Tuesday, December 3, 2013

The Cessna 172 Experience

Inside the Cessna 172

Controlling air traffic at a particular facility (whether aerodrome, approach, or area control), is not a piece of cake. Before giving clearances, the ATC must be knowledgable about the local traffic procedures to ensure the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic, the different aircraft performances, and a whole lot more. Pilots, on the other hand, rely on the voice of an air traffic controller before executing such actions.

But I've always wondered what it feels like to be inside the cockpit of an aircraft.



I was fortunate enough to have the chance to ride a Skyhawk aka Cessna 172. I am a frequent flyer of an A320 (I have also tried riding an A330, B747, and Dash 8 Q400 on some occasions) but I have never tried riding a Cessna 172 until yesterday. Upon airborne, I got the chance to see the VFR reporting points (Baliwag, Malolos, Apalit, West of Viaduct, and etc.) a thousand feet above sea level. And not only that, I had experienced a 360 approach and it felt like I was riding a roller coaster! When the pilot commenced the 360 approach, the engine was put into idle mode and we just literally glided all the way to the final approach of runway 35!

Every time I deliver clearances to the pilots, I should always see to it that they are able to execute such actions with respect to the outside factors such as the weather, cloud ceiling, visibility, wind speed and direction, and the latest QNH (altimeter setting) reading. Putting oneself in the pilot's shoes is the best thing that an air traffic controller can do when controlling air traffic.

Truly, it was a humbling (and also a breathtaking) experience!

The videos and the photos were all taken from an iPhone 4.

Enjoy!

Somewhere in Baliwag


Farmville


The Flight Instructor (left) and the Student Pilot (right). SP was the one who controlled the C172.

SM Baliwag, your landmark over the VFR Reporting Point, Baliwag.

The great Luzon plain.



Short final runway 35.


Rural landscape.

Flying over Malolos, Bulacan at 1,000 ft.

Window.


16 comments:

  1. I don't think photos were taken from an IPhone, ganda ng mga shots sir. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll take that as a compliment. :) Haha! But you can always check the Exif data of the photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/themarinegeek

      :)

      Delete
  2. I wonder how it feels like to be inside the cockpit. I think I'll have goosebumps all throughout the flight. :) The views are just breathtaking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's always an exciting opportunity and experience to be in an aircraft. I'm just afraid to lose balance and fall. :|

    ReplyDelete
  4. flying an aircraft is a skill, i really admire pilots. those photo shoots you made were great, another skill which i would like to learn, am not good in taking photos ahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should also admire the Air Traffic Controllers because the pilots rely on their voices - they're their guiding voices. :)

      Delete
  5. It must have felt a lot more exciting going on a smaller plane and also gives you a better view.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cessna 172 - What's that really? hahaha. always the a320 rider only. and your video is not pixelized when uploaded to youtube? amazing :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. iPhone's original video resolution is 1080p. Rendered it to 720p only. There's no way that it'll get pixelized on Youtube UNLESS you opted to watch it at 144p only.

      Delete
  7. This must have been quite an exceptional experience. I wish I have the courage to try it myself.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, this is really amazing flying a Cessna plan. Looking at the photos. feels really great.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow! very nice! I've never been in an airplane and you are fortunate to experience such thrill!

    ReplyDelete
  10. WOW! You are very fortunate to have such an experience.

    ReplyDelete
  11. nice, you got a terrific view from the cockpit. glad you had a terrific experience and enlighten you more with your job... Yahweh bless.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well, I haven't really experienced riding an airplane so this one really amazed me.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I enjoy looking out the window whenever I travel by plane and take photos of the patchwork fields :D but, haven't tried doing it from the cockpit! awesome!

    ReplyDelete

Comments are highly appreciated. Spread love, not hate! :)