Now With Knowledge

I re-read the IFR Diary this evening. I hadn’t read it since well before starting my own IFR training (back in October 2005), and it was neat to read it again, only this time understanding most of what was written. When I first read it, I used it to try and figure out what to expect for my own training, but didn’t know what the 5 T’s were, what the protected side of a hold was or what the heck a DME arc was. But now, with many hours of sim time and even more hours of homework and studying, IFR Diary is an even more enjoyable read, given that I know or have experienced most of what the author is writing about.

The other great thing about the re-read was my ability to check out the various airports mentioned using either Runway Finder or directly via Google Maps. I found that especially helpful in day 8 of the article when the author requests a ’low approach on 27 to land on 33 at Oakland. Unless you you’ve been there before (for real or in a sim) or have seen the bird’s eye view, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to imagine how this might work. At least I couldn’t.

1 comment »

1. By Jason 3 days later:

   
   
   I read the IFR Diary a year or so ago too - it is a really great write-up.