The author in 2003 after a trip to Maryland's Ocean City Municipal Airport (OXB).
As we’ve themed the January 2015 issue “Back to Basics,” I wondered what, if anything, I would tell my student pilot self if I could travel back in time. We would have a lively conversation, once future me got finished telling student pilot me that it was high time to cut off my waist-length hair. Here’s what I’d say:
Fly more. One lesson a week is good, but two is better, if you can afford it. At least schedule two per week. That way, if weather forces a cancelation, you’ll already be on the books with your CFI and won’t have to scramble to get another slot.
Go talk to ATC. If you’re flying out of a nontowered airport (as Frederick Municipal Airport was then), infrequent encounters with air traffic control made it harder to develop fluency when talking to ATC. Get flight following; go to a towered airport; give a pilot report—but do what it takes to get that level of familiarity. You’ll see an even greater benefit when you start instrument training, as far into the future as that may seem.
Stall recovery will be OK. Power-off stalls seem scary now, but they won’t always be. Dissect the maneuver and practice it with your CFI as much as possible.
Interruptions happen. A lot of pieces must fall into place to learn to fly: time, money, decent weather, a good flight instructor, and a functioning airplane. Plan for the times when you’re not flying so that you don’t forget what you learned in the interim. Study your ground school materials; take a free Air Safety Institute online course; read Wolfgang Lange-wiesch’s Stick and Rudder. Speaking of which…
The rudder is important. You are not a pilot who flies without ever touching the rudder pedals, but your stick-and-rudder technique could use some work. It wouldn’t kill you to fly an airplane that requires more footwork than your trainer. In fact, go take an hour of dual instruction in a taildragger to see what I’m talking about.
A handheld transceiver is a great tool—but not now, at this stage of your flying. Treat yourself to one when you pass your private pilot checkride, but for now, save the money for flight instruction. Better yet…
Spend that money on a good headset. You’ll save yourself hundreds of dollars if you just go ahead and purchase the quality headset, rather than getting a cheap one, then moving up to a slightly more expensive one, then abandoning that one when you finally realize that you need something even more effective and comfortable.
Go-arounds are your friend. I think you already know this, but it bears repeating. If something’s not right on the approach, don’t force it.
Flying is awesome; don’t forget it. This may be the most important bit of advice. You’re steeped in the minutia of flying—the book work, the knowledge test prep, wondering and worrying if you will ever get the hang of the perfect landing. (Spoiler alert: You will.) Small wonder that it sometimes seems like more of a chore than a boon. But it will change your life, offer incredible experiences, and create wonderful memories in ways that few recreational activities can match. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but the hard work now will be more than worth it. Trust me, I know—I’m a pilot, too.
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