I did most of the trip planning, with minimal assistance, but it took longer than I had expected. I think I’ll need to schedule at least an hour before going to an unfamiliar airport next time.
Once again, we navigated using Dead Reckoning and Pilotage. When you fly over mostly rural areas like this, it is difficult to pick out landmarks to reference on the map. On this flight we request “VFR flight following” which is usually reserved for instrument rated flights, but they will provide service if their workload permits.
Radar traffic information service — commonly known as VFR flight following — is a service provided by air traffic control (ATC) and available to all VFR pilots which can enhance your flying safety. While receiving flight following, the pilot will be in radio contact with a radar controller at a Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) or Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).
The purpose of the service is for controllers to issue traffic information to pilots, based on radar-displayed targets, concerning other aircraft in their proximity or that will intersect their flight path. Once a pilot is alerted to the location of other air traffic, they are in a better position to take appropriate action if the need arises. By talking to air traffic control, you will get a better mental picture of the overall air traffic situation you are flying through.
Also, controllers provide "safety alerts" if they judge that an aircraft is at an altitude that places it in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft. They will use the phraseology "traffic alert" or "low altitude alert" followed by a description of the hazard and a suggestion for avoiding it.
The pilot may also request radar vectors for navigational assistance, or for separation from other air traffic.
While using flight following, chances are the pilot will be able to fly a more direct course to your destination because you won't have to deviate around some types of airspace. You can fly through class B or C airspace once you receive proper clearance or authorization from ATC, and controllers can clear you through restricted areas in real-time if they know they are not being used.
The most reassuring benefit of flight following is the knowledge that you'll receive immediate assistance if you experience an emergency situation. Since you're already on-frequency with an ATC facility, you can request vectors to the nearest airport or you can alert ATC to your position if it's necessary for you to make an off-airport emergency landing. In either case, ATC can get emergency response services in motion immediately.
Contrast this with what happens if you simply file a VFR flight plan. No help will be on the way until a search is initiated 30 minutes after the estimated time of arrival at your destination airport, and even then it may take many hours or even days before search-and-rescue finds you.
We got to the airport at about the time we expected and entered the traffic pattern to land.
As my flying experience grows so does my level of responsibility on the cockpit. I always took it for granted that someone (my CFI or ATC) would tell me what runway to use and how to enter the traffic pattern. KTZV is uncontrolled, which means there is no ATC, and it is really remote so there was no one else to see what direction they were going. KTZV has only one 4000 foot runway, but I need to determine if I should land on 04 or 22.
Without the assistance of my CFI, I may have made the wrong decision. This still confuses me.
The flight back we used the GPS and it was uneventful.
Flight time: 1.70 hours
Cost: Plane rental - $204.00, Instructor Fee - $88.00
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