What They Don’t Teach You In Flight School
Topics: aircraft accessories, pilot gear
Most flight schools endeavor to teach you the rudimentary basics of flying but just like a driving school they cannot really recreate some of the anomalies that actually can occur during normal flying over a period of time.
Some of the more common problems one might run into include crosswinds, short runways, and poor visibility. Now, if you haven’t encountered any of these in the course of your normal training you will undoubtedly feel apprehensive about flying in these kinds of conditions unless you are complete idiot.
Fortunately there is a relatively easy fix to this problem. All you have to do is just take stock of those things you are not comfortable with and then schedule some specialized intensive training focused on those areas.
Regarding crosswinds, you should definitely plan on spending at least three or four hours training on this area alone. You want to be instructed on how to handle the worst crosswinds your instructor is willing to teach you in. Aim for at least twelve knots. Do not settle for less than this and don’t skimp on the training time, this is one of the most crucial areas for a pilot to be sharp on.
Next, you should schedule some training on how to handle shorter runways. While training you have probably gotten used to the standard longer runways of 3,500 feet or more but if you are like many you will definitely encounter shorter runways, especially if you fly into some of the smaller islands in the Bahamas. You don’t have to necessarily learn to stop on dime sized 1200 footer but you should be comfortable landing on a runway of 2,000 feet or so.
When training to land on short runways two things are absolutely crucial to your success, the instructor and a true short runway. Believe me it makes a real difference when you only have 2,000 feet before you run into trees as opposed to just a 2,000 foot mark on a 5,000 foot runway. Many instructors may not be comfortable with this, find one that is.
The third area we are looking at here is weather conditions and visibility. Depending upon where you had your training you may or may not have experienced much limited visibility. If you received your training on the upper East Coast of the United States you have probably seen some pretty overcast conditions but if you trained in the Southwestern U.S. you probably had virtually unlimited conditions most of the time.
Regardless, you should schedule some specific training in conditions that are barely above the minimum allowable flying situations so you will be comfortable with it and know how to use your instruments properly.
There are other areas you should have specific training in as well not the least of which is flying a loaded plane. You probably only flew with you and your instructor while training so you definitely want to take an intensified course of at least ten hours with a loaded down plane. Believe me, it is a huge difference taking off and landing with a loaded plane.
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For aircraft accessories and pilot gear go to www.aircraftaccessoriesplus.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
How To Get The Most For Your Trade In (1)
If your trade in is a fairly new model it may be more beneficial to trade due to the tax benefit (You are only taxed on the difference). If you have an older vehicle you may get more money by selling it outright.
Some Common Car Salesman Tricks To Watch Out For (2)
One way to take control immediately and put them off balance is to say "I just want to look around by myself" and take control. This is a big issue with car dealer management; they ALWAYS want to be in control.
Why Is The Elliptical Trainer So Hot? (3)
Elliptical trainers are in that rare category of exercise that combine weight bearing and non-impact in the same activity giving you the bone density building and best calorie burning while saving your knees and lower back at the same time.
Why Hybrids Require Less Maintenance (4)
Also, with a hybrid, there is the reduced chance of having warped rotors due to less heat to the generator doing more of the break work. Another advantage of having less wear on the break system from the generator is that the brake fluid life is extended because there is minimal contamination of fluid due to less heat build up.
An Overview Of Cuban Cigars (5)
Cuban cigars on the whole are renowned as the world's best, which would be hotly contested by manufactures in Dominica, Honduras, Nicaragua, as well as others. It's difficult for Americans to judge, since Cuban cigars, as well as other Cuban products, are illegal in the United States and have been since the Cuban embargo in 1962.
When To Lease A Car (6)
If you do decide that leasing is right for you, shop around. Leases can be negotiated just like a regular purchase. Never trade a car in towards the lease.
Why Are We In Love With Sports Cars? (7)
It shows us our continual technological advancement while simultaneously reassuring us that we can keep our new technologies under our control. Meanwhile, the sports car acts a proxy body for us to express a seemingly instinctive need for demonstrating physical prowess.
Why You Should Purchase A Sports Car (8)
Sports cars are iconic. They have a mystique. That mystique is impossible to totally define or pigeonhole, but it exists. Its existence is born out again and again as top designers fret over the smallest details and accomplished drivers relish the opportunity to test the latest models.
Show Me The Money - Where The Profit Is In New Cars (9)
Never buy either one. If you are buying a new car, the new car warranty is sufficient and you can get term life insurance way cheaper if you are concerned about that.
A Few Facts On Hybrids (10)
For example, when the vehicle is at a stop light, the gasoline engine will kick off until the gas pedal is pushed again. The radio, lights, and all other components however will stay consistent due to the battery.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
What You Should Know About Leasing Terminology (1)
With this type of lease you may have to purchase the vehicle for more than it is worth or sell at a loss and pay the leasing company the difference.
Help Slash The U.S.'s Dependency On Overseas Oil (2)
Although there is great interest in hybrid models, consumers will not likely rush to trade their current vehicles in on a hybrid. It will take time for consumers to decide to purchase a new vehicle and it will take time for hybrids to be produced more quickly than in the past.
The History Of The Bowie Knife (3)
Bowie was stabbed, shot, and beaten half to death and still one the fight. It was claimed by Bowie's brother, Rezin that the knife used in this fight was made by a blacksmith by the name of Snowden, not Jesse Cleft who is generally given credit with making the original Bowie Knife after Rezin's design from an old file.
How To Lower Your Car Insurance (4)
When calculating how high to go on your collision insurance you should consider the value of the car as well as what limit may be set by the lender if you have the car financed.
The Latest In Hybrid Happenings (5)
Consumers are going to be choosing models that they already love and getting the perks of driving a hybrid. With the government, businesses, and manufacturers focusing on hybrid models and incentives for hybrids, there should be a continued trend involving hybrids.
Are Sports Cars Losing Their Appeal? (6)
This is because other types of automobiles are increasingly able to take the best aspects of the sports car experience while avoiding some pitfalls inherent to the smaller speedsters. For a long time, high performance was ruled by sports cars.
Things To Consider When Buying A Teenager's First Car (7)
As a father of a 16 year old boy as well as having over 15 years experience on the automotive industry let me share some tips with you. Wow, it's hard to believe the baby you were watching take its first steps is already driving, I know it blows my mind how fast time has gone by and how the baby I could hold in one hand is now 6 feet tall and over 200 pounds!
How To Check Vehicles For Safety Before You Buy (8)
and the barrier is only covering the portion of the vehicle in front of the driver. Very rarely is a vehicle involved in a direct head on collision, it is usually offset like this and this usually results in worse damage due to torque and structural weakness.
How To Safely Remove Thorns From Roses Without Damaging The Rose Or Yourself (9)
The key to successful use of a dethorning tool is to apply the correct pressure that it takes to remove the thorns and not so much that you damage the stem itself.
How To Begin To Collect Art Collectibles That Will Make Your Home Unique (10)
I have a friend who collects movie posters and he has one of the largest I have seen. Some of these posters make really cool art when framed and hung on the wall.