Busy, what to do about landings?

[spiderweb]

Whew, am I glad I did the cross country a few days ago. The next month looks bad for flying. I'll be out of town for awhile, and then I have a concert on the 10th of April. I have a sim session tomorrow, but the first available time to fly will be the 11th.

These days, I don't get that rusty on my landings when I'm three weeks away from flying, especially when I keep my mind in the game (go over flying aspects mentally). But I wonder what, if anything, you'd suggest to help stay good at landings so that I do OK on the 11th? Looking back at my logbook, I realize that this past Thursday (my X-C) was the first time I'd flown in three weeks, also.

Three mitigating factors: 1) I did put over 4 hours and four landings in the book Thursday, though, so I did knock rust off; 2) on the weeks I didn't fly, I had a three hour sim/ground session; and 3) I have been practicing stuff on MSFS2004 (which is good for IFR , but not so good for landings).

Any thoughts?

Once I get back, I'm going to be flying once a week until mid May when I'll be doing the big push for the checkride.

 

[bbchien]

Whew, am I glad I did the cross country a few days ago. The next month looks bad for flying. I'll be out of town for awhile, and then I have a concert on the 10th of April. I have a sim session tomorrow, but the first available time to fly will be the 11th.

Bring your checkbook and your logbook. Setup a 45 minute checkout in a 172 with the local FBO CFI where you go where you do. Just having that basic VFR stuff, maybe five minutes of hood, scanning, etc....will be a great fade-preserver.

Maybe the board can help you find some FBO place on your itinerary....?

 

[spiderweb]

LOL! I wish I could--I'm going to Taiwan, and there's no civil aviation there. I will have a sim tomorrow, and one on April 5th, so my mind will be in the game. Maybe I should request a few landings on the 10th?

 

[bbchien]

LOL! I wish I could--I'm going to Taiwan, and there's no civil aviation there. I will have a sim tomorrow, and one on April 5th, so my mind will be in the game. Maybe I should request a few landings on the 10th?

Wow. No Kidding. No GA in Taiwan for sure.
Sigh.

(almost) Only in America.

 

[judypilot]

Do what you said--visualize. You'll have lots of time to do that on the flights to and from Taiwan!

Visualization works great for me, though not everyone. Basically that's how I broke through plateaus back when I was a student pilot.

Judy

 

[spiderweb]

Thanks, Judy!

 

[rpadula]

Ben,

Don't obsess over it.

I'm an engineer, so I'm pretty conservative, and I feel just like you do when I'm off for >1 month. Sometimes I go 3 and 4 months. My flight on Saturday was my first since November! So, I always grab an instructor for fear of forgetting how to land.

Know what? I haven't forgotten yet Sure it might take a few times to knock the rust off, but I think if you're thoughtful enough to be concerned, you'll do OK.

-Rich

 

[MSmith]

I think I had almost 2 weeks off between my last flight before my Private checkride and the checkride itself. I did fine - and landing was one of my weaker points.

Can you get into the air early on the 11th? Maybe 1/2 hour or so of pattern work would help.

 

[Dave Krall CFII]

If you go to the beachs outside of Tainon or Tapei,
the ultralight flyers are often available...

LOL! I wish I could--I'm going to Taiwan, and there's no civil aviation there. I will have a sim tomorrow, and one on April 5th, so my mind will be in the game. Maybe I should request a few landings on the 10th?

 

[spiderweb]

Ben,

Don't obsess over it.

I'm an engineer, so I'm pretty conservative, and I feel just like you do when I'm off for >1 month. Sometimes I go 3 and 4 months. My flight on Saturday was my first since November! So, I always grab an instructor for fear of forgetting how to land.

Know what? I haven't forgotten yet Sure it might take a few times to knock the rust off, but I think if you're thoughtful enough to be concerned, you'll do OK.

-Rich

thanks, Rich. I might feel like your rabbit, there, for a couple of landings, but I guess I'll be OK after!

 

[spiderweb]

I think I had almost 2 weeks off between my last flight before my Private checkride and the checkride itself. I did fine - and landing was one of my weaker points.

Can you get into the air early on the 11th? Maybe 1/2 hour or so of pattern work would help.

Thanks, Mark. I did reserve some of the lesson time on the 11th for pattern work. My CFII's reaction was, "Aw, just don't worry about it, Ben!"

 

[spiderweb]

If you go to the beachs outside of Tainon or Tapei,
the ultralight flyers are often available...

REALLY! That's exciting. Do I need to bring a logbook?

 

[Arnold]

Ben, would you forget how to play the Cello if you took a month or even a year off? No of course not.

Ben: He is a Cellist, so he has technique and knows how to use a bow.
NOT I know how to use a bow, so I have technique, therefore I am a Cellist.

Ben, which of these is you?

1) "If I could land an airplane, I'd know how to fly and then I'd be a pilot"

or

2) "I am a pilot, so I know how to fly, so I can land and airplane."

If you think remembering how to land makes you a pilot then you are not yet a pilot. If you are a pilot you will know how to land. The beauty of this is -- you get to choose.

Remember what I've said a few times elsewhere: Flying is 90% (it's actually greater than that) mental. You are a pilot because you decided you are a pilot, the rest is just technique.

I've failed two check rides in 25 years. My first 135 PIC ride and my first 121 PIC ride. In both cases I failed because I got in the airplane thinking, "if I pass this ride I'll be a pilot" WRONG that is why I failed. When I passed I got in thinking "I am a pilot so I will pass this ride" RIGHT, I passed both rechecks. That's not arrogance or cockiness or over confidence, it is simply being present to the possibility you create for yourself.

There is no reason why you can't walk away from flying for a month and jump right back in without missing a beat. YOU ARE A PILOT.

Don't worry about flying, go on your trip and enjoy where you are and fly when you get home.

Finally,

Nothing anyone ever says is true. It is what it is which is just a conversation.

 

[spiderweb]

Thanks, Arnold. Ninety percent mental--good point.

 

[MSmith]

Thanks, Mark. I did reserve some of the lesson time on the 11th for pattern work. My CFII's reaction was, "Aw, just don't worry about it, Ben!"

So, you go up and do 3 perfect landings (or 2 good ones and one reasonable one). You end up relaxed - "I can still land".

I'd rather be relaxed than wonder.

But you probably don't need it anyway.

 

[judypilot]

Thanks, Arnold. Ninety percent mental--good point.

Arnold's got it exactly right. One year I logged only 2.1 hours, so that translates to some loooooonnng layoffs (also a significant deterioration of mental health, cured when I bought my airplane the next year). I didn't forget how to land or anything else. Of course, by that time I'd been flying for 11 years, but still.... There was rust, but in small enough amounts that it surprised the heck out of me.

Relax and enjoy Taiwan. In early April, I'll be going to Argentina for a couple of weeks--and no flying.

Judy

 

[rpadula]

thanks, Rich. I might feel like your rabbit, there, for a couple of landings, but I guess I'll be OK after!

Ben,

I'm not sure if pancakes on your head will help your landings!

 

[rpadula]

(also a significant deterioration of mental health, cured when I bought my airplane the next year).

Sure you've got the order of that right, Judy?

Most owners I've known, the mental health goes after they buy the plane. Oh wait...maybe that's financial health

 

[judypilot]

Sure you've got the order of that right, Judy?

Most owners I've known, the mental health goes after they buy the plane. Oh wait...maybe that's financial health

Yes, you're thinking of financial health, which is a whole 'nother thing altogether. Which would you rather have? Money or your sanity?

Judy

 

[Dave Krall CFII]

REALLY! That's exciting. Do I need to bring a logbook?

It's Asia Man,

They don't care about no stinking logbooks...

The hardest part is convincing them you're not a spy or looking to transport defectors ! No lie.

 

[SCCutler]

Ben, I cannot wait to fly with you, but I am a little bit intimidated; if I am PIC, I know I'll be making technical errors which will come to your attention. Of course, you'll exercise discretion in telling me about it.

This is, by the way, a compliment on your thoroughness, not a snide and churlish insult.