Beyond the PPL | PPL to ME/IR

Overhead Frankfurt, building hours and experience in the single-engined Diamond DA40 NG 40 | Pilot April 2020 | pilotweb.aero On the flight from Frankfurt to wroclaw the Diamond Da40 nG consumed just 55 litres... 42 | Pilot April 2020 | pilotweb.aero pilotweb.aero | Pilot April 2020 | 43 around forty hours, had it been manufactured in the USA. In January 2019, I attended the Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Flight Training Centre in Wiener Neustadt, Austria for a course comprising of the EASA MEP SPA Class Rating plus DA62 Systems training. This, combined with the invaluable in-depth knowledge imparted by Head of Flight Operations and Flight Training Martin Scherrer and his team, was truly exceptional and I would recommend anyone contemplating purchasing an aircraft to train at the manufacturer’s own training centre. Having successfully taken delivery of the DA62 on time and being fully aware of the capabilities this aircraft affords, it was always my goal to obtain an Instrument Rating. My preference all along, however, was to undertake an intense, concentrated course rather than experience a long, stretched out affair and, having consulted with fellow aviators, I decided to undertake the four-week course at Angel City Flyers in California−one of only two Diamond Brilliance Flight Training Centres in the USA, commencing at the end of October 2019, also obtaining my FAA licence in the process. In May 2019, I started the process of obtaining US TSA security clearance, undertook my FAA Medical in Germany and also started the theory preparation using the King School’s IRA (Instrument Rating, Airplane) course, comprising of some thirteen hours of video. This course was invaluable as it provided all the background knowledge I needed in readiness for both my FAA theory and oral examination. Prior to arrival in California, I tested my knowledge using the Sheppard Air Q&A software programme. Overall, the structured learning process enabled me to obtain a 95 per cent pass mark in the FAA Knowledge test. The least number of wrong answers you obtain the better, as these are then followed up during the FAA oral exam. I would strongly recommend getting the FAA Knowledge test out of the way as soon as you arrive in the USA and before starting the practical Beyond the PPL | PPL to ME/IR Beyond the PPL | PPL to ME/IR Seduced by the DA62 I never dreamt in a thousand years that one day I would have my own aeroplane but the DA62 is indeed very special and, above all, safe in so many respects. The seven-seat aircraft is based on a ‘Formula 1’ monocoque, which is stiff and strong enough to provide survival space and protection in case of impact, yet the non-critical structure is allowed to fail to help absorb crash energy. Likewise, the fuel tank is extremely well protected by the fuselage safety cell structure, yet separated from the cockpit, reflecting modern automotive practice. The digitally-controlled, turbocharged Austro AE330 Jet-A1 fuel piston engines are jet-simple – no manual mixture control, no magneto ignition switches, no manual priming, no propeller control lever, no hard starting – hot or cold, no manual run-up tests, no shock cooling, no cowl flaps, and no power calculations based on RPM and manifold pressure. Each engine and propeller combination is controlled by a single lever and power settings are displayed as a percentage. The fully integrated glass- cockpit Garmin G1000 NXi incorporates innovative capabilities into a state-of-the- art avionics’ platform. Featuring wireless cockpit connectivity, including wireless database updates, enhanced situational awareness with visual and aural cues, advanced doppler weather radar capabilities, map overlay, traffic alerting, as well as synthetic vision, to name just a few. In fact, everything has been designed on this aircraft to enhance in-flight safety and reduce pilot workload, especially when flying during inclement weather, over inhospitable terrain, water or at night. Diamond doesn’t just make the DA62 – the Austrian company will also provide owners with specialist training on type The view of Wiener Neustadt on final during Nigel's DA62 MEP training My preference was to take an intense, concentrated course 44 | Pilot April 2020 | pilotweb.aero flying part, as you are more than pre-occupied with the latter once you get started. Long Beach (KLGB) and the surrounding Los Angeles area is a very busy airspace with a lot of traffic, fast speaking ATC, all within a relatively small, concentrated area. This really kept me on my toes and if you can handle this then you are pretty well set up for anywhere else in the world. The DA62 from Angel City Flyers performed brilliantly and, after a lot of hand flying, more and more autopilot was gradually introduced. I now know Foreflight and the Garmin G1000 NXi intimately and really feel comfortable with all the respective features. Night flying was also a great experience, where I logged 7.5 hours including thirteen takeoff/ landings. On 21 November 2019, I successfully passed my FAA Multi-engine Land Instrument Airplane oral exam and check ride in the DA62−perhaps the most exacting test I have ever taken in my life! The instruction was nothing short of fabulous. Cary Jones, ACF’s CFI was simply superb−cool, calm and collected throughout. Lining up on Runway 30 in between Jet Blue Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft was also an experience I will never forget, with departures taken in strict order by Long Beach Tower. Readers based in the USA are indeed very fortunate to have such a pro-GA environment and it was an absolute privilege flying in US airspace. My cross-country IFR exercise took me from KLGB to Hayward Executive (KHWD) near San Francisco, to Monterey Regional (KMRY) and back to KLGB−740nm in all−using exactly 265 litres on a ninety per cent power setting, still leaving 57 litres in reserve−amazing! Following my return from the USA, I undertook the combined oral knowledge test plus check ride, successfully passing my EASA Instrument Rating. In summary, over the past eighteen months I have flown over 200 hours, including 145 in the DA62, 87 hours IFR and 7.5 hours night flying, visiting 32 different airports in the process. I am a far wiser pilot for this experience and would really like to encourage those rusty pilots thinking of taking flying up again to do so, irrespective of how long ago it has been or what aircraft and level you intend to fly−Go for it! Beyond the PPL | PPL to ME/IR Angel City Flyers’ DA62 at Long Beach Nigel under IR training, wearing Foggles to simulate IMC AbovE: handover of the DA62 – Nigel makes the commissioning flight