Black is black!
- January 15, 2020
After an interruption of almost three months due to rainy weather, I resumed night flights with my instructor Michel. The perfect time to begin the simulated emergency procedures!
There were no clouds in the starry sky and a moderate crosswind along the runway axis – conditions sufficient enough to regain pratice of night flying. Pre-flight check using a flashlight and boarding the aircraft. The engine was still warm from the previous flight, so it started easily. While waiting for the oil temperature to rise, my instructor allowed me to choose my training area. I opted for the south sector. We taxied to holding point Bravo 28 where a PA28 was conducting engine tests. Once that aircraft departed, it was our turn. I applied full throttle and after a few seconds announced, “Power above 2200 RPM, airspeed alive, no alarm – we’re continuing.” If any of these conditions hadn’t been met, I would have initiated an aborted takeoff. Safety is paramount in aviation!
Takeoff at 100 km/h, with an angle of ascent of 8 degrees, and a climb to 3000 feet. Once the aircraft was stabilized, I began the exercises assigned by my instructor: turns first to the left, then to the right. My altitude control was better than during my previous night flight. Returning to the airfield using GPS, as the Rennes VOR system was undergoing maintenance. We landed on runway 28 and took off again for another circuit flying. During the tailwind, my instructor warned me that we would land without landing lights to simulate a malfunction. The landing wasn’t particularly smooth! We then continued another circuit. In the meantime, a Boeing 767 had taken off, so the tower instructed us to extend our tailwind distance to avoid wake turbulence. On final approach, my instructor turned off the cabin lighting, again to simulate a failure. I switched on the red light of my headlamp to ensure a successful landing. Braking to walk speed, I exited the runway via Delta. We returned the aircraft to the hangar and secured the club as we were the last to leave.
