So, that was 2016?

At the start of the year, like a lot of people, I set myself some goals to aim for.  I do this every year and then at the end of the year I like to look back and reflect on what I achieved, what I didn’t succeed in achieving, and why.  So how did 2016, from a flying perspective compare to 2015?

Well 2015 was my first year as a qualified pilot; having passed my General Skills Test on 16^th December 2014.

I learned a lot in that first year of exploring the skies as pilot in command.

I learned that you should listen to more experienced pilots when they say “are you sure you’re going flying? It’s a bit hazy up there”, I learned this the hard way by getting lost, forgetting I had an iPhone in my pocket with GPS and having to make the call to 121.5 for some directions.

I learned that if a big black bird (a crow I think) flies through your prop on short final its best to abort any further circuits and just stay on terra firma until you have it checked out to ensure it still has 3 blades and isn’t going to fall off anytime soon.

I learned that the weather in the North West can be erm, fickle, and change quite quickly and that it’s best to treat it like a toddler and always keep an eye on it.

I also learned that it’s great to take people flying with you; my kids, my friends, my family, my friend’s friends.  Anyone really, without exception it was an exciting year with some great and thrilling flying.

I learned all of this and more in less than 24 hours in the skies.

2016 was going to have to go some to beat this.

So what were my 2016 flying goals?

1 – To fly more than 2015

This one was obvious really.  I flew a total of 23hrs and 56 minutes in 2015, this was nowhere near as much as I would like, so I really wanted to increase my time in the air during 2016.

2 – C42 Checkout

I learned to fly on the Eurostar, and Mainair has two of these, but also 2 (now 3) C-42 Ikarus aircraft.  So getting checked out on a new type would increase aircraft availability for me and give me the experience of flying a different configuration of aircraft.

3 – Visit some new airfields and do more trips than 2015

It got to June in 2015 before I ventured from the relative safety of Barton.  I went to Blackpool.  Nothing wrong with Blackpool, but it wasn’t exactly adventurous of me; after all, I’d flown there as part of my navigation training during 2014.  I wanted to have some of the exciting trips I’d read about in Microlight Flying Magazine and other places.

4 – LAPL License Conversion

This was my ‘stretch’ objective as they would say in a corporate HR department.  I’d only just got my NPPL (m) but realizing this would open up other aircraft types to me, as well as increasing the types of flying I could do, and also potentially hire abroad, I thought this would be a logical next step in my flying career.

Some numbers…

Year	2015	2016
Pilot-in-Command (I love that phrase)	22:20	22:05
Pilot under tuition	01:15	01:55
Gliding (including spinning!!)	00:21	00:00
C-42 Ikarus	00:00	20:15
EV-97 Eurostar	23:35	03:45
Airfields visited	1	3
Total Time	23:56	24:00

So, I didn’t really achieve objective number 1.

Alright, technically I did, by a whole 4 minutes of flying time, but no, my time in the air has been broadly the same as 2015.  There are a number of reasons for this, and I’m sure they are a familiar story to most pilots;

1 – There is great flying weather but you are stuck working

2 – You have a day off and no other commitments but the weather sucks

3 – You have a day off and great flying weather but you have other commitments

4 – You have a day off, there is great flying weather you have no other commitments but someone else has got the aircraft

5 – You have a day off, there is great flying weather, you have no other commitments, there are aircraft available but you are ill

6 – You have a day off, there is great flying weather, you have no other commitments, there are aircraft available, you are not ill but the club is closed so you can’t hire as it’s a Monday

7 – You have a day off, there is great flying weather, you have no other commitments, there are aircraft available, you are not ill, the club is open as it’s not a Monday but you have no money

I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few…

So my next objective for 2016 was to get checked out on the C42.  Yay! A tick.  I did indeed get checked out in early January and have spent the better part of 2016 getting to know this aircraft better.  It’s been a great experience and has helped me as a pilot. I’ve spent some time practicing sideslips; something that is not particularly helpful or noticeable in an EV-97.

I’ve will also be able to take some people flying who are a little older and would struggle to climb up onto the wing of a Eurostar. So for 2017, one of my first goals is to take my, soon to be 70 year old Dad flying, and we will do this in an Ikarus.  Just don’t tell him that that is the name of the plane, ok?

Looking back at our table above you will notice that I did also manage to fly to a few places.  Ok so only one of them was technically a new airfield for me (Sherburn) as I’ve previously flown to Blackpool and Sleap, but nevertheless I did get out of the local area more than 2015.

I think this is a tick as well! And the reason I say this is that by the end of July, when I did most of my away days, I was starting to feel far more comfortable flying away and landing at unfamiliar airfields.  In fact it was only circumstances (see the list above) that prevented me from flying to at least 2 other airfields this summer (Huddersfield International – see reason for not flying number 2; and Carlisle, several dates planned – see reasons 1, 2, 3 and 7).

And no, due to many reasons, most of them with a pound sign in front of them, but also due to holiday availability and weather, I didn’t get my LAPL during 2016.

So 2016 was not a bad year all in all, but there is room for improvement in 2017.

 

Which leads me nicely onto my flying aims this year (you’ll have noticed I am a very goal oriented individual, although I suppose most pilots are).

1 – LAPL License Conversion

It seems reasonable to carry this one over.  I do really want to try my hand at night flying next winter, so in order to be able to get this rating I will need to get my LAPL first.  I also want to be able to hire a 4 seater so I can take more than just one passenger on a trip.

2 – An exciting multi-destination trip

I’ve read a lot of write ups in Microlight Flying about various adventures both at home and abroad.  I am definitely up for trying one of my own this year.

3 – Learn to fly in formation and fly in a group

I’d like to meet up with other pilots and go flying as a group.  This is something I’ve never done and really want to try.  If anyone wants to plan something in the North West then I am well up for it. I might even buy the bacon butties…

4 – Tailwheel

I’ve been considering this for a while, and it’s something I might do when I do my LAPL conversion.  If I can handle a tailwheel aircraft I think it will add a lot to my flying and increase my skills. Plus let’s be honest, tailwheel aircraft look COOL!

I also want to do more hours than 2016 (by an order of magnitude this time, not 4 minutes), and increase my experience of flying to different destinations.  Not to mention improving on joint 4th place in the Microlight Flying photo competition!

I’ve enjoyed my flying journey so far, and had incredible fun in my just under 100 hours at the controls (I’m not putting that as an objective as I’m going to pass that by February). I would like 2017 to continue this journey and my flying education and I look forwards to sharing the skies with some of you over the coming 12 months.

I think by achieving the objectives I’ve set out above I will ensure that this happens.

So, that’s me for 2017.  What about you?

Copyright © 2017 Dan Roach