Do you grade your flights?

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obw

Pre-takeoff checklist
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obw1
I realize that for some people a perfect flight is one where you and your plane are safely on the ground and haven't busted any regulations, and other people nit-pick every detail. I got my PPL in the mid-1990s, stopped flying for about 20 years, and just started to get back into it this year. I grade myself after each flight, nit-pick the details, and would say that most flights are not 'perfect'.

After you're finished your trip, do you grade your flight? What do you consider to be a 'perfect' flight, and what percentage of your flights would you characterize as perfect?
 
Unless I did something very obviously bad, Or something significant happened. I don’t grade them or give the any thoughts.
 
There is almost always something new to learn, or a new twist, on every flight. If you don’t critique yourself when a CFI is not on board, how does your flying improve. Those that don’t learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them, possibly at critical times. Those “never again” experiences are invaluable.
 
“Pass” or “Fail”. Landing with no injuries or damage is a “pass”.
 
I’ve self-critiqued every flight since starting 19 years ago, and recently started jotting down notes. No more than three items each - what needs improvement, what was good. It helps me see consistent errors (allowing altitude to wander a bit when sightseeing, being too fast at the top of chandelles, floating in the flare - just those little things that can be better). Before the next flight I can review them and do better.

Since I want to get into aerobatics and formation flight, I figger actively debriefing is a plus.

Oh, and haven’t made a perfect flight yet. I’m always trying but haven’t gotten there.
 
obw said:
After you're finished your trip, do you grade your flight? What do you consider to be a 'perfect' flight, and what percentage of your flights would you characterize as perfect?
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My wife rates my landings.
 
I don't write anything down but mentally, I guess I do. I try to keep the heading and altitude nailed. Ernest Gann's words constantly in my mind about the altitude even though I'm VFR and in VMC.

I find that passengers that aren't pilots only care about the landing. My last passenger was okay with the take off and the scenery. She didn't really seem concerned that we lost the alternator and had to go back and the occasional bumps didn't faze her a bit. But she really came alive and whipped out her Iphone when we were about three miles from touchdown. I didn't think that it was one of my best landings but when she showed me the video, I was right on centerline with a soft touchdown. Good enough for me I guess.
 
Yeah, but I'm still training.

I keep a blog detailing each flight and what I learned and what I need to study for next time. This is in addition to other basic stuff like what I did as well.
 
Yes I do a post flight review on most every XC and practice flight to see if I need to improve. I also check remaining fuel and compare that to how much fuel I expected to have at the end of the flight. You never know when a discrepancy may alert you to a potential problem.
 
I critique myself after every flight by mentally going through the flight to see if I could have done something different, better or more efficiently. Or if I make a mistake I will mentally go through that segment again until I am convinced I won't do that again.
 
obw said:
I realize that for some people a perfect flight is one where you and your plane are safely on the ground and haven't busted any regulations, and other people nit-pick every detail. I got my PPL in the mid-1990s, stopped flying for about 20 years, and just started to get back into it this year. I grade myself after each flight, nit-pick the details, and would say that most flights are not 'perfect'.

After you're finished your trip, do you grade your flight? What do you consider to be a 'perfect' flight, and what percentage of your flights would you characterize as perfect?
Click to expand...
Yes. I do get paid to fly so it’s part of the job.
 
I try and learn something from every flight. Some things I did well, some not as good as could be. I try and focus on what went right more than what went wrong, as I figure if I'm focused on the "right", I won't have the opportunity for the "wrongs".

Flew to the same airport 2 days in a row. First day the approach and landing were perfect. Second day awful. I can feel bad and dwell on the second day, but instead I'm trying to focus on reviewing the F Flight flight log on the first day and mentally go over and over it so I can duplicate that in the future.
 
If you don’t have something to work on, then you aren’t pushing yourself. Which is ok too, if you are ok with where you are.
 
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I do, but I'm still training, too. I don't think I'll really be able to stop once I get my certificate, though. Force of habit and all.:) Thinking about each flight and element of it, the good and the bad, helps me get more out of each one and keeps my mind in the game between flights.
 
geneseib said:
My wife rates my landings.
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I believe all passengers do.

A pilot can do a perfect preflight, take-off, climb-out, cruise, navigation, approach, etc., including great radio work. But if you bounce the landing ... :(
 
A debrief is always a good idea. I usually don’t debrief if I’m flying solo but after instruction is a must IMO.
 
I don't grade, but I do reflect on them and try to improve on the little things every time.
 
ateamer said:
I’ve self-critiqued every flight since starting 19 years ago, and recently started jotting down notes. No more than three items each - what needs improvement, what was good. It helps me see consistent errors (allowing altitude to wander a bit when sightseeing, being too fast at the top of chandelles, floating in the flare - just those little things that can be better). Before the next flight I can review them and do better.

Since I want to get into aerobatics and formation flight, I figger actively debriefing is a plus.

Oh, and haven’t made a perfect flight yet. I’m always trying but haven’t gotten there.
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I do something similar. Just the high or (unfortunate) low points that need work. I grade my landings out of/10 and include the XWind component so I can always keep track of my XWind competency.
 
Three of us sat in easy chairs KOKH in the summer and hold up large numbers 1-9 of landings as the planes taxi back to the gas pumps.
 
Yes! Every time I fly and reach the ground, can walk away and the plane is still fly able, I give myself an A+.
 
What went right?

What went wrong?

What can I/we do better on the next flight?


Then again...
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brien23 said:
Three of us sat in easy chairs KOKH in the summer and hold up large numbers 1-9 of landings as the planes taxi back to the gas pumps.
Click to expand...
Almost makes me want to fly out to Oak Harbor when you do this next. Is there a prize for lowest scored landing that doesn't result in damage? Asking for a friend.
 
obw said:
I realize that for some people a perfect flight is one where you and your plane are safely on the ground and haven't busted any regulations, and other people nit-pick every detail. I got my PPL in the mid-1990s, stopped flying for about 20 years, and just started to get back into it this year. I grade myself after each flight, nit-pick the details, and would say that most flights are not 'perfect'.

After you're finished your trip, do you grade your flight? What do you consider to be a 'perfect' flight, and what percentage of your flights would you characterize as perfect?
Click to expand...
I do. I want to put together a little debrief worksheet or checklist or something to try and make it a consistent evaluation but haven't yet. I don't want another acronym to memorize or something that'll bog down details...just something repeatable so I can look back and judge performance over time. If you have anything like that and feel like sharing, please do.

Also, a little trick from my more performative past: if you really want to grade yourself, get it on video. It's awfully easy to do these days, and contrary to popular believe you never *have* to put it on YouTube. I have a GoPro that I just leave on a continuous loop (it erases the oldest videos to make room for the newest ones). I don't usually watch the whole thing, but if I can't remember what happened at some point I can go right to it on my phone and play it back. I have yet to watch any single flight from taxi to touchdown without finding something to do better next time.
 
The-Flying-Lawyer said:
I do. I want to put together a little debrief worksheet or checklist or something to try and make it a consistent evaluation but haven't yet. I don't want another acronym to memorize or something that'll bog down details...just something repeatable so I can look back and judge performance over time. If you have anything like that and feel like sharing, please do.

Also, a little trick from my more performative past: if you really want to grade yourself, get it on video. It's awfully easy to do these days, and contrary to popular believe you never *have* to put it on YouTube. I have a GoPro that I just leave on a continuous loop (it erases the oldest videos to make room for the newest ones). I don't usually watch the whole thing, but if I can't remember what happened at some point I can go right to it on my phone and play it back. I have yet to watch any single flight from taxi to touchdown without finding something to do better next time.
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Great suggestion, thanks. I assume your GoPro is in the cockpit rather than attached outside to a tie-down ring for example?
 
I dont, but i am sure the captain of the airliner that is holding short and eager to go places does when i am on a 3 mile final hanging from the prop
 
obw said:
Great suggestion, thanks. I assume your GoPro is in the cockpit rather than attached outside to a tie-down ring for example?
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Correct. Just a suction cup to an interior window with an audio adapter. A battery stick/puck is helpful if you want any endurance. I talk through my thought process the whole time (if I'm solo) - makes critiquing easier and I think it helps me fly my best anyway.
 
I heavily reflect on lots of it, the good and bad. I figure its how i get better...

Plus ya can take your gph down by half or more flying the lazyboy!
 
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