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#1
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Seeking advice on pilot training approach...
Hello,
I was hoping to get some advice from private pilots regarding getting my pilot's license. I've been doing some thinking about it and have decided that I need more information from real pilots before I venture into training. CURRENT BACKGROUND So far, I am the proud 'owner' of a Cessna Skylane 182 and a variety of other planes...at least the ones that come with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000. I'm guessing that I'll be getting an upgrade to MSFS 2004 by Christmas. In the meantime, I've been reading the aviation articles, dabbling in the lessons, and just plain trying out different things in the simulated aircraft. I also took an exhilarating introductory lesson from an aviation club in town, which really gave me the itch to fly. GOALS AND PLANS My current plans are to gradually save up money for purchasing flight training within a regular, straight-through training schedule. My goal is to obtain flight training between now and around 15 years from now (I'm willing to wait that long to save up the money for up-front, debt-free training). My learning style is definitely "do it all at once and keep focused on the instruction" rather than "a little here and a little there". In the meantime, I'm taking my time to explore the various topics associated with flying (weather, navigation, engine mechanics, flight physics, etc.). CONCERNS Some of the concerns and doubts I have have to do with my learning styles and abilities, plus my personality type and my usual approach to problem solving. I promise not to get behind the yoke until I've hammered out as many quirks as I can, so don't worry. Based on a learning profile I was given in college by a psychologist when trying to get extra help passing some classes, I am in the high 90th percentile with learning verbal and writing skills, while I'm in the 10th percentile when it comes to numeric and mathematical concepts. This tracks true to reality. I tested out of sophomore english in my freshman year of college, but had to take Calculus four times in my junior and senior years before I could pass it (which I finally did, with a B+). Electronics engineering classes were also a problem...I'm more of a software guy now (my career) because nothing "burns up" and if something doesn't work, you just debug and recompile it. Other math classes have caused me similar grief, though I was able to pass them with a B or C grade the first time. I'm okay more or less with physics and geometry because the more I can visualize something using real-world objects and experiences, the quicker I can understand it. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and especially dividing complex numbers (really anything involving 3 digits or more in total) virtually paralyzes me and I have to run to a calculator, or write it all down and/or use my fingers. Although my verbal learning skills are high, for some reason my verbatim memorization skills are not. This definitely applies to numbers as well (I tend to transpose sequences of numbers, like phone numbers, in strange ways) so, I write whatever I can in notebooks or save them in computer files for future reference. My problem solving skills could definitely use more help, though they're better than they used to be. In the past, I got frustrated easily, especially with problems that just didn't seem to have a root cause (I still swear loudly at my computer whenever it crashes for no discernable reason...not something that will help me if an aircraft has similar plans). I'm a little better now at taking a deep breath and a moment to realize what's happening now and what the consequences will be in the future, but my main problem remains that my mind wants to go blank and just "walk away" from the situation until its had a few hours to process the variables. Not acceptable in aviation, from what I understand. Finally, my personality could be a concern. I lose my temper at backseat drivers (ATC?) and getting lost when driving (fog bank? checkpoint VFR over unfamiliar terrain?). I also have a little difficulty focusing on a person talking or giving directions while I'm simultaneously maneuvering through a busy intersection (ATC chatting at me while I'm manipulating Nav or GPS controls and scads of other instrumentation while maintaining altitude and level flight?). Are these traits that I could reasonably expect to "unlearn", especially now that I'm in my 30s and my neural pathways are hardening along with my arteries? Has anyone else found a way to vett these types of behaviors enough to become a safe and capable pilot? If you've gotten this far, thank you for following my ramblings. I know it's a little much, but if you wouldn't mind taking some time to answer my questions and give me some advice on how to approach flight training, I would sure appreciate it. So would my wife and kids who, at least for now, vow they will never get in a plane with me at the yoke. Indebtedly, Rob Watson Pilot in "training" |
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#3
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"Rob" wrote in message
om... My learning style is definitely "do it all at once and keep focused on the instruction" rather than "a little here and a little there". The best way to learn is to have regular lessons but not cram them in too close to each other. Once or twice a week is fine - much more than that and you'll get brain overload; much less and you'll effectively be doing refamiliarisation each time you fly because you'll have got out of practice. This isn't to say that you shouldn't sometimes have more or less tuition than this (when you're circuit bashing there's no fault in having a number of one-hour sessions on consecutive days, for instance - though to have more than an hour at a stretch would probably be over-tiring) but it's not a bad starting point. In the meantime, I'm taking my time to explore the various topics associated with flying (weather, navigation, engine mechanics, flight physics, etc.). Sensible approach. Get hold of the right text books, though - you might as well learn from the proper material instead of merely getting background information from unapproved sources. I promise not to get behind the yoke until I've hammered out as many quirks as I can, so don't worry. I'd hope you'd be given the controls not long into lesson one - when you learn to fly, you learn by doing, not by watching. The neat thing is that you have a nice man/woman to your right to make sure you don't kill anyone. Electronics engineering classes were also a problem...I'm more of a software guy now (my career) because nothing "burns up" and if something doesn't work, you just debug and recompile it. As long as you can learn things steadily and methodically, you should have no problem picking it up. As you're a "software guy", it leads me to believe that you have a logical mind - and everything about flying is based on logic (while there's an art to making a greaser of a landing, you can make a satisfactory one by science alone). Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and especially dividing complex numbers (really anything involving 3 digits or more in total) virtually paralyzes me and I have to run to a calculator, or write it all down and/or use my fingers. Hey, so use a calculator. Although you sometimes have to recompute stuff in the air, you do 90% of the calculations on the ground, and it doesn't matter what method you use (how many of us work out our weight and balance using long multiplication, I wonder?). If you find yourself off course, the in-flight computation is generally: "Ah, let's go left a few degrees and see what happens". Where you do have to compute stuff in the air, you tend to use rule-of-thumb calculations, not silly numbers (e.g. if you want to know the bank angle required for a rate one turn, you use complex maths if you so wish, or you can do what everyone else does and divide your speed by ten and add seven). Finally, my personality could be a concern. I lose my temper at backseat drivers (ATC?) ATC aren't back seat drivers; they're there helping you. You need to start with the right attitude - namely that ATC is there to ensure that everyone in the sky gets where they want to go in safety wherever possible. and getting lost when driving (fog bank? checkpoint VFR over unfamiliar terrain?). For your basic licence, there's only one manoevure you do in fog - namely turn through 180 degrees and head back out the way you came. As for checkpoints over unfamiliar terrain: you should spend most of your life looking out of the window, not at the dials, and so you're _always_ checking where you are as you go along. This is one misconception that a PC flight sim instills in people - even with the reasonably good scenery you get these days, it's hard to navigate by looking out of the window, and so you do it by instruments. In real life, navigating by looking out of the window is actually quite easy - though from time to time you may lose track of where you are and need to get your bearings from the map. I also have a little difficulty focusing on a person talking or giving directions while I'm simultaneously maneuvering through a busy intersection (ATC chatting at me while I'm manipulating Nav or GPS controls and scads of other instrumentation while maintaining altitude and level flight?). Are these traits that I could reasonably expect to "unlearn", especially now that I'm in my 30s and my neural pathways are hardening along with my arteries? I'm sure most of us are like that to start with. Your subconscious soon gets the hang of filtering the rubbish out. I often take friends out for a fly, and they're bemused by all the chatter. After half an hour or so, though, they start to realise what's going on, and can often pick out the communications that are aimed at us. If you've gotten this far, thank you for following my ramblings. I know it's a little much, but if you wouldn't mind taking some time to answer my questions and give me some advice on how to approach flight training, I would sure appreciate it. I'd say: give it a go. Try out a handful of lessons, and tell your instructor of your concerns on day one. After three or four hours, he or she will have a reasonable idea of whether you're going to stand any chance whatsoever of becoming a pilot - and if not, you've not wasted a lot of money (and you'll have had some fun while you were at it!). D. |
#4
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Thanks very much for your wise advice. It gives me more confidence to
know these things going forward. |
#5
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Thanks! I had heard about the Sport certificate, but didn't make the
connection that it would be a good initial approach to learning to fly. I'll look into it. |
#6
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I'd go straight for the private pilot if I were you. Stay with, tray
to take at least one lesson per week, and you can do it in under a year. MS Flight Sim 2004 is very good. If you can invest in rudder peddles, do it. The CH pro peddels are about $100, and worth it. Read often, join the AOPA and get the "flight training magazine" and read often. When ever you can't get to a lesson, read, read, read, and fly in flight sim. Try not to go to far ahead in flight sim, fly the 172 and only that if you can in flight sim, it makes things easier. Get your medical certificate before flight lessons, this way if you get denied you don't waste money. Hung around the airport, talk to pilots, and absorbe the knowledge. Work hard, don't give up. Flight training has natural highs and lows, and that is normal for EVERYONE. Don't be concerned with your total hours, just with your current learning task. Find a patient talented instructor. Be sure you have enough money saved to complete training before you start 5,000-8,000 dollars. IF you are concerned about ATC, listen to them via a scanner or internet stream and just LISTEN to how the 'real' pilots do it. I too started out on flight sim, and decided to do the real thing. Work hard, stay focused, stay positive, and ask questions along the way. Don't be nervous, just relax and good luck! |
#7
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Do you know any ATC feeds on the internet that _don't_ use RealPlayer?
I've banned Real from my computer because _every_ time I've installed it, it corrupts Windows. All the ATC feeds I've found so far use Real (.ram files). What other online methods of learning are there? Any good web sites that explain the concepts behind navigation, aircraft mechanics, etc.? Thanks. |
#8
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http://www.liveatc.net/
This is the best site out there. First it tells you if the site is up or down, VERY helpful. It also uses .m3u files, which I was able to open in Windows Media. And no stupid log-in. Enjoy. |
#9
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Oh, one more thing. Do a google search for "Flight Simulator 2004
rebate". I was able to find a $20 rebate. I just got my check. At 29.99 that makes for a 10 upgrade |
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