This video starts off at the run-up bay where pilots conduct the pre-takeoff checks and run-ups to make sure the aircraft is good to go, before taxiing to the active runway. On this day, Runway 18 was the active so I had to taxi along Runway 05 for almost the entire length before reaching Runway 18. Because Ballarat airport is a non-controlled airport, there is no control tower and pilots are responsible for their own separation. Hence youll see me looking up and around for other aircraft, before broadcasting my intentions on a common radio frequency that the airport uses. This common frequency or CTAF for short, allows pilots to communicate to one another their intentions while flying in the vicinity of the airport. Also the reason for lining up and waiting for a couple of seconds on Runway 18 was to allow an overflying aircraft flying on the runway heading to get well clear before I pushed the throttles forward. This again emphasized the need to be responsible for our own separation since there is no control tower and radar. It was a perfect day to go flying with light winds and scattered clouds making it a truly delightful flying experience. After take-off, I maintained the runway heading until 500ft above ground level (AGL) before commencing a gentle right hand turn due west towards the training area and climbed to 3500ft above mean sea level (AMSL) towards the end of this video. So enjoy the video as it is. Im not going to dub any music over it this time round so that you can hear the real ambient sounds and air traffic control broadcasts as though you are sitting beside me in the passenger seat. For those curious, heres a description of sequences to what is happening 0:00 - Run-up bay pre-takeoff checks complete 0:50 - Holding short of Runway 05 1:30 - Entering Runway 05 and taxiing to Runway 18 2:30 - Entering and backtracking Runway 18 3:30 - Lining up and waiting on Runway 18 3:50 - Takeoff power set 5:00 - RIght turn heading 270 for the western training area 5:55 - Level off at 3500ft AMSL 6:50 to end - Approaching the boundary of the western training area with Lake Burrumbeet visible to the left.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 16:30:44 +0000