Feel the fear...and do it anyway?
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Stick at it Amber, there aren't enough woman pilots (God knows why, I thought multitasking was a feminine speciality) so we need more!
I don't get nervous anymore but I still see it as a challenge and I still get a buzz out of it. What would be the point of doing it otherwise? Take it in very small steps. Straight and level, nail that and then turns, nail that and so on. It's not a competition, it doesn't matter if you are slow at some bits and good at others. My own bete noir was ATC. When I was a stude I found the flying bits fairly easy but I couldn't make head nor tail of what ATC were saying to me. Then one day it just clicked and I found I could do it.
As has been said earlier on, when you first drove a car you probably found it difficult, flying is just the same; except once you can fly you will find it immensely more interesting than driving. Flying is without a doubt the most rewarding thing I've ever done. It's not just about having the money to do it, it's about having the fire to want to fly. You will see and do things that very few other people see or do, it's an immense privilege to be a pilot. Good luck and stick at it!
I don't get nervous anymore but I still see it as a challenge and I still get a buzz out of it. What would be the point of doing it otherwise? Take it in very small steps. Straight and level, nail that and then turns, nail that and so on. It's not a competition, it doesn't matter if you are slow at some bits and good at others. My own bete noir was ATC. When I was a stude I found the flying bits fairly easy but I couldn't make head nor tail of what ATC were saying to me. Then one day it just clicked and I found I could do it.
As has been said earlier on, when you first drove a car you probably found it difficult, flying is just the same; except once you can fly you will find it immensely more interesting than driving. Flying is without a doubt the most rewarding thing I've ever done. It's not just about having the money to do it, it's about having the fire to want to fly. You will see and do things that very few other people see or do, it's an immense privilege to be a pilot. Good luck and stick at it!
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Not sure whether any kind of quota fulfilment is a valid reason to continue 
("I enjoyed it" arguably more so), but otherwise I can merely endorse the previous encouraging posts. Go up at least several more times before questioning your decision to try it, be prepared for ups and downs during your lessons and afterwards, and most of all for an expensive yet legal drug (i.e., flying). No one expects you to be "fit to fly" after one lesson or a couple of lessons, so neither should you. FWIW, I remember neither my first flying lesson nor my first solo flight as particularly exhilarating, but somehow it added up so that now I suffer from considerable withdrawal symptoms if I haven't put my mitts on an airplane for more than a few weeks. As several people have put it: your wallet will never be the same. Blue skies and enjoy 
("I enjoyed it" arguably more so), but otherwise I can merely endorse the previous encouraging posts. Go up at least several more times before questioning your decision to try it, be prepared for ups and downs during your lessons and afterwards, and most of all for an expensive yet legal drug (i.e., flying). No one expects you to be "fit to fly" after one lesson or a couple of lessons, so neither should you. FWIW, I remember neither my first flying lesson nor my first solo flight as particularly exhilarating, but somehow it added up so that now I suffer from considerable withdrawal symptoms if I haven't put my mitts on an airplane for more than a few weeks. As several people have put it: your wallet will never be the same. Blue skies and enjoy
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On my trial lesson I thought I would never be able to do it, but as lessons progressed, taking little steps, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.
In some lessons I was doing things that had me wondering why do this, slow flying etc., but when I started circuits it all seemed to make sense.
every uncontrolled movement and bump had me wondering what was happening, but you soon get used to it.
I'm now just over 11 hours into my training and completed my first solo last week, and from the moment I climb out of the aircraft after every lesson I cant wait to get back in.
Sometimes it is hard work, sometimes it easy.
I enjoy every second of it, but more so now than at the beginning.
I suppose its not for everyone, but what made you take the trial flight will make you carry on!
In some lessons I was doing things that had me wondering why do this, slow flying etc., but when I started circuits it all seemed to make sense.
every uncontrolled movement and bump had me wondering what was happening, but you soon get used to it.
I'm now just over 11 hours into my training and completed my first solo last week, and from the moment I climb out of the aircraft after every lesson I cant wait to get back in.
Sometimes it is hard work, sometimes it easy.
I enjoy every second of it, but more so now than at the beginning.
I suppose its not for everyone, but what made you take the trial flight will make you carry on!
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Are you possibly doubting the instructor or school ? Maybe try another one ? Or a different type of aircraft ? What did you fly ?
I was in a cessna 152 which i quite liked so guess that's not the problem. Think as you all say it just boils down to trying it for a bit and continued practice.
Anyway, I'm all booked for my next lesson following all the great encouragement on here
A
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sounds a bit lax on the instructors part to say the least. I would think the instructor should fully brief you on every aspect of the flight he expects you to perform when you are on the ground so that you know what you exactly what you should be aiming for, ie he should have told you on the ground if he wanted you to bring her to land and have guided you on speed, power settings, rate of descent so you could have had a decent stab at it.
It may have been safe but you didn't enjoy it.... being thrown in at the deep end, that's the stuff of test pilots.
It may have been safe but you didn't enjoy it.... being thrown in at the deep end, that's the stuff of test pilots.
Last edited by Camargue; 29th Jul 2014 at 17:30.
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Think as you all say it just boils down to trying it for a bit and continued practice.
However though, it all comes down to your mental readiness to address the challenges. I've seen aspirants defer pilot training due to terrifying circumstances. But with practical understanding of the controls and operations, you would be advancing your experience and confidence.
Landing an aircraft is the most difficult part of learning to fly. Learn to establish the appropriate approach to eliminate the variables, and you would be enjoying every bit of your flying.
Good luck.
WP
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Quote: e.g. i was given control as we we're heading in to land but i had no idea about rate of decent or what bits i was meant to be doing so we basically bounced on the runway and went back up again and swerved about a fair bit etc. It was safe and he obviously had control the whole time and we landed ok (albeit it surely looked ridiculous) but guess this freaked me out a bit as I didnt expect it on my first lesson. hey ho, guess being thrown in the deep end can work well.
Some instructors are very good at allowing passengers/trial flight people to fly the thing from the word go. Sometimes it gives confidence, "this can't be that difficult if he's letting me do it so soon"' other times it might make you feel "Jesus, how am I going to manage all this?".
He will know what he's doing & you will progress. In fact as long as you don't freak out too much it may be better than the "I have control!" Type of instructor who just wants to show a girl what a brilliant pilot he is. I've met one or two like that. As for the fear, it will become situational awareness, that expression will come up a lot and will replace abject terror.
Good luck, join the merry band of the impoverished flyers.
For the benefit of Mary, I've met only two over confident male pilots, one was a gliding instructor who scared the living daylights out of a newbie female who had to be very carefully coaxed back into the cockpit by an instructor with a brain! And yes I have been scared a few times myself. No fly for 5 months, deserted airfield, engine prone to backfire & set fire to grass underneath, after much thought & a couple of fags, take off and do three or four white knuckled dry mouth circuits with suboptimal landings for two of them. Go home, now legally current but certainly not confident, let alone over.
Some instructors are very good at allowing passengers/trial flight people to fly the thing from the word go. Sometimes it gives confidence, "this can't be that difficult if he's letting me do it so soon"' other times it might make you feel "Jesus, how am I going to manage all this?".
He will know what he's doing & you will progress. In fact as long as you don't freak out too much it may be better than the "I have control!" Type of instructor who just wants to show a girl what a brilliant pilot he is. I've met one or two like that. As for the fear, it will become situational awareness, that expression will come up a lot and will replace abject terror.
Good luck, join the merry band of the impoverished flyers.
For the benefit of Mary, I've met only two over confident male pilots, one was a gliding instructor who scared the living daylights out of a newbie female who had to be very carefully coaxed back into the cockpit by an instructor with a brain! And yes I have been scared a few times myself. No fly for 5 months, deserted airfield, engine prone to backfire & set fire to grass underneath, after much thought & a couple of fags, take off and do three or four white knuckled dry mouth circuits with suboptimal landings for two of them. Go home, now legally current but certainly not confident, let alone over.
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Way back when I was a complete beginner, I had a lot of problems learning to land. Thought it might help to have a session in a Cessna 152 at a small strip near Chesapeake Bay on a day with a nasty crosswind. Every time we got near the ground, the instructor took over....couldn't blame him, it was his airplane after all.
Sometimes it helps to go back to basics.
Sometimes it helps to go back to basics.
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First time I met my instructor, he was hanging around the office and I thought he was a bit young to be having a flying lesson.
Anyway, when we got to first solo, he judged it just right and after landing from a dual circuit session, he said it was best to go straight back up having previously advised we were landing for a coffee break. He then said if I didn't mind, could he sit this one out. By the time I realised what he was up to, he was half way to the control tower, and yes, the engine was still running. They know what they are doing!
Oddly, after about the first three lessons, and although I flew commercially many times each month and loved it, sitting at the small pointy end was a bit confusing as things seemed to happen quite slowly. I almost thought it boring! I got over that fortunately!
So some time later, my first solo cross country plus first land away is scheduled for later this week, and all being well that CAA application will be on its way very shortly.
Give it a few more lessons, get some serious studying done so that you begin to really understand what is happening, get the medical sorted, and get on to those exams.
It is addictive.
Anyway, when we got to first solo, he judged it just right and after landing from a dual circuit session, he said it was best to go straight back up having previously advised we were landing for a coffee break. He then said if I didn't mind, could he sit this one out. By the time I realised what he was up to, he was half way to the control tower, and yes, the engine was still running. They know what they are doing!
Oddly, after about the first three lessons, and although I flew commercially many times each month and loved it, sitting at the small pointy end was a bit confusing as things seemed to happen quite slowly. I almost thought it boring! I got over that fortunately!
So some time later, my first solo cross country plus first land away is scheduled for later this week, and all being well that CAA application will be on its way very shortly.
Give it a few more lessons, get some serious studying done so that you begin to really understand what is happening, get the medical sorted, and get on to those exams.
It is addictive.
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Mary.So what did you learn during that session?
I once turned up for a lesson in wind that I knew was unsatisfactory to say the least, expected a coffee and a chat would be the order of the day. However, instructor said, what do you think? Well, I wouldn't go solo but what do you think? He. If you like we'll go but it won't be comfortable. Fine, it will be different if nothing else. So we went, crosswind was out of club limits, I did several crosswind touch&gos till he said, " I'm going to stop the clock on you and do a couple myself if you don't mind, I need to keep current with crosswinds". I really enjoyed that day.
I once turned up for a lesson in wind that I knew was unsatisfactory to say the least, expected a coffee and a chat would be the order of the day. However, instructor said, what do you think? Well, I wouldn't go solo but what do you think? He. If you like we'll go but it won't be comfortable. Fine, it will be different if nothing else. So we went, crosswind was out of club limits, I did several crosswind touch&gos till he said, " I'm going to stop the clock on you and do a couple myself if you don't mind, I need to keep current with crosswinds". I really enjoyed that day.
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Stick at it Amber, there aren't enough woman pilots
Stick at it Amber, there aren't enough pilots
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Hi Amber,
This is a great place to get continued support and great advice mostly.
I didn't feel like I got on with my instructor 100% because I thought he used toi Flap at the most simplest of things but he was the man with all the hours so took it all onboard.
On my first trial lesson, i enjoyed it but absolutely Bricked it coming into land, small plain, ground coming up very fast... lol.
I was fortunate enough to pass in 48hrs. But i put this down to sheer hard work. I did my medical first, then all my ground exams so all i needed to do was concentrate and enjoy the practicalities of Flying.
Before each lesson and after I would spend time going through the correct procedures of my lesson to next come up, practice them on flight Sim(not all of course) and read a lot. I found all of this Prep helped me greatly.
I echo what the above had said, all wise words, 1 lesson is not enough keep going and work hard, you will be fine!
Try other instructors out, i thought my first one would be upset but he encouraged it also for you to get a pure view of where you are at.
I also didn't think I could to a PPL and especially the ground exams, but did it in about 12 months.
My biggest advice would be to do at least one lesson a week minimum, this is the biggest help!
Regards
Tris
This is a great place to get continued support and great advice mostly.
I didn't feel like I got on with my instructor 100% because I thought he used toi Flap at the most simplest of things but he was the man with all the hours so took it all onboard.
On my first trial lesson, i enjoyed it but absolutely Bricked it coming into land, small plain, ground coming up very fast... lol.
I was fortunate enough to pass in 48hrs. But i put this down to sheer hard work. I did my medical first, then all my ground exams so all i needed to do was concentrate and enjoy the practicalities of Flying.
Before each lesson and after I would spend time going through the correct procedures of my lesson to next come up, practice them on flight Sim(not all of course) and read a lot. I found all of this Prep helped me greatly.
I echo what the above had said, all wise words, 1 lesson is not enough keep going and work hard, you will be fine!
Try other instructors out, i thought my first one would be upset but he encouraged it also for you to get a pure view of where you are at.
I also didn't think I could to a PPL and especially the ground exams, but did it in about 12 months.
My biggest advice would be to do at least one lesson a week minimum, this is the biggest help!
Regards
Tris
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No need to be sexist. It's as simple as
Stick at it Amber, there aren't enough pilots
Stick at it Amber, there aren't enough pilots
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Sorry, beg to differ (and for being OT): it is arguably true that the percentage of pilots among women is considerably smaller than among men, but "not enough" is IMO a normative, not a factual statement.
(No agenda here except linguistic nitpicking)
(No agenda here except linguistic nitpicking
)
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but "not enough" is IMO a normative, not a factual statement.
(No agenda here except linguistic nitpickin
(No agenda here except linguistic nitpickin
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Well after all the encouraging responses on here I went into my second lesson today with enthusiasm and didn't worry when it took me a while to grasp some of the concepts, as I now know is normal.
I'm pleased to say I enjoyed it much more, was more confident controlling the aircraft and although I have a very long way to go I feel like I'm going to give it my best shot.
Actually looking forward to getting back out there next week now! Thanks again everyone
I'm pleased to say I enjoyed it much more, was more confident controlling the aircraft and although I have a very long way to go I feel like I'm going to give it my best shot.
Actually looking forward to getting back out there next week now! Thanks again everyone
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Amber,
I'm another female student. I have been training for four years and have 152 hours of which 5 are solo. I finally passed all my ground exams in March. I have had many ups and downs, many thoughts of giving up, but have stuck with it? Why, its a childhood ambition and deep down, despite everything, I love flying and have the resolve to carry on.
It is this resolve that is driving me on to conquer my solo flying nerves, so much so that I flew my first solo nav last week and plan to fly part of my QXC route dual, with flying the third leg solo....at the end of this week....
It took me 27 hours to go solo and is frankly taking me ages to grasp many techniques that others may have found simpler. So, my advice is, if you really want to do it, stick with it. it doesn't matter how long you take, its not a race. As long as you WANT to do it, ENJOY it and the exchequer allows...then go for it!
I'm another female student. I have been training for four years and have 152 hours of which 5 are solo. I finally passed all my ground exams in March. I have had many ups and downs, many thoughts of giving up, but have stuck with it? Why, its a childhood ambition and deep down, despite everything, I love flying and have the resolve to carry on.
It is this resolve that is driving me on to conquer my solo flying nerves, so much so that I flew my first solo nav last week and plan to fly part of my QXC route dual, with flying the third leg solo....at the end of this week....
It took me 27 hours to go solo and is frankly taking me ages to grasp many techniques that others may have found simpler. So, my advice is, if you really want to do it, stick with it. it doesn't matter how long you take, its not a race. As long as you WANT to do it, ENJOY it and the exchequer allows...then go for it!
