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- Sunday May 26, 2002 - Going Somewhere Else
It was a short and simple day today. We practiced our first diversion -
this is where you divert to a different airport in the middle of your flight
plan.
This is part of the Stage II check (which is coming up fast once I can get
through my cross-country solos) and a typical check ride. The main purpose
is to practice the planning and navigational skills of doing to an airport (that
ideally you haven't ever been to before) with only the resources you have in the
cockpit.
The typical task is supposed to include planning the diversion leg, getting
the airport information, and updating your flight plan with the FSS (Flight
Service Station).
So today we diverted to Stockton. This was a little strange as I almost
knew were we were going (the primary practice area is just West of Stockton) but
had never been there. It was also a pretty windy day so it was a good day
to practice crosswind landings.
Net-net the diversion was easy and the cross-wind landings where hard.
It was 20 gusting to over 30 knots with about a 20-40 degree crosswind.
That meant that some of the gusts were over the maximum demonstrated crosswind
component of our plane (which is 17kts). So it was very good and very
challenging practice. That was pretty much the day.
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