Inspiring confidence
The passengers just love it when you say that the sole reason to take an aeroplane into the air, is to find somewhere to land it.
From your very first takeoff, the Flying Club "Introductory Lesson", you have to consider that you may not land on the same field you have just departed.
So, don't wait for something to happen, identify potential landing sites at ALL times, then when the fan stops you won't sweat.
Now let me tell you of a trip I took 2 weeks ago from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island, after leaving the KLIA VFR route we headed due East for a 74 nm. leg over virgin jungle, there were very occasional clearings and a couple of access roads that cut across our track, but beneath us we had the worlds oldest rain forest with trees standing an average 200 feet, with lots of others popping up between them reaching to 300 feet.
Then the track continued over the coast direct to Tioman, 30 minutes, with our life jackets, I felt quite relaxed.
IF, and thank god it didn't happen, our chances would have been slim over those trees, but even worse was the fact that the most common cat down there is the tiger.
Having since discussed this scenario in the clubhouse and read the small print in the Club rules, one should heed the absence of landing sites and flight plan closer to habitation and possible landing sites, i.e.fly a dogs leg.
Needless to say my favourite flying exercises are PFL's and short landings.
You have to come down, better make it a good one.