Fatigued and tired

[norton2005]

Hello people, I'm currently doing my PPL, justr started actually, a few hours in, the problem i'm having is that after every flight I feel very tired and fatigued and even a bit of a headache after some of them, will this be something that eventually just goes away when you get more experiance and used to it, I wouldn't want to stop my aspirations because of this.

[SkyHawk-N]

Are you feeling very tense and stressed during your lessons? If so, this could be part of the cause and will probably get better as you progress, become more confident and worry less.

[youngskywalker]

I wouldnt worry too much, I used to get that occasionally. Try drinking plenty water before and after each flight, although beware you don't want to be desperate for the loo during the lesson! Also you may want to try a different headset, I found that the schools old headsets used to give me terrible headaches as they simply did not fit properly and the noise was terrible, I bought a dave clarke half way through my ppl and it made a huge difference, I still use it now 14 years on! The mental strain when you begin something like learning to fly can also be giving you headaches, try and study up on each lesson before hand so that it gives your brain time to absorb all the new information.

It get's easier!

[Cricket23]

I agree with everything that youngskywalker has said.

When I started I was completely knackered - even remember going home after on tiring lesson and having a kip!

C23

[gcolyer]

The headset advice is good. A comfortable set that is nice and clear makes a difference.

As for the fatigue you will eventualy get over it (for most flights). Just remember when you are flying you are far more alert than you usually are, and when you are learning to fly you are trying to learn whilst being highly alert all the time.

Without panicing you it might be be worth getting a carbon detector in the aircraft. Chances of there being enough carbon emissions making it in to the cockpit a fairly low, but it is something to keep in mind.

[Blackshift]

Don't worry about it...

You are learning a complex new skill which is also a bit of an overall assault on the senses as well as being a mental challenge. The heightened state of arousal which is necessary to deal with this process is exhausting for many - I remember feeling exactly the same when I first began PPL training.

Human beings are generally very adaptable though, and after enough repeated exposure to this strange new environment you will probably learn to relax more as you become more confident and familiar with your flying, and will not feel so exhausted afterwards.

[gpn01]

A few things that may help:

Plenty of rest the night before (and no alcohol)
Avoid long stressfull journeys to the airfield if possible - you'll be knackered before you start!
Drink plenty of water (dehydration's quite a major contributor to fatigue and headaches. After a hard sortie it's quite likely that your back will feel drenched due to sweating)
Eat appropriately - I'm not a dietician but I know that some foods will be better than others (e.g. foods that are slow release, such as bananas, rather than quick release energy bursts such as candy bars)
Remember to switch into flying mode and don't allow non-flying thoughts (e.g. work, family, etc) to distract you. Switch the mobile off when you arrive at the airfield! This helps to reduce your stress
If you wear glasses, keep them clean (and have your eyes retested to make sure that your not straining them)

Finally, remember that you're under quite a lot of mental pressure, with a high level of continous concentration, and your body will be experiencing some unusual physical sensations (e.g. G-load when turning). It takes time to adapt and for your body to acclimatise to this new regime.....but it's well worth it!

[tangovictor]

plenty of good advice already given, you have to bare in mind, your brain is probably working near overload, so many new things to constantly think about, the good news is, soon, some of those difficult tasks become automatic, and you don't have to donate as much brain power to it.
Remember when you learnt to drive ! awkward at first, soon becomes second nature

[BackPacker]

In addition to what's been said.. I find that if I've been flying above 3000 feet for a substantial time, I need to "pop" my ears when on the ground - or preferably before I land. I'm also a diver so it's not a big deal for me, just something I need to remember.

[aviator84]

"Norton2005"

Im pretty much the same as you after every lesson especially when im in the circuit and doing 5 to 6 touch and goes in a row - id come out afterwards with jelly legs and ready for my bed, although im fine when doing some local VFR you just learn to ease up a bit.

all the best.

AV84.

[cotterpot]

gcolyer re
carbon emissions
Think you mean carbon monoxide

[gcolyer]

Cotterpot i think you will find you are correct, however i could not be arsed to type the it all out. And I am fairly sure every knows what I mean.

On the pedantic note carbon monoxide emissions are still a "carbon" emission :eek:

[PompeyPaul]

Although fly 2 lessons and sit an exam on Saturday \ Sunday. Garaunteed sweet dreams that night!

[sternone]

What headset do you have/use ? Get a David Clark 10-13.4 or a Bose X !!

[IO540]

Brain overload is common in PPL training. I recall being like a zombie after a flight.

The way PPL training is done it is quite hard and not pleasant. If you want it easier and much more enjoyable, you take the instructor on trips and learn as you go along. Lots of well-funded people have done that. The problem is that you need a lot more than the 8k the PPL normally costs. The instructor will love you of course - they rarely get a chance to fly very far.

Carbon monoxide is a serious suggestion - well worth a check. A cr*p headset is another possibility - most headsets used in the training scene are cheap knackered types.

[norton2005]

Thanks for the replies guys. All useful suggestions. The headset that I use is a pooleys set that a friend gave me as he's got no use for it anymore as he flies for the airlines. Last lesson they were a bit tight, maybe that had something to do with it? Need to sort out the adjustments on it. As of the end of next week I'll be starting 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, hopefully that won't make things worse, should be getting used to it with those kind of hours I would imagine.

[dublinpilot]

If you intend to fly long term (I know most people probably intend to fly long term, but still give up fairly quickly) then I would suggest that you go and buy yourself the best ANR headset that you can afford.

This will reduce noise-a big cause of fatigue. It will also make radio communication much clearer and easier to understand/learn, thus speeding up your training and saving you money.

One other thing to findout is how to adjust the squelsh on your intercom (if possible). Sometimes an incorrectly set squelsh means that you have a constant background shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh noise. When this happens, it is EXTREMELY tiring, but easily eliminated by turning the correct knob ;) Don't ever under estimate the tiring effect of background noise.

Also practice your circuits/radio calls or what ever part of your training you are on, when at home, in the bath, driving to work....wherever you are. You are trying to train your brain to do these automatically without having to think about them. When you can do these automatically, it's one less thing you have to do in the air, which will help free up your mind ;)

dp

[sternone]

Don't worry for next week, relax and enjoy your flying week, let's hope the weather is with you!!

If you are happy with your current headset, try to borrow one from another student and see if it helps.

Go to bed early and relax, i myself i'm doing my PPL flying (if the weather allows it) every day and ofcorse it is very tiring!! My wife says the house is much calmer when i started this intensive PPL training.

I think the pain in the head is about the huge amount of concentration you need to use to perform the multiple flying items, step by step it will go automaticly, don't worry. You did got your medical already ? Don't worry then.

On what plane are you training ?

[norton2005]

Yep done the medical, you? I'm on the C152, what about you?

[sternone]

Yep done the medical, you? I'm on the C152, what about you?

Same over here, doing in 152... after that i'm moving on to warrior III avidyne glass to get my IR...

do to the mass bad reactions about learning to fly on glass directly i choose the 152, much cheaper also ofcorse...

[Whirlybird]

Learning to fly is totally, utterly, and completely knackering. You're just normal!

As Gemma said, instructors don't know how much you can take in, as people vary dramatically. Because of the cost, and because a lot of people who learn to fly like challenges, we instructors tend to push students quite hard. Often though, we don't even know we're doing it. I often don't realise students are tired until they start to move the controls the wrong way when previously they were doing it right, or don't hear what I'm saying to them even when I yell. At that point, I tell them they need a rest. What usually happens is they swear they're OK and not a bit tired!

As of the end of next week I'll be starting 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, hopefully that won't make things worse, should be getting used to it with those kind of hours I would imagine.

You may find that doesn't work for you. Some people can cope with intensive courses, some can't. Personally, I hate them. I tried to do my PPL that way and it was completely counter-productive - I got so tired I couldn't learn. I abandoned my CPL in the middle because by then I knew enough to know it wasn't working for me; I had a break and then carried on. So try by all means, but you may find that isn't the optimum way for you to learn. If you have a good instructor he should notice and tell you, but don't rely on it - you'll need to decide for yourself.

[norton2005]

I've done 4 of the 7 exams so far. Air law, met, aero general principles of flight, comms. so the full time flying will be with 3 exams to go. HPL and flight planning look really short so shouldn't be to taxing. Only big one left then is nav. You think that's enough done to cope with intensive training?

[norton2005]

Thanks you to. How many exams have you done so far?

[n5296s]

If it's any consolation, after 1000 hrs I still feel sleepy after a long or difficult flight. After a session of acro I often fall asleep in an armchair, something I never do otherwise. A long cross country flight has the same effect. I think flying just takes a very high degree of concentration, unlike anything else most people do.

n5296s

[Whirlybird]

You think that's enough done to cope with intensive training?

Absolutely no way anyone can know that. Everyone is different. For me, intensive training doesn't work, ever. I tried to do a PADI diving course in three days in Sharm el Sheikh some years ago, and although everyone else coped, I started getting upset and exhausted and had to take a day off. That's me. I don't know about you. Try it, but if it doesn't work, don't beat yourself up, just take it more slowly.

[IO540]

n5296s

Which headset are you using?

Do you fly at altitude, e.g. 10k feet plus?

I've flown 5hrs+ manually (autopilot roll servo failed) at 10k feet, no oxygen, and was tired at the end of that.

[BEagle]

norton2005, it could just be that you're one of those rare students who actually does what they're told - and lOOks out of the window to assess the correct attitude.

The optical quality of most Spamcans' fly bespattered, oil streaked windscreens is hardly Carl Zeiss! Add to that the bright background (doesn't even need to be sunny - the glare from white clouds is bad enough) and you can soon get sufficient eye strain to give you a thumping headache.

A good set of shades, chosen for reasons other than posing potential, will help considerably. But certainly heed the dehydration, carbon monoxide and headset advice as well!

[SkyHawk-N]

The optical quality of most Spamcans' fly bespattered, oil streaked windscreens is hardly Carl Zeiss!

...and always clean a fly bespattered windscreen during your pre-flight checks ;)

[Fuji Abound]

I have been watching the golf today .. .. ..

all I can say is it is like that famous quote,

"the more I practice the luckier I get"

much like flying, the more you do, the more current you are, and the more experience you have, the easier and more relaxing it becomes.

[norton2005]

I do try to look out to correct my attitude but to be honest I seem to refer to the attitude indicator which seems to be the easier option. Are you marked down for this if the examiner catches you doing it in the flight test?

[SkyHawk-N]

You should be looking out of the cockpit the majority of the time and not at the instruments. Recognising the correct 'picture' out of the window is extremely important and takes practice. The examiner WILL notice and it could (probably would) count against you, especially if other aspects of your flying are cause for concern.

[stickandrudderman]

You might find that carefull consideration of your food intake will make a difference.
I have to avoid sandwiches cos they make me sleepy!
This doesn't only have to apply to flying either.

[modelman]

Doing anything properly IMHO is tiring as it proves that you are concentrating 100%
I worry about people who step out of a car after a 500 mile car journey feeling fresh as a daisy,I always feel knackered.I seem to spend the whole journey weighing up others,trying to predict what they might do etc ( born out of trying to survive on a motorbike) and find it quite draining.
I suspect the super relaxed types could possibly going on 'mental autopilot'.:=

Safe flying
MM

[n5296s]

n5296s

Which headset are you using?

Do you fly at altitude, e.g. 10k feet plus?


I think it's just continuous concentration. Though for the record I use a Lightspeed 30G in my plane, which I find very comfortable. (Hopeless in the Pitts though with the high noise level, there I use a DC 10-13X). I generally stay below 10K or if I go higher then it's a lot higher, with O2.

n5296s

[Whirlybird]

Over use of the instruments at this stage could be contributing to your fatigue
Very good point Gemma. In fact, it could well be the main or only reason.

Get used to looking outside, and I think you'll quickly become far less tired.

[IO540]

Doing anything properly IMHO is tiring as it proves that you are concentrating 100%

I would disagree. Such a high cockpit workload means that errors are more likely, not less likely. This principle has been firmly established many years ago in commercial aviation.

One should fly relaxed, taking things easy, enjoying the view and occassionally making adjustments to the heading or whatever.

[norton2005]

Just to let everyone know that the fatigue problem didn't last to long, few hours in and I wanted more, done a couple of lessons a day on a few occasions so just a bit of getting used to and then it's all fine. Now 20 hours in and I did my first solo yesterday, loved it!!!

[bjornhall]

Hello,

First time poster here, also doing my PPL (6 hours into it atm...). Can only agree with what others have been saying; I too had that flightsim-induced reflex of peeking at instruments rather than outside to figure out what the plane was doing (well.. :O), and it was sure fatiguing that way. One really good thing my instructor did was to hold a folded map over the instrument panel every time he noticed me taking a peek inside... That helped quite a bit! I would notice that map coming up when I was not even aware I was peeking; probably used the instruments more than I even realized.

Got cured from that desease in two lessons of the map treatment though! :ok:

Best,
- Björn