Plane Conversations

I never really cared so much if rain was in the forecast - it meant a greener and much healthier lawn.  Coming from a state in Australia where long periods of drought occur and water restrictions are so extreme that you can sometimes only wash your windscreen and not your whole car, I was mostly excited for a fresh bout of rain.  But now that I am learning to fly, I’m usually up in the morning looking out of my window, searching for a clear sky.  This brings me to weather while learning to fly.  Pick a good season to learn to fly, if you can - preferably a season where the days are long, clear, and wind-free.  Ok, ok, not entirely possible, and flying in wind is necessary practice, but after ten days of bad weather here in Tennessee, I was praying for some clear skies.  When the first severe clear day arrived, I was back in the left seat.

 I’ve been flying for seven hours now, and I had expected it to get easier.  And, it has, in many respects, but the continual introduction of new information and challenging maneuvers means there is always something going on which needs my constant attention and needs for my head to be in the game.  Now, with the introduction of talking to the tower and to ground control on the radio, my nerves are at an all time high.  I’m sure it’s because I don’t want to sound like an idiot.  Fair enough.  It is a common feeling of anxiety that most pilots I have spoken to have experienced in the beginning; but, like everything with learning to fly, feeling comfortable doing something new comes with repetition and experience.  (Note:  there really is no need to say please and thank you to the tower, no matter how many times your parents told you to growing up!)

 So, I’ve learnt the pre-inspection of the aircraft, going through the checklist (by the way – the checklist is your friend), taxiing out to the hold area, doing the run-up (another pre-flight check on the aircraft), taking off, and landing with only a little assistance from Kirk.  I’m really enjoying doing pattern work, and I think this is mostly because I get to do about seven touch-and-goes in each lesson.  I now look forward to turning from base to final and coming in for a landing, hoping I’ll nail it.  And I’m happy to report that my confidence is growing, as is my skill level.  But I think I may have to go and visit the guys in the tower, take them some Tennessee Tea Cakes, and ask them to have a little patience with my stumbling radio speak.

 Stay posted.

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