by Joseph Standley | May 7, 2012 | Student Pilots
Many people think flying is dangerous but it’s not as bad as people think. You’ve probably noticed that since you’ve started training, you’ve heard about all these plane crashes and they are making you wonder whether you made the right choice to learn to fly. I was questioning it myself over 20 years ago. The fact is, there are way more car accidents than airplane crashes. The news just makes a bigger deal out of it when it happens to be a plane so it stands out more. Are you going to stop driving because of all the car accidents? Then why stop flying because of plane crashes? Planes are very reliable and the chances of anything happening to cause an accident are very slim.
The reality is, that most airplane accidents are not due to mechanical problems at all. Most are due to pilot error. Most aircraft accidents are preventable! Here’s a couple of things you can do to help ensure a long safe flying future. The main thing I would suggest is that you train to be safe. Always ask yourself if the decision you are making is adding unnecessary risk.
Do you have an appointment that you can’t miss? Are you flying there to save the driving time? What if the weather is marginal, or a little worse than what you would normally fly in? Are you going to take the chance to be sure you make that meeting? Don’t take the chance. In aviation, you have to realize that it doesn’t always go as planned and when it doesn’t, you have to be prepared to walk away! No meeting is worth your life. If you absolutely have to be there, then drive. The other thing you should do, is use FAA recommended procedures. They are there to help pilots know what to expect from other pilots and be able to anticipate their actions better. If everyone entered the traffic pattern at a 45 degree angle to the runway, we would all be able to plan better. I’ve seen planes come pretty close to each other just because someone wanted to get into the traffic pattern as soon as possible using the shortest route. He flew right in front of a guy who was climbing out after takeoff.
The shortest route is not always the safest. If you’re not going to follow recommended procedures, at least listen to what is going on so you’re not interfering with people already in the pattern! If you try to fit in and you’re going to cut someone off while doing it, at least be willing to abort the plan. Playing a game of chicken with airplanes is not a good idea. Fly safe, make decisions that are safe, follow recommended procedures and really keep an eye out for the people that don’t and you’ll enjoy many years of flying.
by Joseph Standley | May 2, 2012 | Student Pilots
I’ve had a few people say to me “why do I have to learn about the engine and how it operates? I just want to fly the plane, not build one! Do you have to be a mechanic before you drive your car?” I admit, many years ago when I was learning, I had the same questions about learning weather and weather charts. I would say that I didn’t want to be a weather man; I wanted to be a pilot.
What people don’t realize is that you have to know a lot of things to be a pilot. When you drive your car during heavy rain, you have to worry about your clean car getting wet. When your car dies or won’t start, you leave it where you found it and get it towed. It’s an inconvenience at most. Flying in heavy rain, at minimum, could mean you won’t be able to see anything. Your plane running rough or stopping completely doesn’t give you the option to just pull off to the side and call someone.You need to know the plane. You need to know the weather. These are just 2 examples, there are many more.
If your plane is running rough, wouldn’t it be nice to have an idea of what could be causing it so you can problem solve and hopefully keep things from getting worse? Better yet, how about knowing what is going on so you can minimize the chances of it ever happening in the first place! When you learn to fly, you will be tested thoroughly. The FAA is using scenario based testing now. This means that the examiner won’t be asking you simple questions like, “what does a low oil pressure indication mean?” He will give you a real life scenario to test your knowledge and your ability to recall the right knowledge at the right time in order to solve a problem.
A simple example would be, “you’re flying along to go visit your mother when you happen to notice that the engine seems to be running a little rougher than normal, what are you going to do?” This isn’t an easy answer because there are so many variables. If you didn’t know anything about your engine, you’d be lost. But if you knew about your engine and about all the things that could affect it’s performance, you’d be able to narrow down the possible problems and maybe even solve the problem right then before it gets worse.
Your passengers will be relying on you for their safety, just as you rely on an airline pilot for yours. If there were a bunch of warning lights coming on in the airline cockpit, wouldn’t you want your pilot to be able to figure it out? Learning to fly is fun, but there are things you will have to study and learn about that may be more of a sleep aid! If you stick it out and take the fun with the not so fun, your reward will be great!
by Joseph Standley | Apr 30, 2012 | All Pilots
The “Death Grip”. It’s not just students that do it, pilots do it too. So what am I talking about? I’m talking about squeezing the yoke so hard that your fingers turn white! Let me start by saying, STOP! I understand the fear and unknown in the beginning of your training, but I see pilots with years of experience doing the same thing.It’s usually the turbulence rocking the plane back and forth that people are really nervous about.
People think that if they don’t hold the plane there and do the best they can to keep the plane from rocking, it will flip over from the turbulence. I used to feel that way while I was learning many years ago. It’s not always turbulence, it could be just fear in general.Other reasons, from what I’ve seen so far, is because people are not trimming the airplane. The trim is there for a reason, and that is to relieve the control pressures, allowing you to fly with just a touch of the fingertips. If the plane is not trimmed, it will want to climb or descend and the only way to stop it without trimming will be to manually hold the plane, fighting those control pressures. Whatever reason it is, you are just making it harder on yourself.
For you students, you have to force yourself to understand that just because it’s turbulent, doesn’t mean you will lose control if you don’t hold the yoke really hard. Next time it’s turbulent out, trim the plane (if you don’t know how yet, ask your instructor to demonstrate this) and let go of the yoke. The plane will rock and roll but doesn’t flip over. Every now and then you may get a strong gust of wind that will roll the plane more than is comfortable but all it will take is quick correction to level the wings again. For the most part, the plane will be stable, just rocking back and forth without your hands even touching the yoke!
Now that you know that you won’t lose control of the plane, try to keep the plane trimmed and fly with fingertip pressure only and it will reduce your workload.Just imagine a boat rocking in the waves of the water. If you tried to stop the boat from rocking, would you be succesful? If you squeezed the controls of the boat really hard, would the boat stop rocking? If you let go of the boat, would it rock any worse? I think you know that the answer is NO to all of these questions. The plane is no different. The plane is the boat and the waves are the turbulence. Just relax, ride the waves and focus on learning! It’ll take a little while to get past this fear, but once you do, you will wonder why you ever worried about it in the first place!
by Joseph Standley | Apr 27, 2012 | Pilots
Anyone that wants to get into bigger or faster planes, either for a career or just for fun will eventually need a complex endorsement. Think commercial or CFI ratings, or perhaps stepping up to a multi engine aircraft – most certainly these aircraft have retractable gear and a constant speed prop. Starting with an aircraft, such as the Arrow is a perfect stepping stone.
The total amount of time required for the complex endorsement depends on the individual but I’ve seen it usually completed between 5-10 hours.Insurance companies typically want at least 125 hours as PIC and a Private pilot license with at least 5 hours in the same make and model aircraft.
There are three levers instead of two…the throttle which controls manifold pressure, the prop lever which controls RPM and the angle of the propeller and lastly there’s the mixture control. You’ll also have a gear lever, additional system lights, alerts and more.On the ground, we’ll review aircraft systems, including the propeller and landing gear and how they operate, along with performance charts, power settings,etc.
Since pilots stepping up to complex aircraft have not had to think about gear until now, gear up landings present a major risk but certainly are avoidable.My personal focus and the majority of the flight training I do, is on emergency procedures and preventive measures.We’ll simulate various emergencies, both in and out of the pattern, making sure that you “fly the plane” first, and immediately follow through with the correct actions to ensure a successful outcome.
You’ll walk away with an endorsement in your logbook feeling that you’ve actually learned something new and valuable…it’s not just going through the same old boring checkout procedures. You will definitely feel a sense of accomplishment and pride! You will be the master of the plane, controlling it with minimal effort and able to handle just about any emergency that may come your way.
by Joseph Standley | Apr 27, 2012 | Student Pilots
For any kind of flight training, you need to develop the right mindset. Some people go into it with a certain way of thinking that will not work out to their benefit. In the end, it will end up costing them a lot more money or taking much longer than it should to get their license or advanced rating.The first thing you need to decide is if you really want to do it. You can’t go into flight training unsure as to whether you really want to do it and expect it to work out. If you’re not sure, research all the details and go for an intro lesson to help in your decision. You must understand that it is very demanding and will take a big commitment on your part. If you’re willing to accept this, and you’re not afraid of commitment, then go for it.
There will be points where you will be overwhelmed and feel that you don’t have the ability to do this, but it will pass. You will have a lot of new stuff coming your way all at once but you will learn it bit by bit and will eventually get it. After awhile, it will be no different than driving your car and changing the radio station at the same time.Before you start training you need to be honest when it comes to your health. You will be required to get a medical exam from an FAA designated doctor. If you have had any significant medical problems whatsoever or are taking any kind of medications or have any mental or physical problems, I would suggest getting the exam done before spending any money on training, just in case your problem is disqualifying. Not all problems are disqualifying but some may require additional paperwork, observations or demonstrations of ability, etc. A past DUI or bad driving record can affect it too. It’s best to find out first if you’re unsure before wasting money.
The biggest things I see are lack of time and lack of money. If you want to train efficiently and get your license or rating faster and cheaper, make sure you have the time and money before you start. The amount of time you need is enough to fly 2-3 times a week. Anything less than that will be hard because you will lose proficiency. Lesson times will average around 2-2.5 hours long until you start doing cross country training which will be longer. You need to allow for this time. You need to be flexible with time too. You have to keep in mind that most people want to fly after work hours but it isn’t always possible. Instructors want a life too! When I was training, I made a deal with my boss to either come in earlier or later if he’d be flexible with my time for training for a few months.There is no guarantee of how long it will take or how much it will cost because there is no way of knowing your study habits, level of commitment or how fast you pick up on things. Some people pick up faster than others.There are minimum requirements that must be met to a certain level of proficiency
The FAA requires a certain amount of hours but the average is around 50% higher than that. The average cost can vary from $8000 – $10,000 to get your pilot license. It won’t cost less but could cost more depending on you. When it comes to training, don’t penny pinch! We are not here to drain your wallet. It is about your safety and doing things right. You have to look at the big picture and watching the clock tick by or adding every penny you’re spending will distract you from the goal, which is to be a safe, proficient pilot! Penny pinching instead of focusing on the end goal will cost you more money and with that attitude, could cost you your life one day.
You have to accept that things will not always end up as planned when it comes to flying. You may take off work one day for a lesson and have to cancel because of bad weather. That’s just the way it is. If the winds are too strong and beyond the limitations your instructor gave you, then you cancel, whether you like it or not.When you start your training, you have to study and read between lessons. Be prepared for your next lesson because if you don’t study material before the lesson, the instructor will have to spoon feed you everything which will take more time and money. We also have to test your knowledge of things and if you haven’t read anything, we will have to review again.Bring a notebook and take notes! Study all your notes and reading assignments and learn as much as you can. Just because one lesson is over and you are on to the next doesn’t mean you can forget everything. In the end, you have to demonstrate everything, so keep studying old lessons to keep the information fresh.When you’re studying, take notes on things you don’t understand to discuss with your flight instructor. Don’t pretend to understand when you don’t.
Don’t try to control the lesson! Your instructor is the one who went through the training to teach you and he is the one with the experience. Listen to your instructor and follow directions. Just because you have a business meeting somewhere and it would save you time to fly there, don’t try to convince your instructor to do cross country training so you can make the meeting. Different levels of training happen when you are ready for them, not because you decide to do them.Don’t push your instructor to do something that you think you’re ready for when he doesn’t agree. There are reasons he may not be signing you off to solo, or signing you off for a check-ride. He knows what needs to be done. Something that may seem small to you could turn into a dangerous situation for you and your lack of understanding or experience is preventing you from seeing it.Stick with one instructor, unless of course you don’t get along or you feel he’s not teaching you well enough.
If you switch instructors, the new one will have to test your abilities and knowledge on everything you’ve already learned which will take more time. He needs to evaluate your skill level to determine whether to move forward or back a few lessons. In most cases, you end up repeating many things because they are not to the level they should be.There will be bumps in the road. You will get to a certain hump you just can’t seem to get over. That is normal and you have to understand it. When a person hits this road block, especially when they’ve been doing good, they start to blame the instructor or other things. Some things take longer to catch on to and you have to realize that. This is the stage in training where most will blame the instructor and switch to another or lose interest in flying and quit. If you stick it out, you will get past it and it will be worth it.When the end is near, you have to live and breathe aviation every day.
You have to know everything in the practical test standards, including the special emphasis areas! You have to know how to find information in the regulations book (FAR/AIM) when you don’t know something so when you take your check-ride with the FAA, you will be prepared.Sticking it out and doing the best you can will be well worth it. Learn to be safe, not to save money and you will be rewarded in the end by accomplishing your goal! You won’t regret it!
