NOTAM. please note the runway/taxiway changes at Willow Run (Runway 9L/27R is not called 27 Right anymore, the image above shows the new configuration at YIP (taken southwest, looking northeast) runway 9R/27L has been turned into Taxiway Hotel, and the ends of runway 5L and 5R have been reworked. The northern east/west runway is now called runway 9/27)The lesson started off fine, we departed runway 27 and headed northwest before calling Detroit approach. Detroit then vectored me for the first of two runway 27L
Localizer Back Course approaches at Pontiac international. Soon after I was cleared for the approach and handed off to Pontiac tower. My instructor and I were discussing the setup for the approach, the reverse sensing of the
CDI, and I watched as I blew right through the final approach course (didn't we just talk about reverse sensing?! forehead smack). Right then tower came over the radio to give me my missed approach instructions, which further task saturated me. I asked them to repeat the last transmission as I adjusted my course to correct back onto the
localizer. Not a great start.
My second approach was much improved, with the mantra "the needle is the plane!" drumming in my head. Next it was north to Flint to fly two
ASR (airport surveillance radar) approaches. It took some time to get these setup, not on my part but rather Flint had to set aside a scope and a frequency just for me (they need to practice these anyway, so don't think this was special treatment!). My job as a pilot in an
ASR approach is pretty simple, know the
MDA (minimum descent altitude) for the approach, hold assigned headings and be able to descend and maintain altitudes. The controller has the much more complex job of tracking my path in relation to the extended
center line, adjust that track by requesting heading changes, and provide vertical approach guidance via step down altitudes.
Both
ASR approaches went well, and were actually fun for a change. It's different to hear a running commentary of your approach as you fly towards the airport... "Cherokee 14
niner, you are 2.0 miles from the airport slightly right of course correcting slowly, turn left heading 268"
On the return to Willow Run my vacuum pump failed (simulated) and so I continued partial panel. After completing a
VOR alpha approach my vacuum pump fixed itself, and I was allowed to continue visually for landing on runway 23L which is when things got REAL interesting.
On short final we noticed the landing light was
inop even though it had been squawked as fixed, so I turned the switch off and prepared myself mentally for a no-landing light landing (which I had already practiced earlier in the month). Flying into ground effect, I had full flaps extended and I didn't want to develop too much of a sink rate as it it a bit more difficult to judge height above ground without the landing light so I added a
smidge of power. After touchdown, I was rolling out on
center line and tower called "Cherokee 14
niner, turn left runway 32/14 taxi Hotel to the ramp"... which is exactly the moment I felt the start of an
uncommanded yaw to the right.
Progressively more left rudder, left brake, throttle to idle. .. what the hell? ... key the mike "Tower Cherokee 14
niner has a flat tire"

Above is a picture from Google Earth of my GPS track showing the end of my flight. The last 80 feet of
rollout put me 50 feet right of
center line with no way to move off the runway without causing further damage to the aircraft and the airport lighting. I will spare you the details of the next two hours, suffice to say we were able to negotiate with the tower to send a tug out to retrieve the plane, the runway was closed for a few minutes, the tire was fixed the next day, and I didn't scratch my favorite airplane :D I later learned that the valve stem had been completely sheared off, which is why I suffered such a quick loss of tire pressure. Why the valve stem sheared remains a mystery.
I've already flown lesson 11, the landing light still doesn't work, however the new tire does so that is good. That write-up will have to wait for another blog post. Here is a sunset picture a friend from work took as he played co-pilot on a recent cross country flight to Port Huron, MI.