IFR flight Paris Orly - Nice by Koala Articles

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Please don't hesitate to click on the little pictures to enlarge them.

After starting up with the beechcraft, written the last met, requested the clearance and activated the flight plan, we can ask to start taxiing.

	After tuning VOR and radio frequency, preparing the radar met and the autopilot, you can have a look at the Paris ground traffic !
	Taking off from runway 25, a short time to see the environment.
	While climbing with the NEV 3P procedure, traffic information in our 10 o'clock.
	After 8 minutes at 200kts cruising speed, and FL 170, we swicht on the autopilot. Watch for the "tuned" heading in the HSI !
	We use the "back course" technique to receive NEV's VOR. On the map, after turning for the right heading, we should be at 91 NM from the departure station, on radial 166 to be overhead NEV and arriving in its blind area ( when the axis on the indicator switches off). More at IAS=200kts, we can calculate AS =200+(170/3)=260kts roughly confirmed by the Gs indicator on the DME.
	Reaching NEV's station.
	Arriving in the blind area, the ATC calls turn to our new heading, we can check that the VOR indicator has changed and also check the distance from the next station.
	Tuned to the CMF station, at 79 NM, which is 18 minutes flying time, caculated on the DME at FL 170.
	When arrived at our cruising altitude, we have enough time to have a look around and see the beautiful clouds outside ! Also, we can prepare our distance measurement exercice with Montluçon NDB (frq 335).
	We now arrive to begin the exercise : being abeam means that on a heading 174, the abeam radial is 174+90=264°. Top 1 will be made when passing radial 254 ( 10° beafore abeam) and top 2 on radial 274. We find as a result T=1'48" i.e. 108 seconds. As Gs=260kts K=260/60=4,4 D=T/K=108/4,4=25NM ( and we can easely check it on the map  !
	As we have finished the exercise, we arrive overhead CMF. Watch out, the next station MEN, is only detected when arriving overhead CMF : you'll have to be quick to get onto the right radial !
	After MEN station, we'll use the semi-variation method on the Mediterranee station. At 3 minutes DME from the station, and knowing we'll have to fly on the 354° radial ( =153°+180°) as shown on the map. We open with 30° turn by the right on heading 214. Then for every 10° change on the indicator, we turn back by 10°.
	Litlle by little we arrive on the right radial...
	And finally arrive on the right radial 30" before overhead.
	Overhead MED VOR, we have the choice of either beginning our descent now and calculating the rate of descent or deciding for a precise rate and calculate how far from the next station we'll have to start the descent. I have chosen the first choice for the exercice, as the second one is better not to change the descent rate too often.
	Let's calculate the initial descent rate : to fly from FL 170 to 130, we'll loose 40 levels within 69,1 NM. At Gs=260kts we calculate : Vertical speed (Vs)= (Dx0,6xGs)/40. Vs=100ft/mn roughly. In that case, we'll have to calculate several times (every 3' approximatively) the rate to arrive on the right level at the right distance.
	Last cockpit check and preparation of the VOR to the following point.
	Arriving overhead the station, we cross FL 130, and continue to descend while turning to MTG.
	While turning towards LUC's station we can calculate that we need to continue the descent to arrive at 5000 ft overhead. Careful with the double turn within 6  NM.
	We can see on the map this double turn. What also for the heavy traffic !!! We can call Nice's ATIS to get the met.
	Watch for an important thing, when we fly on a real established route, the ATC can some guide us away from the original route In real flying it happens only for regulation or avoiding traffic.
	See, we are flying with the IFR rules, the ATC gives us a different squawk !
	Always descending to LUC, trough the clouds, this is real IFR flying !
	Passing LUC, we start the LUC 3 STAR. We now fly on the 086 radial from the station.
	As written, at 26 NM from LUC, we turn left on heading 045.
	We prepare the frequency 109.95 of NI ( the ILS freq. of the active) to get the distance information.
	We now know the distance from NI with the ILS to now when to turn for circling.
	At 2,5 NM, we'll turn left on heading 085 at 2500 ft.
	Distance is respected, we now turn to the long final of the runway 22R.
	Established on long final, watch for the wind ! We are now on long final at 120kts with a wind characteristic for 290° and 12kts while flying on heading 220°. So we calculate that 1/K=0,5 ß=70° ; d=0,5x12xsin 70°= 4,8° We'll apply a 5° to the right correction, as the wind comes from the right, to stay on the runway axis.
	Touchdown, speed down, about to vacate the runway... Welcome to Nice !!!

We have now accomplished a complete IFR flight whitch is rougly the same as in real life, apart from one or two things.

Another thing to notice, we have done the whole aircraft handling, but with an autopilot, the plane will almost turn itself. Also, we didn't take care of the fuel or any diverting airports in case of having any problems to land onto Nice !

From this example, you can now invent as many kind of flight you wish with different planes. Don't forget that "big" planes are handled with two pilots : you'll surely have a hell of a job to do it all by yourself (I also know people who also serve drink during the flight !) ;-)

If you want to have a more complicated work, you can choose low altitude departure and arrival, generate more traffic to have to pratice holding patterns.
Be very careful with speed and altitudes to respect on certain tracks, mostly on approach tracks. You'll get all the informations on SID and STAR's maps, and be precise with the indications (flying at 5000 ft QNH at 200kts on a certain point is not anything else !) because flight safety handles on this kind of preciseness.

You'll discover a wonderful world where precision is the main rule, thanks to Fly! with enables us to feel almost the same thing as in real life, more living situation, we wouldn't like to live in real life !

Have a good flight !

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