Need pointers from PILOTS!!!

[VW Pilot]

Did a cross country today with my Instructor.....I never felt like I sucked so much at talking to FSS/approach control and stuff....Today in Tampa, FL the day was PERFECT....light winds, no clouds anywhere in sight. Never flown into a class C Airspace before(underlies class B, KTPA)...Man I had ERJ-145s up my A$$!!! I started to panic because fast moving jets was comin from seemed like all 360 degrees!!!! I felt so small and so "behind" the PA-28-161 we were in....My instructor said....you did well....I've seen guys give up and their face turn bloodshot red...but you kept hangin in there....Everything was hapnin so freakin fast!! I was sweating to keep up with the airplane, checkin points, loging check point times, ground references and charts......whew...I was so afraid to mess up....my instructor found this funny because we were at 3500ft and temps were low and I'm sweatin up a storm!!! I've never worked so hard in a plane before......BUT I ENJOYED IT. SO....To keep my instructor's giggle box on the low frequency...ANY pointers???? I don't take his laughing seriously...I was crackin up too...HAD FUN!! He gave me some pointers, and I'd like to know if anyone else would like to add....things to reduce cockpit stress and work....besides jokes. Trying to take in as much as I can....advice that is...... Thanks.

 

[Kream926]

get out now if you that that was bad

 

[VW Pilot]

How do you expect to ever "get it" if you give up? just wanted some extra info to help me out. Works for some people, and alot of Pilots will and have told me...Don't do it. But I like being up there....Alot of people say the same about getting married......however
if you give up on that....you really are at a "loss"......Ah good ole Mercan Pie...heh heh heh....aaaaah heh.

 

[RSixer]

Dont worry about it. Your no different than anybody else , it may seem hectic or overwhelming the first few times you fly in busy airspace. Once you get your first flying job where your doing it every day, it won't phase you abit, you'll be numb to it.

 

[Jetpipeovht]

Did a cross country today with my Instructor.....I never felt like I sucked so much at talking to FSS/approach control and stuff....Today in Tampa, FL the day was PERFECT....light winds, no clouds anywhere in sight. Never flown into a class C Airspace before(underlies class B, KTPA)...Man I had ERJ-145s up my A$$!!! I started to panic because fast moving jets was comin from seemed like all 360 degrees!!!! I felt so small and so "behind" the PA-28-161 we were in....My instructor said....you did well....I've seen guys give up and their face turn bloodshot red...but you kept hangin in there....Everything was hapnin so freakin fast!! I was sweating to keep up with the airplane, checkin points, loging check point times, ground references and charts......whew...I was so afraid to mess up....my instructor found this funny because we were at 3500ft and temps were low and I'm sweatin up a storm!!! I've never worked so hard in a plane before......BUT I ENJOYED IT. SO....To keep my instructor's giggle box on the low frequency...ANY pointers???? I don't take his laughing seriously...I was crackin up too...HAD FUN!! He gave me some pointers, and I'd like to know if anyone else would like to add....things to reduce cockpit stress and work....besides jokes. Trying to take in as much as I can....advice that is...... Thanks.

ALCOHOL and lots of it!!

 

[oops!]

no worries... I've had students do some dumb things and get overly stressed about nothing but I have done the same on occasion... you sound like you have a good attitude and are willing to learn.. you're ahead by allot

 

[Vspeeds]

Did a cross country today with my Instructor.....I never felt like I sucked so much at talking to FSS/approach control and stuff....Today in Tampa, FL the day was PERFECT....light winds, no clouds anywhere in sight. Never flown into a class C Airspace before(underlies class B, KTPA)...Man I had ERJ-145s up my A$$!!! I started to panic because fast moving jets was comin from seemed like all 360 degrees!!!! I felt so small and so "behind" the PA-28-161 we were in....My instructor said....you did well....I've seen guys give up and their face turn bloodshot red...but you kept hangin in there....Everything was hapnin so freakin fast!! I was sweating to keep up with the airplane, checkin points, loging check point times, ground references and charts......whew...I was so afraid to mess up....my instructor found this funny because we were at 3500ft and temps were low and I'm sweatin up a storm!!! I've never worked so hard in a plane before......BUT I ENJOYED IT. SO....To keep my instructor's giggle box on the low frequency...ANY pointers???? I don't take his laughing seriously...I was crackin up too...HAD FUN!! He gave me some pointers, and I'd like to know if anyone else would like to add....things to reduce cockpit stress and work....besides jokes. Trying to take in as much as I can....advice that is...... Thanks.

Dude, I guess your instructor really "sugar coated" the post flight brief..

He needed to "keep it real"......:smash:

Ok, on a serious note....."go easy on yourself"

With more time & experience it'll get easier.....

 

[Junkflyer]

Lots of beer after always helps. Don't sweat it you're a student that's how it's supposed to be. It will get better with experience. Instrument training is the one that tears your guts out.

 

[unreal]

Did a cross country today with my Instructor.....I never felt like I sucked so much at talking to FSS/approach control and stuff....Today in Tampa, FL the day was PERFECT....light winds, no clouds anywhere in sight. Never flown into a class C Airspace before(underlies class B, KTPA)...Man I had ERJ-145s up my A$$!!! I started to panic because fast moving jets was comin from seemed like all 360 degrees!!!! I felt so small and so "behind" the PA-28-161 we were in....My instructor said....you did well....I've seen guys give up and their face turn bloodshot red...but you kept hangin in there....Everything was hapnin so freakin fast!! I was sweating to keep up with the airplane, checkin points, loging check point times, ground references and charts......whew...I was so afraid to mess up....my instructor found this funny because we were at 3500ft and temps were low and I'm sweatin up a storm!!! I've never worked so hard in a plane before......BUT I ENJOYED IT. SO....To keep my instructor's giggle box on the low frequency...ANY pointers???? I don't take his laughing seriously...I was crackin up too...HAD FUN!! He gave me some pointers, and I'd like to know if anyone else would like to add....things to reduce cockpit stress and work....besides jokes. Trying to take in as much as I can....advice that is...... Thanks.

Ask yourself: Why is do you think that your instructor actually took you into that kind of airspace?

Trust me, any instructor worth his/her weight has an ulterior motive behind everything. Everything is already pre-planned to maximize your learning during a lesson. That is especially true of cross countries, where going to one airport might be a cakewalk, while the other has you sweating bullets.

I wouldn't take getting your butt handed to you on a flight as a bad thing. A lot of times (at least with my students), students finding themselves in super busy airspace is a good thing. It means that I feel as though they have a lot of potential and I want to see how far I can take that. For example, during the instrument course I teach, the second flight is a VFR cross country to get them back into the single-engine airplane. Students that I feel are strong enough to handle it go to Phoenix Sky-Harbor (primary Class B). Students who need a bit more work before doing something like that go to Tucson (Class C). There's absolutely nothing wrong with the students I take to the slower paced airport; it might be a function of their prior training, but I'm not yet going to take them somewhere they aren't ready to handle. Soon enough.

Maybe I'm only speaking for myself, but as an instructor, I feel it's very important to explore a student's limits. I need to know where you'll "give up and have your face turn bloodshot red," because I need to know what you're ready to do, and more importantly, how you'll react when you reach that limit. I don't want to constantly push you so hard that you'll give up and get down on yourself, but at the same time, I don't want to ease back so much that you won't learn anything. Unfortunately sometimes (to the chagrin of the student), the only way to explore those limits is to make you sweat. Don't get down on yourself; it's good for ya! We're only doing it for your benefit, not to make us laugh.

 

[RemoveB4Flght]

The whole idea is to start loading you up with too much and see how you handle.... not for our sick amusement... ok well sometimes it's for our sick amusement..

But really... there will be many times from this point forward that you will feel overwhelmed and way behind the airplane and unsure of the situation. The first dual cross country, I let them pretty much run the show, go by their flight plan, and just see what habits they have. Some do much better than others, and that is usually the result of two things: 1) being able to trim the airplane for hands off flying, and 2) exceptional cockpit organization

Just remember, a few lessons ago it was all you could do to keep the airplane going in a straight line out in the practice area and hold an altitude. Everything builds on the basic skills.

 

[avbug]

Nothing happens in the airplane fast. Especially a cherokee. Take a big, deep breath, relax, and do one thing at a time. You have time. Point it straight at the ground from that altitude and you have time. A lot of it. Don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed. You drive in traffic, no doubt, and that's a lot more demanding that flying to any airport...even a busy one.

Try not to do too much. Do one thing at a time, do it slowly, deliberately, and then do something else. If you feel like you're getting rushed, then slow things down. If ATC is talking too fast, then tell them you're a student pilot...things will slow down to quarter speed, you may get some delaying vectors to give you more time...you have time.

It's not time to get out of aviation, just time to relax. Each time you do it, you'll find it's easier. Relax.

 

[skyaddict]

Here are a few things that can reduce the shock of a new and strange ATC environment while learning the ropes:

(1) Spend a few *hours* in the classroom going over the whole ATC scripts, likely calls, requests, etc., including roleplaying (be sure to pay your CFI fully for that ground time).

(2) Do an entire flight into a new environment, the first time around, with your instructor doing all the radio work so you can soak it up- and tape record the whole thing using a y-splitter so you can listen to it on your commutes.

(3) Get an airband scanner and regularly listen to it near busy airports- listen to all the frequencies- especially ground, tower, and approach/departure.

Eventually it will all be old hat.

 

[SPilot]

You're fine. Its supposed to be a bit hard work.

 

[mee]

after you do it for so long its like driving a car, dont stress just keep at it.

 

[hawk16e]

There are some good posts here. Unreal #9, and Avbug#11 have good points. Things I noticed- you were aware that things weren't normal- and your instructor was laughing. I've flown with people that didn't realize things weren't the same. And that was in a Falcon 20. Another thing is tha t you want to improve. A lot of people just want to just get by. Hopefully the comments about alcohol are made in jest. If you do need (?) a drink after flying, maybe flying is not your best option.

Regards

 

[Murdoughnut]

Where are you training in Tampa? I have a plane at KPIE.

 

[VW Pilot]

Thanks guys, I agree...good responses..these were all the type of answers I was looking for....even ones about Beer...gotta relax...
Positive pointers.

THANKS ALOT and keep the blue side up and the brown in the toilet.....hehe.

 

[VW Pilot]

Oh I'm at Vandenberg...

 

[Fedora]

If you're here writing about it , VW, you probably did OK!
Remember that no two flights are alike and "handle it, handle it, handle it." Also keep in mind that thought and that feeling, "It was FUN!"
I've been doing this for 30 years and it's as enjoyable now as it's ever been.
A flight instructor once ponted out to me that straight and level flight is just a series of small climbs, descents, and turns.

 

[Murdoughnut]

You're welcomed to ride with me through the Tampa Class B if you want to chip in $25 per hour (half) towards my club rental fee. You can't log the time, but it may better familiarize you with some of the ops.