So, student pilots.. Who are we and where do we stand?

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SixPapaCharlie said:
I guess I am a student again. ATP CPT starting in 2 weeks. This was just going to be a hobby.
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it will be a different way of flying if you opt for airlines.
Very regimented and standardized procedures with crew (CRM) resources management, with you may not be used to… but will get familiar with.

If you go non airline, charter, rules are all over the place.
Good luck.
 
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Yesterday was a great day.
Started the multi training. Cfi said let's just do a quick flight to get a feel for the airplane and no maneuvers. we get up and 15 minutes in he goes you are very smooth on the controls. let's do the maneuvers. so we do slow flight, stalls, turns, one engine loss etc. Then he warned me that the landings in the Seminole is usually a little hard because of weight etc. I land it with a greaser. he scratches his head and he says obviously you know what you are doing. Just need to study the material. call the dpe and find out checkride timeline.
Now my head is so huge my hat doesn't fit.
 
A question about crosswind landings. Really botched a solo crosswind landing last week. Didn't dent anything but scared the crap out of me. Went out today did a few touch and goes just to get my confidence back. Going out again next week to do a few more. CFI wants me to solo about 100 miles to a controlled airport with 5 runways that winds are almost guaranteed. Here's my question, will ATC direct me to the runway with the least crosswind?
 
Half Fast said:
Maybe. Will the DPE request a crosswind runway? Maybe.

I suggest you learn to handle crosswinds before your checkride.
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Asked the CFI for crosswind training, know it is a weak point. Wants to send me on this cross country now. Not sure I understand the thought process. Is CW and other landings like short field usually done later in training?
 
fast99 said:
Asked the CFI for crosswind training, know it is a weak point. Wants to send me on this cross country now. Not sure I understand the thought process. Is CW and other landings like short field usually done later in training?
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That sounds odd. I wasn't allowed to fly a solo cross country until after I had short & soft field landings, and I had to demonstrate them on the stage check prior to the endorsement.

Does your solo endorsement have wind restrictions?
 
StraightnLevel said:
That sounds odd. I wasn't allowed to fly a solo cross country until after I had short & soft field landings, and I had to demonstrate them on the stage check prior to the endorsement.

Does your solo endorsement have wind restrictions?
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yes, if I am reading it right, less than 15, X wind less than 8 on last solo
 
jsstevens said:
I am signed up (and deposit paid) to get my CP-MES with Brooke’s Seaplane Service in August. Beech 18 on floats. Round engines. I’m looking forward to it!
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I am now IR current and one landing shy of passenger current in a twin as prep for this MES rating. Next month I go bac out to Jones Bros for a couple of hours in the C-185 amphib to be seaplane current as well before I show up. I'm looking forward to both!
 
It finally happened! I had my PPL checkride yesterday and.....

... did not pass.

My navigation, stalls, steep turns, emergency procedures, ground reference, and most of my landings were within standards.
The examiner even told me at the end of the oral exam portion that I was one of the best PPL applicants he'd tested this year. That felt pretty damn good. Months of study paid off!

However, I busted on the short field landing. I shot two attempts, came in way too high and fast on my first attempt and saw the writing on the wall. I knew I would float well past +200ft so I called go-around, aborted the landing, and went around.

For the 2nd attempt I got in my own head and over-corrected. I was ~5kts too slow crossing the threshold, and I didn't have the energy to make it to my point, so I touched down about 50ft short of it.

The disapproval stings, but it's not going to stop me from getting back out there and learning what went wrong, how to fix it, and trying again. A couple of lessons and a lap around the pattern with the DPE and I'll be a pilot!
 
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Am getting a little frustrated. Have 100+ landings and a little more than 45 hours. Most of the training so far has gone without a hitch,,,,,,,,,, except landings. Can do 3 or 4 in a row that are perfectly acceptable then I bounce one bad enough that I usually abort it. Not knowing when I will have that bad landing makes me nervous. Know everyone is different but is this in any way normal? Don't want to give up on training but I need to figure it out.
 
Pretty normal. The bounces will become fewer and fewer, but meanwhile if you know when to go around you'll be fine.
 
Instrument rated as of today! Found out once back on the ground, a convective sigmet popped on our heads. I used to AP to brief my approaches and get set up, then hand flew the approaches. What a weight lifted. Short break, and back to studying for the FII and the CPL written, then CPL maneuvers, time building.

I have to knock out the 10 night tower T/L and the 2 hour XC night dual recieved. Been up since 0430.
 
Just got my official commercial lic in the mail. Did my 2nd session of training in the Piper Seminole this past sun. So far it is going well but man it is expensive to train for the multi. I am hoping I finish it in the bare minimum hours so I dont run of of money. lol
 
Early this morning it was in the mid 70's with 5-10 knots of wind and very few clouds. I spent half-an-hour discussing the pertinent parts of the 140DA-1 and A-691 . . . the weights and balance; engine and airplane limits: oil and fuel requirements: and observing a preflight inspection of the aeroplane which involved his explaining the correct function of every part as well as what documentation was required by regulation.

We looked at the first aid kit, the ELT, and the fire extinguisher . . .. Then he taught me the safe way to hand prop the aeroplane. (It sounds so much fancier in "British".)

He took off and landed. But, in-between I got my first half-hour of instruction and performed straight-and-level flight, climbs, descents, and leveling off after each as well as making medium bank turns in both directions. He reiterated his belief that learning was sensory and we did not discuss any performance numbers, nor could I see the panel from the back seat while in the air.

Although I am told that 60 mph is the default answer to every question.

And I am officially a backseat (aeroplane) driver.
 
Two weeks with no flight time. Ugh. Between weather, July 4 holiday and losing almost a week to the airport being without power due to Beryl, I can’t seem to catch a break. Today’s forecast looks crappy, as well.

The flight school won’t schedule the DPE for my checkride until I complete a mock checkride, and the earliest opening that I can schedule it is 2 weeks out - and that assumes that the weather is clear that particular day. If weather blocks that, then I’m re-scheduling for probably another 2 weeks or more out.

:mad2:

There has to be a better way to get this done.
 
StraightnLevel said:
Two weeks with no flight time. Ugh. Between weather, July 4 holiday and losing almost a week to the airport being without power due to Beryl, I can’t seem to catch a break. Today’s forecast looks crappy, as well.

The flight school won’t schedule the DPE for my checkride until I complete a mock checkride, and the earliest opening that I can schedule it is 2 weeks out - and that assumes that the weather is clear that particular day. If weather blocks that, then I’m re-scheduling for probably another 2 weeks or more out.

:mad2:

There has to be a better way to get this done.
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BTDT. Had similar problems with both my Sport and Private checkrides. In fact, the NHC began contacting me to learn when I had a plane reserved so they could incorporate it into their hurricane forecasts.

My school was a bit more flexible with the scheduling and would usually find a way to work me in. The DPE and weather were significantly less cooperative.
 
43 hours. Have about 4.5 solo. I'm dragging my feet on the long solo. I've done a couple mini cross country flights to nearby airports. CFI says I'm ready for check, just need to wish out the solo time. We have done a few extra curricular true short fields... so much fun. Still battling the nerves of flying alone, but I know that will come with time. I actually haven't solo'd in a while because we have been doing fun flights and practicing stuff. Hopefully I can finish up soon!
 
JoshuaP said:
43 hours. Have about 4.5 solo. I'm dragging my feet on the long solo.
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You mean the 150nm cross country to three different airports? That was amazingly fun and as memorable to me as my first solo! But get more solo practice time in beforehand if you're not proficient/confident - you'll have to aviate, navigate and communicate all on your own.
 
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