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Not Making Progress? 2007-10-11
I doubt that there is a pilot flying who has not at one time or another felt the twinge of doubt that his learning curve is not going well. The emotions involved can run the gamut, self-doubt, blame, resentment, and anger. Quit, seek support, change instructors, and kick the dog are typical initial reactions. We begin expecting that flying will be much as we have seen it in the media and read in books. We often assume that our prior experience and even expertise in another field will transfer into flying and expedite the learning process. Not so. A very important part of learning to fly is to unlearn all the preconceptions we have acquired since childhood. It is very difficult to overcome first learned ideas. We are very used to adding power to go faster. Yet, just adding power to an airborne airplane makes it go slower. Pointing an airplane up does not mean that it is going or will go up. Instinctive reactions can be very dangerous when applied to flying airplanes. Illusions exist and will be believed by even the best of pilots. Much of the difficulty in giving flight instruction arises from communication problems. The instructor has acquired an experience 'bank' from his own training and teaching. The instructor's problem is to fit his knowledge and presentation of it into your learning requirements. The student is not a blank slate. As the previous paragraph indicates the student is loaded with flying information. The student doesn't know what he doesn't know. What he knows he knows may be all the way from totally correct in concept and application to just the opposite and anywhere in between. This is the 'playing field' of flight instruction. The student and instructor must communicate information and understanding back and forth. This communication can be verbal, demonstration, emotional and even extra-sensory. Instructors want every student to be a successful student. Every student wants to succeed. When it doesn't work out it is most often a failure to communicate. Written by Gene Whitt Comment		External Links  Recent articles Statistics on Fuel/electric related accidents ol P li Experience level of the pilot does not seem to matter in fuel related accidents BR li 86... You and Illusions P 1 Illusions can and do occur to everyone BR 2 Proper planning for strange airport conditions is essential BR 3 Weather and... The PTS Everything about the Practical Test is a given If you have studied the PTS you know what is going to happen You may not know when or just how... Are You Ready? In the real world of life some things are done too soon Getting married having children picking fruit and going into your own business are... Traffic Patterns Local rules BR Altitudes U U 100 and speeds U U 10 knots BR The idea of... Start/Post Start P Make several dry run engine starts on the tape recorder to develop the checklist Emphasize used of the left hand all the time holding the mike... About Students ol li A student won #39;t learn from those they distrust BR li A student won #39;t improve unless told what... Scanning (instructor notes) P I suggest a scan process of having the student follow my finger as I point successively from HI to AI VSI to AI Altimeter to ... On Motivation Students will only learn if they want to Contrary to commonly held parent #39;s opinion children are not inherently resistant to instruction ... Before Takeoff Check Emergency procedures review BR Door belts smoke engine BR POH distances and performance BR Departure plan review BR Clearing BR... Aircraft Preflight P FAR 91 103 refers to weather airport data and POH information on aircraft performance FAR 91 7 b refers to inspection of aircraft condition... One CFI + One CFI = Problems One several occasions I have flown with both experienced and inexperienced CFI for a number of reasons In practically every instance peculiar things have... Taxiing Brake check speed control BR Knows and obeys signs lines and lights BR Speed and yoke positions for wind BR ... Forced Landings li If altitude permits glide range may be increased if propeller is stopped BR li Speed half way between best rate... Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs) P B SDRs B are a mechanics #146; report on maintenance problems These are collected by the FAA and aircraft manufacturer and passed on... Trim Tab Inventor Also known at the servo trim was invented by Anton Flettner a German aeronautical engineer He worked for the Zeppelin Company in Germany... Bits and Pieces ul li Tolerance to lack of oxygen decreases proportionately with age BR li Patience is one... How We Got Pattern A and Pattern B These patterns have been for many years a part of the Instrument Flying Handbook as among the first lessons in acquiring the aircraft control required for instrument flying ... 1995 Statistics Most flying decisions are easy if the decision is based upon safety Being safe does not mean without risk Engine operations are safe... Pilots Are Special P A pilot has overcome his fears He has replaced superstition with rational thinking and knowledge It takes a special degree of courage to face your... Post-Landing P Once on the ground Do not relax Hold the yoke back and properly positioned for taxi For any turns off the runway the yoke should... Training Attitudes A casual approach to flying can be hazardous Flying requires considerable planning and rethinking of the options as the flight progresses The midset... Descending Mechanical Failure Frequency 1 Clogged fuel system BR 2 Throttle mixture control BR 3 Oil line BR 4 Clogged... Crosswind Landings P I References: AC 61 21 Airplane Handbook and Flight Manual I P P Recommended speeds or 1 3 Vso... Parking and Tiedown Use of checklist ... Minimum Controllable No maneuvers below 1500í BR Stall horn whimpering at all times BR Power added as required to hold altitude in 10 degree maximum banks BR ... Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Course within 3 nautical miles BR Altitude U U 200í BR Arrival within 5 minutes BR Heading within 15 degrees... Stall Spin Accidents ul li 60 of stall spin accidents take place during the takeoff landing phases of flight BR li ... Black Hole Landing P When it is very dark you are subject to illusions Your seat position may make you more or less subject to these Aircraft seats are... Standard Rate Turns P All banks under the hood are at standard rate Standard rate turns requires two minutes to make a 360 degree circle One minute for a... Ground Reference Turns around a point BR B 600 to 1000 feet 45 degree bank U U 100 feet U... Passenger Boarding Information Welcome aboard this non commercial flight in the vicinity of San Francisco We will be departing shortly and with any luck at all will... My Kind of Student P I want a student who responds enjoys and pays attention I enjoy sharing my love of flying with someone I often share too... Vertigo P Beware of false sensations Your inner ear will give you feelings that are overpowering With low time under the hood you must avoid attempting to... More on Mid-Airs ul li Over half of the people involved in midair accidents were survivors BR li The probability of a... Certificates and Documents I FONT SIZE quot; 1 quot; REFERENCES; FARs 43 61 and 91; AC 61 21 AC61 23; Pilot #39;s handbook and Flight Manual... The Aircraft Make model serial number and quot;N quot; number can identify an aircraft You should know the year the aircraft was built ... Spins - A History An unheralded aviation pioneer is British scientist F A Lindemann The Prof as he was known led a very checkered... Practical Test Standards NOTE: All of the PTS material is greatly expanded in the instructional learning material BR New Specifics: FONT BR VFR minimums in... Minimum Equipment List P I Reference FAR Part 91 I P P P Knowledge of required instruments and equipment for day night VFR... Pilot/Owner Maintenance P Keeping an aircraft clean greatly improves both its appearance and its performance When you clean an aircraft you learn a great deal about its construction and... Ground Procedures - Taxiing Renewal P By the time we solo we should be using power and brakes with great restraint Minimum power required to move at a good pace and smooth... Taildraggers 19 of fleet are taildraggers BR 6 to 29 of landing accidents P P ... Why Ground Reference? P One of the weakest parts of flight instruction is the failure of the instructor to let the student know the #39;why #39; of some of the... The Student As A Problem Of great concern to the responsible instructor is the prospective pilot who is heavily occupied with concerns unrelated to flying Many students who are... Short, Soft, and Rough Takeoff P Use the recommended flap setting either prior to takeoff or after reaching 30 40 knots The idea is to get clear of the ground as soon... Teaching The FAA Way I have never seen the 60 14 textbook I assume it is the revised Flight Instructor Handbook I once made a complete summary of ... Dealing with Delays One of the advantages of learning to fly in the fall is the greater probability of weather delays A pilot learns to live with and accept delays of any kind... Viva la Difference Where male and female students are similar: BR Individual differences of greater importance BR Learning differences more related... Buchannan Field (at Concord, California) Within the immediate vicinity of Buchannan Field Concord CA there have been over seven airports over the years One of the very first...  Related Links
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