Time For First Solo
This method to safely soloing a student puts the burden on the student It is not the way I do it but it is worth considering ...Spatial Disorientation
P Spatial disorientation is the No 1 cause of military fatal accidents Even the best pilot will become disoriented under the right conditions Effects on...
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;...
Short Field Takeoff
P The procedure requires performance that results in the shortest ground roll and the steepest angle of climb Two beginning options are available with little advantage going...
Traffic Patterns
Local rules BR Altitudes U U 100 and speeds U U 10 knots BR The idea of...
Parking
P The number one region of aircraft accidents is getting into a parking space Some pilots seem to think it necessary to make a little jog toward...
Soft Field
In ground effect to Vy remove flaps at 200í BR Climb at Vy 10 and 5 knots ...
Military Instruction
Instruction that uses the stair step approach is predicated on the absence of surprises A military preflight can take hours In my own...
Dehydration
P Human need for 2 4 quarts of water a day You become thirsty with a deficit of 1 5 quarts of body fluids or 2 of...
Pilot Error 50 Years Ago
P In December of 1947 an Air Force study released the following analysis of pilot errors that precipitate accidents There is no reason to think things have...
Military Training Routes (MTR)
P If you find that your flight will intersect an MTR route be sure to have P P the FSS run a...
Coffee
Coffee causes dehydration 15 dehydration causes 40 decrease in flying coordination Water by volume X 1 5 is needed to replace ...
Ground Radio to Taxi
P Never transmit on the radio without practicing what to say while holding the microphone to your lips It does no good to practice without the microphone...
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...
Introduction to Ground Reference
P During the time that I am practicing flap descents and go arounds I try to make at least one descent over a gently curved channel or road...
On Checklists
ol li Flying an airplane requires that a series of relatively complex procedures A checklist is most viable if a long series ...
Pre-takeoff Considerations
P B 1 Gross Weight and Center of Gravity B BR Gross weight is the empty weight plus useful load You must check...
Weather Accidents
1 Ice accidents: One per year in California Indiana is worst with almost 2 a year 4 of the 5 California accidents occurred between...
Where's The Problem?
When an instructor becomes upset over a student #39;s performance the student could well consider that the problem lies with the instructor An...
Post Landing Checklist
When flaps C H mixture radio ...
Area Familiarization
P I have instructed at a largely general aviation airport CCR with two sets of dual runways This has been fortunate because the potential complexity...
Failed Teaching
The most dangerous aspect of flying and flight instruction is that the FAA Part 91 system lets incompetents fly and get sweetheart proficiency checks just...
Slow Flight
No maneuvers below 1500í BR 1 2 Vs1 at 10 and 5 knots BR Altitude within 100í and airspeed within 10 and ...
Self-Doubt is Normal
P Every so often the instructor finds a student who is going through a phase of flying that is very disturbing to the student A student may...
Tie Down
P Given a choice of where to tie down always face into the wind A crosswind tie down means that the aircraft will be trying to ...
Lost Procedures
Maintains original heading BR Identifies available landmarks BR Uses Navaids and contacts ATC for assistance BR Considers precautionary landing as an option ...
What You Know, Gets In The Way of What You Don't Know
The learning law of #39;Primacy #39; is what makes developing proper habits first build the foundation for what you will do when under stress...
Homebuilt Statistics
2 of planes are homebuilt #133;they have 10 of the accidents and are twice as likely to be totally destroyed P ...
Introduction To The Radio
I introduce the ATIS frequency 124 7 the alphabetical sequencing order of information during the day and how to use this information ...
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 ...
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...
Radio Q-History
The Q codes were developed when communications wasn #39;t as good as now and Morse code was till the norm BR It...
Night Flight (Discussion)
Use of checklist BR Preflight BR Chart reading BR Hazards and precautions BR Lighting systems of plane and airport BR...
Systems Malfunction
Use of checklist BR Power loss BR Rough or hot engine BR Carburetor or induction icing BR No oil pressure BR ...
Important Side Notes
ol li The Law of Firsts Haviland #39;s quot;The first time you do you shouldn #39;t have...
A Need to communicate
P What is the only question an instructor can never answer It is the unasked question Many concerns are unspoken The unspoken fear of every...
Illusions - Vertigo Simulation
P B Materials: B BR 1 An open lawn space at least 15 #39; by 15 #39; BR 2 A...
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...
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...
Where Accidents Happen
ul li Only 8 of midairs are from head on 42 are between airplanes flying in the same direction ...
Flight Instruction/Proficiency Requirement
FAR 61 107 a flight proficiency BR I certify that I have given name the flight instruction required by FAR 61 107 a 1...
Viva la Difference
Where male and female students are similar: BR Individual differences of greater importance BR Learning differences more related...
The LORAN System
I instructed LORAN at 58th Bomb Wing Training School on Tinian Island of the Marianas during the last year of WWII I also instructed in the use...
Flying With Your Senses
One of the reasons I teach flying with a very limited selection of power settings airspeed configurations and attitudes is because I...
Utilizing Hood Training
P The FAA integrated mix of VFR and IFR instruction is a violation of the very instructional precepts considered basic to flight instruction The purpose of the...
A Training Program
P I make a practice of having prospective students come to my home office for a couple of hours to discuss flying I request that...
Thinking Through Patterns
P Depending on the student or airport weather conditions I will use paper diagrams and walk through the patterns on the ramp I will illustrate turns about...
Learning To Fly
P There is no single way to get a pilot license Getting it is faster and cheaper if training is done consistently with the same aircraft and...
FAA Instructional Format
FAA instruction is based on early 1900 educational theory and practice Most learning is visual but requires repetition and reinforcement for adequate retention ...
Bits and Pieces
ul li Tolerance to lack of oxygen decreases proportionately with age BR li Patience is one...
