Learning to fly is challenging and rewarding. However, for 5 out of 6 student pilots, it becomes daunting. That’s right, only 1 in 6 students pilots earn their certificate. So you want to be a Pilot? covers some simple things you can do to help put the odds in your favor. This article covers specific things you need to change in your flight training today.
Checklists
Checklists are important and they are also an emphasis item on practical tests. Numerous accidents have been attributed to pilots’ failure to follow their check list. But remember this: Checklists are not “to do” lists. There is no way for us to fly by numbers. Your flight training will be more productive if you take the time to learn your checklist and your flows. Get a copy of your checklist and take a picture of the interior of your training aircraft. At home, study the checklist and understand why you are doing the items for each stage of flight. We do not want automatons, we want pilots who understand the what, why and how of the items on the checklist.
Additionally, in emergencies, you may not have time to read a checklist, so you better have them memorized. Also, single pilot operations in congested airspace, is no time for your head to be down. After take off and before landing checklists also need to be memorized.
Preflight and Postflight
You are not dedicating enough time for your preflight and postflight. The first thing you are learning in flight training is preflighting. This is often just associated with the walk-around of the aircraft. This is an important part but it is not the only part. The FAA uses the term PAVE, Pilot, Aircraft, enViroment, External pressures. Each one of these are part of the preflight procedure. Student pilots are not preflighting themselves, especially in preparing for the learning process. You need to be doubling your study time at home to prepare for your next flight. Additionally, not enough emphasis is put into weather, the airport environment nor aircraft performance. Students are always in a hurry to get into the air, even though the cockpit makes a horrible classroom.
Once on the ground, there is a rush to pay the bill and get the log book signed. Postflight and debriefing the learning is a crucial step. Your brain does not have time to reflect on the learning process in the cockpit, your brain power was all used to fly the airplane. Take time to reflect and learn from your experience.
Your Grip
The airplane knows how to fly. The airplane is the best employee ever, and will do exactly what the pilot tells it to do. Your death grip is preventing you from understanding the airplane, and will make learning to land impossible. Once you put your whole hand on the yoke you can no longer “feel the airplane.” Even small pressures, that you do not recognize, are having drastic effects on aircraft performance. Learn to fly hands free. Your landings will thank you for it.
Pitch and Power
Pitch and Power may be the most critical mind-set change needed in flying. As land-based creatures, we have become accustomed to the notion that increase in power equals increase in speed. This is true on the ground. Increase your leg strength, you walk faster. Push down on the gas pedal, your car goes faster. But not so in an airplane. Pitch, pulling back on the yoke or better yet, putting in nose up trim, slows the aircraft. Pushing in the yoke or better yet, putting in nose down trim, makes the aircraft go faster. Power on the other hand controls thrust. Excess thrust allows the aircraft to climb, and insufficient thrust results in a descent.
Take power out, push the nose over and you can exceed red line. You can have full power in, and fly the slowest the airplane can go with nose up pitch.
Fully understand the relationship of Pitch and Power in an airplane. It will make your training go easier and faster. It will also help you with the next concept: Trim.
Trim
Trimming is a mystery to most pilots. An industry standard is to trim to relieve control force pressure and “feel the airplane.” This zen approach does not appreciate that trim is a mechanical device, and is not nuanced. Given a particular weight and loading a particular trim setting gives one airspeed in straight and level flight. Trim for airspeed and power for altitude. You may want to read Staying in Neutral.
During your preflight, you should set your trim for take off or neutral trim. During your walk around the elevator trim tab should be flush with the elevator when the elevator is held parallel to the ground or flush with the horizontal stabilizer. This is the only marked trim position in most light general aviation aircraft. This setting will give you only one airspeed for a given loading in straight and level flight. A Cessna 172 in a typical training load, with take off trim in straight and level flight is usually 85 knots. Move the trim forward, nose down trim, and you will go faster. Move the trim wheel back, or nose up trim, and the airplane will fly slower.
Once you set your airspeed, adjust power to obtain straight and level, climb or descent. Smooth application of power will allow the airplane to hold its airspeed. Rapid power changes abruptly changes the angle of attack and airspeed will change, until oscillations brings the airspeed back to its trimmed position.
Make these changes today and your flight training will become more productive. The cockpit makes for a horrible classroom, so remember first to be a Pilot in the Classroom.