Ok, apologies for not uploading this sooner … it’s been a hectic few days! (mainly celebrating to be honest 
September 14th
Well, finally got to do the Qualifying Cross Country today. Initially had to do some familiarisation with Elstree’s patterns as it turns I’ve only ever landed there once, and that was under instruction. The Elstree circuits are “interesting” to say the least, so it was thought a good idea to do a bit of familiarisation with the local area before sending me off on a jolly jaunt
So off I started .. headed off towards Cranfield via Princes Risborough. Made a slight miscalculation thinking I was off track when I saw Dunstable Downs out of the corner of my eye, but realised before breaching the Luton control zone (just) and headed up to Woburn where I should have been.
Landed at Cranfield and decided a cuppa was in order to calm down after my near faux pas. Quick cuppa, dropped off a box of chocs to the tower from the flying school and got them to sign my certificate, then off I popped to Southend (via Bury St Edmonds).
On my way out, I bumped into one of the other controllers at Cranfield who’d nipped out for a fab break. He mentioned that there was a new radio code which had come into effect that morning, where by you make your first call with the “Student” prefix. He explained it was to help the tower know you were “new” and that they would adjust their instructions accordingly. Sounds like a good idea .. and only required on initial contact, or if you think they’ve forgotten.
Great I thought, I’ll remember that … and got ready to head off for Southend via the Cafe and a cup of warm Brownian motion
Radio was interesting. The lady at LFIS sounded very flustered and didn’t understand the “Student” prefix at all. Couldn’t understand the call sign “FlyTeam” nor why I had 2 (FlyTeam 55 – G-BNTD, a PA28 ….) say again “FlyTeam 28??” … so that was fun …. and I ended up trying to move to somewhat Wattesham ahead of schedule, which was pretty useless as they were asleep / had gone home .. so I called up Earls Colne, transited overhead and then on to Southend.
Marvellously on track, all the way down … could see the runway from miles out, so called in, got a join Base, nice and simple .. heading in, and then some muppet in a Mooney (or similar) decides he wants to perform various aerobatics just ahead of me. He breaks left, then right, then heads straight for me before he actually sees me, I now break right as I know which way he’s going (straight at me) … he sees me and also breaks right, so we don’t conflict.
Ok, so where’s the **** runway … start looking round .. it should be to my left somewhere .. I’m heading away from it … where is it … “FlyTeam 55 report your position?” “erm .. over the crouch, had to take avoiding action and lost sight of the runway, just looking for it again” .. “QDM 140 join left base for 24”
“140 .. aha runway in sight, joining left base, Flyteam 55”
And that was it .. landed quite nicely – possibly one of my best landings yet, parked, wandered in, signed in and then off for my second McDonalds in 5 years (and second that week sadly) as it was now 4pm and the Airport Cafe closes at 4 .. darn“. Quick burger, wander back, meander around the plane making sure the wings are still intact, check fuel, check oil, tyres, etc, I’d said I’d be departing at 17:00 … ended up being 16:50 but they didn’t seem to mind.
Back to Elstree overhead Stapleford … the radio at Stapleford sounds bizarre .. almost as though its on the end of the bar and anyone who’s passing makes a quick call. So I reported I would be passing overhead and keeping a listening watch, then overhead and buggering off to Elstree as quickly as possible” to hear the guy in the bar report to someone on final “there’s a bit of a tail wind, but that’s how we do it here … land at your discretion” … “I’m sure I heard the guy on final report ”gulp“ wilco”
Landed at Elstree .. and boy what a smooth and effortless landing .. all my nerves and worries were unnecessary … back, parked, and engine off at 17:25
So now just a couple of written exams to do, the RT Practical and the skill test … then .. so fingers crossed!
