Tight Grip VS Light Touch
P The left hand has only two useable digits while flying The forefinger is behind the yoke for back pressure and the thumb is for forward pressure...Additional Endorsements
High performance aircraft over 200 hp BR Complex aircraft Gear and flaps BR Tail wheel ...
Basic Maneuver Tolerances
Altitude U U 200 feet BR Heading U U 10 degrees BR Speed U ...
Take Practical Test
FAR 61 105 and 61 125 BR Private or commercial pilot must receive and have logged ground as well as flight training from authorized instructor or a home study...
Airline Pilots
The second most frequent cause of death among airline pilots prior to age 60 is a general aviation accident P ...
Instructional Safety
When teaching the safest possible flight operations you can show a student how poor decisions doing the same maneuvers could be proportionately more dangerous ...
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...
Why Pilots Walk Funny
Ever wonder why propeller pilots walk funny They do The P factor explanation from the instructors handbook tells the instructor how to explain this to the...
1998 Nall Report
li B VFR flight into IFR conditions is the leading source of fatalities Judgment failures are the cause BR ...
The Student As A Student
P How much does it cost Depends on motivation of student BR How long does it take 62 hours is average My students may...
521 Maintenance
During WWII one of the very first airborne radar sets from England was code named the 521 Aircraft using this set were equipped with...
WD-40 and Cleaning
P The use of WD 40 is not recommended on aircraft It is not recommended because only a light lubricant is left after the solvents evaporate ...
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...
VOR tracking
Tunes and idents station BR Holds altitude within 200í BR Locates position using radials BR Intercepts and tracks a radial BR Recognizes signal...
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...
Course Reversal
P The course reversal is a new addition to the Private Pilot Practical Test standards After the completion of a ground reference pattern in one direction it...
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...
Instructional sequence
P By the second flight the student should have previewed the aircraft manual The manual checklist material must be completely incorporated into that of the student ...
Shirt Tails
There has been a long tradition in aviation related to cutting off the shirt tails of newly soloed student pilots One story has it that the practice ...
My Solos Take Longer
The first five students I taught had #39;things #39; happen during their first or second solo I changed my program so that a student ...
Advice From Over 30 Years Ago
B The performance of any complex activity such as flying an airplane requires the learning of highly conditioned responses ...
Go-around
Power to full BR Hold heading and altitude BR Milk flaps or to 20 degrees according to IAS BR At Vy flaps up and climb...
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...
Where Accidents Happen
ul li Only 8 of midairs are from head on 42 are between airplanes flying in the same direction ...
Runup
P Use a run up checklist Always face the wind Engine cooling is the reason We are not teaching a flying career made only...
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...
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...
About Questions
P A friend was hauling a body from a remote location in Canada Only a caretaker was around the strip After considering the trees that lined...
Important Side Notes
ol li The Law of Firsts Haviland #39;s quot;The first time you do you shouldn #39;t have...
First Flight Preparations
P 1 Schedule aircraft instructor BR 2 Aircraft keys BR 3 Read Owner #39;s Manual BR 4 ...
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 ...
Soft Field
In ground effect to Vy remove flaps at 200í BR Climb at Vy 10 and 5 knots ...
Bits and Pieces
ul li Tolerance to lack of oxygen decreases proportionately with age BR li Patience is one...
Taildraggers
19 of fleet are taildraggers BR 6 to 29 of landing accidents P P ...
Crosswind Takeoff
P The crosswind takeoff requires some timing skills that are not present in other landings On full power application the yoke is held full over into the...
Trim History
The trim tab or servo trim was invented by Anton Flettner a German aeronautical engineer He started work in 1905 for the Zeppelin Company Died in...
Sources of Inadvertent Stalls Becoming Spins
B 1 Inadequate rudder application in steep climbs Climb power raises nose decreases airspeed and increases P factor BR 2 False...
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 ...
Keys For 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...
Cruise Control
P Learning to trim for level flight requires that you think in terms of setting as many constants as possible for a given flight situation First ...
Ground Reference
Turns around a point BR B 600 to 1000 feet 45 degree bank U U 100 feet U...
Good Judgement
font size 1 color 339966 b Good Judgement b font br P Even the best instruction will not suffice if the...
1996 Statistics
46000 accidents 25 involved drugs or alcohol 20 were caused by mechanical problems 27 had terrain as a factor 2 had weight ...
Short Field Takeoffs
Rotate at Vx or as recommended BR Climb at Vx 10 or 5 knots to 50í BR Above 50í climb at Vy 10...
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 ...
Thoughts on Thoughts
ul li Flying is not dangerous; crashing is dangerous BR li Flying is the perfect vocation for a man who wants to...
Spin Awareness (Discussion)
Flight situations where spins may occur BR Recognize a spin and apply recovery technique BR Techniques specific to aircraft BR power off and flaps up...
The Compass
The ancients recognized the pole star as being a constant reference for determining direction The Norsemen in the 11th century used a needle of...
Wire Strikes
li 1 accident in 20 is a wire strike BR li A wire strike will occur below 200 #39; AGL in VFR BR...
Hyperventilation
P Stress anxiety and fear cause hyperventilation The person begins abnormal rapid breathing Reduction of carbon dioxide causes lightheadedness suffocation drowsiness tingling...