Well here it is. The end of another year. Where has it gone? Well I can acount for 44.5 hrs of it straight away and then there is all the studying and work and family life. A very busy year to say the least!
Today started with gusty winds and a general yeuch (spelling?) feeling, so I cancelled my flight this morning as there was little benefit flying in the gusting winds and feeling like poo is a no no for flying and I need some 'get back into it time' for after Christmas. I'll be teaching Casualty Care to RNLI crews on the east coast of Scotland till February. Yes February, not great for the flying being 560 miles from Bournemouth Airport. Needs must and work duties are always calling.
On a lighter note I did go into Bournemouth helicopters and decided to try my hand at Performance and Planning exam, my last written exam. I hadn't stdied for it in about a month due to being on the west coast of Scotland doing flood rescue training amoong other things, however, there are three attempts at the exams so I had nothing to loose if I failed and everything to gain if I passed.
THANK GOD I PASSED! I got through with 85% with as per the usual for my exams a few silly mistakes that I knew the answers to when not under the pressure of the clock. So thats it for exams but I'll have to do some studying over the festive period to make sure I dont forget stuff.
In my line of work skill fade is a major problem and it cant be more true for aviation world so this time away will be tough. The longest time ive had in just under a year without flying. EEEK! Istarted flying on 28th January 2011 and almost managed to get it done in a year. If I hadn't had work I think I could have done it. C'est La Vie, C'est La Guerre.
To finnish with for this years Blogging I thought I'd put up screen shots of the Apps I have used on the Iphone to help with my studies and general flying.
In the middle is the main page dedicated to flying.
Convertor - Self Explanatory
Calculator - Self Explanatory (my sums are crap so a must have)
Google Earth - to get the Birds eye view when making plans, to see what I will see
Memory Map - Relatively cheep to buy the app and then the cost of the CAA charts on top but well worth it for CAA charts at your finger tips, and it can log your flight as you do it including altitude.
PPL - A folder full of 'Great Circle training apps) very useful for the style of questions you'll come up against in the written exams (see left picture)
Flight computer - This folder has a few apps that do the work of a flight computer. I use these the check my flight computer wokings out. (see right picture)
My Blog - Self Explanatory (Keep it to hand)
ABB - All aviation abreviations in one handy app
Aviation - A direct link to the Met office Aviation page for 214 and 215 forms and METARs TAFs etc (found here - http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation - you need to log on but its free so well worth it) (highly recomended)
Aero Weather - A fantastic weather report app for any reporting airfield (highly recomended)
AeroPlus - Another fantastic weather app showing visulay the flight rules metars wind speed etc in map view. (highly recomended)
Rain Radar - A web link to http://www.raintoday.co.uk/
Jet Fueling - App for all your fueling needs
Check list lite - Self Explanatory (not used it much)
Checklist - Not relevant to the shcweitzer but a good look at Robinsons 22/44 EC120/B AS350 B/BA
MetBrief - A web liink to http://www.metbrief.com/ Specificaly the Synoptic charts (Why Bracknell - EGRR I don't know) (highly recomended)
I hope that helps those with I-Phones as a guide where you can get some help. Even if you don't the web pages are well worth looking at.
Right thats it from me for the year. God Bless, Safe flying, have a fantastic Christmas and a Fruitful happy New Year full of fortune and more flying!
Chris (ResuceShrek)
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| Another Day at the Office |
Bracknell is where the head office of the Met Office is.
ReplyDeleteSome very useful apps there, I will check them out. Shame you're going to have a bit of a gap in flying, it's true what you say about skill fade, but I don't think the flying bit ever disappears.
Out of interest, what Hour mark are you looking to achieve? I think the record at our school is 47hours, I know I'm going to fall short of that by some way. Sounds like you're almost there.
But you never know, if I fly enough in January and February, maybe I can catch you up!!!
Have a good xmas mate