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Can You Bust the Rust?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot returning to instrument flight after a 13-month COVID-19 hiatus is practicing with a new instructor at an unfamiliar airport (KVNY) in a rental Piper Arrow.
  • During the flight in actual instrument conditions, the aircraft's autopilot is found to be inoperative, and the instructor remains distracted trying to fix it.
  • Faced with low ceilings (500 OVC), a NOTAM for an inoperative approach lighting system on Runway 16R, and increasing "rust" from their long break, the pilot is cleared for an ILS Z approach.
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Your last flight was 13 months ago, the coronavirus having curtailed your flying activities. Safely vaccinated, you’re itching to get back in the air but there are no instructors available where you normally fly at your home ‘drome. Instead, you have booked a few lessons with a new instructor quite a distance away at Van Nuys, CA (KVNY), an airport you’ve not seen in several years.

The FBO has some rentals to choose from … but, like you, they haven’t flown very much recently either. Your first two lessons are in a Cessna 172RG and you’re able to knock off some rust with takeoffs and landings and some air work. You feel good about getting some sky time and, anticipating a chance to make some of those COVID-delayed aerial outings with the family, you want to get some practice in actual instrument conditions.

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