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TRAINING TIPs ‘Falling behind’ the aircraft After you’ve been tested beyond your limits by a challenging training flight, your CFI might comment, “You were falling behind the aircraft.” This old saying paints a vivid picture of the demands of flying.
Now, examine in more detail just what happened on your flight. Do you understand when and why you lost your ability to keep pace with the evolving situation? Perhaps you got behind when landing at an unfamiliar airport, while executing a go-around, or when practicing flight solely by reference to instruments. Was there a distraction? Were you unprepared for the lesson? Just forgetting to think ahead can thwart pilot response to a developing situation such as a teeming traffic pattern or a tricky crosswind.
Hesitating to deal with one of many required tasks in a fast-moving situation causes many student pilots to fall behind during practice of maneuvers. A common example is mistiming the rollout from a steep turn onto an assigned heading. See the May 9, 2008, “Training Tip: Learning to lead.”
You can be in control of your aircraft and still fall behind the big picture, such as weather. “Do you understand when forecasts are likely to be the most accurate—and the most iffy? Being able to answer yes means you're a savvier pilot—one who can think ahead of the weather,” Thomas A. Horne wrote in the April 2003 AOPA Pilot column “ Wx Watch: Eyes Wide Open.”
Rod Machado offers a simple teaching technique for instructors and their students working on developing the mental muscle to think ahead in flight. “When the time is right I reach over, tap them on the shoulder, and ask, ‘What are the next two things?’ I expect them to tell me the next two things that must be done to successfully accomplish whatever aviation task is at hand,” he said. See his full discussion in this “Instructor Report” on AOPA Flight Training Online.
A terrific sign that you are making progress toward completing your training is when your CFI compliments you on a job well done and says, “You stayed ahead of the airplane.” YOUR PARTNER IN TRAININGLet’s face it, when the temperatures are hovering in the teens and your training airplane’s oil has the consistency of molasses in January, motivation to continue flying can be hard to maintain. You may even be flirting with the idea of putting your training aside until the spring. Don’t do it! Read this thread on the AOPA Forums for tips and motivational tactics from your fellow pilots. Then take a look at this article from the May 2006 issue of AOPA Flight Training for more ways to keep your focus.
Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time) or from AOPA Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you're not already a member, join today and get the pilot's edge. Login information is available online.
FLIGHT TRAINING NEWSEmbry-Riddle orders Diamond DA42sEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., has placed an order for 10 Diamond DA42 L360 twin-engine aircraft, Diamond Aircraft announced. Diamond will start delivery in the spring, and the full complement of 10 DA42s will be in service at the Daytona Beach campus before the 2009-2010 academic year begins. The DA42 L360 is the Lycoming-powered version of the DA42 twin-engine aircraft. It also features a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit and available flight into known icing certification.
Astronaut donates papers to Purdue University Eugene A. Cernan, the man who most recently walked on the moon, will donate his personal papers to Purdue University’s flight archives, the college announced Jan. 16. Cernan was one of 14 astronauts selected by NASA in 1963. He carried out three space flights, and, as commander of Apollo XVII, he walked on the moon’s surface in 1972. Cernan graduated from Purdue in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. The Purdue University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections also house papers donated by Neil Armstrong as well as the George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart Papers.
Popular free seminar covers GPS 'from the ground up' With the recent advances in technology, GPS is rapidly bridging the gap between traditional avionics and fully integrated flight management systems. This profound evolution was the impetus for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s new safety seminar, "GPS from the Ground Up," which began its nationwide run earlier this month. Pilots have shown their enthusiasm for the topic by coming out in force—attendance figures have topped 400 in some locations. Packed with real-world tips and practical advice, the free seminar is coming soon to a location near you. If you can't attend, or you'd like to get a tip or two in advance, be sure to check out the foundation's brand-new GPS Safety Advisor.
New flight school opens in Colorado A new flight school has opened at Fort Collins-Loveland Airport in Loveland, Colo. Leading Edge Flight Instruction was launched by local flight instructor Patrick Hinton, along with Rich Flanagan and Joseph LoRusso, and offers training for primary, commercial, and flight instructor certificates and instrument rating, as well as mountain flying proficiency checks. The school’s fleet includes a Diamond Katana and two Cessna 172s.
Florida flight school flourishes after September 11 Carsten Sturm purchased a small flight school in Naples, Fla., on Sept. 1, 2001. “Eleven days later, we were closed,” he said. “When September 11 happened in the U.S., flight training was prohibited—end of story.” Today, Sturm’s school, Europe-American Aviation, is open and doing better than ever. Europe-American Aviation and Sturm were profiled in the Naples News. Sturm operates a fleet of 15 airplanes with a staff of 13 instructors, and about half of his clientele comes from overseas. He cited sunny weather in Florida and favorable exchange rates as two reasons why Europeans will come to the United States to conduct their flight training. Inside AOPAAOPA trades Fly-In for flying out Just as pilots everywhere are planning their fly-out destinations for 2009, so is your association. This year AOPA will trade its annual one-day fly-in for a whole year of fly-outs—opportunities to bring AOPA and its staff to pilots and prospective pilots around the nation. Expect to see AOPA at some traditional locations like Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Fla., and EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, but also look for us at events such as the Dayton Air Show and the Reno Air Races. See the complete story on AOPA Online.
AOPA Business Credit Card offers WorldPoints RewardsThe AOPA Business Credit Card with WorldPoints Rewards is a great option for business owners and AOPA members. With free online account access, including the capability to view purchases by category and download summaries, managing your business finances is easier than ever. With WorldPoints Rewards, every dollar you spend on purchases with your card will earn you one point. Rewards start as low as 2,500 points, and you can use them for airline travel, hotel stays, and gift certificates. By choosing this product you will be providing valuable revenue to AOPA, helping to fund daily efforts to maintain the freedom, safety, and affordability of general aviation. Call 866/494-3299 or enroll online today.
Escape the winter weatherThe AOPA Online Travel winter sale starts today. If you are thinking about your next vacation, think about saving up to 50 percent on select hotels in sunny destinations including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Hawaii, and many more when you book on AOPA Online Travel. Plus, book your flight and hotel to save even more! You must book by March 29 and travel by May 31 this year. Every trip you book on AOPA Online Travel, powered by Orbitz, provides valuable revenue to AOPA. See more details >> TRAINING PRODUCTSSporty’s 100 LED flashlight If you are performing your preflight at night, you need all the help you can get to make sure you see everything that you need to see. A new flashlight from Sporty’s offers a beam composed of 100 light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The flashlight has a non-slip handle and is shock proof and water resistant. It is seven inches long and uses four AA batteries. The flashlight sells for $39.95. To order, see the Web site or call 800/SPORTYS.
Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors. FINAL EXAMQuestion: If I do all of my private pilot training in a tailwheel aircraft, do I still need the tailwheel endorsement before I can solo in a tailwheel airplane?
Answer: A student pilot needs a lot of endorsements in order to complete his or her initial solo flight. The required endorsements include the presolo aeronautical knowledge, presolo flight training, and the actual solo endorsement. And yes, if you plan to complete your solo in a tailwheel airplane, you will also need a tailwheel endorsement. For some additional insight, see this Flight Training magazine article on the pros and cons of training in a taildragger.
Got a question for our technical services staff? E-mail to [email protected] or call the Pilot Information Center, 800/872-2672. Don't forget the online archive of "Final Exam" questions and answers, searchable by keyword or topic. Picture PerfectPilots love to take photos, and they love to share them with other pilots. Now you can upload your flying photos to our brand-new online gallery, "Air Mail." Share your special aviation images, or view and rate more than 1,000 photos and counting. Highly rated photos will get put into rotation on the AOPA home page! AVIATION EVENTS & WEATHER To submit an event or to search all events in the calendar visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online. Flight Instructor Refresher ClinicsThe next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Louisville, Ky., Baton Rouge, La., and Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 7 and 8; Sacramento, Calif., Melbourne, Fla., and Nashua, N.H.., Feb. 14 and 15. For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
Can't make it in person? Sign up for the CFI Refresher Online.
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety SeminarsAOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in San Diego, Calif. and Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 26; Costa Mesa, Calif., and Houston, Texas, Jan. 27; Ontario, Calif., and San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 28; Burbank, Calif., and Austin, Texas, Jan. 29; Little Rock, Ark. and Maryville, Tenn., Feb. 2. Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. | Got news? Contact ePilot. Having difficulty using this service? Visit the ePilot Frequently Asked Questions now at AOPA Online or write to [email protected]. |
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