Flying IFR - Lesson 7- Approaches

Plan of the day was approaches - 3 different approaches at three different airports. I was going to experience some massive task saturation.

Today the weather was better than forecast.  Everyone at KPTK wanted to depart at the same time and Runway 27L was closed, so chaos ensued.

So we got in line and did our run up not in the run-up area but prior to even getting on the taxiway to get to the run-up area, if that gives you any idea how busy it was.  In short busy with a conga line of planes waiting to get cleared to takeoff.  We initially setup flight following to do the PTK-FNT-VLL-PTK to do the approaches.

However, there was a good cloud layer approaching Flint between 3,000-5,000 so we got a pop-up IFR clearance from Detroit Approach and into the clouds we went.  Then to Great Lakes Approach and setting up for our first approach, a VOR to Rwy 18.  So we did the VOR approach in pretty much actual and I did all the required things complete with a procedure turn.  Then we went missed and climbed to 3,000 and then were handed back to Detroit Approach who had us climb to 5,000 and then we headed to Troy, KVLL.  There we setup for the Runway 9 RNAV circle to land at 27.  This included a procedure turn to get to the initial fix.

Then I did a circle to land and lined up on Runway 27. That was fun as approaching KVLL on final you always think your going to land on the roof of a building and then plop down to the runway.  Then with a perfect approach to the runway and a assured landing we instead went missed and got back in touch with Detroit Approach.

Things then happened very quickly as I had to get the Localizer Backcourse for 27L loaded into the GPS which is kinda hard to do while: turning and climbing; while communicating with Detroit Approach; getting vectored by them; change altitudes as they required;  grab the ATIS at Pontiac; and check the approach plate; and change frequencies and contact Pontiac Tower because it was coming up fast being only 4 nautical miles away from KVLL - and we were constantly popping in and out of clouds as we went.

Was I getting behind?  Why yes, yes I was.   Lots and lots of stuff to learn and improve on.

So I did a nice localizer approach to Runway 27L which had then reopened for business, and did a nice landing.

This was a lot of fun and its always cool to pop out of the clouds with the runway right where it should be.  I need to spend time studying the approach plates for each of these in detail prior to my next flight.

1.9 with .5 actual, 1.0 simulated and a nice landing.