PIC Time: Solo Flight in the Traffic Pattern with Crosswind

The Winter 2011 is almost over and the Spring is on the way in North Carolina. Today, I made a solo flight in the Allegro 2000 LSA from KTTA (Raleigh-Exec Jetport) for being current in my PIC time and practice landings in crosswinds.

The weather was mild (63 F) at the airport with broken clouds from 6,000 ft and good visibility . But, the winds were varying from 160 degrees at 8 MPH with some gusts.

iATIS App

The traffic in the airport was heavy, with three planes doing the traffic pattern along with a couple of incoming flights. I was number three for takeoff from RWY 21 and departed with flaps at 15 degrees. I rotated at 55 MPH and climbed at 65 MPH. I crabed the airplane into the wind to keep aligned with the runway. I followed the Piper Cherokee on the downwind and made my first landing with an approach speed of 70 MPH and carrying a little power. I turned off the RWY from taxiway Charlie and lined up for my second takeoff behind a Cessna 172.

I again tookoff from RWY 21 but this time without any flaps and climbed to the pattern altitude of 1200 ft. The Cessna was doing a long traffic pattern and so I made my base leg longer and entered the downwind from midpoint of the RWY. I entered the base leg at 800 ft AGL and final approach at 75 MPH. After holding the heading in the varying crosswind, I landed the light sport airplane at RWY 21 and taxied the plane to the FBO.

Practice Flight in Strong Crosswinds with gusts!

Today was my first flight in the Allegro 2000 LSA after coming back to the Raleigh area. The weather was clear and sunny with 48 degrees but with strong winds from 260 degrees to 290 degrees and gusts. I converted my solo flight schedule to a dual practice flight with my flight instructor, Jim Schmidt. I preflighted the airplane and taxied to RWY 21.

METAR for KTTA

I performed a crosswind takeoff with right aileron into the wind from taxiway Charlie for RWY 21 with no flaps. I climbed with a crab into the wind and did a left traffic pattern for RWY 21. I entered the base and final legs with higher than normal power and at a speed of 70-75 mph.

I kept the airplane aligned with the RWY 21 but the variable wind and gusts made me struggle to keep the light sport airplane straight during the flare. Jim just touched the controls but did nothing and said 'still your airplane'. I touched-down with right aileron for the crosswind but was pushed up by the gusts. I added a little power and after a short flare landed the airplane. An ugly landing but a good practice flight and landing on a strong crosswind with my flight instructor besides...

KTTA - KBUY - KTTA Flight

At 10.30 AM today, I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA in preparation for my Sport Pilot Certificate Checkride. My flight instructor, Jim Schmidt also accompanied me for the trip from KTTA (Raleigh-Exec Airport) to KBUY (Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport) from where I took the checkride with DPE Zenda Liess.

The weather at both KTTA and KBUY were sunny with great visibility. But, it was windy with good crosswinds at both the airports. Both of my landings at KBUY, arriving from KTTA and the simulated engine-out landing (power idle) with the DPE required crosswind corrections. After passing the checkride and obtaining my temporary sport pilot airman certificate from the DPE, I took-off with Jim to KTTA. We cruised at 3,000 ft with a ground speed of 104 MPH. The winds have changed direction since my takeoff from KTTA in the morning from RWY 3 and now they favored RWY 21. I performed a crosswind landing and taxied to the FBO.

With my newly obtained 'license to learn', my next lesson with my instructor is to get proficient for an endorsement for class C and D airspaces.

Solo Crosswind Takeoff and Landing, Flight Maneuvers Practice

On Friday (April 16, 2010), I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA and taxied to runway 21 at the Raleigh-Exec Airport (KTTA) for solo flight practice. The weather was mild (70 F) but with strong winds of 8 knots from 260 degrees gusting to 12 knots. I performed my first solo crosswind takeoff with right aileron into the wind with flap 1. I lifted of at 60 mph as opposed to the normal 56 mph and retracted the flap at 150 ft. On climbing at 70 mph, I held a crab into the wind as I cleared the runway 21-3 and headed to the NW of the airport.

I climbed to 3,000 ft and practiced the following flight maneuvers: clearing turns, steep turns, power-on stall & recovery, power-off stall & recovery. I then descended to 1400 ft to try S-turns and circle around a point maneuvers. The wind aloft was high with updrafts. I piloted the Allegro 2000 LSA to the SE of KTTA. The wind conditions were still gusty and hence I decided to try these maneuvers another day. I entered the downwind mid-point for RWY 21 and performed my first solo crosswind landing with an approach airspeed of 70 mph with right aileron into the wind. I turned off the runway at taxiway Bravo to the FBO.

Flight Training: Practice of PTS Maneuvers - 1

On March 08, 2010, I had dual flight training with my flight instructor Jim. It was a sunny day at my home base (KTTA) with a 9 knots of winds and 14 knots of gusts from 340 degrees. Before my preflight check, I discussed the training objectives for the flight - to practice flight maneuvers using effective aircraft controls. After the preflight check, I taxied the Allegro 2000 LSA to RWY 03 and performed a short-field crosswind takeoff (add full-power at runway edge with brakes on and then release for takeoff with a left stick to compensate for the crosswind, crab into the wind on climbout).

I climbed to 3,500 ft altitude in the practice area NW of the Raleigh Exec Airport. After Jim's demonstrations, I performed several flight maneuvers: (1) Clearing Turns (2) Steep Turns (3) Slow speed turns - slight bank angle with the aim of keeping altitute and airspeed constant (4)Power On Stalls and (5) Power Off stalls - with flap. Jim also demonstrated the onset of a spin with a wing down stall and the recovery maneuver for me to gain an awareness on spin...I piloted the airplane towards the airport descending to the traffic pattern altitude of 1,250 ft at mid-point of downwind leg. After completing the traffic pattern work, I landed the plane slightly off the centerline since I did not give enough left stick to compensate for the crosswind. It was an hour of flight work and I taxied the Allegro Light Sport Aircraft to the FBO.