Originally Posted by
comingup
Common misperception. You learn a ton in the pattern. Cross country flying is, of course, necessary but that's the easy part. After instructing for a 1,000 hours or so, I found the pattern is where you hone your skills that you will need outside the pattern. Anybody can fly A to B.
Do you learn how to do a spur of the moment divert in the pattern? Do you learn how to handle lost com with Bravo and Charlie between you and home, in the pattern? Do you learn what its like to deal with the pressure of "get-there-itis" in deteriorating wx, in the pattern? Do you learn what to expect a Bravo tower to tell you on a transition, in the pattern? Do you learn how to handle TFRs, in the pattern?
These are some of the things I've learned as a casual R22 renter, after leaving the pattern.
Pattern work is great for keeping rust from forming on your basic takeoff and landings skills, and no risk autos, but that's about it.