Dear Rod:
I’ve recently had a chance to fly two Light Sport airplanes, and both seem to have one thing in common. During the taxi, they tend to serpentine quite a bit. Am I just out of my mind or is there something I’m doing that’s causing this action on the taxiway?
Randal
Greetings Randal:
No, I don’t think you’ve gone bonkers, but you will if you can’t stop your wiggly motion on the taxiway. Serpentining is almost always a result of an over-application of pressure on the airplane’s rudder pedals. The best way to prevent serpentining is to use the balls of your feet (instead of your mid-step or heels) to apply rudder pressure. This allows you to more precisely control your rudder inputs. The best way to stop serpentining motion once it’s begun is to apply a short pulse to the rudder pedal, opposite the direction of turn. This should stop the errant motion, while measured rudder inputs should prevent additional serpentining motion.
Dear Rod:
I have a really difficult student problem. This student has been through two other flight schools for an instrument rating, failing the practical exam at both. I am his third instructor and his check airman for his third stage check. It took him four attempts before I passed him (with reservations). I am trying to prepare him for his final stage check and practical.
I have found many faults that I have pointed out to him, and given him tools and techniques to help him fly better. Under benign conditions he is relaxed and can fly a decent approach. But if there is a wind aloft, he gets rattled and is all over the sky. When I point out his mistakes, he always has a ready excuse. He is a poster boy for defense mechanisms.
I have told him he will only succeed with a lot of practice, which he feels he doesn’t need (or want). I’ve also tried to convey the seriousness of what we’re doing, that this training is vital because flying in IMC is for keeps. I haven’t gotten to the point of telling him to give up. However, I don’t know what else I can do for him. Any suggestions?
Ishmael
Greetings Ishmael:
You have a whale of a problem.
At this point, I’m more worried about you than your student. It’s entirely possible that this fellow shouldn’t have an instrument rating. Sorry, but what other conclusion can a reasonable person reach from what you’ve written? It’s almost as if he’s daring you to advance him. If by some (mis)fortune he passes his checkride and then promptly vaporizes himself and a few passengers, the heirs might unleash their lawyers on you. You should also consider that you have a moral obligation to discontinue someone’s training if they just can’t or won’t perform adequately. (Two other instructors have already discontinued his training, correct? Think about what that means.)
If you insist on continuing his training, here’s how I would proceed. Let him know that you believe he’s either not committed to flight training or might be unable to handle the demands of instrument flying, but you’re willing to give him another chance to improve. Then have him identify his deficiencies and offer his own recommendations on overcoming them.
You’re asking him to help you teach him. If he doesn’t understand his deficiencies and how to solve them after all the training he’s received so far, I would discontinue his training. Period.
Next, you should make all additional training merit based. Inform him that you will implement his suggestions but he’s got to agree on a predefined performance standard that needs to be met at the end of each lesson.
Tell him that if the agreed-upon performance standard isn’t met (based on your evaluation) at the end of each lesson, then you’ll discontinue his training. Sorry, but he only gets three strikes before he’s out. This should help him understand your performance expectations, while making it undeniably clear why you discontinued his training.
I admire your willingness to help your student, but there’s a bigger issue at play here—his passengers’ safety—and I do mean you.
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