Not an expert speaking as I haven't had a licence many years myself, but I can't really agree with most of what MLS-12D says. Your aprehension sounds normal to me.
I went through exactly what you did to some degree. Got my licence, started going off on trips of my own but worried on each one of them whether I really could cope with it and whether I was up to the job.
BUT you have to remember that your instructor, a CAA examiner and another instructor (who has checked you out at Stapleford) obviously think you're OK. As long as you do the things you've been taught in the way that you've been taught them, you'll be fine.
If you want to find out the reasons why (most) light aircraft fall out of the sky, read the AAIB reports. They're great for learning, but what you'll discover is most investigations conclude pilot error. Running out of fuel, carb ice and IMC are favourites. Correct planning and technique - as per your training - will avoid all three. Genuine mechanical failures do happen, but to a lesser extent.
If you're worried about the weather, don't fly. It may change when you're up there but short range forecasts generally aren't that bad and until you feel really confident, you can limit yourself to local or nearby destinations (with cheap landing fees) where the weather doesn't really get the chance to change. If you are in any doubt, ring your destination (and intermediates) and ask them what they see out of the window. I do this often and I've always had a helpful response. You'll find that people are reluctant to tell you it's OK to fly (as they should be, it's your decision), but they're usually very up front about saying that it's bad idea today.
When you feel more confident about your ability to interpret the weather information better, then go further. Whatever you do, always have a plan B, even if that plan involves leaving the aeroplane at your destination and coming home on the train. OK, you may not be popular with Stapleford for leaving their aeroplane at another field, but you're not dead and their 'plane isn't smashed to bits. If it was the right decision - for weather or defect - nobody will mind too much. If it was the wrong decision, you're not dead and their 'plane isn't smashed to bits. Can't lose.
I suggest you choose some easy, close and fun destinations and get used to them. Repeat the trips a couple of times. Go South, the airspace is less restricted. Keep well away from controlled airspace and danger areas. Go easy on the radio and try and limit the number of times you change frequency. All of these things increase workload and stress and you might want to do without that for now. Try Headcorn and Lydd, the fees aren't too much and both have friendly flying clubs. I went to Shoreham the other day for the first time, it's dead easy to find, the runway is good and long and the town is only a short walk. Always ring for a briefing when you're going somewhere new, it doesn't do any harm to ask and makes the arrival much less stressful.
By the end of your 40 hours, you'll have cracked this.
Last edited by jollyrog; 8th July 2009 at 18:10.