Acknowledgements: JC Mayerle (Sporty’s “Student Pilot News”)
(Ed. Note: Some tips below from JC Mayerle at Sporty’s
for those at the start of their quest to conquer gravity!)
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1. Under-utilising at-home study and being
under prepared for the lessons
Learning to fly is almost like a
full-time job. It requires a lot of study outside the airplane. One of the
mistakes we see students making is coming to the lesson
under-prepared.
The last time you thought about
flying should never be the last time you met with your instructor.
You’ll end up taking more time re-learning the material than you’ll spend
making progress toward your goals.
I highly recommend going over the
lesson once you get home for 20 to 30 minutes at least. Your brain has time to
unwind after the lesson on your drive home; then, if you peek back into the
material for half an hour, it does wonders for your memory.
Don’t waste money and time by
forgetting the lessons and covering the same topics over and over. Just use
your own time wisely, and you and your instructor will be happy you did.
2. The iron grip and over controlling
When you first get in the airplane
and take the controls it’s difficult to manage everything that’s happening
around you. There’s more gauges, more controls and more room for error than
probably any other vehicle you’ve controlled.
When I was a student, I had a
terrible time with over corrections. I’d lose 100 feet of altitude and suddenly
find myself climbing 500 feet per minute. Or I’d get lined up with the
runway and drift a little left, only to over correct to the right.
So, let’s not forget one of the
causes of this issue, the iron grip on the yoke. My instructor put
it plain and simple for me, “The airplane wants to fly, just let
it be and relax.”
After all, when you think about it, you’re just there to keep things running
smoothly. Flying is about grace and finesse. I promise that if you relax, your
flying will improve.
3. Not having a mentor.
There are a lot of barriers to entry
when it comes to getting a pilot’s licence, but most can be overcome with the
help of a mentor. The first time you get to the airport can be daunting enough.
Engage someone who can show you
the ropes. You should never feel unwelcome. It’s a friendly atmosphere when you
get to know the pilots. The more you get involved with aviation, the
more questions you’ll have. Choosing the right mentor can help for years to come.
4. Buying a cheap starter headset
The most often used item when you
begin your flight training is a headset. You’re going to quickly find what
details and features matter.
I’d warn against the bargain bin
used headset to save a few extra dollars. Too often we see students opt
for something cheap (not the same as inexpensive!) only to upgrade to
a higher quality headset a short time later.
Think of the headset as an investment
in your flying career and, most importantly, your
hearing.
If you plan on flying with this headset every time you get in the airplane, it
needs to be comfortable and quiet.
Only the higher-end headsets come
with active noise reduction technology (ANR), which actively dampens the noise
around you so that you don’t hear as much cockpit noise. ANR makes for a
more enjoyable flight; it also saves your ears from too much high
frequency noise which can damage
your eardrums.
Another benefit of a higher quality
headset is comfort. Wearing a tight headset with noticeable clamping
force for a long cross-country flight is a problem. Your head will be
screaming for relief. It’s unpleasant to say the least.
Other features you’ll enjoy are
soft leatherette ear seals, adjustable clamping pressure, swivel ear cups,
adjustable head pads and thicker ear seals.
5. Not flying often enough.
If you can dedicate three
lessons per week, you’ll be able to knock this out with the least amount
of time and the least amount of money. If you’re only flying once per
week, it’s going to take a year to earn your license.
To put it simply, Go! Go! Go! With
the right amount of dedication and a little luck from the weather you’ll be
certified in only a matter of months. The more often you fly, the
better you’ll retain the material.
As a wise older pilot said, “Once you
become a student pilot, you’re always a student pilot. You
never stop learning.”
Here at Sporty’s, we think there’s always a lesson to be learned with pilot
training. That’s why we share our stories on Student Pilot News and why we
encourage you to share your stories as well.
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FLY SAFE!
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