Don't sweat the check flight
I recently performed very poorly on a Stage II check flight (just before my solo cross-country). Comparing the check with my Stage I (solo) check, I realized that I made very similar mistakes and rushed every instruction. My reason for messing up on each of the stage checks was nervousness--I would turn right, then put in the VOR, check it, and start to intercept it. I rushed everything so much, and tried to "impress" the instructor even more. He had me do an engine-out near a nontowered airport, and when we did the go-around he told me to go to that nontowered airport. Well, because I didn't know exactly where I was. I put in the unicom frequency, and entered the left 45-degree turn too fast and too sloppy, and didn't take the time to consider that I could just have done two or three 360s to determine my position and then find my way to the airport.
I know that my main problem is rushing myself and not taking time to think, but I figured you might have a better idea how to fix that problem. I normally think everything through in these situations because I don't have the pressure of, "If I mess up I'll fail the check." What can I do to overcome the feeling of being rushed?
Thanks!
The Nervous Student
Greetings Nervous Student:
It seems to me that you know exactly what mistakes you made. In fact, your assessment is quite thorough. On the other hand, nervousness has many causes. You suggested that your nervousness might be caused by wanting to please the instructor. OK, nothing wrong with that, as long as it doesn't immobilize you--as it has appeared to do.
Now, I could offer you the basic pabulum of "Try to relax" or "Don't worry, it will be OK," but you've probably already had your fill of these nice phrases. So here's an entirely different way of looking at the problem.
When people are in situations where they feel a bit nervous, I recommend that they fall back on a bit of philosophy to help remind them about what's ultimately the most valuable aspect of taking flying lessons. In all cases, this is the ability to fly safely and not just fly for flying's sake. For instance, you wouldn't want to be given a certificate--or, for that matter, pass a phase check--if you didn't actually have the required skill, right? You wouldn't want to fly if there was a chance that you'd cause injury (or worse) to yourself or others because of some undetected weakness in your piloting ability, would you?
Therefore, it's often best to look at the check ride from the perspective that the person evaluating you is actually trying to help you (which he or she is). He's helping you better understand whether or not you actually have the skills required to fly safely, or whether you need more practice. We should all be so lucky as to have someone who would be truthful with us regarding our present level of skill. Looked at this way, the idea of taking a check ride becomes much less nerve-wracking.
Loves to fly, but not to teach
Dear Rod:
I am 21 years old and hold a commercial certificate with multiengine and instrument ratings. Recently friends and family have talked me into becoming a CFI. I have attempted that certificate three times, but I seem to become discouraged at the start every time. I have always been a stick-and-rudder pilot, not a teacher. I love to fly, but I hate to read. As you know, being an instructor takes a lot of studying and time. I just don't have what it takes to sit down and study the FAR/AIM, oral guides, and other books, much less study for the knowledge exams. I was wondering if you could help me figure this out, as my career won't go anywhere without a flight instructor certificate. What can I do?
Thank you
Greetings Thank You Man:
From what you've said, it's clear to me that flight instructing is not for you. If we pay attention to our own behavior, we can usually identify the signals we're sending to ourselves about our true feelings. The fact is that by not studying, and resisting preparation for the flight instructor certificate, you're telling yourself that you really don't want to instruct. So, you shouldn't instruct--period. The last thing aviation needs is someone who apparently doesn't like teaching sitting in the cockpit teaching others to fly. There's no shame in this whatsoever. In fact, it might be said that you have a greater recognition of your own strengths and weaknesses in this regard, and this is a good thing, not a bad one.
So where does that leave you? Well, you've chosen a path to aviation experience that will be a bit more difficult, but not impossible to accomplish. I've known several people over the years who managed to gain experience by flying pipeline patrols, aerial photography, fish spotting, glider towing, and so on. I know of one fellow who built an ultralight with a small investment, registered it as an experimental aircraft, and flew the wheel pants off the thing just to log time. The operating cost on this machine was low, calculated mostly in terms of "lunch money." Because it was an experimental aircraft and he was a certificated pilot, the flight time he acquired was applicable toward higher ratings.
Of course, there's always a price to pay for our choices, especially when an airline asks you about your flying experience. When you tell them you have 1,000 hours in an aircraft named The Bee Stinger or The Bat Zapper, it's doubtful that this flying experience will carry as much weight as it would have had you been flying a larger and better-equipped airplane.
Too many flight instructors
Dear Rod:
How many different flight instructors can be assigned to one student pilot without compromising the quality of the instruction program? I think a dozen or more different flight instructors is not a good practice. Don't you agree? My flight skill varies with the flight instructor assigned to me. This seriously affects my performance, because one day I fly well, faultlessly, and on another day, my performance becomes poor--and I don't understand why.
Thank you very much,
Name Withheld
Greetings NW:
If you're a student pilot and have several instructors at the same time (i.e., you're flying with a different CFI on each lesson), then it's hard to see how you couldn't be confused. Since no two flight instructors see things exactly the same way, it's likely that you won't have a good idea of what is or is not correct behavior in the airplane. Too many instructors make it difficult for any one of them to have a good feel for how your skill level and confidence are developing, and this can retard your progress.
As I see it, it's best to stick with one instructor during primary flight training. At least this is the ideal. Some folks argue that more than one instructor means you'll learn all sorts of wonderful and varied techniques for flying. Maybe so. But this experience is sure to extend the flight training process, not shorten it. The fact is that one good instructor can at least teach you to fly as well and as safely as he could fly when he had your level of experience. That's why I recommend you stick with one instructor and one instructor only during all your primary training. The secret, of course, is to make sure this is a good instructor.
So chat with the chief instructor at the flight school and ask to be assigned to one instructor for the duration of your primary flight training. Remember, you're the consumer, so make sure you're getting the quality of training you desire.
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.
Related Articles
