hyphen81
Pre-takeoff checklist
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- Mar 28, 2014
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hyphen81
Hello all, new member, first post...so I've got that going for me, which is nice.
I started flight school about 10 years ago at the age of 20, and while on one of my first solo flights, entering the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at KMQY (Smyrna TN), I came within 15 feet (ish) of being hit by another student pilot who was turning crosswind to stay in the pattern after takeoff. I didn't realize what was happening until I saw him flying over my head. When I got back to KBNA (Nashville TN) which was my home airport, he was waiting at the ramp to apologize, which was nice. I did maybe 1 or 2 more short solo flights after that and then stopped.
I've never lost the desire to get back up there, and recently it became an option financially. So I got my 3rd class medical, selected an instructor at a calmer non-towered airport near me, and have been really excited about it (it's been a dream since I was a kid). I have my first flight scheduled for this Tuesday. However, the closer I get to the day, the more apprehensive I get about flying again, and I worry that I won't be prepared for situations that may/will come up.
I know a healthy fear/respect is a good thing, and I am not one to let fear stop me from doing the things I want to do, but I'm just wondering if anyone has had any kind of similar feelings/experiences and if you have any recommendations for overcoming it, and feeling comfortable flying? Maybe it will come with training and I'm over-thinking it?
Thanks in advance for any help re-assurance you can provide!
I started flight school about 10 years ago at the age of 20, and while on one of my first solo flights, entering the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at KMQY (Smyrna TN), I came within 15 feet (ish) of being hit by another student pilot who was turning crosswind to stay in the pattern after takeoff. I didn't realize what was happening until I saw him flying over my head. When I got back to KBNA (Nashville TN) which was my home airport, he was waiting at the ramp to apologize, which was nice. I did maybe 1 or 2 more short solo flights after that and then stopped.
I've never lost the desire to get back up there, and recently it became an option financially. So I got my 3rd class medical, selected an instructor at a calmer non-towered airport near me, and have been really excited about it (it's been a dream since I was a kid). I have my first flight scheduled for this Tuesday. However, the closer I get to the day, the more apprehensive I get about flying again, and I worry that I won't be prepared for situations that may/will come up.
I know a healthy fear/respect is a good thing, and I am not one to let fear stop me from doing the things I want to do, but I'm just wondering if anyone has had any kind of similar feelings/experiences and if you have any recommendations for overcoming it, and feeling comfortable flying? Maybe it will come with training and I'm over-thinking it?
Thanks in advance for any help re-assurance you can provide!