I was hoping today would be the day that I finally made my first land away. The weather was not looking good.
The TAF’s seemed to indicate that the wind would drop, so I was hopeful that I would get away for my first solo land away.
Humberside’s TAF:
EGNJ 270622Z 270716 25012KT 9999 SCT025 TEMPO 0709 27018G28KT
DONCASTER SHEFFIELD:
EGCN 270555Z 270716 25016KT 9999 FEW032 TEMPO 0709 27022G32K
LEEDS BRADFORD:
EGNM 270555Z 270716 26020G30KT 9999 FEW025 SCT040 PROB30 TEMPO 0710 27028G45KT BKN009 BECMG 1114 25014KT
As you can see with gusting wind like those I would not be going, but Humberside was due to drop by 09:00, and Leeds Bradford would have the wind drop by 10:00.
I parked up at the Soloflight club house and headed over to the terminal building. The wind had certainly not dropped and it was now nearly 10:00. I watched Romeo Lima making some interesting landings, looked somewhat spirited up there!
Back at the club house I listened to the Tower reciting the wind to the landing aircraft. It seemed the direction changed with every gust.
Finally Stewart and his student made it back to the club house. It had not mattered which runway they used they always had a gusting crosswind to contend with.
I waited around until 12:00, assisting another student in doing his Nav calculations even though it was doubtful he would be going. The wind had still not dropped so I called it a day and went home.