Why Do We Fly?...Everyone once in a while I will get that question from someone and it always makes me stop for a second--if the person asking the question is a pilot then there is normally a discussion comparing the reasons that we got into flying and why we continue. On the other hand, if the person asking the question is a non-pilot then my first reaction is to take this person on a short flight somewhere and share the awe-inspiring wonder and sense of calm that only comes from being at the controls of an airplane!
Why do we fly? Is it because we started young as the result of a family member or family friend being an aviator and the "bug" is still with us after all these years? Is it because a friend took us on a flight for a $100 Hamburger and we just thought that was the coolest thing ever? Is it because we went on a flight with someone and decided right on the spot that getting a pilot's license was top priority and nothing else mattered until that goal was reached? Is private aviation a business tool that makes the operation of our company more efficient or opens up new markets for our products or services? Does the ability to fly make family vacations more exciting or give us options for vacation destinations that would otherwise not be available?
It could be one of these, or more likely one or more of any number of other reasons why flying is a part of our life. Whatever your personal reason, think about the sheer joy and passion that you have for it and consider ways to share it with others! For all you flight instructors out there, you get this opportunity frequently with your students. While we have all gotten caught in the "routine" of flight lessons (instructors and students alike!), take a moment every once in a while to remind them how special this ability is and how unique these experiences are. I often do something as simple as pointing out rush hour traffic on the freeway and saying to my student how lucky we are to be up here and how virtually everyone down there would trade places with us in a second! Even finding a favorite landmark and flying over it to get a "birds eye" view is a favorite thing for pilots to do--especially new ones who still marvel at how their home looks from the air or their favorite golf course or fishing hole!
One of my absolute favorite things is to take young children flying every opportunity I get. Sometimes it is my son and some of his friends for a $100 Hamburger--their favorite is flying to the McDonalds along I-44 near Vinita, Oklahoma...yes, I said flying to the McDonalds!! It is touted as the world's largest McDonalds and actually stretches across the interstate similar to a bridge. The absolute best part about it is that there is a perfectly good airport less than a 2-minute walk away! The kids are always amazed that we can actually fly to McDonalds and you never know what kind of a seed you have planted in their young minds...the possibilities are endless!
Another way of sharing with kids is to take a group of Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts flying...many FBO's or flight schools will donate rental aircraft or provide highly reduced rates for this type of community activity. Just one trip around the pattern could be all it takes for an 8 year old to become as passionate about flying as any of us and they will always remember you! By giving your time and ability to these type groups and becoming involved in similar activities, you will be giving back to aviation in ways that are incalculable for generations to come.
So, why do we fly?? Whatever the reason, share it with others in any way that you can and your flying will take on a completely different meaning than it already has for you. ...Let's Go Flying!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Perfect Landings...Hold It Off and DO NOT Try to "Land"!
Visit us at http://www.excelpilots.com/
As a long-time teacher of pilots at every level and differing backgrounds, I can safely say that teaching a pilot to make consistent landings in a light general aviation airplane is one of the CFI's most challenging goals. The techniques that instructors use vary greatly and the results are oftentimes mixed at best!
First, I would recommend that the actual teaching of landings should not begin until the pilot can safely and proficiently maneuver the airplane...this is not to say that the student should not be on the controls with you during those first few landings, because this technique does pay dividends. The basic maneuvers of straight and level (yes, both at the same time!), level turns, climbs, descents, climbing turns and descending turns with proper and coordinated use of the flight controls is a necessity before attempting the more complex task of landing. It is a perfect example of the "building block" concept and once these basic skills are in place a student pilot will have less apprehension and gain confidence quickly!
Teaching landings before the student is somewhat proficient with these basic skills is akin to teaching someone to drive by putting the car on a sheet of ice and telling them to "figure it out!". In addition to the 6 basic maneuvers, the student will also greatly benefit from exposure to the slow flight regime and the stall and recovery series. Since handling the airplane accurately at a slower than cruise airspeed is required for most of the pattern and especially short final, level off and roundout, a pilot who struggles with slow flight or coordinated stall recoveries at 4,500 feet has no chance at 10 feet!
Once these basic skills have been learned (notice I did not say "taught"!...LEARNING is the goal and not teaching), then the landings become much easier to say the least. After turning final, apply these steps and just smile while your student learns to land with just a little practice and tons of patience and guidance from you, the skilled instructor:
1. Make certain that the airplane is PERFECTLY aligned with the runway centerline at all times...whether you are 1 mile out, crossing the fence, crossing the numbers, or in the roundout/flare, perfect CENTERLINE alignment is crucial. This is easily done on final by viewing the runway as a whole and maneuvering the airplane until both runway edge lines are parallel to the flight path and not "skewed" or slanted left or right...if the runway edge lines are BOTH parallel to your flight path then you are precisely on the centerline. This sight picture is crucial and must be demonstrated and reinforced until it becomes natural!
2. Use combined pitch and power to control speed and descent on the visual glidepath (NOT VASI OR PAPI!) and keep the touchdown point in the EXACT SAME SPOT in the windscreen! Very important to not have the touchdown point continually moving so work on this "nuts and bolts" skill with precision being the goal.
3. Continue descent on the visual glidepath and shift your focus to the departure end of the runway as you cross the fence or the approach end of the runway. Continue looking at the departure end until after touchdown!
4. There is a visual "illusion" that the runway is sloped up and away and this occurs whether you are at 10 feet or 1000 feet AGL. It starts to go away when you are near touchdown....so, as you focus on the departure end of the runway it will begin to "flatten out" as you near the ground. At this point, close the throttle and glide in ground effect until the excess speed bleeds off...be patient here!!
5. Once the excess speed is gone, the airplane will begin to sink towards the runway...weight is now greater than lift and the airplane is READY to land. Be PATIENT and do not try to land...I repeat do not try to land...just hold the nosewheel off the ground...focus on protecting the nosewheel by keeping it just a few inches above the ground as the airplane sinks through ground effect...if you focus on protecting the nosewheel by holding it off the ground, you will make perfect and consistent landings!! On the other hand, if your focus is on perfect landings you have ZERO CHANCE of consistency...you may get lucky from time to time but even a blind dog can find a bone from time to time! Do not depend on luck...
Focus on HOLDING IT OFF and your landings will be the best on your airport...guaranteed!!
As a long-time teacher of pilots at every level and differing backgrounds, I can safely say that teaching a pilot to make consistent landings in a light general aviation airplane is one of the CFI's most challenging goals. The techniques that instructors use vary greatly and the results are oftentimes mixed at best!
First, I would recommend that the actual teaching of landings should not begin until the pilot can safely and proficiently maneuver the airplane...this is not to say that the student should not be on the controls with you during those first few landings, because this technique does pay dividends. The basic maneuvers of straight and level (yes, both at the same time!), level turns, climbs, descents, climbing turns and descending turns with proper and coordinated use of the flight controls is a necessity before attempting the more complex task of landing. It is a perfect example of the "building block" concept and once these basic skills are in place a student pilot will have less apprehension and gain confidence quickly!
Teaching landings before the student is somewhat proficient with these basic skills is akin to teaching someone to drive by putting the car on a sheet of ice and telling them to "figure it out!". In addition to the 6 basic maneuvers, the student will also greatly benefit from exposure to the slow flight regime and the stall and recovery series. Since handling the airplane accurately at a slower than cruise airspeed is required for most of the pattern and especially short final, level off and roundout, a pilot who struggles with slow flight or coordinated stall recoveries at 4,500 feet has no chance at 10 feet!
Once these basic skills have been learned (notice I did not say "taught"!...LEARNING is the goal and not teaching), then the landings become much easier to say the least. After turning final, apply these steps and just smile while your student learns to land with just a little practice and tons of patience and guidance from you, the skilled instructor:
1. Make certain that the airplane is PERFECTLY aligned with the runway centerline at all times...whether you are 1 mile out, crossing the fence, crossing the numbers, or in the roundout/flare, perfect CENTERLINE alignment is crucial. This is easily done on final by viewing the runway as a whole and maneuvering the airplane until both runway edge lines are parallel to the flight path and not "skewed" or slanted left or right...if the runway edge lines are BOTH parallel to your flight path then you are precisely on the centerline. This sight picture is crucial and must be demonstrated and reinforced until it becomes natural!
2. Use combined pitch and power to control speed and descent on the visual glidepath (NOT VASI OR PAPI!) and keep the touchdown point in the EXACT SAME SPOT in the windscreen! Very important to not have the touchdown point continually moving so work on this "nuts and bolts" skill with precision being the goal.
3. Continue descent on the visual glidepath and shift your focus to the departure end of the runway as you cross the fence or the approach end of the runway. Continue looking at the departure end until after touchdown!
4. There is a visual "illusion" that the runway is sloped up and away and this occurs whether you are at 10 feet or 1000 feet AGL. It starts to go away when you are near touchdown....so, as you focus on the departure end of the runway it will begin to "flatten out" as you near the ground. At this point, close the throttle and glide in ground effect until the excess speed bleeds off...be patient here!!
5. Once the excess speed is gone, the airplane will begin to sink towards the runway...weight is now greater than lift and the airplane is READY to land. Be PATIENT and do not try to land...I repeat do not try to land...just hold the nosewheel off the ground...focus on protecting the nosewheel by keeping it just a few inches above the ground as the airplane sinks through ground effect...if you focus on protecting the nosewheel by holding it off the ground, you will make perfect and consistent landings!! On the other hand, if your focus is on perfect landings you have ZERO CHANCE of consistency...you may get lucky from time to time but even a blind dog can find a bone from time to time! Do not depend on luck...
Focus on HOLDING IT OFF and your landings will be the best on your airport...guaranteed!!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Lets Go Flying!
After 15 years in the aviation industry and more than 10,000 hours logged, that is the very first thing I think of when I roll out of bed every morning...Lets Go Flying! Well, almost the first thing...coffee is first and petting my dog is second...don't tell my wife! How lucky we are to be able to have such an amazing experience and I hope for you it never becomes routine. I am never as content or comfortable as I am in the cockpit of a small airplane and even though I have been fortunate enough in my career to find my way into the cockpits of larger and "fancier" air machines, it is the piston propeller airplane such as the ones on the ramp at your local airport or FBO that ignite my passion for going to the skies! It is also the wonder of these machines and their ability to literally and figuratively transport us that brings many of us together in these skies. So whether you are a student pilot wondering when you will ever solo (we have all been there!!), a CFI building experience for the next job on the ladder, or a veteran pilot who simply loves the sound of the piston engine, the smell of AVGAS, and the familiar sensation when the wheels leave the ground and the air becomes a cushion, I invite you all to share the skies as well as this space with me!
I would like to offer each of you an invitation to communicate with me on any aviation topic that is on your mind...whether it is how to land well enough so that your instructor will FINALLY get out of the plane, how to perform that Lazy 8 so that the examiner will stop laughing, how to perform a flawless single-engine ILS in the twin, or how to interview for your first job just ask me! If I don't directly have an answer I have enough amazingly wonderful friends in this business to get you an answer! If you are nearby lets have lunch and do some hangar flying...until then, keep plenty of airspeed and the shiny side up!
Visit Us At http://www.excelpilots.com/
I would like to offer each of you an invitation to communicate with me on any aviation topic that is on your mind...whether it is how to land well enough so that your instructor will FINALLY get out of the plane, how to perform that Lazy 8 so that the examiner will stop laughing, how to perform a flawless single-engine ILS in the twin, or how to interview for your first job just ask me! If I don't directly have an answer I have enough amazingly wonderful friends in this business to get you an answer! If you are nearby lets have lunch and do some hangar flying...until then, keep plenty of airspeed and the shiny side up!
Visit Us At http://www.excelpilots.com/
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