Airline and military accelerated training works because the trainees are carefully selected and guided into and out of the training programs. It like a child's kiddy-car ride that has a center rail to keep the car from veering off course. The airline captain who gets an accelerated rating came to the training prepared and flies under limits and supervision after the training. In general aviation, we don't have the built-in center rail to keep us safe. It's up to us to set limits and continue our training to gain proficiency.
When I say it's up to us, I mean it's up to the instructor to include good decision-making skills in the training curriculum, and it's up to the trainee to apply those skills. The new instrument pilot should set personal limits and continue with training and supervision after receiving the rating. I believe this applies to any pilot, regardless of how the training was received. It's the pilot who is ultimately safe or unsafe, not the training program. It's up to us as instructors to promote good decision making.
Earl C. Downs, ATP, CFII
Cushing, Oklahoma
Always Learning
After reading the article on the eight-day instrument rating and the letter by Mark Danielson ("Flight Forum," AOPA Flight Training, October 2000), I felt compelled to write about my experience.
Twenty-two years ago, I graduated medical school in the top 10 in my class and passed the test for admission into specialty training. I felt like the king of the world. A week into my residency I realized that I knew nothing. Colleagues just one year ahead of me had skills light years from my grasp. Then I understood what Socrates meant when he said, "I only know that I know nothing."
Last year, I fulfilled my most precious dream: I learned to fly. The moment my examiner told me I was a certificated private pilot, I again began to feel like king of the world. Then, I told my examiner the story from 22 years before and said, "I know I'm a pilot now, but I also know that I know enough to be dangerous."
Now halfway through my commercial and instrument training (in a traditional "slow" program), Socrates is al- ways in my mind: The more you know, the more you realize that there is a lot to learn, and it never ends. Every month, before opening AOPA Flight Training, every reader should stop for a moment to comprehend the invaluable meaning of "A good pilot is always learning."
Sylvester Chavez
Douglas, Arizona
Caution Is Never Obnoxious
In "Too much talk" ("Flight Forum," AOPA Flight Training, October 2000), Ralph Rogers admonishes pilots for nonessential radio traffic at uncontrolled airports. There must be a happy medium between the over-user and under-user of the unicom/multicom frequency. Some pilots never announce their intentions while others tell you when they deploy their flaps. The Aeronautical Information Manual is an excellent source of information on self-announce procedures.
I take exception to Rogers' condemnation of the pilot who reports his position when entering the airport traffic area and asks others to do the same. I can't see how this is "obnoxious."
I fly both recreationally and professionally and have been on the giving and receiving end of such calls. I recall one such situation clearly. Upon approaching Casper, Wyoming, airport in a Boeing 727 after the tower was closed, we made the "any traffic please advise" call and received a reply from a Taylorcraft whose lights were inoperative. His reported position was two miles in front of us and air traffic control could not see him on radar. A timely turn averted a potential accident.
Nonradio-equipped aircraft in the pattern are another matter entirely. There is no excuse for not having at least a handheld. I take my handheld radio whenever I go Cub flying and have found it to be useful. Every pilot should be aggressively listening and transmitting position and intention for mutual information.
Bill Krieger
Via the Internet
We welcome your comments. Address letters to Editor, AOPA Flight Training, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701. Send e-mail to flighttraining@ aopa.org . Letters will be edited for length and style.
