advice for building experience

[Ryan]

Just wanted to ask you experienced guys for some advice:

I’ve read on this board on more than one occasion the saying" you can fly the same hour a thousand times or you can fly something different every time you go up". I know that’s not exactly the way it went but it was something along those lines.

I’m currently building up my x-country hours in prep for starting my Instr. rating. I was just wondering what kinds of things you guys suggest working on to build experience. I know the things like navigation, maneuvers and radio comms are very important and I have been working on these faithfully but what other things can I work on to better prepare myself?

Thanks for any advice.

Ryan

 

[AirDoc]

Sounds like you're doing all the right things. Cross country time is mandated for several ratings and is closely looked at by airlines due to the fact that X-C flying incorporates almost all of the necessary flying skills.

As you prepare for the Instrument rating, you will find that preparation will include a lot of book work. You will supercharge your IR training by digging into the books now and starting to think in terms of what is required for Instrument flight. Really start to dig into the AIM and the FAR's that pertain to instrument flying.

As to the actual flying of the aircraft, a useful practice you can start doing today is to tighten up your personal standards of acceptance on how you fly. Flying instruments is all about mental discipline and practice. If you go into your training with the idea of continually holding yourself to a high standard, you will fit with the ideas surrounding instrument flying.

 

[cookmg]

Ryan,

I really like your attitude towards your flying. I am in the same boat right now: I am preparing to begin my instrument training. One thing that I have tried to do on my X-C's is go to different airports as often as possible. This way, I am forcing myself to use all of my skills to make a successful flight. Sometimes, if you've flown somewhere often enough, you don't need to plan your flight as thouroughly, because you've already done these things for that flight. Going somewhere new requires that you analyze a new flight entirely and perhaps develop the skills that another flight wouldn't require.

One other thing: I have tried to get experience working with ATC. For example, picking up a Class B clearence instead of avoiding the airspace. Or, I have flown in to Class C airports that have commercial airline traffic. This helps us I think, because we get used to the idea of using clearence delivery and approach/departure contol. Also, it is **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** cool to taxi next to a 737!!

I am going to be starting my training in the next week or two. I am very excited! Best of luck to ya bro.

Mike

 

[bobbysamd]

Building the "right" experience

Ditto on your attitude, my friend, from an often-frustrated flight instructor who had many students who did not appreciate the benefit of being held to standards beyond the PTS.

I agree with the above. Get a copy of the ATP PTS and review the standards to which ATP applicants must be held. You want to do at least as well. It can be done. Your cross-countries are the time to work toward those standards of holding altitude ± 50', airspeed +5/- 0 kts, heading ± 5º, etc. Don't listen to naysayers who say a low-time pilot or student can't do it; I heard that UK PPL applicants are held to similar standards.

Don't be afraid of ATC. Ask your instructor how to obtain VFR flight following from Center. Before Departure gives you the old "radar service terminated, squawk 7700, good-day" speech and turns you loose, ask if you can be handed off to Center or for the Center frequency. You might get the handoff and just have to contact Center. Or, you can call Center, state your position and that you are VFR to whatever. You'll get a code. Now's the time to get this experience. It will help you immensely when you start working on your instrument rating.

And, on that subject, if you can, take a safety pilot with you on your cross-countries and fly under the hood. Use radio navigation. Strive to do the best job possible to hold heading, airspeed and altitude as close to zero tolerance as possible. Even on your local flights to and from the practice area, there is no reason why your instructor cannot put you under the hood so you can obtain additional instrument time.

ATC and strong basic attitude skills are the essence of professional flying. Start now to hone them.

Best of luck with your training.

 

[brianjohn]

Ryan- Great attitude.
Obviously you are doing your training through a part 61 outfit, yes?
I beg/ invite anyone to correct me ( I am too lazy to look it up right now) but part 141 does not require the 50 hours ( I think it's 50) cross country PIC time preceding the instrument rating. I should know this because I just got my instrument myself.
Obviously building cross country time is the goal for everyone, but I think personally I would go the 141 route to save time and A/C rental costs for now. I don't know if that's possible for you or if I'm right, but it's worth checking out.
Again, feel free to correct me as I too look to gain any kind of valuable knowledge.

 

[aviatrix]

Hah!

bobbysamd wrote:

[ Before Departure gives you the old "radar service terminated, squawk 7700, good-day" speech and turns you loose, ask if you can be handed off to Center or for the Center frequency. ]


Oh man!!! I've been doing it wrong all this time!!!! Today I'll try the 7700 and I'll probably get a much better friendlier response from ATC! Ya think?

 

[Rvrrat]

Put the training to work

purposely find short fields or better yet short tree lined sod fields to land at; make the training you've received come to life.

The challenge yourself idea is outstanding, if you are accustomed to controlled fields fly to a couple of non-controlled fields or vice versa.

Not only are the training and skills reinforced but in the doing of them, made fresh and new again; the experience may yield new correlations and elusive insights.

 

[bobbysamd]

What the hell did I write!!!???!!!

bobbysamd wrote:

[ Before Departure gives you the old "radar service terminated, squawk 7700, good-day" speech and turns you loose, ask if you can be handed off to Center or for the Center frequency. ]


Oh man!!! I've been doing it wrong all this time!!!! Today I'll try the 7700 and I'll probably get a much better friendlier response from ATC! Ya think?

No, you've probably been doing it right all this time. I need to return to 9th grade typing class or something.

Sorry. I should have written, " . . . . . radar service terminated, squawk 1200, good day" instead of the 7700.

I wonder if it was a Freudian slip of the keyboard?

Anyway, sorry for any confusion. Good pickup and good use of CRM.

 

[Timebuilder]

Come on, Bobby. As an instructor, I'm certain that you wanted to squawk 7700 several times. I know I wanted to!!! Maybe they need to come up with a "frustrated instructor" code...

 

[bobbysamd]

Maybe . . . .

I enjoyed most of my students, really . . . .

But, there were others . . . . . .