This is the FAA’s Aviation Instructors Handbook 1999. Be warned if on dial up, it is a 2meg pdf file, you may want to right click on it to download and save it.
Blair WI airport 5E6 is where I experienced my first flight in a small plane at age 14. Little did I know that years later I would earn my flight instructors certificate.
Its an interesting field, years back, night operations were done via lining up with vehicle security lights, followed by the placement of spherical road flares along the runway. Fortunatly in the late 80’s/early 90’s pilot controlled lighting was added.
Current DOT stats put the operations at 75/month with 56% of those operatoins as transient aircraft. There are 2 aircraft on the field.
Unfortunately, the city does not own the land, and it leases it, and the landownder is asking for a rent increase. While it might be justifiable, as it hasn’t changed in years, the city has decided to no longer make its lease payment nor continue to insure the airport. Thus its future is uncertain.
Its hard to justify the economic value created by grass strips, unless there is a known corporate presence, either by transient aircraft, or business aircraft on the field. Considering the city’s infrastructure costs, it is understandable that they would really wonder if its worthwhile to continue with 5E6 as a public airport.
It may be time to give
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I got some cockpit time a couple days ago though. It was truely amazing, but with one caveat. Their is a real tendency to keep ones head in the cockpit instead of looking outside. A second issue is its an easy airplane to get behind in. When we were leaving I made the remark that without significant ground training, one is going to be 60 miles behind the plane for the first 3 days of operation.
Its cool for sure, and fast, and really well though out. But for $450,000 is should be. The weeping wing, composite construction, dual alternators, ballistic recovery parachute, glass cockpit, side stick, and satellite datalink make this one cool plane.
I would think this is the type of AC that one needs to fly weekly, or at a minimum once a month. Unlike other equipment where you can easily jump in and be familiar even aftet an extended abscence, this is a different deal entirely.
Otoh, for the guy who travels by air a great deal, the high level of automation, the speed, and comfort make this an ideal aircraft. (And of course, I’ve only had a little bit of cockpit time), so I’m not the best judge, but I will say it was intimidating. I like my steam gauges!
Lets take a look at the laws of learning. While this was written for flight instructors, beginning students may find it of interest as well. If both the instructor, and student are on the same page, greater communication can occur, and the instructor can tailor a lessen more appropriately. For example, if the instructor knows what is intense to a student, or if the student is not ready to learn, he will tailor his lesson plan appropriately. Otherwise, the instructor is left to his own, to try and analyze the student, and in most cases, we do a pretty good job, but can be fooled occasionally.
The other thing is that for some newbie instructors, educational psychology is something learned to pass the written exam, and then it is soon forgotten. If used effectively, it is a wonderful tool to foster increased learning on the part of your students. Since every FIRC I have taken since 1993 emphasizes it, as well as a number of grey beard instructors I have worked with, or worked for, it is best not forgotten, although for some instructors, it comes automatically.
Tags: laws of learning
Further research on aviation web sites shows many high quality sites on learning to fly, and others with a soup to nuts approach. However, very few (in fact almost none) have an emphasis on teaching flying, as a result, our focus has changed.
I’ve always wondered about such programs. The latest one I heard of was Sport Pilot in a week.
This is encouraging in one way, in that it fosters interest and excitement in aviation. In addition, the short time and the financial commitment doesn’t allow the student to loose interest, or get sidetracked by other external factors.
The problem as I see it, is a lack of percolation time for higher levels of learning, combined with a lack of diversity in training. Any student needs time to comprehend, and apply new knowledge. In a weeks time, they can obtain a great deal of rote knowledge and skill. However, that is just not enough time to get to the higher levels of learning where one can apply it in other areas, or to derive new concepts and ideas.
Tags: accelerated programs
If I look back to the day I got my private pilots certificate over 20 years ago, I don’t think I was ever as technically proficient. Sure, I couldn’t do the commercial manuevers, or shoot an ILS to ATP standards, but my precision, and finesse in take offs and landings was never better. It was the same with straight and level. I could hold +/-10 feet for extended periods, and it was rare I would deviate much more than +/-50 feet. Of course at the time, I was shooting about 50 landings/week, and my goal was formation flying, so I worked for precision. My judgement at that time, well thats another story.
I often wondered why private and commercial pilots had to jump hoops in order to fly a specific aircraft with insurance whereas the CFI would only need a cursory checkout to teach in such a plane. This excludes of course multi-engine aircraft where we need 5 hours in type. I think its the judgement issue.
In the ideal world, flight training would occur shortly after a relevant ground school session. Its pretty difficult to jump into an airplane and learn to fly, unless you know what some of the parts of the airplane are, and the names of the controls. While your flight instructor will go over the material with you right before your flight, there is little time for you to digest the information.
Intro to Aviation Community Ed
Class is open to students age 16 and older. Tuesday April 18th, 7-9PM, 2006 St Charles High School Library, $15, please register at scschool prior to April 12th.
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