Man, the initial solo around the pattern is nothing. The solo x-country is where the real fun is.
Departed BCT at around 1330z and headed Northwest towards Okeechobee. Near Pahokee (West of PBI) I was at 6500ft looking out for traffic (swerving around clouds) when right in front of me just 500ft below heading Eastbound I see Expressjet flight 2930. That was more of a holy crap moment than cool. After that I decided to go down to where I wouldn't encounter any airlines, 2500ft. Followed the edge of the lake all the way North and found OBE with no problems. The way back was uneventful and although I was confident most of the time, I really am glad just to have made it back.
One of my concerns was the separation altitudes. I had to stay out of them most of the time as there was a significant amount of clouds and to steer away from them I felt like I was flying at unsafe altitudes (altitudes used by opposite traffic and IFR aircraft). What is the best thing to do when I have to maintain VFR and keep safe separation simultaneously?
Departed BCT at around 1330z and headed Northwest towards Okeechobee. Near Pahokee (West of PBI) I was at 6500ft looking out for traffic (swerving around clouds) when right in front of me just 500ft below heading Eastbound I see Expressjet flight 2930. That was more of a holy crap moment than cool. After that I decided to go down to where I wouldn't encounter any airlines, 2500ft. Followed the edge of the lake all the way North and found OBE with no problems. The way back was uneventful and although I was confident most of the time, I really am glad just to have made it back.
One of my concerns was the separation altitudes. I had to stay out of them most of the time as there was a significant amount of clouds and to steer away from them I felt like I was flying at unsafe altitudes (altitudes used by opposite traffic and IFR aircraft). What is the best thing to do when I have to maintain VFR and keep safe separation simultaneously?