Since You Asked

Reason Is The Key

Dear Rod,

I had a terrible experience last week. My instructor and I were taxiing to the runup area when our propeller hit an FBO's lockbox in the tiedown area (a lockbox is where some FBOs keep airplane supplies like oil, funnels, rags, and similar items for use during nonbusiness hours). Metal, oil cans, chains, and debris were everywhere. I was scared to death and am now afraid to get back in the airplane. I have a little more than 10 hours and love to fly. Is there anything I can do to overcome my fear?

Thanks,
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Another name for the airport lockbox is "propeller magnet." Your instructor isn't the first person to tear one of these to smithereens. These things are bound to happen, and it's best to get over them quickly when they do. This doesn't make him a bad instructor, either. It just means that if war is ever declared on lockboxes, he'll only need four more kills to become an ace.

On the other hand, fear is the real enemy. If there is anything to fear on this planet it's having the things you enjoy in life (flying and other pleasures) diminished by fear. In other words, you should fear having a less-than-fulfilling life because you've become too frightened to try (or continue trying) new things. Don't get me wrong. Fear can be an effective modifier of behavior, but it's important to fear the right things and know how long to fear them.

Your fear is excessive, so let's deal with it rationally. The following questions will help you put your fear in perspective. They work for anything that scares you. Ask yourself these questions in the following order (I've supplied the answers for you).

1. What action would you like to take? I want to get back in the airplane and fly.
2. What keeps you from taking it? I'm afraid I'll hit something when taxiing. (It's more likely that you're afraid of becoming afraid again. No one likes the feel of fear. Nevertheless, this same model can be used to handle that difficulty too.)
3. What will happen if you take this action?
   • What is the worst thing that can happen if you decide to act sensibly? The worst that can happen is that I hit another lockbox.
   • What is the probability of that thing happening? Considering how anxious I am around lockboxes, I will taxi slower and will keep a sharp eye out for objects on the ground in the future.
   • Do you accept this probability? Yes, it's very unlikely that I'll hit a lockbox again.
4. What support do you need from others to do what you want to do? I'd like to know that others make mistakes and get scared, too, and that I'm not incompetent. Since this is what you've basically told me, I have all the support I need now.
5. What action do you plan to take? I'm going flying this afternoon.

Remember, no action is free from risk. Henry David Thoreau once suggested that it would be pretty sad to have reached the point of death and realized that you've never really lived. So live. Go fly. And the next time you're frightened in an airplane, try balancing the emotional response with the rational one as demonstrated above.

Let's Make A Deal

Dear Mr. Machado,

I read your recent column in AOPA Pilot about becoming a flight instructor and have the desire to do so. Here is my problem. Money! Do you know of any way I can obtain the money (legally, of course) to take flight training? I have a commercial/instrument rating and a job, but it doesn't pay that much. My parents won't sign for a loan. Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Quint

Greetings Quint,

I'm very glad you asked only for legal ways to obtain flight training funds. I had to give up recommending bank jobs to individuals because, after a few years in the slammer, these folks seem more interested in becoming locksmiths than CFIs.

Yes, money is always a problem. Well, here's something maybe you haven't tried. It seems that some (by no means all) flight schools are having trouble keeping flight instructors. Many instructors quickly disappear after acquiring 1,000 hours of flight time. I suspect that the owner of a flight school might be willing to help you to find a way to earn the money needed for CFI training if you could offer some form of guarantee that you'd stay around long enough to make it worthwhile to him or her. The owner might offer the training at a reduced expense if he feels he's making an investment in his flight school.

I know of an instance where a student was given discount training under a similar circumstance. A few students have even bartered their labor for flight time and training. Another twist might be for the school to put your instruction on a tab, then have you pay it down out of your instructor earnings, with some amount being forgiven for each month or century you stay on the job. Think creatively. It's called "Let's make a deal," and it's becoming a lost art in our culture. Give this a try.

Formation Flying For Fun

Dear Rod Machado,

I'm a private pilot with about 300 hours' total time. I have a friend, also a private pilot, with a similar amount of time. Do you think it's unreasonable for us to practice formation flying? We spend a lot of time briefing each flight (I know this is important), and we're very careful. The military train their pilots in formation flying, and these pilots sometimes have less total time than we do. One of our flight school's more senior instructors has been trying to discourage us from the practice, but I want to know what you think.

Sincerely,
Dan

Dear "Daredevil" Dan,

Let me see if I have this straight. The military selects highly qualified pilot applicants after a long evaluation process, spends millions of dollars training them in sophisticated aircraft, places some of the world's most experienced instructors on board, and provides everyone with parachutes and ejection seats during formation flight training. And you want to duplicate the process without an instructor, in Cessna 152s? May I recommend something a little less risky? Go to the archery range and offer to hold the target.

Dan, formation flying is risky business. It takes tons of training, more training and, on top of that, additional training to learn how to do it safely. Over the years I've done a lot of formation flying as a result of the video work I'm involved with, and I can assure you that I don't consider it fun. It's hard and strenuous work. It is not something two beginners should teach each other.

Let me ask you one question. If neither of you has any experience formation flying, who would be teaching you what to do?

This is, however, one of those situations where I worry that boys will just be boys. If you insist on formation flying, then please find a competent and qualified pilot to show both of you the ropes. Your best bet is usually an instructor with military background or an airshow performer with lots of experience, skill, and judgment.