Pilots are, of necessity, lifelong learners. Negotiating the path through advanced ratings, aircraft type ratings, and regular refresher training, we spend a great deal of time with our noses in the books. Study is a career-enhancing skill that is as much part of our routine as takeoffs and landings. Some of us were born with good study skills, but most were not. Nearly one-third of technical college students report that stress, distractions, family responsibilities, and work commitments make it difficult to concentrate on their studies. And for the aviation student, the problem is trickier, because just getting by won’t suffice. FAA performance standards accompany all ratings, making substandard outcomes unacceptable. Cruising along with minimal passing grades won’t ever meet the requirements, so now is the time to consider some better alternatives.
Step 1: Small steps lead to big achievements
Are you a student pilot or a seasoned veteran studying for an airline transport pilot rating? While your objectives may differ, the need for commitment doesn’t. Choosing when and where you want to go with your program is a critical first step. For example, an instrument rating this year would fit well with plans for a commercial next year. Promise yourself that you won’t forget about your plans until they are accomplished. Setting goals will provide a measurable point of reference to chart your progress. Once you recognize the progress you are making, future successes will come much more easily and provide motivation going forward. As you define your goals, make sure that you make them achievable, the kind that lead to successful outcomes.
Step 2: Time is the world’s most valuable commodity
You need a weekly and a daily schedule. Use electronic aids, a personal digital assistant, Microsoft Outlook, or the old paper method—they all work. But it is important to remain faithful to your schedule no matter what format you choose. Give yourself several windows for study each week that won’t compete with other responsibilities. Avoid studying when you are tired. Study and retention go much better when you are rested and alert. Last-minute cramming just before a lesson is usually a waste of time; find a better, less frantic time to prepare. Time is the most valuable resource students have. Not surprisingly, it’s also the one they most often waste.
Step 3: Some people like the library; others prefer Starbucks
Choose a study area where you can remain undisturbed and have good lighting, seating, and space to spread out. Textbooks, charts, and reference materials consume acres of space, so don’t compromise. Avoid studying in noisy and hectic places. Instead, choose a location that remains as quiet and comfortable as possible. Once you get accustomed to a satisfactory study venue, it usually is a good idea to make it part of your routine. Keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another.
Step 4: Working smart is always better than overworking
Work out a study agenda that is agreeable and fits with your daily activities. Without a systematic method of study, time will sift through your fingers without your having anything to show for it. Be willing to revise your study schedule if it is not working for you. For instance, it is possible that evening study may conflict with domestic duties. If so, consider mornings or afternoons. And once you find the sweet spot, try to make it a consistent part of each day.
Stay focused as you work. As you read, ask yourself, “What is this chapter telling me, what is important here, and how does it relate to other parts of the course?” Plan to study no more than 30 to 45 minutes before taking a break. Less is better when it comes to concentration and retention. If you’re rereading a paragraph over and over but don’t remember what you’ve read, it’s time to stop. Once refreshed, you’ll be ready to go at it again.
Step 5: More people collectively know more things
Group study provides numerous benefits, most important among them being the element of synergy. For example, you may be thoroughly familiar with aircraft systems while your colleagues are expert at navigation. In addition, group study promotes a sense of togetherness, allowing individuals to develop deeper understanding of ideas, concepts, and techniques through discussion. Group study is an aid in developing a social togetherness, heightening understanding, and the level of achievement.
Step 6: Absences leave gaping holes in the education sequence
As an instructor I rarely see habitual absences. To be sure, aviation training is expensive and missed classes only inflate the price tag. While instructors try their best to assist students in covering any justifiable absences, crucial topics are never fully recouped as lessons move forward. I believe that most chronic absence problems are traceable to a fundamental lack of goals and commitment. Help with this must come through an intervention of some sort that addresses a student’s objectives and priorities.
Step 7: When the going gets tough, good students ask for help
You wouldn’t be studying if you already knew this stuff, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. Questions may develop from study at home, discussions in lessons, flight experiences, or conversations with others. Questions will naturally arise anytime we move from the comfort of what we know to the uncertainty of what we don’t know.
In fact, when students don’t ask questions, instructors become wary and suspect that a learning gap is developing. When students fail to ask questions it’s usually because the material is already understood, there is fear of embarrassment if the question seems “dumb,” or there is insufficient knowledge of the subject to be able to ask an intelligent question in the first place. If you find yourself feeling uncomfortable asking questions, remember that instructors have been asked many questions throughout their careers and yours probably isn’t unique.
Step 8: Preparedness makes excellence possible
If you wouldn’t consider flying an aircraft without doing your preflight, why wouldn’t you do the same before a ground lesson? Advance familiarity with lesson material helps connect new concepts with what you already know. Always read the assignments before they are to be discussed—the session will go much better and lead to more complete comprehension.
Step 9: Good notes are concise reminders of important issues covered in discussion
Note-taking techniques are countless, with possibilities ranging from simple shorthand on a notepad to tape recordings. Some students develop a method of shorthand or abbreviations that simplify the task, and you should, too. But be sure that you remember how to decode them for future review. One thing is certain: You will never be able to write everything down. Don’t even try this, because the actual attempt will become a sizeable distraction. Instead, document the important highlights, the things the instructor emphasizes, and think in outline form. Anchor specific notes to textbook discussion by adding page references to your notes.
Also, if you have formed a study group, you might find it helpful to share note-taking responsibilities if you’re in a group setting. Complete the note-taking process by retyping the notes into a legible format, changing abbreviations into whole words and making corrections when necessary. Do this within 24 hours, before you forget what the notations were all about.
Step 10: Procrastination is a prime source of torment
It seems easier to put things off for a while instead of just doing it now, but look back and remember how good it feels when you actually finish an assignment. By starting assignments early, we’re again using that most valuable resource—time. In fact, by starting early, we’re expanding our time, spreading it out, and enabling the work to be completed without the usual crush of an impossible deadline. We do this in the airplane by accomplishing routine tasks in cruise while workloads are lowest. Remember, to reduce stress, start early, budget your time, and enjoy the experience.
Step 11: When all else fails, consult with your instructor
We know that people learn in a variety of ways. By making personal contact, you show that you have a vital interest in doing a good job and you care about what happens. You are also raising flags for the instructor who will then be able to take special steps to address any problems you may be having. In addition, instructors have a way of indicating their priorities to students through personal meetings, a helpful bit of intelligence that may indicate what to expect from them on upcoming tests.
Step 12: You have nothing to fear from any test
Exams and flight tests produce nervous tension. Even when well prepared, students continuously fret when exams are getting close. This is understandable since there is so much at stake at a time when actual outcomes are uncertain—we all hate the feeling of uncertainty. The mechanics of taking the test can be an obstacle if you are haphazard in the manner with which you go about this. You could end up being disappointed with the result if you are impatient, careless, or inattentive. So as you approach the final round of your flight training course, ensure you get all the credit you deserve by applying the following testing protocol:
1. Start preparing on the first day of lessons.
2. Ask the instructor for any advice on particular areas of study.
3. Begin study for the exam at least one week in advance.
4. Bring all necessary paraphernalia and reference materials.
5. Plan on taking the full, allotted time to complete the test—don’t rush.
6. Read and completely understand the question as written or asked.
7. If the question is unclear, ask for a clarification.
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