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Friday, May 29
Schedules and Spring Showers
By Brady Lane at 11:30 AM
Flight log to date Hours flown: 22.9 | Days since I started: 227 | Cost: $3,695.80
When I started flight training my goal was to fly 2-3 times a week but, at the very least, once a week. As you can see, my ideal schedule hasn't panned out. This reality is something I've learned many students and instructors battle with while learning to fly—schedules are tough.
Everybody's situation is different. Some people can only fly in the evenings, some only on weekends, others only in the morning. I thought scheduling wouldn't be that big of a problem for me since I live in Oshkosh and work only about a mile away from the runway. I was wrong.
So, here's something I've learned about flight training: be pro-active about scheduling flight lessons. This is still not a guarantee, but it's better than not having a plan.
For instance, this week we had three flight lessons scheduled. Two were cancelled because of winds and rain, the third cancelled due to a schedule conflict with Jason. Jason encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunity to fly with another instructor, so I called Whitney and learned she was about to leave town for a week. Bummer. Jason spends most weekends at his home in Michigan, so flying this weekend isn't an option. Next week, I have an out-of-town business trip and a couple other projects that will likely keep me from flying. Right now it looks like Wednesday is the only day I might be able to fly. I'm crossing my fingers for good weather because then I leave town for a four-day camping trip. Grrrrr. See what I mean.
I've learned life doesn't come to halt when you learn to fly, so you have to make it a priority and take every opportunity you can.
While I've only had a couple true flight lessons this past month, I've had other opportunities to get in the air and I'm sure these experiences have been good for me. I flew in the right seat on two air-to-air photo missions at Sun 'n Fun to help spot traffic. I also rode in the backseat of a Cessna 206 while a missionary pilot flew his annual proficiency check. It was good for me to hear and see what these checkrides are like. I also flew in the front seat of an AirCam (which is an amazing plane by the way). I saw firsthand what it takes to plan and execute a real cross-country trip like this. I realize not everybody gets opportunities like this (I normally don't either), but my point is to always look for ways to stay sharp and continue improving your skills as a pilot.
How do the rest of you handle scheduling flight lessons? Is it hard for everybody? In an ideal world—where work schedules, family schedules, and weather aren't ever an issue—I'd be flying 3 times a week, but life doesn't happen like that. So, those of you who've traveled this road before, do you have any advice?
Speaking of advice, I really appreciate all the comments on the previous post about short and soft field landings. There's some great tips in there and I can't wait to try some of them out.
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Posted by
@ 01:11 PM, May 29
Hi Brady,
Schedules, yes you have to plan ahead, like this past week I looked at the weather forcast ahead of time and using what I learned about weather from paragliding I booked my solo x-country for Wednesday.
So I plotted the flight on the chart two days before, completed the flight log and flight plan the night before, phoned my instructor who check them telephonically. I then filed the plan with ATC in Cape Town, the next day at 8:30am I activated my flight plan and began my planned route of 170nm.
The weather was excellent, as we can get heavy fog in the mornings and high winds here in Cape Town, As I routed over the field I noted the time on the flight log and headed 345deg towards Saldanha (FASD)
44min later I arrived over field, the air was quite bumpy from some rotor coming off the surrounding hills.
After battling through the turbulance I headed 117deg on my second leg 52mn to a small town called Porterville, I chatted to Langebaan Airforce Base as they routed me past, nice and close to the southern runway.
38min later I affived over the town and I turned onto my final heading 218 deg back to Fisantekraal. Weather was nice all the way and I arrived back overhead within 5min of my projected time.
On a nav planning is everything, I like the book "PPL" by Jim Davis and the explaination and approach to navigation.
I really enjoy reading your blog!
keep up the good work.
All the best
John G
Tip of the day: Find a good weather site.
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Posted by
@ 01:15 PM, May 29
I agree, my training has been slowed to a halt, due to weather and money.
I am thinking of an accelerated program in the future if my training doesn't resume soon. Any thoughts on those programs?
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Posted by
@ 04:09 PM, May 29
Hi Brady,
I was lucky in that the place I went for lessons had an online scheduler, which made it quick and easy to see open spots weeks out. So what I did was schedule myself like crazy. If there was an open spot at a time when I knew I didn't have anything going on and the projected winds and weather looked good, I'd plunk myself in for a 2 hour slot. Sometimes that meant being on the schedule every day of the week...sometimes 2x a day. However, knowing that weather and winds change from day to day, I figured I'd be lucky if half those even happened. Nevertheless, scheduling like that has always given me at least 2 lessons.
Of course, to schedule like that, it would be a good idea to ensure your bank account can handle those weeks when you actually end up flying 4 or more times. (:
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Posted by
@ 08:29 PM, May 29
Flight lessons do have to be a top priority if you want to make steady progress.
I suppose I had the almost ideal siuation:
I'm single, self-employed, and had plenty of cash in the bank. I made my lessons a priority, and scheduled my work week around my CFI's availability.
At first I was flying 5 hours/week, but going home for the holidays as well as the January weather put the brakes on that. Finished my private in 52 hours over a 5 month period.
Just keep going.........you'll get there.
Doug
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Posted by
@ 10:09 PM, May 29
I know what you are going through. I had all my training at Waukesha County Airport back in 2003. Had the same scheduling problems due to weather. I actually rescheduled for two months to get my checkride due to weather. That was frustrating! But, it finally all worked out in the end. Just keep at it, you will get your license.
I really enjoy watching your blog...it really brings back some good memories of learning to fly. I now live in the San Diego area, but there is something about flying back in the midwest that I miss. Keep it up!
Also, get yourself a scanner or a radio that can receive the aircraft band (if you don't already have one). Just listening to the local air traffic and controllers, and having a mental picture of what is going on can help keep you sharp!
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Posted by
@ 01:08 AM, May 30
To help with the weather problem.
When I started flying paragliders we would often spend more time para-waiting then flying waiting for the right weather, so I looked up a few weather sites and found one that seemed to give fairly accurate results for my area.
After awhile you get a feel for when the site is accurate or not.
my favourite site is www.windfinder.com
Hope that helps!
John G
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Posted by
@ 07:24 PM, May 31
Hi mate, yeah scheduling lessons is hard. Right now in Australia, winter has hit so there's a good chance of at least 3 to 4 weeks of no flying in between lessons. Flight sim's help with basic memory items and procedures but there's nothing like getting up there.
I generally book about 4 lessons a month and during winter am finding that it's hard to keep those.
Then there's rostering issues at work, someone will call in sick, usually on a day that I'm booked to go flying and I end up working.
So yeah it's not easy booking lessons. You're lucky you're so close to your airfield. I was driving for 2 hours one way to get to one airfield but I've since found a new instructor so my drive is only about an hour or just over that.
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Posted by
@ 08:15 PM, May 31
Keep after it Brady! It took me 30 years but you're going to beat that by a ton! I have a photo of you from Ogden, Ut. during last years B-17 tour I would like to get to you. Let me know where to send it.
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Posted by
@ 09:16 AM, June 01
Hey Brady, This is John from Wild Rose. Was good to have you stop by Sunday. I wish we had more time to talk but My buddie came by and you were going to the hatchery. Hope you stop by next sunday the 7th for our fly-in and we can talk a bit. Shoot me an e-mail sometime. Hope your flying is going well. John
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Posted by
@ 11:17 AM, June 01
Scheduleing is a bummer sometimes..If its not weather it seems to be something else. For me lately its been the funds!! Tough times but I am trying to squeeze every penny I can from places to put toward my flying. Looks like my solo is coming up in a few weeks. Pretty excited about that. Hope all is well. Keep it up and before long we will be calling you "Pilot Brady"
www.mypilotchronicles.com
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Posted by
@ 12:57 PM, June 01
Brady,
I understand the frustration of not flying because of scheduling, but it is better to not fly, than pushing to fly in questionable conditions. I was determined to get my ticket in the shortest number of hours possible. As a result I ended up not flying at all for a couple of months because the last thing I had to do was my X country. The seasonal "May grey" and "June gloom" that we experience here in San Diego prevented my flight. As it was I wanted to fly so bad that I did a solo X country in conditions that were legal, but with my experience, were questionable. My CFI knew that I could handle it, so he let me make the call, but upon my return I exclaimed that "I will never do anything like that again"! It's just not worth it. I had a case of getthereitis regarding my ticket and that can be just as hazardous as the other kind of getthereitis disease.
As frustrating as this time can be, it is worth all of the time, effort and money that you spend. When you take your first passenger along for a flight as PIC you will have realized a dream that few people have had the privilege of experiencing!
Thank you for sharing your experience, and for all that you are doing to promote aviation.
Ken B
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Posted by
@ 01:18 PM, June 02
This was a big problem for me.. it took me fully 2 years from first lesson to getting my certificate. Getting my schedule, my instructor's schedule and the Scottish weather to all co-operate was not easy. It gets frustrating because you need to spend time catching up.
In the end I decamped to one of the British "pilot factories" in Florida and did my last 15 hours in 10 days.
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Posted by
@ 10:18 AM, June 04
Hey Brady, I took the LSA practical exam last Sunday and passed!! I'm flying the Remos G3 just like the one you're flying. The oral testing started at 8am and lasted until 10. We then went flying for the proficiency part. I was on pins and needles the whole time knowing that at any point if I missed a maneuver the test would be over and I'd have to come back another time. It was great making the last landing of the day and taxiing back to the hanger. The pressure was over and my examiner shook my hand and gave me his congratulation. I can only describe it as exhilarating and an experience that I'll never forget. Good luck to you Brady and thanks for posting this video blog. Your posts were certainly a big factor in my getting interested in LSA flying.
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Posted by
@ 11:39 AM, June 09
Brady- Step back. Don't worry about the weather. Don't stress over the schedules or timelines....at the end of the day you are actually committted to doing it! -and you will get your license. You are envied (in a nice way :-) by many of us who are unable to find a way to raise the $ or find the time or are physically unable to learn to fly. Keep the updates coming.... GOOD LUCK from the UK.
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Posted by
@ 03:33 PM, June 09
Hey Brady...
I have the same problem except my schedule conflict has always been school. Lucky for me i guess, in august im going to The university of North Dakota to be a professional pilot. That way they mandate my flying schedule.
P.S. Enjoy the AirCam? Yeah most people do and so do i...every time i get in ours. My dad is a partner in one and its a blast to fly. As im sure you found out, it out-climbs anything you've ever flown. At least it feels like it.
Have Fun and Stick With it.
Jason
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Posted by
@ 06:30 PM, June 19
Good going Brady. I've been following your blog from the beginning. I'm going for my PPL and have my night x-country tonight... can't wait! I fly out of KBFI in Seattle so I know the woes of weather. Good luck going forward!
Nicholas, first off I would say this video blog is the most comprehensive and informative of any flight training blog I've found. Also, if you take the time to read all the comments I think you'll find many people have been inspired. In fact, a few even give credit to this blog for starting them off!
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