When I teach “thinking” to students, I use a method called “Habits of Mind” which is a set of inquiries to challenge our thoughts. What do I know? How do I know it? How do I know that I know? What else? What if …?
Let’s Try This
What is the maneuvering speed for your aircraft?
What do I know? For a Piper Arrow II PA 28 R 200, Va is 131 mph. How do I know it? It’s stated in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and its placard in the aircraft. How do I know that I know? This is where it gets tricky. As a private pilot, I know because I have been told. As a commercial pilot I know because I understand the Vg diagram. As a CFI I know because I’m also aware that it changes with Gross Weight … “What’s that?” you say. Yes, there is always more to the story than the book answer.
Let’s get to the next part. What else/What if…? What if Va changes with weight, then what else would I need to know? What if Va was not the best turbulent air penetration speed? What else would I use? I’m going to hold off on trying to answer those questions for another time. I want to get back to Habits of Mind.
Like so many before me, I was told a pilot’s license is a license to learn. When I finally finished my private, I was nearly through my 30’s, I felt like I was a decade behind where I could have been had I completed my training in my 20’s, so I began constantly studying, reading books, magazines, online articles and watching videos to try and fill in the gaps. As a teacher, I could only afford to fly a few hours a month, just enough to keep the rust off, but not enough to be truly proficient. But every time I flew, I had a purpose, one skill that I wanted to focus on. Even if it was a flight for fun, I would work on slow flight, steep turns, or flying at best glide. The purpose was to make sure I practiced one of the fundamental skills necessary for being a safe pilot.
This is also when I discovered the FAA Safety Team Wings Program. The Wings Program is a great way to stay safe and proficient because it motivates pilots to go deeper into knowledge through attending seminars and or completing online courses. It also requires you to get up into the air with an instructor to practice what you’ve learned and demonstrate proficiency. Working with a knowledgeable instructor allows you to apply effective Habits of Mind. Airline pilots fly with check airmen and go through recurrent training; the Wings Program is very similar in concept. Completing a phase of Wings also counts as your Flight Review.
A good pilot is always learning. If you’re approaching your next flight review go to faasafety.gov and enroll in the Wings Program. Next, find an instructor who is familiar with Wings to tailor a personal learning experience that meets your needs. You might want to finish the discussion on Best Glide versus Maneuvering Speed. If you decide to do the standard Flight Review, go onto to faasafety.gov, sign up for Wings, your flight review, when properly conducted, could also count as a Basic phase of Wings.
Have questions about Wings, contact your local FAAST Representative.