Instrument Training

Today was a short flight to continue the instrument training.  I had prepared a set of checklists from start, through run-up, the hold at Whatcom, and the approach to Abbotsford.  This all fell apart when the instructor chose a non-published hold at Whatcom:  hold inbound on 200 degree radial, all turns left.

I managed the briefing correctly - it was a parallel entry.  But instead of the first right turn for an interception to the VOR I started turning left as if it were a standard hold.  After that it went well.  The stop-watch velcroed to the panel helped a lot.  After three or four orbits I was managing to correct for drift as well.  While the VFR GPS cannot be used to do the navigation, it certainly helps in letting you know what heading is needed to maintain a 200 degree track.

The approach to Abbotsford also went well.  The practice in the flight simulator actually helped.  I managed to keep the needles dead center all the way to the decision altitude.

What needs improvement:

• Did not check that the HI was set to runway heading on takeoff
• Turned the wrong direction during the first return in the hold
• Did not ident the Whatcom VOR on the missed approach

What went well:

• The CF-NZB performed well
• Altitude hold was excellent
• ILS tracking was also excellent