Pilotage and Dead Reckoning (No GPS) Adventure Trying to Avoid Class B

[@dpdahlin]

When I got my PPL, we just drew a straight line on the chart, figured the wind correction angle and found spots on the line that we could recognize from the air. Following highways seems like a waste of fuel and time. All that said, great video :)

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Haha fair enough! I followed it in part because the class B shelf follows it for the part of the route I needed.

[@victorvodkafish]

May I make a suggestion.....I learnt this from a very experienced pilot (over 100 aircraft types incl 747). When starting your aircraft, call "clear prop" well before you actually hit the starter. This gives anyone near the prop time to get out of the way, or maybe frantically catch your attention to let you know the towbar is still attached, or a chock is still in front of the nose-wheel , or there is a dog wandering around your aircraft, etc. ( I know instances of these ). You can even call "clear prop" a second time, then hit the starter if all good. I do the first call, and then do a couple more checklist items, then look around out the windows, then repeat the call, then start-up the Lyco'.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks for the comment and I agree with this.

[@nmbsllc309]

I love flying like that. Get to see the landscape.

[@thesolitaryowl]

I hope to start working towards my PPL in the near future, and this all I want. The freedom to fly, and navigate using the land. Seems like such a joy.

[@bobstroud9118]

I’m just an ultralight driver (pilot) from long ago. Two or three hundred feet AGL was always fun. Felt right at home anywhere in N.E.OH ,almost like driving a car. Usually planed on flying outbound against the wind for about an hour, then turning around with a tail wind headed home. Good Times ! N.E.OH Bob

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Flying ultralights is on my bucket list... right now a super cub is as close as I have come to that (doors in windows open, a few hundred feet AGL like you mention) but I still want to do the real thing. Thanks for sharing.

[@boogerwood]

“ always be ready for curveballs.“ That is the truth! I’m just a student and so is my son. He just did his solo and during the first run of the pattern everything was perfect. Then immediately everything went crazy. Multiple planes entering the pattern. Emergencies requiring care flight to takeoff. Complacency is definitely the enemy of safety. By the way, we fly out of KGPM. One of these days I hope to make it up to Addison. Would love to go on some flights with all my Texas KZbinrs in my area. Love the content! keep it up!

[@michelrail]

That's a good thing to practice from time to time. With all the modern instrumentation, GPS, E-Charts with GPS support, you become a slave to your electronics. Have you ever had a tablet failure like, you forgot to charge it and your in flight charge is in the cargo? Then, your GPS goes offline because of very bad weather... Well you have the ground and the old fashion maps. Will you remember how to fold it? First thing first, will you remember to unfold them. Do you have the correct maps with you during the flight... Practice makes perfect. Being ready is difficult because it's hard work. 40 years ago, when I started, we didn't have tablets, GPS or glass cockpit. What a joy to use today's technology to travel. Happy flying!!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Hi Michel - completely agree on all points! The worst part of it all is folding and unfolding the map!!

[@michelrail]

@@AirplaneAcademy The first thing I learned in ground school is how to unfold and fold the map, always point the map in the same direction I'm flying and ALWAYS unfold on the ground before even getting into the airplane. I had a clip board with my notepad and my map(S)

[@AirplaneAcademy]

:D

[@ronthompson3661]

Love the channel. Subscribed a while back because of the useful content for me as I have gotten back in training, pursuing my ppl. Discovered today that you’re a Baylor Bear, now I know why I like the vids so much! Sic ‘em, Bears! Class of ‘94...back in the day when we had a long victory walk with the goalposts from Floyd Casey! Actually took lessons back then in a Cessna 120 based at the Wings For Christ grass strip just southeast of TSTC. Keep up the great, informative videos, I truly appreciate your candid honesty and upbeat narrative.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Hi Ron, thanks for the comment and I'm really glad you've found the channel helpful! Also, Sic 'em bears! Not sure where you live now, but Waco is fun to fly over with the new stadium and updates and campus and all. Keep us posted on your PPL pursuit - very excited for you!!

[@in-motus]

Great content! But hey that was easy to follow the roads and rivers. Try that in the outback when everything you see is identical and flat and the next somewhat identifyable feature is that lonely silo 30 minutes away on a chosen heading. If you don't see it, well, you don't see it then and you are probably lost :)

[@AirplaneAcademy]

haha I can only imagine!

[@nik.6845]

Thanks a lot for this video!

[@tomcorwine3091]

When I started training in 2002, the plane I flew had no GPS at all, and I flew in somewhat busy airspace-Orlando metro area which had class B, C, and D airports. It was all landmark or VOR navigation for me. I also like what you said about long runways. I’m spoiled by long runways. I still don’t like landing on short fields.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

I started in 2004 and was in a similar situation without GPS and the like. Great way to learn! Pretty crazy the amount of available info we have even on our iPad with ForeFlight now.

[@catherinekilgour2563]

I've only just got my PPL and neither of the aircraft I fly have GPS so all my flying is VFR. Very easy when in class G airspace and the closest big airport is only a class C.

[@BW-zb2pd]

my solo, I sang "All by myself...."

[@booniebuster4193]

On my very first solo in 1968, I was on the downwind when I shouted "Amelia Earhart where are you?" I had studied the Earhart mystery since High School. I then broke into a song "Zippidy do da, zippidy a, my-o-my what a wonderful day." I did... I really did!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Haha what a fun memory! Soloing is like nothing else.

[@robgeorge34]

My 182Q is based out of KPWG. You're doing a good job with the videos and content.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome and small world! Thanks for the compliment I really appreciate it. Maybe see you around KPWG I land there from time to time.

[@kennyp1021]

Ah a fellow Addison pilot! Love the content

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome!

[@collinagne2509]

Great content keep it up. You really do have great quality camera work and overall really good videos. 👍

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! I really appreciate that.

[@bobbyjones138]

Excellent videos man. Keep'em coming. They're even good enough that I won't hold being a Baylor Bear against you. Hook'em Horns 😉

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Haha fair enough! Glad to have you!

[@colb715]

My only comment would be that you should identify a min of 3 geographic features to confirm way point and by reference form map to ground. Miss identification can be easily done and you can be lured into confirming an error if you are not careful about this.

[@ZeroThreeDelta]

Great content. I’ve subbed 😁

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome, thank you!

[@jan3195]

Agree - and 03D also provides great content.

[@reemaszero]

Thanks for this awesome video! Was really hoping to catch some dead reckoning - did I miss it?

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks! I had some dead reckoning in terms of the headings that I was capturing to end up at certain waypoints (I announced those in the video). Because I had so many landmarks and features I was able to use, I didn't have to incorporate the use of tracking my time specifically and knowing that I should be at a waypoint at "x" minutes and "y" seconds along a certain heading, but I did use some pre-calculated headings to get me to the next landmarks.

[@JuiceBoxScott]

Do people still try to use the old airway beacon route with the concrete arrows?

[@clyderokke5409]

When I first started flying in eastern MT, we didn't really have nav aids so we had to use the sec chart and pilotage. Later when I was stationed in Indiana, we did have a VOR available but we were expected to have a back up plan if we lost our radios which in fact happened once when I was going into MDW in Chicago. It's a bit of work but I'm just wondering if anyone bothers to pull out their E6B and get the winds aloft to plan for a cross country?

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks for sharing. I haven't had to do e6b calcs in a long time. It can be fun to dust off this skill though and ditch the new technology for a while!

[@sxf093020]

Charlie, great video (watching this for a second time now). This time I'm planning a trip to Waco - any specific reason you would choose not to land at the 2 Delta airports (I'm coming from Dallas as well). Secondly, do you have a video giving tips on figuring out crew car/getting around at new airports? Thanks!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Cool! I was meeting a friend that lived closer to McGregor than Waco Regional. I usually land at KACT when I go down there. Texas Aero is a great FBO and usually has very good crew car access. I have not put out a video on the topic but have gotten the question a few times. Short version is I'd do some research on the FBO and give them a call and ask if they usually have a car or what the local transportation options are.

[@sxf093020]

@@AirplaneAcademy Makes sense on the airport selection - thank you for the helpful tips! Safe flying!

[@davidcole333]

I don't know why, but during private pilot training in the 80's I always sang Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Ha! Something fun about humming in the sky.

[@jessemururia6365]

which app are you using?

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Foreflight!

[@dannycnoble]

abeam mesquite and there is lancaster. i work in lancaster and go to flight school at mesquite. LOL.

[@thomasl7932]

nice videos, keep em coming :-) tomorrow my second hour ppl flight lesson!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Fantastic! Have fun!

[@musictheoryexcel7578]

Would you explain Bravo and Delta class? Confused on the meanings Thank you

[@scarehorror98]

They're different classes of airspaces. There are airspaces from Class A to Class G. Class A - Anything over 18000 feet AGL, reserved for IFR (instrument) flight. Most private pilots in single engine planes may never enter class A airspace as a pilot. Class B - A heavily regulated airspace over the biggest airports in the US. DFW is a class bravo and you need be granted permission to enter it. When in it, you have to talk to ATC and will typically be told how to fly the aircraft (aka you'll be vectored). This is all because the airspace is very congested, with many airliners coming to land at major airports. There are many rules that are specific to each class B airspace made by local authorities as well. Therefore, most private pilots opt to stay out of class bravo airspaces by flying underneath their shelves (there obviously won't be a shelf under DFW itself, but as you go away from DFW, the airspace under class bravo shelf doesn't have the same restrictions as the actual B airspace. Class C and class D airspaces are somewhat similar in that they're typically in areas of controlled airports (aka those with ATC services). Class C airspaces are reserved for larger airports that handle more IFR/commercial flights. For these airspaces, you can enter by simply establishing communications and you do not need to be granted permission to enter. Still, its proper etiquette to try and avoid class C and D airspaces if you're able to to reduce the load of those respective controllers. Class E - Any controlled airspace that isn't in classes A - D. Class G - Any uncontrolled airspace that isn't in classes A - E. The difference between E and G is that G is not under the authority of any ATC. Most class G airspaces are between 0 - 1,200 ft AGL, and above that, you'll have class E airspace (unless you're in a delta or above airspace of course) There's a few other airspaces that you can learn about, such as SAOs, MOAs, and CFAs and you can read about all of this through the FAA's official handbook by googling "FAA handbook airspace"

[@catherinekilgour2563]

@@scarehorror98 I live not too far from a class c airspace and have always been taught that I do have to have permission before I entre it. Also class g can go a lot higher than 1,200 ft agl depending on where you are flying and how far it is to the closest major airport.

[@scarehorror98]

@@catherinekilgour2563 As far as I know, class C does NOT require explicit permission. You just have to establish two-way communication by getting a call-sign acknowledgement from ATC, just like a class D. As to your point on class G, I entirely agree - it's literally "general airspace" that airspace below 18,000 defaults to if it isn't anything else IIRC

[@goplu]

I think I saw my house before you land.

[@jeremyandrews4413]

Must be an IFR lesson

[@m211pipelinepioneers7]

Nice job! Check out KMNZ. Holler if you do.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks! So it turns out KMNZ is a Japanese hip hop dancing squad.. haha it took me a minute to find Hamilton airport in Google and not them :)

[@rainerzufall689]

I think something is wrong with your seatbelt. From this angle is seems to be completely loose?!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks for the concern - it's functioning properly!

[@rainerzufall689]

@@AirplaneAcademy That would mean you just crashed and were properly retained which I hope you didn't. Prior to that the actual performance of the belt is unknown. Well I don't know that particular seatbelt but to me the lock seems to be way too high. But then I don't have any belly so maybe this is the best that can be done.

[@waynemenzi4288]

Would be great without the shitty music in the background.

[@thecowcockie3726]

There is zero dead reckoning in this video. This just normal VFR pilotage. Dead reckoning requires keeping your time onto each way point as if you couldn't see the ground.