"What he did was break down all of the material in the manuals into 12 more or less equal sections, and then simply study one section per month. This ends up taking maybe only two hours a month, which you can do during a quiet moment when nothing else is pressing. You retain a lot more because of the repetition, reviewing a single system once a month, and then hitting it again before checkrides and ground school just as a review."
Ah, the wise old sages of aviation handing down the tricks of the trade to the younger generation of pilots. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have flown before us. I thanked the captain and promptly set out to create 12 sections of material to study at the rate of one section per month.
That conversation at 35,000 feet took place almost 10 years ago. As a DC-9 captain myself, I have passed along this method of study and have applied it to staying proficient with the various general aviation aircraft in which I flight instruct.
Let's take a look at how we can apply this easy study method to virtually any general aviation aircraft. We will also integrate a place for the federal aviation regulations, Aeronautical Information Manual, and weather, as these too are important subjects to review. This study guide will help you to comfortably stay on top of all the material that we as pilots are expected to know and will help you to prepare for your biennial flight review.
January - General
Start out the New Year right by resolving to know what the dimensions and the approved fuel grades (and colors) are for your aircraft. This section also usually contains supplemental data, definitions or explanations of symbols, abbreviations, and terminology commonly used. Recall that standard empty weight is the weight of a standard airplane, including unusable fuel, full operating fluids, and full engine oil. What about reference datum? A proficient pilot knows how to communicate clearly with others by using the language of aviation and its terminology. (The reference datum, by the way, is an imaginary vertical plane from which all horizontal distances are measured for balance purposes.) These terms and other gems may be uncovered in Section 1 of most aircraft manuals.
February - Electrical System
A good working knowledge of all aircraft systems is essential to safe and proficient piloting. The more you review systems, the easier it will be to understand how they work individually and how they relate to other systems of your aircraft, creating the synergy required for an aircraft to do all of the marvelous things you expect it to do. Several pages of each manual are dedicated to the electrical system, including a schematic diagram. You want a basic understanding of the flow of the airplane's electricity and how to manage it from the cockpit.
March-Fuel System
Many unintended off-airport landings are the result of mismanaged fuel systems, as NTSB accident reports clearly indicate. This fact should further each pilot's resolve to understand the fuel system and use it correctly. No one wants to star in an accident report.
Your aircraft's fuel system will get a thorough treatment in the pilot's operating handbook (POH) for your aircraft. Review capacities and endurance (based on engine performance parameters) and know how to handle fuel tank switching procedures. Faithfully following checklists will assist you here. Be conservative and leave a margin for error when calculating fuel requirements for cross-country trips. Weather forecasts may be accurate or just educated guesses. Be a healthy skeptic.
April - Emergency Procedures
The single-engine aircraft that I normally fly dedicates 18 pages of the POH to emergency procedures. Chances are that you will never need to apply them during your aviation career. However, Murphy's Law still prevails, so preparation for any possible eventuality will give you peace of mind.
Know your airspeeds for emergency operation, be familiar with all emergency checklists, then review, and be able to recite from memory, the immediate action items for each emergency checklist. Don't add to an emergency because you didn't do your homework!
May - Powerplant and Performance
A review of your aircraft's engine specifications includes engine controls, engine instruments, engine oil system, ignition-starter system, air induction system, exhaust system, carburetor and priming system, cooling system, and propeller operation. The performance of your engine will determine most of your airplane's performance limits, so it's important to understand how your powerplant works.
Try doing a sample problem using each of the performance charts included in your aircraft's operating handbook. Examples of problems that you should tackle include takeoff and landing distances, crosswind components, cruise performance, and range profile. Review how temperature and air density (density altitude) affect performance on takeoff, landing, and in the air.
June-Instruments
Thorough knowledge of your aircraft's instruments and what information each instrument provides can help you to interpret the constant flow of data that is presented numerically or symbolically in the cockpit. Which external aircraft components gather outside air, and how do the components convert these measurements into data that is useful to the pilot? Review what alternate means are available to keep the flow of air and information streaming into the instrument panel.
The proficient pilot should know how to operate all navigation systems on board the airplane, even if they are not the primary navigation systems used. This includes knowing how to operate a handheld or panel mounted GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver if it's available for navigation and being able to operate primary and backup means of communication. Headset and intercom operation, portable emergency radio receivers, handsets, communication audio panels, and switching are all worth reviewing.
July-Weather
There are many excellent book and video resources available to help you to review aviation weather. Try starting with the basics of frontal systems, high and low pressure systems, and seasonal hazards such as thunderstorms and icing. Review the various means of obtaining weather briefings when you are airborne and on the ground. Refresh your memory of how to interpret graphic weather charts, METARs, and TAFs. Weather is a dynamic and ever-changing phenomenon. Interpreting the data is a blending of art and science-one that you must practice to perfect.
August-Flight Controls
As you are reading through the section on flight controls in your aircraft's POH, your mind may entertain other far-reaching concepts related to aerodynamics. Aerodynamics is a science all its own, and the better you understand it, the more accomplished you will become as an aviator. Exactly how does an airplane generate lift? What forces cause an aircraft to turn? These are simple questions with complex answers. If aerodynamics intrigues you, do more reading and research on this fascinating topic.
September-FAR/AIM
A proficient aviator knows everything about his aircraft, his limitations, and the rules and regulations set forth to ensure maximum safety for pilots and passengers.
Federal aviation regulations (FARs) have helped to make flying the safest form of transportation in the United States. But this level of safety is largely dependent upon pilot compliance with these FARs.
The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) is the source for answers to many of your questions about procedural guidelines and also contains a wealth of air safety information. Take another look at the pilot/controller glossary inside the AIM and practice communicating like a professional.
October - Weight and Balance
Go through your aircraft's POH section on weight and balance and revisit a loading problem, a loading graph, a center of gravity moment envelope chart, and a center of gravity limits chart. Remember the basic formulas needed to solve a weight and balance problem: WAM (Weight times Arm equals Moment) and M/W=CG (Moment divided by Weight equals Center of Gravity). Don't become the subject of an NTSB accident report because you were flying outside of your aircraft's weight and balance limitations.
November - Winter Operations
Get ready for Old Man Winter by taking a look at how your airplane is-or is not-equipped to neutralize the effects of cold air, frost, snow, or ice. Your POH should describe the equipment that is available on your aircraft and include a schematic diagram to supplement the description.
Be aware of the potential hazards of carbon-monoxide poisoning from engine manifold leaks while using cabin heat, and look into some of the carbon monoxide alerting systems available. A simple carbon-monoxide detector is inexpensive, yet it could save your life someday. Remember to dress appropriately if you do fly in cold climates. An off-airport landing in winter, though successful, could lead to disaster afterward if you do not have adequate protective clothing.
December - Limitations and Placards
Round out your year of monthly study with a thorough review of your aircraft's limitations. Some of these limitations are visible at all times in the form of placards, and some must be memorized. For most aircraft, limitations include airspeeds of operation, power plant limitations, weight limits, center of gravity limits, maneuver limits, flight load factor limits, fuel limits, and flap-operating limitations. You may have touched on some of these topics in previous months, but it is still a good idea to devote some time to reviewing them.
Now that you've been studying for a whole year, I'll bet there's nothing you don't know about your airplane. I'd even bet that it was fun, or at least a little easier since you approached it one section at a time. Remember that any activity worth doing takes effort. Considering how much fun it is to fly, I think you'll find that the effort of staying proficient is well worth it.
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