Communications is one of the subjects that causes the most stress among student pilots. There’s nothing worse than pressing the push to talk button and not knowing what to say, or hearing a long Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance and replying with “say again.” While there’s no substitute for practice, some technology can help.
Lightspeed’s FlightLink app is great for student pilots.
One of the best ways to get extra practice when you’re not flying is to use a portable aviation radio. With one of these, you can listen to other pilots (and ATC) talk anytime. Or, use a website like LiveATC.net to listen in on the pros. It’s a great way to get a sense for the rhythm and pace of communications, and use professional pilots as your model.
Lightspeed’s FlightLink app is another great option. This app, for iPad and iPhone, is a free download in the iTunes App Store, and works with the company’s Sierra, Zulu.2, Tango and Zulu PFX headsets. The first useful feature you’ll find is the automatic audio recorder, which allows you to store all inbound and outbound transmissions – even intercom communications with your flight instructor. Then, play back those transmissions when needed. This is ideal for student pilots learning communications, since you can play back audio segments either immediately or during the debrief portion of the lesson when there is less going on.
There’s also a handy note-taking feature. This is helpful for instrument pilots, since you can write down a clearance in the app and instantly replay any audio you missed. But it’s also a nice feature for student pilots: copy the AWOS details, your taxi route or any questions you have during a lesson. Between these written notes and your audio recordings, you’ll have more confidence about what to say. Some student pilots even use this tool to script out (in basic form) what they’re going to say before pressing the PTT button.
If you’re flying with Lightspeed’s top of the line Zulu PFX headset, you can also use FlightLink to fine tune personal preferences. This includes individual bass and treble levels (invaluable for pilots with hearing loss), auto shutoff settings and aux audio input levels. It really unlocks the full potential of this high tech headset.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/05181810/ipad_air_draw_screen_small.jpg1000704studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2016-03-01 17:44:002021-06-08 19:23:45Using Lightspeed’s FlightLink app for training
In 1998 my Christmas present from my wife Rose Ann was a Magellan hand-held GPS. It was a navigational miracle in a box not much bigger than the flip phones that were popular at the time. Its database included all the navigational beacons (VORs & ADFs) and public use airports in the entire country. Christmas, 1998 introduced me to the world of “Direct To” navigation.
Almost immediately, my ability to steer the Cherokee to a point on the globe by dialing in two VORs, rotating the OBSs to the appropriate radials and watching as the needles of each Course Deviation Indicator creep towards their center, went from pretty darn good to forgotten. All I now had to do was climb into my trusty steed, tell the box where I wanted to go by pressing a few keys, then sit back and watch while making sure the monochromatic airplane icon on the monochromatic screen stayed closely aligned to the monochromatic depicted course. My back up was another four AA batteries in my pocket. My only worry was if the weather would change from the briefing I received from Flight Service before I took off.
Now, even if the airplane doesn’t have a panel mounted GPS, innovations like the iPad, Foreflight and Stratus GPS/ADS-B receiver put real time position (to within a meter) and near real time weather at my disposal – all in living color. I can accurately plot a great circle course from anywhere to anywhere flying the absolutely shortest distance, requiring the least time and fuel to get there. If something happens to the iPad, my iPhone will work as a backup for both the iPad and Stratus. A far cry from the days when I used to lay out Sectional Charts on the floor plotting my course from recognizable waypoint to waypoint until I got there. I became a “Direct To” kind of guy.
Aurora, OR to Batavia, OH
In June of 2013 I was tasked with flying Sporty’s new sweepstakes airplane, then an RV-12, N237VA, from Van’s Aircraft in Aurora Oregon (KUAO) back home to Sporty’s (I69). My first instinct was to plot in GPS Direct and pick up some airports every two or three hours to land, fuel (both myself and the airplane), check fluids (again both for myself and the airplane), then launch again. I’d stop somewhere about half way to spend the night and in about 14 hours flying time (two, seven hour days) I would be back home. Easy Peezy.
Closer look reveals unfriendly terrain
But a closer look at the course line over parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming revealed very rough terrain including mountains over 12,000 feet with ominous names like “Dead Indian Peak” and the like. Along that route is vast areas of desert and mountains and more important – no people.
I watched an episode of Survivorman on Discovery Channel where Les Stroud was out in the desert and made a dead fall trap out of two flat rocks, a stick and his shoelaces. He baited his trap with a bit of cracker to lure a desert rat. When the rat came to eat the cracker he pulled the stick tied to his shoelace making the top rock fall killing the rat. The rat’s blood and meat was consumed to survive the day. Should my one and only rubber band (engine) on the airplane break, or I was forced down in one of these areas for other reasons, lacking Les’s survivor skills, I would probably be a goner. I concluded the hills and hollers of my Kentucky homeland offered no preparation for dealing with an emergency landing in the Wild, Wild West.
Scenic Columbia River
I selected a more circuitous route. Rather than rely on my aircraft’s GPS, I chose the other kind of IFR navigation. I followed rivers, roads and railroads through the mountains until I got to the more inhabited and flatter Midwest where, trust me, after spending hours in the mountains everything looks like an airport. Instead of flying over miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles I started my journey northwest from Aurora until I was over the Columbia River where I flew up its very scenic gorge.
Following the river kept me north of restricted areas west of Camp Pendleton where I picked up my second leg of this IFR trip. I follow route Interstate 84. By doing a simple google search before the trip I learned that the highest point of I-84 was only about 4,200 feet MSL and, having seen the Disney movie Planes, I confirmed there were no tunnels. The Interstate took me to Ogdon, UT where I landed and spent the night.
The next morning I continued to follow I-84 through Weber Canyon out of the Salt Lake City area to its terminus in nearby Echo, UT. There I picked up Interstate 80 as I continued the “I Follow Roads”part of my journey. I followed I 80 through the high desert of Wyoming. Although flatter, here the road reaches its highest elevation of nearly 8,650 ft. At Cheyenne, WY I exited the mountains but continued to follow the Interstate through Nebraska and Iowa tuning Southeast at Davenport where I crossed Illinois and Indiana GPS direct.
the “IFR” route
My route was only a couple hundred miles further than flying direct. It added a couple hours to my flight time calling for an additional 10 gallons of fuel. But for two hours of my life and $50 worth of Avgas, I felt much safer as I always had a landing site – with people – within my glide range.
I (F)follow (R)rails is a handy way of navigating the Midwest. Due to the layout of sections of land, the roads tend to run only east and west or north and south. Railroads were largely built in straight lines to connect towns. As there are fewer of them, a hapless pilot is less likely to follow the wrong one. Probably the most famous railroad pilotage occurs during the Fisk arrival to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Airventure each summer in Oshkosh, WI. Arriving aircraft are to find the town of Ripon, WI, follow the tracks to Fisk then on to Whitman Field (KOSH).
I have to admit that I like the gadgets as much as anyone, but sometimes flying this version of IFR just makes more sense.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/05181817/scenic-gorge.jpg689918studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2016-02-29 14:00:232021-06-08 19:23:45Flying IFR – I follow rivers, roads and rails
I think sometimes the pressure I put on myself works against me. I am the type of person who wants to get it done right the first time, every time. Other competitive people understand you can’t turn that off most times. But I would caution against this type of mentality when it comes to flight training and here’s why.
My first solo with my instructor Stephen (left).
I can’t help but feel the pressure to earn my license as fast as possible. There are plenty of reasons to keep that goal in mind, such as the cost to fly, the time commitment and peer pressure from other students that are also trying to earn a pilot’s license. Now I’m not at all suggesting that you ignore those motivators but remember this too: flying an airplane is an experience like nothing else in this world. Flying is thrilling and challenging as well as breathtaking – and almost therapeutic. I made the mistake of forgetting that during my flight training this winter and it stalled my progress (couldn’t resist the pun).
“The older you get, the busier you get; it’s just a fact of life.” My boss once told me that and he was definitely right. Example: have you tried flight training over the holidays? One thing gets in the way of another and suddenly you’re putting off the non-essentials, which for me was flight training. A week turned into a month and a month turned into two months and then three went by.
I was to the point where I was dodging my flight instructor’s texts and coming up with excuses as to why I was too busy right now. It’s embarrassing because I know I’m better than that. I was worried that I’d forgotten everything I’d learned and I’d be back to square one. I felt defeated when I thought about flight training because I was so off course. My actions were clearly causing a lot of stress in my life.
Back in the flying zone
I mentioned how I thought flying was therapeutic; well the first lesson after my hiatus was like a relaxation treatment. I felt great after getting back in the plane. As soon as those wheels left the ground I was right back in the zone. Airspeed’s alive, 55 kts and rotate then climb out to 1800’ and depart the pattern to the east. I hadn’t felt so focused on one thing in months.
My work life and personal life had disappeared, emails to respond to and errands to run were nowhere in my mind. I was running my cruise checklist and maintaining 3500’ with a heading of 120, which was all I cared about. My mood had completely turned around about flight training near the end of the lesson and I attribute that to me making one of the best landings I ever have. Something about flight reminded me being comfortable and confident with yourself behind the yoke is key to being a successful pilot.
Another mistake I made this winter that held me back was avoiding my flight instructor. The instructor wants to help you, so let them. That goes for inside the plane and out. Everyone has had a busy schedule at some point that took over – your instructor understands that. Keep open communication during your training so that you don’t end up slipping behind schedule. If you have slipped behind: Do Not Panic.
No one can tell you how fast you should be taking to the lessons. Let your instructor help you excel in your training. Focus on making things right and they’ll end up being easier too. If you’re having trouble maintaining altitude, work on your power settings and trim. It is so much easier performing a maneuver when you’re not fighting the airplane to stay where you want. Pilots develop their skills over a lifetime, not a training period. So keep in mind that even if your fellow students have progressed a little further than you, everyone is working toward the same goal and it’s not a race.
Flying is a rare and challenging learning process. The first couple times you fly will be the most enjoyable lessons you have. After a while though, the depth of the material can start to wear at your desire for a license. I urge you to persevere and remember that this is, what we all consider to be, the most fun you can have. Nothing beats a good day of flying.
If you think you’re getting in a rut or starting to lose the passion, talk to your instructor or fellow students about it. Maybe what you need is a relaxing day cruising around and perfecting the skills that are your favorite. Personally, I love steep turns. A 45 degree bank will make me smile any day of the week and it’s so satisfying when you roll out right on heading and hit your wake. I like to think of that as the plane’s way of high-fiving you for being basically Top Gun ready. The point isn’t to waste flight time doing maneuvers you’re already comfortable with but to get your mindset in a place of confidence. A little confidence goes a long way when you’re working toward a long term goal such as flying.
Wherever you are in your training, remember that your flying skills are not going to be acquired overnight. Learning to fly is a process that I don’t think ever stops. So it’s okay to take a little time to get it right and ask for help along the way. Just don’t forget why you started your journey in the first place – to do something you love. Flying is an incredibly rewarding experience. So anytime you start to feel overwhelmed by your training, reach out to a buddy, your instructor or any pilots you know. There isn’t a more inclusive community than pilots. Once you’re in the club, you’re a member for life.
-Keep Flying
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/05181856/jcsolo.jpg10801440studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2016-02-15 15:00:412021-06-08 19:23:45I’m a student pilot who forgot what the most important thing was
Flight training apps are a natural fit on the iPad and iPhone.
Most of the focus on the iPad today is centered on its ability to serve as an electronic flight bag in the cockpit. But if you look back to 2010 when the original iPad debuted, you’ll see it was primarily designed as a media consumption device, providing a new way to read books, watch movies and listen to music while on the go. This set the device up as an excellent platform for delivering aviation training courses that incorporated study guides, video and interactive features.
Sporty’s Pilot Shop was the first to release a full training course for iPhone and iPad with the launch its Private Pilot Learn to Fly course. The course was a natural fit on the iPad, providing pilots with a more convenient way to watch the video and use the new touchscreen technology to study FAA test questions and take practice tests.
Sporty’s followed up the Private Pilot Learn to Fly Course with the complete Instrument Rating Course for iPhone and iPad, along with a collection of 10 topic-specific apps to help pilots stay current, add a new rating and learn how to use the latest avionics.
Like the EFB apps from ForeFlight and Garmin, Sporty’s flight training apps are continuously updated with new content and features to take advantage of the latest iOS capabilities and devices. Let’s take a look at what’s new here.
What’s new in the Learn to Fly Course
The core component of the Learn to Fly Course is 15 hours of video training, broken up into bite-sized segments. The majority of this content was recently updated to 1080p HD video, taking advantage of the iPad and iPhone’s high resolution displays. All of the flight training segments are shot right from the airplane, so the high level of detail in the new HD video provides gives a much better training experience (check out an example of one of the new HD segments here).
The app was also updated to take advantage of the new iOS 9 picture-in-picture video playback feature. When viewing a video segment on a compatible device, you can now scale the video playback window from full screen down to a small inset, allowing you to study other parts of the app while continuing to watch the video. You can even exit out of the app altogether and launch a second app, while the video continues to play in the lower corner of the screen.
After watching all the video content and earning a minimum score of 80% on 2 practice tests, you will be eligible to receive your endorsement to take the written test at an approved testing center. This feature is integrated right into the app, so you’ll receive the endorsement via email immediately after meeting these requirements.
The Learn to Fly Course app includes tracks for Private, Sport and Recreational pilot training. It is available as a free trial in the App Store, and costs $199.99 to purchase the full course. For more information, see sportys.com/courses.
https://youtu.be/XoVoi0M7jr4
Sporty’s also offers a complete Instrument Rating Course, which shares the same video format and app layout as the Learn to Fly Course. It was also recently updated with the new picture-in-picture video playback feature, and provides the endorsement to take the Instrument Rating knowledge test after successful completion. For more information see sportys.com/instrument.
Each app includes a collection of bite-sized video segments, concluding with a review quiz at the end. Each question links back to the appropriate video segment, allowing you to quickly review additional information on particular topics. These apps were also recently update to include the picture-in-picture video playback, which is very useful when you want to study the quiz questions while simultaneously viewing the corresponding video segment.
Add a New Aircraft Rating
When it comes time to add a new rating or learn to fly a new type of aircraft, advanced preparation is key. Sporty’s series of Add a Rating apps are designed just for this purpose, with a combination of video segments and illustrated handbooks to help you thoroughly prepare for the new experience. There are 5 apps available here covering the following aircraft and avionics systems: Garmin G1000 Checkout, Multiengine Airplanes, Helicopters, Seaplanes and Gliders.
In addition to the new picture-in-picture video playback feature, these apps also feature a new streaming video option, eliminating the need to download all the videos before watching. This provides the option to then download individual segments to watch later on when an internet connection may not be available.
For more information and to see all Sporty’s Flight Training apps, check out the Sporty’s App Store.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/05181953/LTF_iPadHand_small.jpg500500studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2016-02-04 10:49:562021-06-08 19:23:45What’s new in Sporty’s flight training apps
In the middle of January, stories began to trickle out that the FAA had published a new set of rules about changes to the student pilot certificate. With an implementation date indicated as April 1st, 2016, and no notice that we could recall here at Sporty’s Academy, we thought that it might be an April Fools prank. It was few days later that the notice of a final rule finally appeared on the FAA’s Recently Published Rulemaking site and we found out that it was true.
The final rule was real and it will take effect on April 1st, 2016.
The essence of the new rule is that the FAA will be replacing paper student pilot certificates, traditionally issued by a medical examiner during an FAA physical or by the FAA or a designated pilot examiner (DPE) when a medical isn’t required, with plastic pilot certificates. The catch is that a potential student pilot CANNOT walk out of a local office with the certificate in hand. All student pilot certificates must be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before the FAA can issue the new plastic pilot certificate and send it to the potential student pilot.
Students who have a paper student pilot certificate prior to April 1st may continue to use this until it expires or the student has earned a rating.
Prior to this new bureaucratic process, a new student was vetted by his or her flight instructor to ensure that the student was a U.S. Citizen before beginning flight training. If not a U.S. Citizen, then a TSA process ensued. While this vetting by the instructor does not go away, another layer of bureaucracy has been added to the mix. The TSA will supposedly be checking all applicants against some internal process.
The claim from the Federal Government is that student pilot certificates will be issued within 3 weeks. We’ll have to wait and see how true this is. It currently takes the FAA 2-4 months to issue a permanent plastic pilot certificate for a pilot who takes a checkride and is already in the system.
If the government sticks to their claim, 3 weeks doesn’t seem that long to wait and for most students it won’t be. For students pursuing a pilot certificate in an accelerated program, this could delay the student’s solo and slow down the rating. We’ve seen students go from 0 hours to a Recreational Pilot Certificate in as little as 2 weeks. This won’t be an option after April 1st if we apply for the student’s certificate on the day he or she walks through the door. If it takes longer than 3 weeks, many student solos may be delayed, students will be discouraged, and some may decide to take up golf or boating instead.
Beyond the negatives of the new bureaucracy, there are a few positives to the new rule.
First and foremost, plastic student pilot certificates will not have an expiration date. While a student in continuous training rarely had to worry about the expiration, those who took a break during training did have to be concerned.
Second, there is no charge for the plastic student certificate unless a student happens to need a replacement. A replacement will cost $3.00. Some DPE’s used to charge for the service of issuing a student certificate for those without the need for a medical. I would suggest that if someone wants to charge a student for assisting with an application for the new plastic certificate, the student should find someone else qualified to certify the application. There are a lot more people eligible now.
Third, a student now has many more choices for applying for the student pilot certificate. As before, the student can apply for the certificate with the local FAA office, typically called a Flight Standards District Office or FSDO, or with a DPE. After April 1st, the student may also apply with an Airman Certification Representative (ACR) associated with a part 141 pilot school or with his or her own Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). With any of these methods, the student pilot applicant must apply in person with the authorized individual. Good instructors will likely do this free of charge as a part of their service to their clients.
We haven’t been told how we will accept these applications but apparently we, as instructors, will have the ability.
From an instructor point of view, there will be a few changes to our procedures at the time of a student’s first solo and solo cross-country. Endorsements that used to reside on the back of the student pilot certificate will now be placed in the student’s logbook. This will be true if the student has the new plastic certificate or has a carryover paper certificate. Hopefully, Advisory Circular 61-65E Change 1 will be updated soon to address these new endorsements.
Oh, and about this rule being a surprise that none of us could remember, it was issued as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, back in 2010. 6 years and several changes made this proposal a fuzzy and distant memory.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/05181931/Private_Pilot.jpg12802016studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2016-02-02 10:15:302021-06-08 19:23:45What’s Up with the Student Pilot Certificate?
One of the hottest segments of aviation right now involves Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly called drones. Whether for fun, for agriculture or for first responders, there have never been more uses or more aircraft available. To demystify this growing field, Sporty’s recently hosted a webinar called, “So you want to fly drones.” It covered the basics of drone flying, from unique applications to best practices for safe flying. Watch the webinar recording below.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/05181937/Drone-slide-cover.jpg500800studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/05155154/FTC-logo-horizontal-fianl.pngstudentpltnews2016-02-01 13:58:342021-06-08 19:23:45Drone webinar video explains what UAS are all about
Using Lightspeed’s FlightLink app for training
/in Pilot Gear/by StudentpltnewsCommunications is one of the subjects that causes the most stress among student pilots. There’s nothing worse than pressing the push to talk button and not knowing what to say, or hearing a long Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance and replying with “say again.” While there’s no substitute for practice, some technology can help.
Lightspeed’s FlightLink app is great for student pilots.
One of the best ways to get extra practice when you’re not flying is to use a portable aviation radio. With one of these, you can listen to other pilots (and ATC) talk anytime. Or, use a website like LiveATC.net to listen in on the pros. It’s a great way to get a sense for the rhythm and pace of communications, and use professional pilots as your model.
Lightspeed’s FlightLink app is another great option. This app, for iPad and iPhone, is a free download in the iTunes App Store, and works with the company’s Sierra, Zulu.2, Tango and Zulu PFX headsets. The first useful feature you’ll find is the automatic audio recorder, which allows you to store all inbound and outbound transmissions – even intercom communications with your flight instructor. Then, play back those transmissions when needed. This is ideal for student pilots learning communications, since you can play back audio segments either immediately or during the debrief portion of the lesson when there is less going on.
There’s also a handy note-taking feature. This is helpful for instrument pilots, since you can write down a clearance in the app and instantly replay any audio you missed. But it’s also a nice feature for student pilots: copy the AWOS details, your taxi route or any questions you have during a lesson. Between these written notes and your audio recordings, you’ll have more confidence about what to say. Some student pilots even use this tool to script out (in basic form) what they’re going to say before pressing the PTT button.
If you’re flying with Lightspeed’s top of the line Zulu PFX headset, you can also use FlightLink to fine tune personal preferences. This includes individual bass and treble levels (invaluable for pilots with hearing loss), auto shutoff settings and aux audio input levels. It really unlocks the full potential of this high tech headset.
Flying IFR – I follow rivers, roads and rails
/in Having fun, Personal stories, Tips and technique/by StudentpltnewsIn 1998 my Christmas present from my wife Rose Ann was a Magellan hand-held GPS. It was a navigational miracle in a box not much bigger than the flip phones that were popular at the time. Its database included all the navigational beacons (VORs & ADFs) and public use airports in the entire country. Christmas, 1998 introduced me to the world of “Direct To” navigation.
Almost immediately, my ability to steer the Cherokee to a point on the globe by dialing in two VORs, rotating the OBSs to the appropriate radials and watching as the needles of each Course Deviation Indicator creep towards their center, went from pretty darn good to forgotten. All I now had to do was climb into my trusty steed, tell the box where I wanted to go by pressing a few keys, then sit back and watch while making sure the monochromatic airplane icon on the monochromatic screen stayed closely aligned to the monochromatic depicted course. My back up was another four AA batteries in my pocket. My only worry was if the weather would change from the briefing I received from Flight Service before I took off.
Now, even if the airplane doesn’t have a panel mounted GPS, innovations like the iPad, Foreflight and Stratus GPS/ADS-B receiver put real time position (to within a meter) and near real time weather at my disposal – all in living color. I can accurately plot a great circle course from anywhere to anywhere flying the absolutely shortest distance, requiring the least time and fuel to get there. If something happens to the iPad, my iPhone will work as a backup for both the iPad and Stratus. A far cry from the days when I used to lay out Sectional Charts on the floor plotting my course from recognizable waypoint to waypoint until I got there. I became a “Direct To” kind of guy.
Aurora, OR to Batavia, OH
In June of 2013 I was tasked with flying Sporty’s new sweepstakes airplane, then an RV-12, N237VA, from Van’s Aircraft in Aurora Oregon (KUAO) back home to Sporty’s (I69). My first instinct was to plot in GPS Direct and pick up some airports every two or three hours to land, fuel (both myself and the airplane), check fluids (again both for myself and the airplane), then launch again. I’d stop somewhere about half way to spend the night and in about 14 hours flying time (two, seven hour days) I would be back home. Easy Peezy.
Closer look reveals unfriendly terrain
But a closer look at the course line over parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming revealed very rough terrain including mountains over 12,000 feet with ominous names like “Dead Indian Peak” and the like. Along that route is vast areas of desert and mountains and more important – no people.
I watched an episode of Survivorman on Discovery Channel where Les Stroud was out in the desert and made a dead fall trap out of two flat rocks, a stick and his shoelaces. He baited his trap with a bit of cracker to lure a desert rat. When the rat came to eat the cracker he pulled the stick tied to his shoelace making the top rock fall killing the rat. The rat’s blood and meat was consumed to survive the day. Should my one and only rubber band (engine) on the airplane break, or I was forced down in one of these areas for other reasons, lacking Les’s survivor skills, I would probably be a goner. I concluded the hills and hollers of my Kentucky homeland offered no preparation for dealing with an emergency landing in the Wild, Wild West.
Scenic Columbia River
I selected a more circuitous route. Rather than rely on my aircraft’s GPS, I chose the other kind of IFR navigation. I followed rivers, roads and railroads through the mountains until I got to the more inhabited and flatter Midwest where, trust me, after spending hours in the mountains everything looks like an airport. Instead of flying over miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles I started my journey northwest from Aurora until I was over the Columbia River where I flew up its very scenic gorge.
Following the river kept me north of restricted areas west of Camp Pendleton where I picked up my second leg of this IFR trip. I follow route Interstate 84. By doing a simple google search before the trip I learned that the highest point of I-84 was only about 4,200 feet MSL and, having seen the Disney movie Planes, I confirmed there were no tunnels. The Interstate took me to Ogdon, UT where I landed and spent the night.
The next morning I continued to follow I-84 through Weber Canyon out of the Salt Lake City area to its terminus in nearby Echo, UT. There I picked up Interstate 80 as I continued the “I Follow Roads”part of my journey. I followed I 80 through the high desert of Wyoming. Although flatter, here the road reaches its highest elevation of nearly 8,650 ft. At Cheyenne, WY I exited the mountains but continued to follow the Interstate through Nebraska and Iowa tuning Southeast at Davenport where I crossed Illinois and Indiana GPS direct.
the “IFR” route
My route was only a couple hundred miles further than flying direct. It added a couple hours to my flight time calling for an additional 10 gallons of fuel. But for two hours of my life and $50 worth of Avgas, I felt much safer as I always had a landing site – with people – within my glide range.
I (F)follow (R)rails is a handy way of navigating the Midwest. Due to the layout of sections of land, the roads tend to run only east and west or north and south. Railroads were largely built in straight lines to connect towns. As there are fewer of them, a hapless pilot is less likely to follow the wrong one. Probably the most famous railroad pilotage occurs during the Fisk arrival to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Airventure each summer in Oshkosh, WI. Arriving aircraft are to find the town of Ripon, WI, follow the tracks to Fisk then on to Whitman Field (KOSH).
I have to admit that I like the gadgets as much as anyone, but sometimes flying this version of IFR just makes more sense.
I’m a student pilot who forgot what the most important thing was
/in Personal stories/by StudentpltnewsI think sometimes the pressure I put on myself works against me. I am the type of person who wants to get it done right the first time, every time. Other competitive people understand you can’t turn that off most times. But I would caution against this type of mentality when it comes to flight training and here’s why.
My first solo with my instructor Stephen (left).
I can’t help but feel the pressure to earn my license as fast as possible. There are plenty of reasons to keep that goal in mind, such as the cost to fly, the time commitment and peer pressure from other students that are also trying to earn a pilot’s license. Now I’m not at all suggesting that you ignore those motivators but remember this too: flying an airplane is an experience like nothing else in this world. Flying is thrilling and challenging as well as breathtaking – and almost therapeutic. I made the mistake of forgetting that during my flight training this winter and it stalled my progress (couldn’t resist the pun).
“The older you get, the busier you get; it’s just a fact of life.” My boss once told me that and he was definitely right. Example: have you tried flight training over the holidays? One thing gets in the way of another and suddenly you’re putting off the non-essentials, which for me was flight training. A week turned into a month and a month turned into two months and then three went by.
I was to the point where I was dodging my flight instructor’s texts and coming up with excuses as to why I was too busy right now. It’s embarrassing because I know I’m better than that. I was worried that I’d forgotten everything I’d learned and I’d be back to square one. I felt defeated when I thought about flight training because I was so off course. My actions were clearly causing a lot of stress in my life.
Back in the flying zone
I mentioned how I thought flying was therapeutic; well the first lesson after my hiatus was like a relaxation treatment. I felt great after getting back in the plane. As soon as those wheels left the ground I was right back in the zone. Airspeed’s alive, 55 kts and rotate then climb out to 1800’ and depart the pattern to the east. I hadn’t felt so focused on one thing in months.
My work life and personal life had disappeared, emails to respond to and errands to run were nowhere in my mind. I was running my cruise checklist and maintaining 3500’ with a heading of 120, which was all I cared about. My mood had completely turned around about flight training near the end of the lesson and I attribute that to me making one of the best landings I ever have. Something about flight reminded me being comfortable and confident with yourself behind the yoke is key to being a successful pilot.
Another mistake I made this winter that held me back was avoiding my flight instructor. The instructor wants to help you, so let them. That goes for inside the plane and out. Everyone has had a busy schedule at some point that took over – your instructor understands that. Keep open communication during your training so that you don’t end up slipping behind schedule. If you have slipped behind: Do Not Panic.
No one can tell you how fast you should be taking to the lessons. Let your instructor help you excel in your training. Focus on making things right and they’ll end up being easier too. If you’re having trouble maintaining altitude, work on your power settings and trim. It is so much easier performing a maneuver when you’re not fighting the airplane to stay where you want. Pilots develop their skills over a lifetime, not a training period. So keep in mind that even if your fellow students have progressed a little further than you, everyone is working toward the same goal and it’s not a race.
Flying is a rare and challenging learning process. The first couple times you fly will be the most enjoyable lessons you have. After a while though, the depth of the material can start to wear at your desire for a license. I urge you to persevere and remember that this is, what we all consider to be, the most fun you can have. Nothing beats a good day of flying.
If you think you’re getting in a rut or starting to lose the passion, talk to your instructor or fellow students about it. Maybe what you need is a relaxing day cruising around and perfecting the skills that are your favorite. Personally, I love steep turns. A 45 degree bank will make me smile any day of the week and it’s so satisfying when you roll out right on heading and hit your wake. I like to think of that as the plane’s way of high-fiving you for being basically Top Gun ready. The point isn’t to waste flight time doing maneuvers you’re already comfortable with but to get your mindset in a place of confidence. A little confidence goes a long way when you’re working toward a long term goal such as flying.
Wherever you are in your training, remember that your flying skills are not going to be acquired overnight. Learning to fly is a process that I don’t think ever stops. So it’s okay to take a little time to get it right and ask for help along the way. Just don’t forget why you started your journey in the first place – to do something you love. Flying is an incredibly rewarding experience. So anytime you start to feel overwhelmed by your training, reach out to a buddy, your instructor or any pilots you know. There isn’t a more inclusive community than pilots. Once you’re in the club, you’re a member for life.
-Keep Flying
What’s new in Sporty’s flight training apps
/in Pilot Gear/by StudentpltnewsFlight training apps are a natural fit on the iPad and iPhone.
Most of the focus on the iPad today is centered on its ability to serve as an electronic flight bag in the cockpit. But if you look back to 2010 when the original iPad debuted, you’ll see it was primarily designed as a media consumption device, providing a new way to read books, watch movies and listen to music while on the go. This set the device up as an excellent platform for delivering aviation training courses that incorporated study guides, video and interactive features.
Sporty’s Pilot Shop was the first to release a full training course for iPhone and iPad with the launch its Private Pilot Learn to Fly course. The course was a natural fit on the iPad, providing pilots with a more convenient way to watch the video and use the new touchscreen technology to study FAA test questions and take practice tests.
Sporty’s followed up the Private Pilot Learn to Fly Course with the complete Instrument Rating Course for iPhone and iPad, along with a collection of 10 topic-specific apps to help pilots stay current, add a new rating and learn how to use the latest avionics.
Like the EFB apps from ForeFlight and Garmin, Sporty’s flight training apps are continuously updated with new content and features to take advantage of the latest iOS capabilities and devices. Let’s take a look at what’s new here.
What’s new in the Learn to Fly Course
The core component of the Learn to Fly Course is 15 hours of video training, broken up into bite-sized segments. The majority of this content was recently updated to 1080p HD video, taking advantage of the iPad and iPhone’s high resolution displays. All of the flight training segments are shot right from the airplane, so the high level of detail in the new HD video provides gives a much better training experience (check out an example of one of the new HD segments here).
The app was also updated to take advantage of the new iOS 9 picture-in-picture video playback feature. When viewing a video segment on a compatible device, you can now scale the video playback window from full screen down to a small inset, allowing you to study other parts of the app while continuing to watch the video. You can even exit out of the app altogether and launch a second app, while the video continues to play in the lower corner of the screen.
After watching all the video content and earning a minimum score of 80% on 2 practice tests, you will be eligible to receive your endorsement to take the written test at an approved testing center. This feature is integrated right into the app, so you’ll receive the endorsement via email immediately after meeting these requirements.
The Learn to Fly Course app includes tracks for Private, Sport and Recreational pilot training. It is available as a free trial in the App Store, and costs $199.99 to purchase the full course. For more information, see sportys.com/courses.
https://youtu.be/XoVoi0M7jr4
Sporty’s also offers a complete Instrument Rating Course, which shares the same video format and app layout as the Learn to Fly Course. It was also recently updated with the new picture-in-picture video playback feature, and provides the endorsement to take the Instrument Rating knowledge test after successful completion. For more information see sportys.com/instrument.
Pilot currency apps
Each app includes a collection of bite-sized video segments, concluding with a review quiz at the end. Each question links back to the appropriate video segment, allowing you to quickly review additional information on particular topics. These apps were also recently update to include the picture-in-picture video playback, which is very useful when you want to study the quiz questions while simultaneously viewing the corresponding video segment.
Add a New Aircraft Rating
In addition to the new picture-in-picture video playback feature, these apps also feature a new streaming video option, eliminating the need to download all the videos before watching. This provides the option to then download individual segments to watch later on when an internet connection may not be available.
For more information and to see all Sporty’s Flight Training apps, check out the Sporty’s App Store.
What’s Up with the Student Pilot Certificate?
/in Regulations/by StudentpltnewsIn the middle of January, stories began to trickle out that the FAA had published a new set of rules about changes to the student pilot certificate. With an implementation date indicated as April 1st, 2016, and no notice that we could recall here at Sporty’s Academy, we thought that it might be an April Fools prank. It was few days later that the notice of a final rule finally appeared on the FAA’s Recently Published Rulemaking site and we found out that it was true.
The final rule was real and it will take effect on April 1st, 2016.
Prior to this new bureaucratic process, a new student was vetted by his or her flight instructor to ensure that the student was a U.S. Citizen before beginning flight training. If not a U.S. Citizen, then a TSA process ensued. While this vetting by the instructor does not go away, another layer of bureaucracy has been added to the mix. The TSA will supposedly be checking all applicants against some internal process.
The claim from the Federal Government is that student pilot certificates will be issued within 3 weeks. We’ll have to wait and see how true this is. It currently takes the FAA 2-4 months to issue a permanent plastic pilot certificate for a pilot who takes a checkride and is already in the system.
If the government sticks to their claim, 3 weeks doesn’t seem that long to wait and for most students it won’t be. For students pursuing a pilot certificate in an accelerated program, this could delay the student’s solo and slow down the rating. We’ve seen students go from 0 hours to a Recreational Pilot Certificate in as little as 2 weeks. This won’t be an option after April 1st if we apply for the student’s certificate on the day he or she walks through the door. If it takes longer than 3 weeks, many student solos may be delayed, students will be discouraged, and some may decide to take up golf or boating instead.
Beyond the negatives of the new bureaucracy, there are a few positives to the new rule.
First and foremost, plastic student pilot certificates will not have an expiration date. While a student in continuous training rarely had to worry about the expiration, those who took a break during training did have to be concerned.
Second, there is no charge for the plastic student certificate unless a student happens to need a replacement. A replacement will cost $3.00. Some DPE’s used to charge for the service of issuing a student certificate for those without the need for a medical. I would suggest that if someone wants to charge a student for assisting with an application for the new plastic certificate, the student should find someone else qualified to certify the application. There are a lot more people eligible now.
Third, a student now has many more choices for applying for the student pilot certificate. As before, the student can apply for the certificate with the local FAA office, typically called a Flight Standards District Office or FSDO, or with a DPE. After April 1st, the student may also apply with an Airman Certification Representative (ACR) associated with a part 141 pilot school or with his or her own Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). With any of these methods, the student pilot applicant must apply in person with the authorized individual. Good instructors will likely do this free of charge as a part of their service to their clients.
We haven’t been told how we will accept these applications but apparently we, as instructors, will have the ability.
From an instructor point of view, there will be a few changes to our procedures at the time of a student’s first solo and solo cross-country. Endorsements that used to reside on the back of the student pilot certificate will now be placed in the student’s logbook. This will be true if the student has the new plastic certificate or has a carryover paper certificate. Hopefully, Advisory Circular 61-65E Change 1 will be updated soon to address these new endorsements.
Oh, and about this rule being a surprise that none of us could remember, it was issued as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, back in 2010. 6 years and several changes made this proposal a fuzzy and distant memory.
Drone webinar video explains what UAS are all about
/in Webinars/by StudentpltnewsOne of the hottest segments of aviation right now involves Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly called drones. Whether for fun, for agriculture or for first responders, there have never been more uses or more aircraft available. To demystify this growing field, Sporty’s recently hosted a webinar called, “So you want to fly drones.” It covered the basics of drone flying, from unique applications to best practices for safe flying. Watch the webinar recording below.
You can follow along with the slides below: