A Very Bad Day at The Office
Another day of circuit work with the CFI.
This had to be almost the worst day of flying I have ever done. Nothing went to plan.
Circuits all over the place in speed, height and course. Take off and landings dangerously sloppy: Basically bloody awful.
I asked the question we all hate to ask: – Am I just wasting my time? The CFI was to the point: – “If you keep flying like this you will never go solo again” Our CFI doesn’t mince words. I was gutted.
I was so despondent and I thought he was right. Yep I am just wasting my time. I am just not cut out to be a Pilot. The dream is over…
I left the Aero club a very disheartened man. However once the sting had worn off I took stock and ask myself some questions:
- Am I just wasting my time?
- How long have you wanted to learn to fly?
- Are you enjoying even the bad days?
- Could you live with the decision to quit?
- Do you think you can improve?
- Is this as good as it gets?
- Is this just a confidence issue?
- Are you getting overwhelmed and rushing it?
- Is your personal expectations and frustration compounding the issues?
- Do you believe in yourself?
- How do you feel on those days when things do go well?
- Why do you think your flying has deteriorated so badly?
When I was sent solo for the first time, I was so grateful that my instructors believed in me enough to allow me to solo. It is a privilege not a right. Lately I have let myself and my instructors down.
I can do what is required in respect of flying the circuit but not concurrently or in a consistent manner. When I fly, somewhere within that circuit, things get out of shape and then the dominoes start to fall. Confidence plummets and I fail to complete the targets for each leg. This compounding of errors results in a misshapen circuit, a bad approach, and a woeful landing.
I thought that I was the only one who has such a hard time learning this stuff until I stumbled upon a webcast by Jason Schappert at http://mzeroa.com.
This guy is a major player in the training industry, and he related a story so like mine it was spooky. He almost gave his dream away. Today he is one of the best of the best. This was the catalyst to my decision to continue.
I have thought hard about a plan going forward and I believe a “Back to Basics” approach with progression was needed. By this I mean reverting to tasks I can achieve consistently and well, then adding another aspect.
For example, I can taxi to the runway and line up ok. However once power is applied, I tend to go left, then try and correct it, and go all over the place. I need to power up and apply right rudder in a manner that stops this tendency. And I need to do this consistently. Once this is mastered then add the next step (ie raising the nose wheel) and so on…
I have been re-reading my copy of “The New Zealand Flying Training Manual” by Walter Wagtendonk and Stewart Boys. This book is a fantastic resource for me, and I will be using this manual as a basis of training.
I will be using their “Airwork” lessons to re-enforce training.
I will begin again at “Flying Straight and Level at Constant Power, Flying Straight and Level at Selected Airspeed, and Climbing as a starting point.
I know that I can reach the solo standard; I have done it already. Can I get back to that standard? Yes, I’m sure I can with the right kind of training that suits my style of learning. It will not be easy, but worthwhile things never are. That is what makes them so rewarding when you achieve them. I have wanted to fly my entire life; I am determined to achieve my dream. Challenge excepted!
Until next time.
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