Posts Tagged ‘first flight’
Talk to me, Goose.
“I don’t see how you remember all of this stuff” John said one day as we concluded our ground lesson.
Of course, “stuff” wasn’t the adjective he used, nor would I, as we had just spent 3 hours reviewing what he had learned over the past 3 months.
His simple expression of frustration made me a bit nostalgic, reminding me of the days of what seemed to be nothing but mind-numbing memorization and a trivial understanding of physics. It also reminded me of my perception of my first flight instructor. To most, first flight instructors are what I call Aviation Jesus’ in the eyes of their students. They are walking, talking *FAR/AIM AFM’s with hands and feet. They are all knowing, all seeing beings, capable of gracing the heavens with a steep turn that doesn’t deviate a single FOOT off altitude. You don’t question their authority; because they have the capability of pulling your engine at any given point in training, and responding with a crooked smirk on their face, and the expression of “what are you gonna do now, *PIC?” They are intimidating.
Or, well, at least that was my perception.
But, does it really have to be that way? As a victim of ->POOR<- instruction received (not to mention paid for, during a portion of commercial training), I can only answer with a resounding “NO!”
Allow me to digress for a second. If I asked you to draw me a picture of a pilot, what would it look like? I think most would start with the sunglasses – HE, might have an awesomely stereotypical 80’s moustache, while posted up on a wall in a brown leather coat mysteriously reflecting over a cigarette and checking the time on his oversized watch. Sound familiar? Or, did you paint the mental picture of Goose and Maverick telling the story of their 4G negative dive with a MiG 28?
It seems, since the dawn of aviation, pilots have suffered from numerous personality (superiority) complexes. Flight Instructors and pilots alike often times are egotistical, macho, and invulnerable. These attributes often come off to students as intimidating, and what most do not realize is done so as a means of “saving face”- to protect their image and ego that has been constructed by previous generations of pilots (and pop-culture). These complexes have often resulted in students feeling inferior, unworthy or “not cut out to be a pilot”, because their instructors cannot elementarily explain a subject (or in most cases, don’t understand it themselves) and intimidate their students into memorizing what the book says (not necessarily understanding what was said).
As an instructor, there isn’t a bigger disservice to a student than “saving face” because your ego, and that little card with Orville and Wilbur’s face in your wallet, demands. And, as a student, let me assure you that you CAN get your certificate, even if you can’t cut as pretty of a steep turn as your instructor (remember the *PTS is the judge), or have a full conversation using only acronyms and mnemonics.
I responded to John shortly after with, “I don’t remember everything, man.”
There is only so much the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and Airplane Flying Handbook can convey to get the reader to understand. The instructor’s role is to generate an understanding that the student could not get on their own, or from a book. For me, that means reviewing the night before, so that 40 dollars an hour is worth 40 dollars an hour to the student, and so that the student is confident and competent in their technical subject areas.
Not to be cliché, but, “keep it real” with your instructor if you’re a student. Pretending to understand jargon or “nodding your head and singing along” doesn’t help your cause. Be active in your quest to obtain whatever license is desired, call your instructor’s bluff, and don’t be intimidated by an Aviation Jesus – I promise they are mere mortals that have been in your shoes.
*FAR/AIM Federal Aviation Regulations/Airman’s Information Manual
*AFM- Airplane Flight Manual
*PIC- Pilot in Command
*PTS- Practical Test Standards
Can you remember your first time flying?
I can’t remember what it was like the first time I flew, but I was fortunate enough to get a taste of that incredible feeling when I watched three very special girls take their first flight ever.
Alexis (8), Sidney (9) and Skylar (10) come from a East Tennessee, an area hard hit by the recession. But from the beaming smiles on their faces, you wouldn’t know it. The three little girls from Huntingdon were excited to be spending their first vacation with their Great Uncle Mike, and he wanted the girls to experience many firsts; firsts which may kids their ages from more affluent areas of the country have experienced by now. Mike took the girls to the mall for the first time, made a pizza from scratch, and went boating, all of which they had never done. But he had the brilliant idea that a first flight in an airplane would help him clinch the title of The Greatest Great-Uncle Ever! If the girls’ expressions were anything to go by, he was on to something.
I met the girls at the FBO, and they were quiet and shy at first, but I’m sure that was because of the nerves. I took them out onto the ramp and showed them some of our larger turbo-prop Jetstreams. Their eyes grew wide with each cool new thing I showed them; the large propellers, the plush interior of the airplane, and the cockpit with a million knobs and buttons. I could hear the trepidation in their voices as they asked me questions, and then see the excitement in their faces and as we inched closer to the little Diamond DA40, which would be their plane for the next hour.
After some photos of Great Uncle Mike and the girls beside the airplane, Paul Lamb (the Owner of Wings of Eagles), and Chris Carnett (the flight instructor who was taking the girls on the flight) met with the girls and made sure that they were buckled in nicely, and had their headsets on correctly.
Then, Chris closed the canopy, fired up the engine, and then off they went!
Excitement and nerves are an uncomfortable feeling for some. But others just love it. I guess that’s why there are adrenalin junkies out there, and then those who wish to only do the things they are comfortable with. I was really proud of Alexis, Sidney and Skylar. They stepped out of their comfort zone. They tried something new. They got to fly!
If there is one thing I hope they took away from this experience, it is a sense of accomplishment and fearlessness. I hope they continue to find the inspiration to keep exploring new things throughout their life.
Kudos to Great Uncle Mike!
The letters below were written by the girls after the flight:
