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TRAINING TIPsLearning style
AOPA Flight Training Associate Editor Jill W. Tallman corresponded with the student pilot and recognized the value of the latter’s effort. “It never occurred to me, back then in primary training, to try to figure out what type of learning style I had,” said Tallman, an instrument-rated private pilot. “Now I know, and when I get instruction I make sure to ask the CFI to demonstrate it first so that I can see … what we're supposed to be accomplishing.” Had she done that at the outset, “it might not have taken me so long to get some things—soft-field takeoffs, for example,” Tallman said.
Not sure what kind of learner you are? Check out Chapter 2 of The Aviation Instructor’s Handbook , which describes learning styles and the traits associated with them (Figure 2-15). The text provides instructors with teaching tips for learners with various styles. Also see Chapter 8 of AOPA’s Guide to Learning to Fly for 10 tips for evaluating an instructor.
AOPA Flight Training columnist and CFI Rod Machado recalled a teachable moment—one that gave him new appreciation for learning styles. A disagreement over footwear taught Machado the importance of adapting to a student's learning preferences. “That was more than 20 years ago, and I still remember the lesson I learned. Marty tried to teach me how to teach him, but I wasn't paying attention. Since then, I actively try to find out how a student prefers to be taught.” He also has advice for students: “For (instructors) to understand your learning preferences, you must tell them.” YOUR PARTNER IN TRAININGShort-field takeoffs and landings are extremely important in your training, and they will improve with practice. A pilot who knows his or her aircraft and is comfortable performing only short-field takeoffs and landings won’t be intimidated by a runway that’s shorter than 5,000 feet. Search the AOPA Flight Training archives for articles on short-field takeoffs and landings.
Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time) or from AOPA Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you're not already a member, join today and get the pilot's edge. Login information is available online. FLIGHT TRAINING NEWSOregon pilot wins Sporty’s sweepstakes SkyhawkOregon pilot Stephen Brenneke won the 2009 Sporty’s sweepstakes prize—a Cessna Skyhawk—when his name was drawn on May 16. When Brenneke, an orthopedic surgeon in Portland, got the momentous telephone call from Sporty’s President Mike Wolf, he said that he had “never won anything in my life.” The sweeps airplane comes with a Garmin G1000 avionics suite, featuring synthetic vision technology. Read more >> Safety outreach raises fuel awarenessWhat has caused 1,700 accidents in the past decade and is nearly 100 percent preventable? That's the question the AOPA Air Safety Foundation recently posed to 300 of the nation's most active flight schools. The answer: fuel mismanagement, which causes two pilots to crash every week, on average. In an effort to raise awareness, particularly among student pilots, the foundation mailed its Fuel Awareness Safety Advisor to the flight schools and made additional copies available free by request. The campaign also directed recipients to the foundation's online fuel management resources, which include courses, publications, videos, and an interactive Google-based map that plots fuel-related accidents. ‘AOPA’s Airport Directory’ now an iPhone app Inside AOPARedeem your AOPA Credit Card rewardsBy phone or online, the AOPA Credit Card makes it easy to redeem your reward points. With a click of the mouse, you can redeem points for travel, gift cards, concerts, sporting events—you name it. You also can redeem your points for cash. WorldPoints rewards experts are available to help you when you call 800/434-8313, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time. You can redeem rewards with as few as 2,500 points; the more you spend, the more valuable rewards you earn. Plus, you’ll earn double points for most aviation purchases. Why take chances with your certificate?Being a pilot requires compliance with more than 700 relevant federal aviation regulations. Violate any one of them, and you could face fines and penalties, including losing your pilot certificate. Take, for instance, these actual events from your fellow AOPA members. Luckily, they had the guidance and protection of the AOPA Legal Services Plan. It walked them through what needed to be done, saved them tens of thousands of dollars in fines, and even may have saved some their certificate. Now, more than ever, you need the AOPA Legal Services Plan on your side. Enroll today for $29 for most pilots. As one AOPA member put it, “You’ll never imagine these things happening to you … until they do. I can’t say enough about the plan’s services and how they helped me.” TRAINING PRODUCTSLow-cost headset from Marv GoldenNeed a new headset, but the budget is tight? Marv Golden’s Golden Eagle model weighs just 12 ounces and offers a noise reduction rating of 24 decibels. And it comes with a free bag. The headset sells for $79 and can be ordered online or by calling 800/348-0014. For tips on buying a headset, see the guide on AOPA Flight Training Online. Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors. FINAL EXAMQuestion: My instructor and I have been reviewing weather information like METARs and TAFs. Most of the abbreviations make sense, but some are really confusing. Why does “BR” translate to mist?
Answer: The abbreviations used in aviation meteorological reports are in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations. As such, the governing authority tried to be fair and use abbreviations for words in a variety of foreign languages. For the example given, BR is an abbreviation of “brume,” the French word for “mist.” For more information about meteorological symbols and abbreviations, see AOPA’s Handbook for Pilots .
Got a question for our technical services staff? E-mail [email protected] or call the Pilot Information Center, 800/872-2672. Don't forget the online archive of "Final Exam" questions and answers, searchable by keyword or topic. Picture PerfectPilots love to take photos, and they love to share them with other pilots. Now you can upload your flying photos to our online gallery, "Air Mail." Share your special aviation images, or view and rate more than 2,000 photos and counting. Highly rated photos will get put into rotation on the AOPA home page! AVIATION EVENTS & WEATHER To submit an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For airport details, including FBO fuel prices, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online. Flight Instructor Refresher ClinicsThe next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Sacramento, Calif., and Kansas City, Mo., May 30 and 31; San Jose, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., and Ashburn, Va., June 6 and 7; Phoenix, Ariz., and Minneapolis, Minn., June 13 and 14; Orlando, Fla., and Columbus, Ohio, June 27 and 28; Newark, N.J., July 11 and 12. For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
Can't make it in person? Sign up for the CFI Refresher Online. AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety SeminarsAOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Oshkosh, Wis., July 29, 30, and 31; Germantown, Tenn., Aug. 31; Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 1; Maryville, Tenn., Sept. 3. Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. | Got news? Contact ePilot. Having difficulty using this service? Visit the ePilot Frequently Asked Questions now at AOPA Online or write to [email protected]. |
A recent letter to AOPA from a student pilot in Wisconsin pointed out the importance of adjusting to a trainee's learning style. Resuming flight training after months of inactivity, the student pilot called a conference with her CFI to make sure that the instructor understood her learning style.
AOPA members can use an Apple iPhone or iPod touch to access AOPA’s Airport Directory. AOPA has partnered with ForeFlight, a leader in aviation applications for the iPhone and the iPod touch, to offer the complete directory as a free download for AOPA members. The AOPA Airports application can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store. As with the print edition, the electronic directory covers airport information, FBOs, airport services, and more. Features include a download manager for updating the data every 56 days, thousands of airport diagrams, and the ability to save favorite airports and recently viewed airports and find nearby airports. 
| Member Tools : Send feedback | Update member profile | Change email address | Unsubscribe | ePilot Archive Editorial Team : ePilot Flight Training Editor : Jill Tallman | ePilot Editor: Alyssa Miller | Contributor: Alton Marsh |
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