Flight Forum

I have enjoyed Ralph Butcher's "Insights" column since my initial flight training days four years ago. His opening remarks in "The Flying Instinct" (February 2001) have prompted me to comment that my first reading of Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche came after 400 flight hours, which was about 250 hours late. I learned more in an hour's reading than in the first 50 hours of training. Butcher has reminded me to read my copy again, and hopefully others will get the same message. We may no longer be directly enrolled in training for flight, but we will always be in flight training.

Gary Garrett
Via the Internet

Save Psychology for Psychologists

In his January 2001 article on fear of flying ("From the Right Seat: Systematic Densitization"), Rod Machado suggests CFI-administered systematic desen- sitization as a method for treating students with anxiety related to flight training. He reports that he has successfully used these techniques for a number of years. As a new pilot and a veteran psychologist, I would suggest that Machado has been very lucky!

Fear of flying may be an isolated symptom related to a single bad experience or it may occur in the context of a pervasive anxiety disorder or other serious psychological condition. Machado may have the experience to determine when systematic desensitization may work with a student, but CFIs generally lack the training to tell the difference between a nervous student and one who may have a full-blown panic attack.

As it is described in the article, systematic desensitization consists simply of helping a student to relax and then introducing progressively more stressful situations while maintaining relaxation. This is not as simple as it appears. Maintaining a relaxed state requires careful monitoring of the individual's reactions, an activity that is incompatible with outside vigilance and cockpit management. In addition, Machado suggests that the instructor determine the order and progression of anxiety-arousing conditions. In order to be effective, the student must create the hierarchy. Otherwise, we may inadvertently increase anxiety.

Machado says, "You don't need to be a psychologist to apply this technique." Perhaps not, but you do need to be a psychologist to evaluate the safety of its use and apply the technique competently. Similarly, you don't need to be a CFI to teach someone to fly an airplane, but the training certainly comes in handy when the student creates a cross-controlled stall close to the ground. I respect the training and experience of my CFI and trust him to make competent decisions about my safety. Please reciprocate by not recommending that CFIs practice outside of their area of expertise.

M. Penny Levin, Ph.D
Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania

Normal Approaches At Night

As a fairly new private pilot, I am just beginning to get comfortable with flying at night. During my training, my instructor drilled into my head the idea that at night you must fly a normal pattern. That is my mantra at night, "fly a normal pattern." I was therefore appalled when your article "Into The Night" (February 2001) described a straight-in approach.