1st SOLO
“Kota Bharu ground, this is APAC 06 sierra”
“APAC 06 Sierra go ahead”
“APAC 06 Sierra, with information charlie copied, request startup for circuit and landings, POB 01, endurance 2 hours 30 minutes, in Niner Mike-Bravo Delta Romeo”
This was my first startup call alone without my instructor besides me. In the Eagle 150B, a grin spread across my face when I was cleared for my first solo. The feeling was indescribable as all sort of emotions were experienced. With pumping adrenaline, I continued to prepare for this short but exhilarating 15 minutes of “freedom” in the skies. With safety and professionalism as well as the confidence from my instructor, I taxied onto the holding point while waving proudly to my batch mates. For a cadet with 13 hours logged, I was still nervous but trying my best not to show it.
Moments after MAS’s glorious landing, it was my turn to be cleared onto runway 10 for take-off. With an increase in RPM, foot off the brakes, and good headwind on my side, I lifted off the ground just like an “eagle”. Basically, it is standard operating procedure for a cadet on his first solo to perform one circuit and landing. A circuit is a planned pattern aimed to enhance our take-off and landing performance.
As I was maintaining a steady climb of 80 knots, I carried out my after take-off checks which started off with brakes on and off and landing lights switched off at a height of 200ft, followed by positive rate of climb,well above 65 knots,I retracted the flaps at 300ft. Not forgetting to the safety lookout, at 500ft, I turned to heading 190 degrees indicated on my directional indicator onto upwind of the circuit.
I leveled off at circuit height while turning into downwind, just before a beam of runway 28 threshold. Moments after that, I made my downwind call with an intention for a full stop landing
with a normal approach. I maintained a steady straight and level flight and carried out my downwind checks as per normal. I was aware there was another aircraft also operating in the circuit, I maintained a visual contact, according to my own judgment, I gave sufficient spacing for the other aircraft. Soon after, the control tower advised me to hold at mid-downwind, as an Air Asia aircraft was on long finals to land.
Soon after the Air Asia aircraft landed and vacated the runway, I was cleared to continue my approach and was told to report on finals .At late downwind, I reduced my throttle to reduce my airspeed from 95 knots to 75 knots and extended the flaps. Then I initiated a descending turn into the base leg, one leg away from the finals. Without forgetting to switch on my landing lights and checking if the approach was clear, I commenced a turn on the finals. My heart skipped a beat as I got a clear view of the runway I was about to land on, the excitement of doing a landing for the first time alone, aware of the fact that all my batch mates were watching as I descended. All this put together made me feel for the first time, what being a pilot was all about. As I was descending past 300 ft, I could clearly feel the wind pushing my aircraft off course as it felt tougher to control. Bringing it back on track and with all my wits gathered together, I fully extended the flaps and prepared for touchdown. As I passed the threshold, I levelled off the aircraft and cut the throttle. Like a bird, I gently glided down and touched the runway. Though a little bit bumpy, I could not hide the excitement of having completed my first solo, and the view of my friends and my instructor waiting at the apron was a welcoming sight. Upon shutting down, the air traffic controller congratulated me. That was my first experience of taking the skies alone, something to be felt rather than to be described in words. Sensational..............
