I'm having a devil of a time with instrument training, and I'm just realizing that it's not all my doing. When my instructor first started teaching me about holding patterns, I asked him to draw pictures for me. He resisted, saying that I needed to see them in my head. He wouldn't even let me draw them on the en route chart during flight practice. Any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Betty
Greetings Betty,
It seems to me that the easiest way to get the picture of a holding pattern into your head is through the eye, not the ear. Your instructor's position seems difficult to support, although I'm sure he has only your best interest at heart.
I suspect that what you want to know is whether you need to be able to visualize a holding pattern to fly one. It helps, but it's not absolutely necessary. In fact, I know airline pilots who still draw holding patterns on their en route charts. (Of course, the pros use pencil, not pen, and the captain always draws on the copilot's chart.) There's no practical reason you shouldn't do the same if you find it useful. So feel free to insist on pictures, not verbs.
Tell your instructor that you want to try it his way, but you need the intermediate step of seeing and drawing holding patterns on paper. In this way you teach your instructor how to teach you.
Rod
Battling checkride jitters
Dear Rod,
I've been flying for the past 27 years, and I decided about three years ago to become a CFI because I enjoy flying very much. It hasn't been easy, and I've had my share of difficulties. I've stuck with it, but after all the letdowns I have developed a confidence problem and checkride jitters. I've been studying hard, but I still have some doubts about all the information that I'm required to know. Can you make any suggestions as to how I can complete the checkride with confidence?
Thanks,
Mickey J. Smith
Greetings Mickey,
The best advice I can offer regarding the jitters is to take a simulated checkride. Of course, a simulated checkride will probably cost the same as the real thing, but it's well worth the money. (Don't plan on paying with simulated cash, either.) Do this with a designated examiner who has experience giving these rides for the FAA. This way you'll obtain a more realistic assessment of your skills.
This advice has worked well for quite a few people who've had similar concerns. Call the FAA and get a list of designated examiners in your area. And, don't worry about the flying. Most CFI applicants have more trouble with the teaching part, so concentrate on the oral portion for this trial run.
Rod
Choosing a trainer
Dear Rod,
I'm a student pilot. In the process of checking out flight schools, I rode in a couple of different aircraft. I am six-foot-three, 210 pounds with large shoulders, so a Cessna 150 was a little too cramped. I opted for upgrading to a Cessna 172. While checking out another flight school, the owner suggested I try training in a Piper 140 or even a Warrior.
I've heard different stories from people about the pros and cons of training in low-wing vs. high-wing airplanes. I find that I like to fly the 140. Is this airplane too easy to fly? Will it make my checkout, flying experience, and transition to a high-wing aircraft (for renting, etc.) harder? Will I not be learning as much as I need to if I fly the 140?
Jeffrey Marcella
Greetings Jeff,
If you fit in a Cessna 150, then Houdini would be proud of you! I know of no serious evidence indicating that one's flight training success is based on the location (high or low) of the airplane's wings. The only requirement is that the airplane have wings.
Find an airplane you feel comfortable with that's within your budget. It's been said that difficult-to-fly airplanes make better pilots. If that were so, then flying an airplane with a serious aft center of gravity problem (it's harder to fly) should make you a good pilot in no time. The truth is it's more likely to make you a hospitalized pilot in no time. Perhaps you've heard that taildraggers make better pilots. Granted, you need to develop good rudder skills to fly a taildragger properly. Does that make you a lesser pilot if you learn to fly in a tricycle-geared airplane? No, it simply makes you a pilot who doesn't know how to fly a taildragger (yet). Airplanes are airplanes. Transitioning from one to the next is a matter of acquiring basic skills, not toughing it out with a recalcitrant old bird.
Rod
Student-induced stress
Dear Rod,
Do other instructors have trouble controlling their patience when students don't show any sign of improvement? I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I occasionally get angry with my students.
Thanks,
Mr. Anonymous
Dear Mr. Anonymous,
I'm assuming the problem isn't caused by you drinking one too many espressos. If you can vibrate through solid matter after a cup or two, you might want to cut back. Seriously, a loss of patience often damages the student-instructor relationship. In many cases this is caused by unrealistic expectations. Instead of evaluating students for what they can do, instructors may evaluate them for what they should do. But not everyone can solo in 15 or 20 hours.
When a student's progress is abnormally slow, you might wonder if you're at fault. As a result, you might become more demanding, raising your expectations in the process. This only makes matters worse. If you have serious concerns about a student's progress, then let him know. Ask him what you might do to improve his performance. Now he's forced to assume more responsibility for his training. Give him the option to fly with another instructor for an evaluation. This is very effective in managing the guilt that instructors sometimes feel regarding a student's slow progress.
Rod
Please e-mail your flight training questions to "Since You Asked" at [email protected]. Only questions selected for publication will be answered.
Related Articles
