Billy and Doug enter the arrival stage of the flight to KAVP. They are handed off to Wikes-Barre approach but before they call they listen to the ATIS again to make sure the weather hasn't changed. All is good and they request the ILS approach for Runway 4.

Doug emphasizes the importance of good communications and how using it is one of the ways pilots can maintain command of the flight.

They've got a headwind of 19 knots instead of the 12 knots forecasted and are in solid IMC. Doug is noticing some waves in the winds aloft and notes the importance of paying attention to the indicated airspeed. The autopilot will change pitch on its own to maintain altitude while in ALT mode and, if you're not careful, get you in trouble.

Looking ahead to the weather at Hagerstown radar shows the weather has moved into KHGR ahead of schedule. This was not the forecast and they begin to look ahead to the next leg already.

During their descent to 4,000' they enter VFR conditions.

View from the pilot in training. What I learned...

"Pay close attention when using the autopilot. If you're in a wave the system will fight to maintain the assigned altitude at the expense of your airspeed. Whether the autopilot is trying to compensate for sink or lift it can cause problems either way. Make this part of your scan.

Keep the latest forecast from your preflight briefing handy to compare with current weather enroute. Significant disparities are clues to changing weather."

BW