Information regarding Learning to Fly can be found on our FAQ pages but Pilots and Students may find the following useful -
- Listen to live Air Traffic Control
Besides the scanner, you need:
- an always-on Internet connection (uses ~16kbps)
- an external antenna (preferred for optimum reception)
- audio cable to connect scanner to PC's sound card
- a PC running Windows or Linux
- free software is provided and help to set you up
- The NASA Beginners Guide to Aerodynamics...
- Question: What does my exhaust gas temperature gauge tell me?
Answer: Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) provides an accurate measure of your best power or best economy fuel/air mixture. As you lean the mixture, the temperature of the exhaust gases increases to a point—then begins to cool. Correct leaning provides the best fuel/air ratio optimizing your aircraft's range. Mixtures too rich lead to spark plug fouling, and mixtures too lean lead to detonation.
- Flying With a Friend
If you're a scuba diver you'd never dive without a buddy. Some say that's because, if you meet a hungry shark, there's a 50-50 chance he'll choose your buddy from the menu. There are other good reasons for flying with the companionship of another pilot; if not all the time, at least occasionally. This is different from recurrent training with an instructor—another good idea. But flying with a non-instructor pilot takes on a different dimension with its own unique benefits.
If the pilot you choose to fly with is more experienced than you, the advantage is clear. You can learn from his or her technique. Conversely, it is said that the best way to learn is to teach, so flying with a less experienced pilot can help you to crystallize your own hard-won techniques—thus implanting them that much more firmly in your own mind as you pass along your wisdom to your companion pilot.
If the pilot you fly with is roughly at your level of experience and skill level, you might have the best of both—the two of you will be comfortable sharing techniques and tips, and there will be little or no pressure to impress or feel embarrassed by either of your shortcomings.
You don’t have to be a pilot to do this, students can also benefit from flying with someone else, or in the back seat to watch anther lesson.
It could be regular monthly flights to practice approaches, business flights with a pilot colleague or recreational flights in search of the £100 burger. Whatever the mission, sharing the cockpit with another pilot can solidify a bond between a pair of kindred spirits.
Sharing the fuel bill is a
welcome side benefit as well! If you would like to fly with someone else,
please tell Sandra and we will “make it known” in the Club.
- See How It Flies
A new spin on the perceptions, procedures, and principles
of flight. A fantastic "on line"
book by John S. Denker. He puts a new spin on the principals
of flight. Good reading for students.The Role of Air Trafic Control
Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service that is done by a ground-based controller. The main task of air traffic control is to direct aircraft, both the ones on the ground and the ones in the air, and make sure each aircraft does not come too close to another to avoid air accidents.
Another task of ATC is to make sure that all aircraft follow air traffic rules as well as monitor and keep air traffic flow smooth. Weather and navigational instructions can also be provided to pilots upon their request. In many countries, ATC is provided in the majority of the airspace. These services are available to all types of airspace users: commercial, private and military.
The airspace that air traffic control monitors is called "controlled airspace," where ATC is required to separate all or some of the aircraft passing through that area. Depending on the scenario, ATC may issue commands or instructions to the pilot of a plane and require them to follow it. Most of the time, ATC would only have to give flight information or advisories to pilots like weather conditions and air speed and direction.
In the end, what to do is still the pilot's final decision. The pilot of the aircraft may or may not follow directions or commands from the ATC, especially when it is an emergency. However, it is the sole responsibility of the pilot to ensure the safety of the passengers and the flight itself.
Air traffic controllers communicate with pilots through the use of radio. To ensure the communication is clear, all controllers know how to speak English, though the knowledge of other languages is a big advantage.
The ATC's role becomes very crucial when an aircraft is in an emergency or dangerous condition. For example, a landing commercial airliner might have problems with its landing lights, and there is very poor visibility. To make things worse, the airplane's fuel is almost empty. The ATC will have to guide the "blind" airplane through a safe landing by issuing instructions on proper directions, air speed, altitude, and the like. At the same time, ATC should make sure that no other aircraft is near the disabled plane to ensure no further unwanted events happen.
- Weight and Balance Program
- Chart Editions
- Computer Based Trainers
developed several Flash Based Trainers to aid student development and has incorporated
them into its current curriculum.
Access to the trainers is currently free with an account. Click on the logo to register
CAA General Aviation pages - click on the CAA logo
To view these documents you need to use a PDF file viewer such as
Adobe Reader 
or
Acrobat Exchange from Adobe Systems Incorporated. Click
on the link here to download a free version of Adobe Reader from Adobe's
website
GPS is a complex technology but understanding it can be quite easy if
you take it one step at a time. This tutorial by Trimble is designed to give you a
good basic understanding of the principles behind GPS without loading
you down with too much technical detail. Click on the logo.- Soloflight Annual Membership Fees
Annual Membership - £80 (includes your family free of charge) and unlimited use of our private car park. Joining Fee £20
Under 16 students - Free of charge
Temporary Membership - £10 per month
- Members Aircraft Hire Rates
Piper PA28 - £104 per hour plus Humberside Landing Fees of £7.50 each
Pay £40 per month, then only £90 per flying hour plus landing fee. Minimum term 12 months.
Helicopter Charter available.