will continue to hone my skills on flying tailwheel, alongside tricycle gear aircraft, and fly on a more regular basis once my ATPLs are complete. 

I am incredibly thankful to all the patient instructors I flew with! (You know who you are!) and ofcourse to the Air League who provided me with the bursary to undertake this training. 

Apart from flying, my evenings have been spent making steady progress through the lessons of ATPL Module 2. I've nearly finished Air Law and will soon undertake mock exams for this via the BGS online question bank-a life saver amongst many students!! I'm currently working through flight planning which so far I find enjoyable, the same can't be said for AGK electrics that's for sure!! I find this challenging but will spend extra time to learn the fundamentals of this important topic. 

As always thanks for reading, till next time...