What skills atrophy first?

Flew today for the first time in two months. I'm a 1000 hour pilot, so it's
not as if I'm starting from scratch, but I really felt slow on every
thinking step. Had to refer to checklists to remember all the preflight,
startup, takeoff drills, which made me wonder what I had forgotten on
emergency and other checklists, so I reviewed them in the run up area. Once
I got off the ground I was fine, and landings were no problem - probably
muscle memory takes over. So I guess, for me, the thing that atrophies first
is procedures. Maybe a sign of age...

Michael

"Michael 182" wrote in message
news:Zw%fc.155251$K91.408307@attbi_s02...
Flew today for the first time in two months. I'm a 1000 hour pilot, so
it's
not as if I'm starting from scratch, but I really felt slow on every
thinking step. Had to refer to checklists to remember all the preflight,
startup, takeoff drills, which made me wonder what I had forgotten on
emergency and other checklists, so I reviewed them in the run up area.
Once
I got off the ground I was fine, and landings were no problem - probably
muscle memory takes over. So I guess, for me, the thing that atrophies
first
is procedures. Maybe a sign of age...

"They once asked boxing great Willie Pep how an athlete could tell his
career was over. Willie said, "First the legs go, then the reflexes go, then
your friends go". My friends went first." -- Bob Uecker, _Catcher in the
Wry_".

"Michael 182" wrote in message
news:Zw%fc.155251$K91.408307@attbi_s02...
Flew today for the first time in two months. I'm a 1000 hour pilot, so
it's
not as if I'm starting from scratch, but I really felt slow on every
thinking step. Had to refer to checklists to remember all the preflight,
startup, takeoff drills, which made me wonder what I had forgotten on
emergency and other checklists, so I reviewed them in the run up area.
Once
I got off the ground I was fine, and landings were no problem - probably
muscle memory takes over. So I guess, for me, the thing that atrophies
first
is procedures. Maybe a sign of age...

Okay...all kidding aside...

You might want to try Ginkgo Biloba...it may be psychosomatic, but I find it
helps. IAC, it could just be fatigue as well.

Some people start feeling it earlier than others. My boss had me get some
training since he doesn't feel so sharp anymore -- he wanted someone along
for co-pilot. He's 67 years old and until last year he was flying a Citation
CJ as a single pilot.

I fly with a lot of older pilots (typecast, I guess) and pilots who have not
flown in a long time. A lot of these guys could fly the airplane in their
sleep, if they could just remember where they parked it. :-)

Radio skills go first, no question about it. People who have not been flying
a long time or who are nearing the end of their careers start looking for
any way they can to avoid talking on the radios. They will avoid airspace
and fly way out of their way just to keep off the radios. Cross country
planning skills go about the same time. Then they stop looking outside the
cockpit.

IFR becomes very difficult, if not downright impossible.

The skills they retain the longest are the mechanical skills. I have flown
with pilots who have not been behind the controls for twenty years and they
take off and land like they never stopped. But they can't get more than a
mile or two from the airport without being totally lost.

Age takes a toll on night vision, too. IFR scan slows down with both age and
lack of practice, as does knowledge of procedures and regulations.

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

good stuff snipped


Age takes a toll on night vision, too. IFR scan slows down with both age
and
lack of practice, as does knowledge of procedures and regulations.

Lack of practice is key. I have enjoyed the freedom and challenge of having
an inst. ticket, but unless my lifestyle changes in some way that allows far
more frequent practice, I'll probably not fly in any significant IMC again.

Cross country
planning skills go about the same time. Then they stop looking outside the
cockpit.

A neighbor came over one time, and apropos nothing, she suddenly said:

"First they forget to zip up their pants.

"Then they forget to *unzip* their pants."



all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
A neighbor came over one time, and apropos nothing, she suddenly said:

"First they forget to zip up their pants.

I've been doing that more and more often, lately. Why the heck is that?



--
Jim Fisher

Jim Fisher wrote:

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
A neighbor came over one time, and apropos nothing, she suddenly said:

"First they forget to zip up their pants.

I've been doing that more and more often, lately. Why the heck is that?

In your case, you probably think you're advertising.

George Patterson
This marriage is off to a shaky start. The groom just asked the band to
play "Your cheatin' heart", and the bride just requested "Don't come home
a'drinkin' with lovin' on your mind".

On 4/17/04 12:52 PM, in article , "G.R.
Patterson III" wrote:



Jim Fisher wrote:

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
A neighbor came over one time, and apropos nothing, she suddenly said:

"First they forget to zip up their pants.

I've been doing that more and more often, lately. Why the heck is that?

In your case, you probably think you're advertising.

George Patterson
This marriage is off to a shaky start. The groom just asked the band to
play "Your cheatin' heart", and the bride just requested "Don't come home
a'drinkin' with lovin' on your mind".

I've met Jim. He is.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
www.wizardofdraws.com
www.cartoonclipart.com

"First they forget to zip up their pants.

I've been doing that more and more often, lately. Why the heck is that?

I wouldn't worry about it until you start to forget about *unzipping*.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org