WHO STILL NAVIGATES WITHOUT A GPS

[Tumbleweed]

Until my map gives me alternative strips I'll keep using the gps as primary.

[Dobbs]

Agree that it is fun and challenging to fly only by maps, however, I will take off on a long flight + 100 nm without a map (although it is illegal), but I will not take off without a GPS

[Loco]

Very embarrased to admit but I got lost today on my first solo x-country

Wind and turbulence was interesting to say the least and mostly due to stupidity followed the wrong road, also didn't trust my compass, I knew I should be heading west but was going north, when the terrain didn't match my map I almost hit a panick

Long story short the GPS saved my ass

Also many thanks to Uncle Alex and Corne for talking me back to Rhino and getting me through the crazy turbulent landing, the whole x-country should have taken 1.5 hours, ended up being 2.5 eish

I'm trying to take the positives out of this horrific experience:
- learned to keep my cool when you're on your own
- trust my instruments
- get 2 points on the horizon with compass even when crabbing like crazy, line them up and follow them
- always have a GPS on standby!!!!!!
- get to know the area much better using google earth before x-country
- I actually could have just turned back to my previous known location when I realized I was lost as I still had a visual of it, should have just turned back, landed and regrouped
- etc etc

Cheers from a very shaken up Ant...

[John Young]

Cheers from a very shaken up Ant...

Sorry to hear. Not nice.

Don't ever push on because of "feelings or pressure" etc. You should have aborted when leaving the patch.

Fly for fun in the good stuff - learn how to handle the CR@P and the avoid it. It makes for a bad day.

In time, the conditions you experienced will be OK, safe and easy.

Regards
John

[Bundy]

Sorry to hear Ant, glad you did not panic and always remember....even if you think you have no options, you usually do.

Pilot's are never "lost"...we are just sometimes "temporarily unsure of our position"

What happenned to you is not uncommon so please dont beat yourself up mentally.... I have been "temporarily unsure" a few times too as has every pilot I know!

Navigating by compass in crabbing, turbulent conditions is really difficult. I have flown to Rust de winter once where my compass was oscilating left and right by 90 degrees at times . "Flying" the planned route on Google is a very valuable tool and the visual landmarks can be written down on your flight notes. Choose big ones! Dams, towns, roads, resevoirs (which are usually easy to recognise as they are normally at the top of the terrain). I find road's quite confusing at times as it is easy to stray onto the wrong one.

If suddenly "unsure", Look for the last identified landmark (probably behind you) and re establish your bearings from there. If completely lost dont fly blindly in any direction...rather orbit and try identify a feature. Although low flying is dangerous, I was taught to read road signs if completely lost but make sure it is safe to decend!
Keep an eye on your fuel at all times and remember that a well planned precautionary landing is better than flying blindly into the unknown.

School fees Ant, it's all part of the learning process. Head up and nail it next time Sir.