As I mentioned in my previous post, before yesterday’s lesson, I had only accumulated and logged 5.6 flight hours.
The below is a summary of what I’ve needed so far, as well as an overview of my 8th official lesson (an additional 1.7 hours to my pilot logbook!)!
Recommended items for brand new students:
Pilot logbook
Owner’s manual of the aircraft you will be training in (mine is a Cessna 172)
Private Pilot Blueprint (a quick and easy read full of amazing information!)
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge - this may be a requirement of whatever ground school you choose to attend, however, I will be using this to follow along before, during, and after my flight lessons!
A notebook to jot down notes
Your new student packet, which your flight school will provide to you and help you complete
A small bookbag to keep your resources in. You can even take these with you on your flight!
Since I’d already obtained my commercial drone pilot’s license, I’d already created all the necessary accounts through the FAA. This process can be a little tricky and confusing so I recommend getting as much help as required so you know you’re doing it right! In order to officially become a student pilot, you will eventually need to get your Medical License and I recommend doing this sooner rather than later to ensure you have no hidden medical conditions that will prevent you from obtaining your PPL. (Could you imagine spending all that money in flight lessons just to learn you won’t qualify for your PPL?!) I have yet to obtain mine but calling to set up an appointment is number one on my to-do list! And, at 7.3 hours, I’m okay with that investment I’ve made so far :)
Eventually, I will need to attend Ground School and pass my written test to prove I am well-versed in the art of aviation.
My final step will be my check ride, where a member the FAA will accompany me on a flight and test me on my skills and the maneuvers that I’ve learned to ensure I’ve mastered them safely and efficiently.
The minimum number of flight hours is 40, 30 of which are accompanied by a Certified Flight Instructor and 10 of those, solo. I will be expected to join my instructor on a night flight and a cross-country flight (anything greater than 50 nautical miles outside the departure airport). Realistically, I’m expecting more like 60-70 hours to prove my competency and skills since I am scheduling flights around my busy schedule, and that’s okay. A dream is a dream, no matter how long it takes you!
Everybody learns at a completely different pace and style so I will share what has been the best way for me to learn so far!
My instructor, Alex, has set me up for success by sending me easy-to-follow YouTube videos prior to my lessons with him. My brain works in very technical ways so I found myself overwhelmed when I attempted to execute a few maneuvers and I wasn’t 100% clear on what was happening with the plane while I was utilizing the instruments. (In fact, I cannot just stop at knowing “turning this button does this thing,” I have to dissect the exact mechanisms of action of what is happening and why.) Backing off from any further attempts until I comprehended the instruments fully (and to a microscopic level) was the best thing I did for myself! One of my favorite videos my instructor sent me was this thorough walk-through video of exactly how a Cessna 172 works.
My previous lesson was spent on the ground due to weather but Alex took the time to pull out the textbooks and explain some configurations he had planned for that day: slow flight and the power off stall. In these lessons, we reviewed clean v. dirty configurations (flaps up or down), primary and secondary flight controls, and the stall recovery (PARE = power idle, ailerons neutral, rudder - opposite, and elevator - forward). We also went over some vital key terms that set a foundation to understanding any maneuver I will master in the future!
Yesterday’s lesson, however, was more insightful in ways I doubt I will be able to fully explain here…
On the agenda was: slow flight and stall maneuvers.
There is so much to learn with aviation, and I take not one piece of knowledge for granted. In fact, I learned more about myself and aviation yesterday than ever before.
The lesson was a bit tough on me, emotionally, but it was also a repeat of a previous lesson I’d taken, whereas I requested a break in the lesson and a subsequent unplanned landing. As a perfectionist, I took my request to land very hard, as I felt like a failure and that I had disappointed my instructor. (I knew neither of those are true but, in those moments, it feels like they are.) Yesterday’s challenges and the obstacles I faced in that previous lesson had commonalities: the maneuvers were similar, and I experienced major internal blocks that prevented me from proceeding.
In deep evaluation I learned some very powerful things about myself: I take my passions very seriously but am quick to distrust myself. I could not trust that I could execute these maneuvers safely and to standards. This epiphany was a giant step in overcoming my mental blocks. But I was also able to decipher how to identify my hard “no’s” and when/where to push myself a little harder. While I committed to the entire 1.7 hours in the air, I drew my line at stalls. With an extremely linear mind, I was able to recognize that I will need to perfect one maneuver at a time, which will allow me to grow intimate with the “me” who is flying an aircraft. Good habits and lots of repetition both contribute to a memory of muscle that I’ve discovered over time becomes very difficult to break/change once they’re set. I “think” with my body and learn through my failures; it’s about building proprioception to my environment and it’s almost like I have to allow myself to “bump into walls” in order to discover where they truly are and that (obviously) scares me in terms of aviation. Once actions are perfected, I can then build upon them. Honestly, at times, this feels like a disability - and, in the very least, is a very hard reality - but it is my truth and one I must respect.
One of the most validating things about yesterday’s lesson was the support I received from my instructor. His constant communication, honest feedback, encouragement, and recognizing my limitations deepened my respect and trust for him. My passions are intertwined in my DNA and are at the very infrastructure of my personality so I approach my investments with great care; the support I receive across the board during my “lows” will always mean more to me than I can say and inspire me to push back harder every time.
One of my goals is to remain completely transparent in my personal experiences but I also want to recognize the rewards in overcoming such challenges. At the end of the day, I gained 1.7 additional hours of knowledge. What I was able to accomplish was steep turns, slow flight, and trim. All three need much more work but the more I do them, the more comfortable I will get. Did I want to do steep turns? No, because I didn’t trust myself and, even that stopped me from completing them to my fullest potential. But I still did them. And I will continue to do them until I am steep-turning my butt off until I can no longer stand it.
Areas of focus include getting more comfortable with the flight instruments and watching YouTube videos. Easy, right?
I may look into potential simulators because the body movement and muscle memory is something I could safely work on from home but, at this time, I don’t even know if that’s a real thing. (If not, will somebody make one?)
And, as promised, as a “thank you” for following along, refer a friend who books with me and use “HOLYMOLY48” to get 50% off a mini session with me! This code expires at the publication of my next post.
Finally, please don’t forget to book your discovery flight with High Tide Aviation on St. Simons if you think aviation may be an interest of yours or if you just want to see Coastal Georgia via an aerial tour! I promise, you will never forget it <3
-A flawless (but turbulant) landing, executed by my instructor, Alex!
