Summer Experiences

As part of the Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies course, every student received 10 hours of free flying training with AFT (Advanced Flight Training) based on the Sherburn in Elmet Airfield. Most students, used these hours and paid the other 35 hours /or more/ to AFT and completed their PPL with them (For about £7500, based on minimum requirements). I had 5 hours with AFT and as I already had my PPL, prior to coming to university, I got a good post PPL training. Sharpened my pilot skills, get instructed by different instructors, flew for the first time in the UK, 3 different types of airplanes (PA28, Aero AT-3 and Robin2160), performed aerobatic training, which was simply amazing. The other 5 hours I decided to leave until November and get my Night Rating with them and not spend any additional expenses for it.

Back to my home country Bulgaria I visited Dolna Banya Flying School where I met a group of great people with different backgrounds in the aviation industry. After a conversation where we got to know each other I began a 3 hour aircraft differences training on the Tecnam P92JS /which I have not flown before/. After the training I had a check ride with a different instructor from the one I flew with and was approved to rent the airplane and fly it as a Pilot in Command. I logged 30 PIC hours in about a month time on the aircraft which is an excellent one, light, very stable and quite sensitive to control input. The school have one P92JS which is brand new, just manufactured in May 2014 and one a bit older. I got my hands on both of them.

However with the latter, had a great experience and a lesson for life.

Houston, We’ve Got a Problem.

In about two weeks time after I started flying the Tecnam aircraft and getting used to it, while in-flight an engine failure occured. Obviously the aircraft is single – engine and that means one thing. Speed. While en – route at an altitude of 5000 feet, where everything seemed normal, the engine stopped in a fraction of a second, without any previous warning or abnormal indications on the instruments panel. At that time everything became quiet. Very quiet.

You can imagine it is a very noisy environment in the aircraft cabin as the engine is running and the propeller spinning. At that moment one thing came up into my mind.

MAXIMUM GLIDE SPEED

I Immediately focused on the airspeed indicator and kept the speed at 66 knots (maximum glide speed). Next, as there was not an airfield to which I could divert to and get safely (a mistake in my flight planning) I had a general look outside the airplane and defined a clear area where I could execute a forced landing. So that are about 8 – 10 seconds post failure. I then performed the emergency procedure for an air start.

Fuel tanks – BOTH ON

Carb heat – ON

Electrical Fuel Pump - ON.

Ignition - START

...and the engine restarted successfully. Technical problem was declared over the radio as well as a request to climb to a higher altitude (in case the engine failed again, during the emergency 700 feet were lost) with a diversion to my home

airfield. I was not completely sure what was the reason for the engine failure at that moment so I left the electrical pump ON until I landed (although it might have suffered technical damage, at that point it was the only way for which I was sure that will keep the engine running). On the ground was founded that the mechanical fuel pump has failed.

Although the P92JS is a high-wing aircraft, such a failure led to an instant engine failure. It was one of the best lessons in my life!

• Plan the flight! Consider variety of factors and possible scenarios.

• Keep an emergency checklist in the aircraft and consult it before taking any further action, if not confident in actions. It is worth spending 2 – 3 seconds executing the proper emergency procedure.

• If there is not a checklist and not sure what to do, scan! Training aircraft are not equipped with a lot of instruments and switches. Scan the panel, think what might be wrong. Check the fuel tank valve(s) and what switches on the panel in front can help you to get out of the situation.

• Think ahead

These are some of the lessons I learned from this experience. Practicing emergencies and possible outcomes of a situation is very important. Try put yourself in such a situation and simulate it in your head. What would you do?