X/C dilemma

BrewMaster

BrewMaster

Well-Known Member
In the past this hasn't been an issue, but for reasons I won't go into, I'm not sure what to do...

I have a student who is starting x/c's and we have our initial x/c set up as a night flight. I don't really see any issues with going on his first x/c at night, but is there anything I'm missing that would tell me not to take him on his first x/c at night?

In other words, should I wait for an initial day x/c(for probably another week, that's why I want to go tonight) or go ahead and take him tonight so I don't have to hold him up any more? I know, I know, I'm a CFI and should be able to make the call but any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
 
The only significant issue I see is that the navigational tasks presented by a first dual cross country is usually enough to load the student with, even after all those flights to the practice area. Adding the night tasks to the mix may be a bit too much.

Have you and the student done night flights already? FWIW, I always do at least one night local lesson - including such things as slow flight, stalls and steep turns (whcih can be particularly interesting) - before embarking on a night cross country.
 
That's exactly what I was looking for, that isn't a bad idea at all. With the availability of our plane(singular:banghead:) I was really wanting to get that done tonight. But we may end up doing a local night flight and who knows maybe some touch and go's. Maybe 10 or so.........;)

Thanks!!
 
BrewMaster said:
That's exactly what I was looking for, that isn't a bad idea at all. With the availability of our plane(singular:banghead:) I was really wanting to get that done tonight. But we may end up doing a local night flight and who knows maybe some touch and go's. Maybe 10 or so.........;)

Thanks!!
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you mean stop and goes ;)
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with the initial xc being at night. If you do the initail at night, then the day x/cs should be more difficult, i.e. purely pilotage and purely dead reconing. IMO.
 
I woud defiantely do the initial XC during the day so that your student can use those small rivers and towns (that aren't big enough to make a mark at night) as checkpoints for pilotage and dead reconing.

I usually do the first XC during the day, then a local night flight with slow flight, stalls, unusual attitudes (really easy ones) and 5 stop and go's and then a long day XC, then a night XC with 5 stop and go's... Helps break up the monotiny (sp?) of doing stop and go's the whole night flight.. Also, they get a better view of how different airports look a night and how it looks to have a VASI or a PAPI VS not having one at an airport. Screw with their minds a bit. :buck:
 
moxiepilot said:
just teach the student to press GPS direct and don't worry about whether it's day or night....







:sarcasm:
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yeah buddy!


anyway, don't sweat it. When I was doing 61 training I preferred to do it this way.
Solo.
Dual practice area
solo practice area
Night local practice area and 7 night landings
night x-c 3 landings
Day x-c
day solo x-c over route just flown the day before.

We had the cessna syllabus and this is the best I could do to switch it around. :buck:

This was my reasoning, it gave my students more confidence to go x-c solo if it was their third x-c and not their "well I did it yesterday" second x-c.

If you go over check points and the keys for night flying I see nothing wrong with it and none suffered.

What is harder about it? Spinning the E6-B in the red light, that is it in my opinion.

This is a non event in my opinion and if I was 61 I would do it this way still.
:bandit:
 
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