Matthew Stibbe's Homepage Pilot Flying with Stibbair Flying with Stibbair

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I often take friends and family flying with me. This page contains information and notes for my passengers. If you have any questions, contact me. 

The plane

I fly a Cirrus SR-20 or SR-22 from Freeflight Aviation or TAA UK. The Cirrus is a new design. It is fast and well-equipped - ideal for trips around the UK and Europe.

An SR-22 at Denham.

The SR-22's state-of-the art cockpit

The pilot

I have a commercial pilot's licence, instrument rating and around 600 hours total time. Yay me!

Typical trips

I like to fly to interesting places with interesting people. For example, in the last year or so, I've flown to Amsterdam, Paris, Newquay, Troyes, Deauville, Dinard, Tours, Belfast, La Rochelle and Rotterdam. I've been as far south as Cannes and Friedrichshafen and as far north as Edinburgh.

You can see a video of a flight back from Amsterdam (thanks Nick!). There are more trips reports and pictures on my flying blog, Golf Hotel Whiskey.

Weather

Pilots are subject to the weather. While I am qualified to fly in cloud and rain and the plane can do it easily, there are some weather conditions that might mean a delay, diversion or cancellation:

• Thunderstorms, obviously
• Freezing temperatures combined with thick cloud
• Very strong crosswinds on the runway
• Low cloud or fog at Denham or my destination

Pre-flight

I will plan the trip and check the weather before I get to the airport. Once there, I will start with a pre-flight check of the aircraft. Once we’re all in the aircraft, there is another series of checks to make sure aircraft systems are working fine (better to find a problem before you take off!). Then I get taxi instructions from the controller in the tower and we taxi to a holding point by the runway. There, I do some engine checks and a pre-takeoff briefing. Finally, we get to take off.

All this can take 30-45 minutes from the time everyone arrives. I like to allow an hour, especially when I am flying abroad and I have an air traffic control 'slot' booked. If you are going to be late, please let me know so I can request a new slot.

The Flying Experience

Flying in a light aircraft is fun. The views are amazing and, for most people, it is an interesting and novel experience. However, there are a few things to be aware of:

• It's not like flying in a big jet. It'll be noisier and a bit 'bouncier'.
• Some people suffer from motion sickness. This is caused by these unfamiliar motions confusing your inner ear and sense of balance. Closing your eyes, keeping your head still and taking deep breaths can help. It is usually a transitory feeling. 
• If you feel your ears popping, you can ease the pressure by holding you nose and ‘blowing’. If you have a bad head cold, you probably shouldn’t fly.
• Don't be alarmed by the various noises (beeps and recorded messages) coming from the avionics. It's all routine stuff.
• Bring sensible clothes and shoes. It can be warm on the ground and much cooler at altitude.
• Don't forget your passport.
• There is no toilet on the aircraft. You should go before the flight.
• For longer flights, feel free to bring a book or a magazine.
• Definitely bring a camera and feel free to take pictures.

The most important thing is to have fun. If you have a problem, tell me. If you have any questions at all, please ask. 

Radio and Intercom

Everyone in the plane will have a headset. This will allow you to talk to me and other passengers. You will also be able to hear air traffic control and hear me talk to them. They can only hear what I am saying if I press a button.

You will hear other pilots talk to the controller but only one person can speak on the frequency at any one time. Think walkie-talkie not cellphone. You get used to it pretty quickly.

The ten minutes after takeoff and the ten minutes before landing are usually the busiest times. It's best not to chat during these times.

You should also keep an ear out for our call sign in case someone calls us, and if they do, keep quiet. Otherwise, I’ll let you know if I am going to use the radio and you should keep quiet until I let you know otherwise.

Matthew Flying!

Check Lists 

The other thing you will hear me do is run through checklists. There are lots of these at each stage of the flight. On the ground, I use a written checklist to make double-sure I don't forget any checks but in the air I recite them out loud from memory. This is normal and it doesn't meant that I have forgotten what I am doing! Also, I may need time to concentrate on navigation or other activities. I’ll let you know if I do.

Lookout

Most of the time, I am responsible for seeing and avoiding other aircraft. This is something that passengers can help with. If you see one, point it out to me. For the full Biggles effect, you can use the clock code - where the nose of the aircraft is at 12 o’clock, the right wing 3 o’clock, the tail 6 o’clock and the left wing 9 o’clock.

Sometimes I get a radar service from air traffic control and they will advise me of other traffic. The plane is also equipped with ACAS which can detect most other planes and warn me if they get too close.

Safety

• Switch off mobile phones when you get into the plane.
• No Smoking at any time in or near the plane.
• Please do not bring hazardous items aboard the plane – including explosives (duh!), flammable items, compressed gas canisters, corrosives or anything that emits a strong magnetic field.
• Don't bring anything illegal onto the plane. Special Branch have details of all international flights and all the passengers and regularly inspect planes.
• It is illegal to fly in an aircraft when drunk.
• Legally, you must obey the directions of the captain of an aircraft in all safety-related matters.
• Be extremely careful around the aircraft if the propeller is turning.
• I will escort you to and from the plane. Don't wander about on your own.
• I'll give you safety briefings at various point so you don't need to memorise anything.

Directions to Denham

I normally fly from Denham. It is northwest of London, near the intersection of the M40 and the M25. The nearest train station is Denham. (Not Denham Golf course - few trains stop there.) Here is a map (the big green splodge is the airfield itself - switch to satellite view to see the runway etc.):

View Larger Map

We will meet at one of two places, depending on which plane I am flying. Either TAA UK (on the north side) or Cabair Denham School of Flying on the south side.

• A40 from London towards Oxford.
• Exit before A40 becomes M40, at the junction for Gerrards Cross and Rickmansworth (A412). If you reach the junction for the M25 you have gone too far.
• Turn right off the slip road towards Rickmansworth.
• At the second roundabout turn right towards Amersham (A413), then right at the traffic lights towards Rickmansworth (A412).
• Take the fourth road on the left, Denham Green Lane (after the railway bridge and traffic lights) and carry on to the 'T' junction at the top of the hill.
• For Cabair and the south side, at the T junction, turn left and then take the next right. Follow the road round past Cabair and the control tower and pack in the car park behind Biggles Restaurant.
• For TAA and the north side, turn right at the T junction, follow the road round the perimeter of the airfield and take the next left. Hangar Road runs along the northside of the airfield past several hangars. Keep going to the very end of the row of hangars and park in the car park on the right. Go through the gate onto the airfield and follow the path round behind the last hangar. TAA is in a portakabin and they are the last building in the row of hangars.