DutchessFlier
Line Up and Wait
Yesterday, I had probably my worst expeience in flight training. I joined PoA because I wanted to have a resource to work with through my training and beyond. Thanks for being here!
I am about 40 hours into my PPL. This was an interesting week. Flew my prep ride for the 3rd solo with my CFI (who is an awesome teacher and friend) then he cut me loose on Friday. Was great! Flew for about 1.5 hours out into the practice area..did my maneuvers (even full stalls) had some fun flying in the area, out about 20 miles and tracked the local VOR back to the approach to my home field when I returned. I felt great and learned alot about myself on that flight. Got back, we did the postflight, and my CFI sets us up for the next lessons: back to more intensive work in short field/soft field T/O & landings, then VOR work, night work then cross country work.
Yesterday... lesson to do soft field/short field work. Weather was crappy and windy, but we had the ceiling and visibility to stay in the pattern. As I was preflighting the plane, I am thinking, man this is above my personal minimums right now. (RWY 15 / wind 12 kts 130-140 / gusts to 19). We talked about it, and I decided to go, and would call the flight if necessary.
I was horrible!!! I was inconsistent, was unstabilized in just about every phase of my pattern work, had the usual student crosswind issues and was trying to work in soft field work. I knew I was not mentally sharp, and my mind kept going back to that preflight moment when I questioned myself about the conditions. What bothers me the most, is whether my decision even to do that flight was wrong. Over the last 12 hours I am wrestling with the fact that my decision making skills should have been better.
My CFI and I had a very honest, open and intense postflight. He was very concerned that I was not listening to his instruction, that I was ahead of myself in the plane. I explained my mental state, the preflight concerns, and that my mind was not on the lesson, but was on the conditions and my decision to fly at all. How can it be that one lesson, and a solo flight, you fly in a manner which demonstrates proficiency,skill, and safety and the next, you can't seem to do it at all?
All things considered, I am airing this out to you all, first to get it out, and second to get any feedback you may have for me. Your thoughts and suggestions-comments are very much appreciated!
I am about 40 hours into my PPL. This was an interesting week. Flew my prep ride for the 3rd solo with my CFI (who is an awesome teacher and friend) then he cut me loose on Friday. Was great! Flew for about 1.5 hours out into the practice area..did my maneuvers (even full stalls) had some fun flying in the area, out about 20 miles and tracked the local VOR back to the approach to my home field when I returned. I felt great and learned alot about myself on that flight. Got back, we did the postflight, and my CFI sets us up for the next lessons: back to more intensive work in short field/soft field T/O & landings, then VOR work, night work then cross country work.
Yesterday... lesson to do soft field/short field work. Weather was crappy and windy, but we had the ceiling and visibility to stay in the pattern. As I was preflighting the plane, I am thinking, man this is above my personal minimums right now. (RWY 15 / wind 12 kts 130-140 / gusts to 19). We talked about it, and I decided to go, and would call the flight if necessary.
I was horrible!!! I was inconsistent, was unstabilized in just about every phase of my pattern work, had the usual student crosswind issues and was trying to work in soft field work. I knew I was not mentally sharp, and my mind kept going back to that preflight moment when I questioned myself about the conditions. What bothers me the most, is whether my decision even to do that flight was wrong. Over the last 12 hours I am wrestling with the fact that my decision making skills should have been better.
My CFI and I had a very honest, open and intense postflight. He was very concerned that I was not listening to his instruction, that I was ahead of myself in the plane. I explained my mental state, the preflight concerns, and that my mind was not on the lesson, but was on the conditions and my decision to fly at all. How can it be that one lesson, and a solo flight, you fly in a manner which demonstrates proficiency,skill, and safety and the next, you can't seem to do it at all?
All things considered, I am airing this out to you all, first to get it out, and second to get any feedback you may have for me. Your thoughts and suggestions-comments are very much appreciated!
Last edited: