Tips from the Pros - March 2011
Get Back Into Flying!
By Julie Boatman Filucci
Manager, Cessna Pilot Centers
The air feels warmer, I swear. You may already hear birds on your morning walk. Spring comes into full swing in March and April, and that same verve that impels you to shed your coat may also compel you to look to the sky.
Has it been a few months since you’ve been flying? By the way, that’s completely normal. Life catches up with us, and frankly the prospect of preflighting in the cold is no one’s idea of a great time.
If you already have a place from which you rent an airplane, great—or maybe you have your own airplane. You’ve made the first step. But maybe there’s still some hesitation that keeps you from picking up the phone or going online to schedule. If you’re like me, you have to dig deep in the creases of your memory to recall your username and password to get to the online scheduler, or maybe you wonder about what airplanes are still available. A quick call to your flight school will clear things up in a hurry. Don’t be embarrassed…we have to remember so many processes these days and they all fade together, if you ask me.
So you have an appointment on the schedule. Now it’s time for a chart review. Pull up the latest charts online from any one of many providers (aopa.org is one) and review the airport layout, frequencies, and any “hot spots,” if your home airport has a history of runway incursions.
Do you need an instructor? When in doubt, say “yes!” This is your opportunity to practice anything you’re not comfortable doing on your own. In fact, if you come up with a few maneuvers that cause you to pause, that’s another clue you need an instructor.
Next on tap, get yourself current. On the ground, take a few extra minutes with your preflight. Slow yourself down. It’s exciting to get back into the air, but don’t rush. In the air, wake up the connection between your eyes and hands and feet with coordination exercises, and do some slow flight to regain your sense of the airplane at approach airspeed. Of course, a trio of landings is a minimum for the purposes of staying current, but you might also bring along a safety pilot and do an instrument approach or two if you’re rated.
So that’s it, right? Well, what if your gap has been years instead of months?
Get ready. Get current. Go fly! It’s the same process, just with a little more time devoted to each step.
You may have moved, or your former flight school is no longer an option. What do you look for in a school, in an instructor? Number one: A good flight school or instructor focuses on you. The reception should be friendly, and quickly get into assessing your needs. You should be put at ease, both by the staff’s professionalism and the overall impression of the school. Following an initial interview, the instructor should show up completely prepared at your next appointment, with a lesson plan that will assess your skills.
Two other important steps in the “get ready” process: Do you need a medical certificate and do you know the current regulations and airspace? If you haven’t flown since 9/11, things have changed. It’s not that hard—just a little different, and your instructor will guide you through the changes. But you’ll feel more confident if you show up with some background. You can review regs online through AOPA (aopa.org) or EAA (eaa.org), for example.
Once you’re ready, you’ll follow your instructor’s plan to get you current. This may take a few hours, perhaps up to ten hours if the rust is thick, so set your expectations appropriately.
Current? Now for the fun part: Go fly! Make flying an integral part of your life. Set an appointment like you would any regular exercise. Lapsed pilots can get back in the game—and we look forward to seeing you up there!
