Tonight I flew from Penn Yan (KPEO) to Genesee County (KGVQ) via the Geneseo (GEE) VOR and back. After climbing to 3500 ft I contacted Rochester Approach and asked for a flight following and got it. I had to ask them to repeat the sqawk code of 0327 – but other than that things went fine. I started getting a bit of a westerly headwind as I neared the Geneseo VOR and kept it until I landed at Genesee County (KGVQ). The winds favored runway 28 and were at 270 at 12 knots gusting to 16 knots.
The air traffic at Genesee County (KGVQ) was pretty constant with me and 3 other pilots in the pattern, all of them with Pipers and moving a little faster than me. We all kept busy doing full stop landings, must be we all wanted to get out 90 day currency for passengers. I was generally too far from the runway on downwind and base which made my final longer than it needed to be forcing me to increase power along the way. After the second landing I was getting caught up with what was going on and fixed it. This is why everyone needs to fly more often!
After 5 take off and landings I decided to head home. I took off and departed to the south. I contacted Rochester Approach and asked for a flight following and was told to sqawk 0344. As I neared the Geneseo VOR, Rochester Approach told me I had traffic 12 miles ahead at 12 o’clock at 3400 ft which was not good since I was at 3500 ft. Approach asked me if I wanted to go above or below the traffic, I said below, so they told me to decend to 3000 ft which I did and held for the next 15 miles. After things were all clear I went back up to 3500 ft and continued on the 120 radial of the Geneseo VOR to Penn Yan.
In Penn Yan the winds were calm, the air space was clear and the green lawn welcomed me like a warm blanket. It was a great evening to get my 90 day currency, to complete a 50 nautical mile cross country to Genesee County and to chit chat with a member after I fueled the 172 back up. That’s what it’s all about!
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