Realistic Commercial Flying with Flight Simulator
by John Rafferty
Chapter 5
IFR Check Ride to Bridgeport
Let's go home. It's a pretty short hop back to Bridgeport, so this should be a piece of cake.
Preflight
Preflight Weather
We've updated the weather, but there's little new since we left MVA. We can expect some clouds, but the forecasts haven't been too reliable in that respect. Anyway, you always get some unexpected local variations near the shore, but there are no thunderstorms reported and all airports should be well above minimums.
Flight Log
It's less than 40 miles from here to Bridgeport, so let's try filing direct. Then, after departure, we can just home on the Bridgeport VOR and that will be our only checkpoint. In fact, it's such an easy hop, maybe we can cheat a little and not even bother preparing a flight log. We'll just fill in a flight plan form, and go ahead and file.
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Departure
On the Ramp at Hartford, Ready to Copy
Cessna Three Zero Four Six Foxtrot
Cleared to Sikorsky Memorial Airport
Victor two two niner to Madison
Then direct Bridgeport
Maintain three thousand
Squawk two three four one
Ready to taxi?
- Set Nav 1 to 110.40, for Madison.
- Set the Nav 1 bearing to 210 degrees, for the Airway.
- Note the DME, for distance to Madison.
- Rough in at least the first line of a flight log.
Tell him we're ready.
Four Six Foxtrot cleared to taxi for runway two zero.
Note that the departure heading will be 200 degrees (not 020).
Approaching Runway 20
Four Six Foxtrot Brainard Tower on one one niner point six.
Switch.
Four Six Foxtrot Brainard Tower position and hold.
In Position and Holding on Runway 20
Four Six Foxtrot cleared for departure
Runway two zero
Altimeter two niner point niner one
Winds calm
Visibility twenty miles
Temperature 65
Maintain runway heading on departure.
Note the time, and go when ready.
At Altitude 500 Feet
Four Six Foxtrot
Climb and maintain two thousand
Contact Bradley Approach on one twenty-three point eight five
Good day.
Switch.
Four Six Foxtrot Bradley Approach
Turn left heading one six zero degrees
Vector to the Airway
Climb and maintain two thousand five hundred
Repeat that's two thousand five hundred
Resume normal navigation.
- Check that Nav 1 is on Madison R-211.
- The needle should be starting toward center.
- When centered, track R-211 inbound to Madison.
ETA at Madison?
15 Miles DME from Madison
Four Six Foxtrot
Contact Westchester Approach on one two zero point niner good day.
Switch.
Four Six Foxtrot Westchester approach
Maintain two thousand five hundred
Expect vectors to the VOR approach
Sikorsky Runway 24.
- Pull out the approach plate.
- From Madison, R-282 would take us to Weems Intersection.
- Weems is on the inbound radial to Bridgeport Runway 24.
- The final approach fix is Milium Intersection.
- To identify Milium, we need Nav 2 on Carmel.
- Set Nav 2 to 116.6 for Carmel.
- Set the Nav 2 bearing to 110 degrees to identify Milium.
1 Mile DME Before Madison
Four Six Foxtrot
Turn right heading two eight two degrees
Vector to Weems intersection
Descend and maintain eighteen hundred
- Nav 1 on 108.80 for Bridgeport.
- Set the Nav 1 bearing to 234 degrees, the inbound radial.
- Check that Nav 2 is on Carmel, R-110.
- Monitor the Nav 1 needle, which will be centering at Weems.
When Outbound from Madison on Heading 282 Degrees
Four Six Foxtrot Tower on one two zero point niner see ya.
Switch.
Four Six Foxtrot Bridgeport Tower
You're cleared for the VOR approach to Runway 24
Altimeter two niner point niner zero
Winds calm
Visibility twenty miles
Temperature 61
- We're on our own; just follow the directions on the plate.
- First throttle back and get us set up for the approach. (Ah, look at that cloud bank moving in from the Sound. Guess that's why they're giving us an instrument approach.)
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- As Nav 1 centers, start a left turn to 234 degrees.
- Get on the radial, needle centered, tracking inbound.
- Monitor Nav 2, for Milium Intersection, our final approach fix. (Believe what the instruments say.)
- As Nav 2 centers (at Milium), throttle back.
- Establish a 500 fpm descent
- Keep Nav 1 centered.
- When the runway is in sight, line up and land. (Is your gear down?)
On the Runway
Four Six Foxtrot Ground on one twenty-one point niner so long.
Four Six Foxtrot Ground
You're cleared to taxi to the BFC ramp.
Congratulations! Now you're ready for the real thing!
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