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First Solo in IMC
Gabe Somma, a recent IFR rating recipient took 236SP out for a flight in IMC today for the first time, gaining valuable aviation experience. Here's his account:
What up guys! I just got back from a really cool little IFR flight to SAC and back. IFR all the way, I was on top at 5k until SAC.
 Weather was broken at SAC but got good practice with the VOR approach to rwy 2 followed by the ILS. I was planining on a round robin flight back with an approach at SCK but since I was running late, I requested a clearence back to SQL.
Clearance after the ILS was fly hdg 250 vectors SAC vor, V334, SUNOL, direct. climb 5k expect 6k in 10min. Of course, after intercepting V334, I was given vectors away from it and told to expect vectors for the GPS into San Carlos.
They took me farther south and slightly east of ALTAM and then started turning me into SQL. Solid overcast at 5k all the way back. Beautiful and clear on top. Picked up the Atis and then past SUNOL, They took me down to 5k, and then to 4k. I was solid in the soup!
I was expecting to be vectored into the final approach fix, but they had me pass final approach at 90deg and then vectored back in. The surprise was that the controller then said proceed direct AMEBY. I had activated vectors to final on the approach so I had to go back and reset the approach and then scroll down to select AMEBY, direct, enter. Phew! Now I was square.
All this solid in the clouds, pretty exciting! I was briefing the approach out loud all the way. Got cleared for the approach, and broke out about 8 miles south at 1500 feet or so. It was quite something flying alone kissing the tops and then going in and out of imc and then solid IMC. Definitely a cool flight. It was good to go today since we're in the backside of the weather, and it was improving at SQL.
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