Rosalie
Greetings Rosalie:
Arrangements like this can work out well for both parties, but a lot of things have to align in a favorable way for this to happen. I suspect that your instructor enjoys flying, and no doubt he finds pleasure in teaching you. It's obvious, however, that his business has priority over your instruction. The unwritten social rule that applies here goes like this: If someone gives you a gift (versus purchasing the same item yourself), you lose your right to complain about it. Thus, if your Uncle Bud gives you a crummy birthday present, you wouldn't feel good about saying, "Oh, wow, thanks...do you still have the receipt for this?"
Similarly, by accepting free flight instruction you've essentially forfeited your right to complain about, much less insist on, a more suitable schedule. It's often not the instructor who inhibits you from expressing your disappointment; it's your feeling of discomfort (guilt) at asking for something more than is already offered in the spirit of generosity.
I recommend talking with your CFI/friend and attempting to find a way to improve your flying schedule. Express your sincere appreciation for his time and effort, but impress him with your need for more consistent training. If this doesn't work to your satisfaction, then consider hiring another flight instructor to complete your training. Keep in mind that two of the most dangerous words in the English language are free and lucky. Few things in life are free in that they usually come with baggage attached, and luck is something that you never want to count on.
ATIS Etiquette
Dear Rod:
When talking with approach control upon entering Class C airspace en route to the primary airport, they often say "Report when you have the ATIS information." I'm not sure if I should leave the frequency to get the ATIS or if I should just try and listen to two radios at the same time. What do you suggest?
Thank You
Dear T.Y.:
The controller is telling you something, which is that he (or she) expected you to have already obtained the ATIS information before you contacted him. This is why the Aeronautical Information Manual recommends obtaining the ATIS 25 miles from the airport. You should anticipate that when calling approach control near your destination, they expect you to have the current airport conditions in hand. It's a lot easier to get it well in advance than when the final controller puts you on the spot.
But let's say you don't have the information, for whatever reason, when the controller says "Two-One-Three-Two Bravo, do you have the ATIS?"
When you say "Three-Two Bravo, negative," the controller's response will likely be, "Three-Two Bravo, let me know when you have the ATIS."
This isn't, however, an authorization to leave the frequency to obtain the ATIS without first obtaining the controller's permission. In this situation, some pilots will try listening to two radios at the same time (one radio for each ear). As a practical matter, it's too darn hard to listen to the controller and the ATIS at the same time, especially when the controller's frequency is busy. So here's a better way.
When the controller tells you to let him or her know when you have the ATIS, say something like the following: "Two-One-Three-Two Bravo requests permission to change frequency, will report back on."
This puts the ball in the controller's court. If he thinks he may need to communicate with you in the next minute or two, he'll tell you to remain on his frequency until he can let you switch frequencies for the time needed to listen to the ATIS broadcast. In some cases, the controller will simply (and rapidly) give you the essential airport information rather than let you go off frequency for even a short time.
You help everyone - yourself, the controller, and other pilots - by anticipating the need to have the ATIS information in hand when you call.
Fighting fear of flying
Dear Mr. Machado,
After 80 hours of student flying I find myself looking for reasons not to fly. I soloed after 45 hours, which was one of the most courageous things I have done in my 40 years on this earth. It was a moment I will cherish for my remaining years.
Shortly after that I went too far from the airport. Upon turning around I realized that there was nothing but 23 miles of air between the runway and me. After a few moments of terror, I made an uneventful return to the nest. The next flight out I had trouble with the electrical system and lost the radio. I followed standard procedures for landing at my towered field. I didn't start shaking until I shut the plane down. My instructor advises me to just keep flying and it will get easier.
I wonder if you have any advice to help me get past this wall. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give.
Thank you,
Max Fear
Greetings Max:
Your question and others like it are the most frequent questions I receive at AOPA Flight Training. So here are a few additional thoughts to add to those that I've already provided on aviation fear.
There are basically three ways to deal with aviation fear. You can deal with it logically, by trying to understand why your fear may be irrational. You can deal with it emotionally, by trying to understand how your attitudes, expectations, and values generate and support your fear. You can even deal with it behaviorally, by conditioning yourself to be less fearful. I've discussed all these methods and their combinations in previous writings. I haven't discussed a fourth way to attack your fear, and that is to attack your fear.
Let's suppose you are fortunate enough to train with a very wise flight instructor. He or she would most likely try the methods mentioned above, and if they fail to produce positive results, I have a good idea what this wise person would do next. He will probably sit you down, look you straight in the eye, and ask, in a rather stern (but compassionate) voice, "Max, just what the heck are you so afraid of? Why do you seem unable to thrive on all of the challenges flying offers? Why are you so frightened when there's no obvious reason to be scared?"
It doesn't matter how you respond because these questions are more rhetorical than fact finding. You see, the instructor's objective is to kindle within you a fire of anger at your apparent willingness to be a slave to your own fear. I say willingness because, at this stage, it's more likely that you aren't doing enough on your own to solve your fear problem. That's why your instructor wants you to become angry - angry enough to fight that fear. He's attempting to provoke your natural instinct to fight what oppresses you - your fear.
Max, if other means of handling your fear haven't worked, then you need to fight. You need to stand up for yourself and fight your fear as many, many others have done in the past. In the same way that people overcome their fear of public speaking by speaking in public, you need to get in the airplane and confront that which scares you. You will, of course, do it smartly and with common sense.
If you're scared of spins, you'll fly with a CFI whom you respect and spin until your head spins. If you have to (and can afford to), you'll spend 10, 15, or even 20 hours practicing spins. The same applies to stalls, turbulence, or anything else that you might fear. If you're fearful about flying more than 23 miles from the airport, then force yourself to fly 24 miles from the airport. The next day do 25. Yes, this may be scary, but so what? You were scared when you went too far from the airport, but you weren't hurt, right? You were scared when your radio failed, but you weren't hurt, right? If flying is important to you and traditional means of handling your problem fail to work, then confront the thing that scares you head on. Let your anger (at what fear does to you) be your sword.
If this approach fails to produce satisfactory results, then you have an important decision to make. You need to decide if you can live with your present ratio of aviation pleasure to aviation discomfort. If not, then have the courage to admit that being a pilot isn't for you. At least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you tried to overcome your fear. There's no shame in trying and failing. You only dishonor yourself if you fail to try.
Rod Machado is a flight instructor, author, educator, and speaker. A pilot for 32 years and a CFI for 28, he has flown more than 8,000 hours and owns a Beech A36 Bonanza. Visit his Web site ( www.rodmachado.com ).
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