Postflight Debriefing
The postflight debriefing begins as a self evaluation by both student and instructor as to why certain operations were less than successful or why...Flight Review
All slow flight BR All stalls BR All landings BR Go arounds BR Steep turns BR Spirals BR Unusual...
On Flight Instructors
Almost anyone can learn to fly an airplane if exposed to the environment long enough and teaching someone properly is extremely hard work ...
My First Month As A Student Pilot
H4 Week 1 H4 P FONT SIZE quot; 1 quot; Monday: Rain BR Tuesday: Rain BR ...
Teaching 30 Years Ago
The following is a #39;Preliminary Talk Notes #39; that I made early on in my instructing career Going over them was of interest ...
Areas of Required Knowledge
Required logbook endorsements with date and time BR BR Preflight BR Flight Procedures BR Aircraft Performance BR Radio...
Student Evaluation
P Evaluation is a teaching constant It begins when the lesson begins Continues throughout the lesson and for me can continue for years Just today...
The Cockpit
P Using the tape recorder I go over all the instruments and controls I pay particular attention to the markings and divisions on the dials their...
Night Illusions
Runway and approach light illusions will always be a problem if you are in an unfamiliar area For this reason it is always desirable to make a daylight...
Subtle Fatigue
P This problem often begins with a distraction that causes fixation on an instrument or occurrence Complex flight operations are the first skills to deteriorate ...
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...
Notes On Learning
Learning to fly was still the greatest adventure of life The inner process of learning to do so many different tasks in a context...
Descending Mechanical Failure Frequency
1 Clogged fuel system BR 2 Throttle mixture control BR 3 Oil line BR 4 Clogged...
Its About Time...
The next major step in aviation measurement came from the Greeks about 2500 years ago The Greeks sought rules for the way number ideas seemed to work ...
The Risks of Flying
Most flying decisions are easy if the decision is based upon safety Being safe does not mean without risk Engine operations are safe but some 8 percent...
Growing Up As A Pilot
It takes more than time to grow and mature as a pilot Judgment cannot be measured just by time but by the number of successful ...
Smoothness
Piloting skill is usually poorly defined unless the smoothness factor is included It is only by the smallest increments of control pressures that a skilled...
Minimum Equipment List
P I Reference FAR Part 91 I P P P Knowledge of required instruments and equipment for day night VFR...
Instruction
Initially the ground instruction begins with basic background and theory The flight lesson is predicated by the use of preflight and Postflight briefings...
Fixed Gear Accidents
ul li 1 in 7 accidents result in a fatality in fixed gear aircraft BR li 8 of 10 fixed gear accidents...
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
P Even the best instruction will not suffice if the student does not show good judgment The student must always be making a series of judgmental decisions...
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 ...
Why Accidents Happen
ul li 75 of accidents involve poor pilot judgment with reference to his ability knowledge or capability BR...
Absolute Altitude
Absolute altitude is obtained by the use of radar The first radar altimeter was the A N 718 I worked with it during WWII ...
Names And What
Bell decibel BR Morse code BR Doppler frequency change BR Mach speed of sound BR ...
Factors in Successful Learning
P B 1 Time of year B BR Summer flying gives longer days but does not provide the most desirable range of experience...
Teaching Airplane English
I am in the process of #39;re treading #39; two pilots who have radio problems They are both experienced complex high performance ...
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...
Teaching Precepts
P Docendo Discimus We learn by teaching When by yourself you are the instructor BR BR ...
Crash Survival
#1 survival item is to let a responsible person know where you are going your route and ETA Insurance is to make contact after arrival ...
Ear Block
P Caused when the Eustachian tube becomes blocked Earblock or sinus blockages can cause differential air pressures to exist between cavities of the skull and the exterior...
Instructional Constants
A number of constants have been recommended Constants while not the only way to fly simplify the complexities of maneuvering an...
1996 Statistics
46000 accidents 25 involved drugs or alcohol 20 were caused by mechanical problems 27 had terrain as a factor 2 had weight ...
On Checklists
ol li Flying an airplane requires that a series of relatively complex procedures A checklist is most viable if a long series ...
Buying the Farm
In the `20s #39; barnstormers would travel the countryside to small cities and set up an quot;airplane ride quot; concession from some farmer #39;s field The pilot...
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...
1997 Nall Report
li An accident as a judgment failure BR li Pilots only spot one third of ATC traffic reported as significant BR...
The Joys of Flying
Getting through your checkride successfully gives rise to a sense of elation and achievement that can only be described in superlatives Just how it...
General Aviation Statistics
Only three out of every 1000 people in the US are pilots BR Out of 67 000 licensed instructors in the U s ...
Soft-field Takeoff
P Introduction BR The situation is a takeoff area of unlimited length but having a soft surface the nature of which would prevent acceleration ...
Anticipation
The ability to anticipate changes in control pressures required for a particular maneuver must be developed Failure to anticipate rudder movement required to move...
Paperwork
Endorsements: BR ol li Your student license must be endorsed for each type of aircraft flown and for cross country flight BR ...
Takeoffs
Alignment BR Rotation and liftoff BR Drift correction BR Airborne alignment check BR Clearing turns ...
Written Tests
Private Pilot Written Test figures: P P 1997: Total tests taken 32 981 92 1 passed the test average ...
About Accidents
Use of shoulder harnesses in all seats will reduce major injuries by 88 and fatalities by 20 Retro fit harness kits are...
Maintenance Records
P The owner operator is responsible for all required maintenance inspections and logbook entries on an aircraft FAR 43 gives entry examples of #145;appropriate quot;...
It's About Time
A sailing ship #39;s speed over a nautical a mile was historically measured by means of a knotted knots rope tied to a log...
Spins Were A One Time Thing In 1914
An unheralded aviation pioneer is British scientist F A Lindemann quot;The Prof quot; as he was known led a very ...
Self-Doubt is Normal
B Every so often the instructor finds a student who is going through a phase of flying that is very disturbing to the student...
No lower that 1500'