Journal #16

8/3/2002
Jeff
C-172 99348
Hobbs: 1.7 hours
1.7 Dual

Preflight +WX: 12:30-1:00pm
Overcast + several scattered cloud layers + thick haze

This was an awesome flight. Took off around 1pm from OAK via 27L (which I requested) and towards Mt. Diablo. Towards the Oakland Hills, Jeff had me fly thru a cloud - I didn't freak out, but could see how some would. Only 20 sec or so checking instruments mainly - it was very cool. After the clouds, we were over the main ridge and around 3000'. The haze over the valley was pretty bad - couldn't even see Mt Diablo in the distance for a while. Did steep turns, slow flight, and both went pretty well - Jeff was happy with them. Went in to LVK after a NOTAM or AIRMET of 'small weapons fire' over a campsite (sat dish on the chart) up to 2500'. On the whole flight to this point, even with the good maneuvers, I was feeling rusty. I got us into the pattern, but due to LVK's crazy traffic - Jeff did much of the comm for me.

LVK
On the first approach, I was a bit shaky, but we were on glideslope with a strong XW with gusts to 15 or 19kts. A combo of wind gust and me being rusty took us off centerline by 1/4 of the runway width so I did a good go-around. The second approach had a good landing at the end of it! The XW didn't get in the way of me making a good wing-low landing, on centerline. Jeff was happy with this, but they were really busy - switched us to the second tower freq for the left runway, and Jeff had me request a downwind departure.


We went over to Byron - which I found based on the chart North of a lake. Making a large loop to the SE of the field to give room to parachute activity, parachute plane taking off downwind, and a glider getting towed off the angled runway. Called on CTAF: position, entering 25, etc... and on the first approach made a great XW landing. According to Jeff - this was near the XW limits of the C172, and he was really pleased with my XW landings. With the heavy XW and traffic, we headed back to OAK.


All the normal stuff, except with the low vis and haze, there were three other planes nearby - a cub above us, a C152 to the S-SE, and another 172 I think. It was comedy on the radio as Bay Approach asked each in turn: '99348 do you have the cub in sight' - 'negative 99348 - looking' - and this proceeded with all of the other planes and same answers! One by one we were transferred to OAK tower 118.3 except the S-SE plane going to HWD I think. For sequencing we made a turn to the left (S-SE) for a bit, then lined up wtih 27L straight-in. There were 3 directly ahead of us all straight-in.

#1 landed really long and was held on Papa (couldn't cross 27R, so holding short 27L). #2 landed and got off the runway (either short/U-turn or very long). #3 landed halfway down and was taxiing. ATC cleared us to land if we could land short! while another plane was still on 27L! I was surprised, but responded something confident like '99348 making short landing and the back taxi'. Came in with a moderate (15kts I think) XW a made a sweet short landing - braked a little too much w/o keeping the nose up so got a little buffet (skid?) but nothing too bad. Started the turn to taxi off on Bravo and the controller said 'Good Job 348' + 'taxi clear on Bravo and... 121.9'.


That basically sums up the flight - started a little rusty but built up the radio and maneuver confidence. Monday is a planned unsupervised solo to SP.Bay - will meet Jeff to go over the weather beforehand. Can't wait!