Well, I finally got the chance to go up and do some practice approaches. My fellow pilot friend, Don Berliner, called me and offered his assistance to fly late Wednesday afternoon. The weather looked great and since I was anxious to get up, we set a time and met at South Jersey Airport, (KVAY) at 6:00 PM. The plan was to depart and contact MaGuire Approach and do the ILS 6 at Robert Miller, KMJX. Then go missed and return to Coyle VOR to set up the VOR 29 into Trenton-Robbinsville, N87. We would go missed again and back to the Robbinsville VOR to set up doing the RNAV 26 back into South Jersey Airport, KVAY. This should be a good work out and a flight that I have done before.
After pre-flight, we boarded and headed out to Runway 26. After a nice departure I contacted MaGuire with my requests. MaGuire was having a really busy night, so even though we had them on the radio we were pretty much on our own. After stabilizing at 2200', I set up the procedures for the ILS, tuned in the appropraite radio frequencies for the Maguire VOR, Coyle VOR and also the ILS. Couldn't get the Atis to work at Robert Miller, so we used the alternate of MaGuire altimeter setting and increase 60'. As I approached the ILS, I turned inbound but could get the glide slope to come alive. OH, need to switch the GPS to LOC. That worked and the glide slope came alive showing me a little high. Pulled the power a little and did my GUMPS as we prepared to intersect THOMS. McGuire approved me for the frequencies change and to report on the miss and down we went. As we reached decision height I began to set up for the missed and climbed to 600' before beginning a turn back to coyle. With MaGuire back on, I started my set up for Robbinsville.
Don wanted to see the autopilot approach, so I stabilized the plane on the heading bug and cleared the present flight plan and entered Trenton-Robbinsville and then the VOR approach. Once set up, I click the GPS setting and began the turn towards Robbinsville VOR with a call to MaGuire. We were advised of the Restricted area and remained clear of it to the east. As we approached the hold, the GPS slipped us into a nice turn and I began the set up for the inbound. Radios set, speed set, all go as we turned inbound. At Robbinsville VOR we began our descent and MaGuire again cleared us for the frequency change. The sun was right in our eyes as we descended toward the 620' decision height. I never did see the runway, although Don told me we were directly over it when we began our missed approach. A climbing right turn to 1700' and we were on our way back to Robbinsville. Two down and one to go.
The RNAV 26 is a new approach which is exciting to fly with my 530WAAS gps. A few pushes of the buttons and we were set to go. Don had all the work since this approach takes us right over the end of Flying W. A few turns and we were on final to 26 at South Jersey. A nice touch down and easy roll to the ramp and a good nights practice came to an end.
Still wanting to get up in some actual, but at least I'm staying current and still flying the plane. Til next time, fly safe and have fun!
