Even though I have been flying for several years, I enjoy reading AOPA Flight Training magazine. However, the how-to-land type articles drive me nuts, particularly the one in November titled, “Plan to Land: When Good Landings Go Bad—and Why.”
I agree that students should learn the basic and standard process for landing, but I strongly believe that they should also be aware of, and trained to deal with, non-standard landing patterns where they will not have the familiar landmarks or the same reference points relative to a runway. Why? Because of several things that I experienced as a new pilot.
I was trained to land precisely like the article presents, and ran into trouble on my first solo flight. Learning to do the nonstandard approach and landing can be a valuable lesson and, in the case of an engine-out emergency, save your life. If a student is led to believe that the standard method is the only way to make an approach to land, they are not being provided all the information and they could find themselves in trouble. It may be the best way under most circumstances, but it is not the only way and the students need to know this.
Andy Schmidt
St Paul, Minnesota
Demystify me
Jill Tallman did a great job in this article describing the FAA’s Instrument Approach Chart (“Approach Plates Decoded: The IFR Road Map to Your Airport,” November 2009 AOPA Flight Training). The diagram by Mike Fizer with the color coding of the major sections made it a snap to identify the areas Tallman was describing. The manner in which she described the details was interesting because she pointed out a good number of practical uses of the symbology included by the government.
I’m sure that instrument-rated pilots found this article to be an excellent review of this product and that a good number of non-instrument pilots found it helped a great deal to demystify the instrument approach chart.
Warren Webb Jr.
Cromwell, Connecticut
Many thanks
I want to thank you for the article “Learning Experiences: Third Time Not the Charm” (November 2009 AOPA Flight Training). Numerous comments by author Dan Heller made real the challenge of instrument flying, especially from the viewpoint of a student, as well as demonstrating the necessity of flying in clouds prior to getting the ticket. I’d somehow managed to go through IFR training both as a student and CFII, and never once prior to both tickets had the occasion to fly actual. Not good. It needs to be done, and should be mandatory.
Also, thank you for Rod Machado’s insight on not using the fuel gauges as an indication of how much fuel is left (“Since You Asked: Fluttering Fuel Gauges,” November 2009 AOPA Flight Training). I really hadn’t appreciated the importance of doing that, until reading the author’s comments.
Brad Kurlancheek
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
K.I.S.S.
Thanks for Capt. Ralph Butcher’s very timely article in the November 2009 AOPA Flight Training magazine (“Insights: Confidence Maneuvers”). I, too, try to make it simple, but Butcher gave me a great deal of food for thought: how important it is to not overload the student on the first few flights! “Too many students do not understand the true importance of the rudder.” How well said! Keep the good info coming!
Rickey Harber
Spokane, Washington
We appreciate your comments. Letters must include your name and address. E-mail letters to [email protected] or mail to AOPA Flight Training, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701. Letters may be edited and will be printed as space permits.
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