Tristar
Pattern Altitude
After cold weather and Christmas had passed, the opportunity had arrived for one of my students to go on his first Cross country. It had been over 6 weeks since he flew last so yesterday we went on a short review flight to Omaha. That went great so I decided he was ready to go on his own. Now this isn't his long XC, that's next weekend, but it's a good starter and still over 50 miles. But I'm not writing just to tell you about a cross country that every student must undertake and his accomplishment but rather a coincidence or rather a step in my learning that I am constantly realizing.
So many things go through your head on their first XC by themselves. Did they bring everything they'll need "just in case." If they get lost, can they find their way home? Did they open their flight plan? Did I tell them everything they need to know? And then I think back to 30 minutes ago as I watched him plan the flight out and talk to the briefer. I looked over the plan and ask him how long the flight will take, what to look for and to always keep in mind where they're at using the sectional, and who to talk to when. Eventually I had to stop and just let him learn. I couldn't fly this flight for him.
I watched that little Cessna disappear into the endless western sky through the glass of the local FBO. He was just going to Grand Island. If you stay north of the interstate, anybody can find the airport. But that wasn't the point, it was the fact that I taught him how to fly a cross country. How in the world did I get to this point? Only a few years ago, I was afraid to go 30 miles! Now I'm teaching others how to go many times further. One of my instructors told me once that just because you can repeat what someone told you doesn't mean you understand it but when you can teach it, that is when the understanding begins. That is true in more ways than I comprehended at the time. What I do know is that instructing has helped me become a better pilot. I can't think of any way to get truly lost in Nebraska since I've taught my students proven tricks to get out of such a situation. And believe me, Nebraska is full of "everything looks the same!" I no longer have a fear of cross countries, but that's been true for quite a while. No Instructor should be of course but I just never thought I'd be able to say that as a Private pilot. I look forward to trips with my students. They really love going to new places. I've even started a small list of "cool places to fly" within a reasonable distance. Some are more adventurous than others. But the true test of whether they've learned it is on the solo XCs, and that's what it's all about...along with being tons of fun!
About an hour and a half later, N824SP landed safely. I asked him how it went and he said the flight went fine, had no problems and was about to call flight service to close his flight plan. I must have taught him something right! So next weekend will be the long solo XC. I have full confidence he'll do fine then too. A huge pat on the back to him and even myself plus the true understanding that a pilot is always learning no matter how many words are on a pilot certificate.
So many things go through your head on their first XC by themselves. Did they bring everything they'll need "just in case." If they get lost, can they find their way home? Did they open their flight plan? Did I tell them everything they need to know? And then I think back to 30 minutes ago as I watched him plan the flight out and talk to the briefer. I looked over the plan and ask him how long the flight will take, what to look for and to always keep in mind where they're at using the sectional, and who to talk to when. Eventually I had to stop and just let him learn. I couldn't fly this flight for him.
I watched that little Cessna disappear into the endless western sky through the glass of the local FBO. He was just going to Grand Island. If you stay north of the interstate, anybody can find the airport. But that wasn't the point, it was the fact that I taught him how to fly a cross country. How in the world did I get to this point? Only a few years ago, I was afraid to go 30 miles! Now I'm teaching others how to go many times further. One of my instructors told me once that just because you can repeat what someone told you doesn't mean you understand it but when you can teach it, that is when the understanding begins. That is true in more ways than I comprehended at the time. What I do know is that instructing has helped me become a better pilot. I can't think of any way to get truly lost in Nebraska since I've taught my students proven tricks to get out of such a situation. And believe me, Nebraska is full of "everything looks the same!" I no longer have a fear of cross countries, but that's been true for quite a while. No Instructor should be of course but I just never thought I'd be able to say that as a Private pilot. I look forward to trips with my students. They really love going to new places. I've even started a small list of "cool places to fly" within a reasonable distance. Some are more adventurous than others. But the true test of whether they've learned it is on the solo XCs, and that's what it's all about...along with being tons of fun!
About an hour and a half later, N824SP landed safely. I asked him how it went and he said the flight went fine, had no problems and was about to call flight service to close his flight plan. I must have taught him something right! So next weekend will be the long solo XC. I have full confidence he'll do fine then too. A huge pat on the back to him and even myself plus the true understanding that a pilot is always learning no matter how many words are on a pilot certificate.
You deserve that pat on the back!
