A Close Encounter of the Wrong Kind By: AL (not giving full name) Posted: March 15 2003
I wonder how many of early solo pilots (like myself) will press the Back button in their browser when they see these words: never underestimate the importance of lookout. Yes, this the boring thing we have all heard dozens of times now. And yet, this advice can be easily forgotten once you get rid of the instructor nagging behind your back. I am speaking from experience here: during the few solo flights which I have had to this point, I was too busy enjoying the flying, and quite a few times I had to slap myself in the face in order to get back to reality and check what is going on around me. I am saying ‘was’, not ‘am’ because after my latest flight things will never be the same again. But this understanding came the hard way. That Saturday, it was definitely not the early solo type of weather: crosswind gusting 27 kts, loads of windshear, some haze – you name it. Far from even starting to think about flying on my own, I insisted on having a go with an instructor, and luckily got to fly with the CFI of our highly respected club. We took off normally, released at 2,000 ft after a turbulent and fun aerotow, and found ourselves heading straight for what looked like an area of lift. In seconds, we were established in a very bumpy and narrow thermal averaging +2 - which is, after all, not bad for early March in the UK. I was concentrating on trying to get that thermalling technique right. One circle after another, and my eyes were going from the horizon to the vario, and less often than should be the case) to the sides of the cockpit for a quick check.
All went pretty nice up to a point where I suddenly saw a Cessna 152, very close and heading straight for us. I turned to the right – expecting him to do the same, of course, - but the other pilot inexplicably did not follow suit and turned left, getting even closer. Had I been flying solo, that would have been the end of me. As soon as the situation started to get out of hand, I was at a loss. I started to think about what to do next – think, instead of taking action there and then. And, what was even worse, the other pilot seemed to be doing the same! Luckily, I had the instructor behind my back. He took over for what he later called “violent avoiding action”. Later, on the ground, I tried to visualise the manouevre which he executed, and I doubt I would be able to do anything like it even under normal circumstances, let alone in an emergency. In a split second, we cleared the Cessna. In another, I received a very quick and emotional airborne briefing on the importance of good lookout. Indeed, had I been more attentive I would have spotted the other aircraft much earlier, and we could have passed each other and a nice and comfortable distance. So, to any early solo pilots who might be reading this – please do not grunt when you are being told about how important it is to look out. This can be a life-saver. I know now.
