Another early start this morning. Got up at 6:30 to get the bus. I arrived early to get the flight plan in. It was to Almeria again. I sent away the flight plan and shortly after got all the NOTAMs, weather and did out my route plan.
The instructor arrived and I was then let out on the ramp to pre-flight the aircraft. Malaga have very strict procedures and all students must be with an instructor. There is security checks at the GA Terminal the same as the Commercial Terminal.
Once pre-flighted, we got clearance and taxi. There wasn’t a single transmission on the radio. We were even hurried up to get out. The controller had nothing better to do only ask us were we ready yet.
Vibas 1A departure from Malaga runway 13. It’s not so bad, as you’re just climbing on runway heading for 19 miles, then doing an arc about a beacon. Cleared to AMR via the A44 airway at FL100.
Once in contact with Almeria, we got notice of the standard arrival, which was the Kunen 1Z. Quickly set it up, briefed it, and completed it. Runway was 07 again, the lovely NDB approach. Descent is very quick again and if you waste any time in the early stages, it will not help in the final stages of the approach.
NDB was completed without problems, arrived at the MDA and levelled off to fly to the Missed Approach point. We landed on runway 07 and returned to the holding point to pick up the clearance back to Malaga.
Cleared for the Kunen 1A departure we soon got on our way to FL110. Picking up the ATIS we noticed the MGA VOR was out of service, which is what most of the approach and departure plates are based on, however we were given a fix to fly to from another VOR.
Once we got there, it was so quiet we were able to commence the complete approach at a nice pace. Configuring the plane at 11 miles out and getting nicely set up. We were in IMC, the visibility very poor due to the inversion that was present. It was a bit of a task removing the goggles from my head at minimums as it’s 200 ft above ground level.
2.8 hours today. Final flight should be tomorrow to Granada Airport and a quick stop at Almeria once more for an ILS and back to Malaga.
Talk then,
Andrew
