Sharing cockpit responsibilities
I often fly with another pilot and share flying duties. Sometimes I'll fly and the other pilot will navigate, and then we'll switch. I've noticed that we often end up with more problems when sharing responsibilities this way. Is there something wrong with me, or is this just a bad way to divvy up flying responsibilities?
Thank you,
R.B.
Greetings R.B.:
There's nothing wrong with you or with sharing flight responsibilities. What's probably wrong is the way you're going about doing these things.
What you're trying to do is something that doesn't come naturally to pilots, and that's letting someone help you fly. Private pilots are trained to be independent and do everything on their own and for themselves. It's not natural for you to have copilot-like assistance, so you're probably not using this resource correctly. This means your flying friend is navigating in a way that best serves him or her, not you--and vice versa. If anyone wants to do any cockpit chores, they should only do so under the guidance and supervision of the pilot in command.
Instead of letting your copilot navigate using his own method, plan, and time frame, ask him to provide you with the information you need to reach your destination. For instance, after departure you might ask him for an initial heading and altitude to fly to your destination airport. Then you might ask him to select a specific course to the local VOR and/or airport and provide your distance from that location. You might even ask him to calculate the rate of descent required for a 500-fpm descent at a specific groundspeed to reach pattern altitude.
But don't ask for a handstand or a back flip. There are some things that copilots just can't do unless, of course, they're part of a circus act. In this way he gets to navigate, but he does so under your guidance. Communication problems are minimized, and safety is maximized.
So divvy up those flying responsibilities if it pleases you and you believe it's a safe thing to do. Just make sure that the person helping you really helps you. Tell him what you need. Learn to use this resource properly. The skill may come in handy someday when you really need a copilot's assistance. (For more ideas on flying with another pilot, see "Continuing Ed: Two Pilots, One Cockpit," November 2004 AOPA Flight Training.)
Top and bottom rudder
Dear Rod:
Would you please explain top and bottom rudders, and what is good and bad about them? Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ms. A.
Greetings Ms. A:
I'm giving you an A for such a good question. When you make a turn, one side of the airplane is always a little higher than the other, relatively speaking. The rudder on the higher side is referred to as top rudder, while the lower side is called bottom rudder. If you're in a left turn (the right side of the airplane is a bit higher), using right rudder is using top rudder; this produces a slip. Using left rudder is using bottom rudder, and produces a skid.
A stage check gone bad
Dear Rod:
I had the worst lesson last night and really need advice. I have been taking lessons since the end of 2005. I managed to hook up with a great CFI. We really clicked, and learning was fun and easy. I soloed in December, and it was such a great day. My instructor subsequently had to move out of the area, and I was handed off to another CFI. I had reservations, but we decided to have a meeting and we also clicked. I have had a total of three supervised solos and was ready for my stage check with one of the other instructors. The weather was beautiful (except that it was cold), so I ended up doing my stage check with this one guy because he was the only guy available. And, I gotta tell you--what an absolutely horrible experience!
He spent the entire time just barking at me and making me feel worthless. I honestly felt like I couldn't answer any question correctly or do any maneuvers properly. He shook my confidence so much that I couldn't find my way from the practice area back to the airport (which is obviously a big no-no). Seriously, he had me quite shaken by the end of it all--my hands literally were shaking!
So...not to sound like a wimp or anything but I ended up canceling the rest of my lessons. I absolutely lost confidence in myself and am quite nervous about getting back into and flying an airplane, especially by myself. I'm not sure if I am going to continue. Any advice?
Thank you,
Mr. Disappointed
Greetings Mr. Disappointed:
If the situation is exactly as you describe, then here's my suggestion. Don't fly with this fellow anymore! Don't place one foot in the airplane if he's in it. Avoid him like the plague.
Unfortunately the world does contain a few people like this--the type of people who can rub an entire continent the wrong way. Sure, he may have been having a bad day, but that's no excuse for shaking your confidence to the point of quitting. This fellow needs to grow up. His chief pilot should give him a good spanking, then make him sit in the corner reading the federal aviation regulations aloud for an hour. No one should abuse the student-instructor relationship to the point of ruining aviation for you. That's improper behavior and it shouldn't be tolerated. Your first stop should be the chief pilot's office, to discuss what happened and make clear that you feel it's way outside the bounds of acceptable behavior. Without such feedback, the chief pilot hasn't a clue.
I can only think of one reason to yell at someone in an airplane, and that is if they're doing something that exposes all parties to imminent danger and yelling is the only immediate solution to solve the problem. Then, by all means, yell! I might even agree with the raising of a voice if your behavior is consistently irresponsible and you need a stern rebuke. But that doesn't sound like what happened here.
Sure, even good instructors occasionally lose their patience with students. When they do, they apologize and modify their behavior. Instructors are only human, and humans make mistakes.
So chalk up this fellow's behavior to a baby being raised on sour milk and don't let him ruin aviation for you. Tell your instructor what happened, and make it clear that under no circumstances will you fly a checkride or any other kind of ride with Mr. Abuser. Then go flying with your instructor, and don't be forced out of aviation! There are just too many incredible, fantastic, and wonderful instructors out there who would love to fly with you--and with whom you'd feel proud to fly.
Rod Machado is a flight instructor, author, educator, and speaker. A pilot since 1970 and a CFI since 1973, he has flown more than 8,000 hours and owns a Beech A36 Bonanza. Visit his Web site.
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