Our first task was a normal left hand 1000’ circuit, which generally wasn’t too badly carried out. I judged on cockpit checks, circuit dimensions, heights, approach and landing. I would like to see more use of the check list; perhaps a bit of an overkill in a C172, but it creates good habits for you when you progress to more complicated aircraft. Only two pilots covered every check that should be done.

The second task was a circuit with a stuck throttle in the fully open position. (Should a throttle cable break, this is what will happen.) In essence this is a glide approach as there is no way we could land with full power, so at the appropriate point we would need to use the mixture control to stop the engine. To simulate this I asked the pilot to tell me when he would carry this out, and then I would close the throttle at this point. Judgement varied on this with most being too high on approach (better than the other), but with some resorting to semi-aerobatic performances to get down. You should be able to fly a fairly normal circuit with the aim to be a little too high and not use flap until you are sure you can make it. I also noticed when carrying out this circuit pilots were distracted by the task at hand and downwind checks were forgotten. Not much point in perfectly judging the approach and not putting the wheels down!!!

The emergency landings were OK in the main, but some checks were incomplete and in a few cases not clearing the engine on the way down.

This time I gave marks for radio procedures and situational awareness.

I find that when conducting flight reviews and general check outs, people, who are not flying regularly, can become so preoccupied in flying the aircraft that their radio work and general awareness of what is going on around them lets them down. I am not saying that flying the aircraft isn’t the most important thing. It certainly is (Aviate, Navigate, Communicate in that order is the way to go), but we must also be aware of what other aircraft are doing. If you are uncertain of what other aircraft are doing, talk to them and if necessary arrange appropriate separation, With the number of Rex flights in and out of Bathurst these days and the fact that they travel 2.5 times as fast as a C172, I believe it is important to talk to them and not just hope that they have heard your last call.

Some pilots in the competition were unsure of the new procedures so I suggest that they obtain copies of the literature available on the subject. I have copies if they require same.

Congratulations to Kingsley Picker with 32.5 points for winning the day from David Bull on 31.5 points and John Bestwick on 30.5.

Jerry Trevor-Jones
July 17, 2006