First Time in Class C

[Drake_TigerClaw]

I finally got into some Class C airspace. It was a fun little cross country trip to CSG. It was also my first big solo cross country. It was a lot simpler to get in than I thought too, Flight Following just handed me off to approach and after getting the ATIS and flying around a big ol' restricted area they handed me off to the tower. They sounded a little stressed about their radar having gone down but they were really nice to me and my rookieness. And they even set me up to get ATC following all the way back when I left too. Colombus rocks!

[beefhole]

I just finished a four-leg solo x-country on Sunday-found it easy myself too

[Nexus]

May  ask the gents what is so hard about it?

You got your radio license, which means you should eb able to handle it, no?

[Brett_Henderson]

It sounds like it was easy and they did handle it..

It can be a little intimidating though.. your first time. And it's really more of a distraction than a difficult thing.

In most class C airspaces..

[Nexus]

That I agree Brett for sure!
But when entering, exiting Class C: Say who you are, altitude, present position, and where you intend to fly.

If they are used to talking to TWR, then this is basicly the same.

I dont know if you do it differently in the states, but that's how I do it, at least
it may help that I trained at an airport which is home to 3 different airlines (Ryan, Wizz and Germanwings) and have the country's 2nd largest airport just 10nm away.
We had to get used to it, and I'm thankful for that.  :D

[Drake_TigerClaw]

In the US we say : Who they are, who we are, that we are talking to them, what altitude we are at, and what atis code we last received. IE "Columbus Approach, Skyhawk 724 Hotel golf with you at 3500 feet with information lima." Well thats VFR anyway. And in the US we dot need radio licenses anymore unless we plan to leave the country. Apperently the FCC gave up license inforcement, probably because of the high volume of people ignoring it.

[Nexus]

You guys dont have a radiolicense?

Oh my, better not fly around my neck of the woods then

[beaky]

Well done! I started out at a class D airport, but was still intimidated at first entering Class C airspaces for some reason.

[Drake_TigerClaw]

I'm at a Class G airport, its going class D at the end of the year when the tower comes online.

[beefhole]

You got your radio license, which means you should eb able to handle it, no?

Only need that for flights outside the country, as Drake said.

I've personally never found any difficulty with comms.

[beaky]

Only need that for flights outside the country, as Drake said.

I've personally never found any difficulty with comms.

The requirement is quite different in the US... if I remember correctly, the license that is part of the "ARROW" checklist for documents required onboard is for the transmitter on the aircraft, not the operator. But even that is only required to be available for inspection when flying a "november" plane outside the USA.

But rest assured that students here get  thorough training in how to use the radio properly.
Which they usually forget as soon as they get their PPL.

[beaky]

I just finished a four-leg solo x-country on Sunday-found it easy myself too

Where'd you go?

[Drake_TigerClaw]

The one thing that mesed up my mind on that flight were the runways at CSG. They are 150 feet wide and I'm used to between 100 and 75 so the sight picture was crazy.

[Brett_Henderson]

The one thing that mesed up my mind on that flight were the runways at CSG. They are 150 feet wide and I'm used to between 100 and 75 so the sight picture was crazy.

You'll get past that. Eventually you'll just be looking more at the center-line and the departure end of the runway without even thinking about it. Peripheral cues and the feeling of entering ground-effect will complete the picture.

But rest assured that students here get  thorough training in how to use the radio properly.
Which they usually forget as soon as they get their PPL.  

Best remedy for that is to get your instrument rating and file IFR regardless of weather, at least once per month.

[beefhole]

Where'd you go?

LOM-CXY(Capital City, Harrisburg)-AVP(Wilkes-Barre)-ABE-LOM

Had a grand old time