Bumps …

[pilot_adam]

I have been having a lot of trouble with air bumps lately…It kind of scares me and make me nervous (Even though I still fully control the airplane).

I am working on my PPL and I am trying to find a way to get red of that feeling and relax more (specially when I am in the circuit with a lot of things to do) but with the summer coming I know I will be encountering more and more of those bumps, and they are distracting..

1-I want to know if that is common with all the students or if it is just me???

2-What do you suggest to help relax more and ease the tension?? (I get scared that the airplane will just flip over or go into a spiral, especially when I am turning crosswind/base/final in the circuit) It might sound funny but I want to get over it and keep my learning process going...

I am in the post solo stage

Cheers

Adam

[tabspleasewithjeta1]

Perfectly Natural to be nervous of the bumps. I used to be the same when i was learning, Almost petrifed to let go of the controls. This was in fact part of the problem becasue i tried to correct the bumps, Much better to let the acft do its own thing (within reason!).

When i Instructed what i did was take control of the acft and remove my hands from the controls and let the student see, that you are unlikely to flip roll in 1second.

As you spend more time in the aircraft u will get more confident and comfortable, Talk to you instructor and tell them your worries and they will help to reassure all is well.


Good Luck!

[Mad Girl]

You're further on than me as I haven't gone solo yet.

I quite like the bumps 'cos I started flying doing Aero's trial lessons.

I have the same instructor in Flat and Aero flying and I think he knows the bumps don't scare me as he's taken me up in some very bumpy situations and I haven't freaked yet.

The only times I've been distracted by them is:-
1 When a "big" air pocket picked me up and then, just as quickly, dumped me when I was trying to master slow flight.:eek:
2 Had quite a few bumps when trying to come in to land but my instructor said not to fight it as by the time I'd corrected it, I'd be through the turbulence and would have to correct again - higher work load.:(

I think I'm gradually learning to ride through them rather than fight them - the temptation to put a death grip on the yoke is always there.

If "fear" is the problem you could always try an aero's session with an experienced instructor and then you'll feel more comfortable that flying in unusual attitudes is still controllable (whether you've put yourself there or whether you're bump assisted) - may help with the straight and level - or maybe I'm just a total aero's nut who thinks flying upside down should be the norm.:)

[Whopity]

Is an Air Bump the bit that falls out of an Air Pocket?

[Hampshire Hog]

Adam,

I took up private flying to get over my fear of sitting in the back of airliners. I have, from time to time, been terrified by turbulence (bumps) in the PA28 I have been learning on, but my instructor is a retired airline pilot and has worked with me to overcome my fears (I don't like steep turns or spiral dives very much either!). I have 40+ hours, done qualifying cross-country and am doing revision for skills test - still a bit nervous on occasions - though it does get better.

One of the most useful pieces of advice my instructor gives me from time to time is, if the aircraft seems to be bouncing around a lot - let go of the controls for a moment; it's amazing how it all suddenly smoothes out.

Remember the causes of turb. Air is constantly moving - this feels more exaggerated in a light aircraft - but if it was going to be too rough for the plane - or your capabilities, your instructor shouldn't let you fly. It will almost always be choppy near the ground - as a result of ground features breaking up the airflow; and thermals are normal - otherwise our gliding friends wouldn't go very far.

Remember your aircraft is built with inherent stability. The only kind of bumps that are really likely to cause control problems are: i. wake turbulence - stay away from helicopter wash and slow moving large aircraft; and, ii. CB - thunderstorms - again, you wouldn't fly in/near them - would you?:= Mountains cause their own problems - seek some more specialist instruction if you're going to fly near/over them. If you feel you have been bounced around too much on approach, i.e. so the approach is no longer stable - don't forget to go around - you may get the same bumps the next time - but you'll know where they'll come from and be expecting it.

Getting some aeros in might help too - as Mad Girl suggests - but pick an instructor you feel you can really trust and explain the problem.

Hope this helps

HH

[robin]

Fly in a glider - then you see the bumps in a positive light!

[IO540]

Can someone explain what an "air pocket" is?

[DaveW]

It's where the money most of us spend on flying comes from. :hmm:

[dublinpilot]

Remember the cause of the bumps. It's air that is rising or sinking in a column.

Of if lower down, such as in the circuit, you may be getting "disturbed air" as it flows over the local terrain (building and trees for example).

When you do a cross country (not sure if you've started any yet), watch out for different surfaces. You'll often notice a bump when flying from land to lake, or over a town etc. Here in Ireland we have lots of bogs. As you start to fly over them, on a summers day, you are virtually guaranteed a bump, and another one as you leave it again. Try to predict them. They won't bother you as much if you're expecting it to happen as you flew over a different surface.

If you don't predict it, at least have a look below/behind (or if low down, look upwind) and try to figure out what caused it. Understanding something is be best way to overcome a fear of it.

dp

[D SQDRN 97th IOTC]

Think of driving - sometimes the roads are smooth, sometimes the roads are full of potholes. Going over a bump in the road doesn't worry you, so why should going over a few bumps in the sky?

[A V 8]

Fly in a glider - then you see the bumps in a positive light!

Exactly what I would suggest, and it's a fraction of the cost of powered flying - but you're in Canada so it's cheap enough anyway!

Between 0 - 1000 AGL, the bump you feels is either turbulance or a thermal. Any higher, then it's definately a thermal. Flying in a glider will show you how safe it is to fly in these bumps and it will also allow you to build a 3D picture in your mind of just what exactly the air around you is doing.

You might want to try and predict when the bumps will happen. When you're flying along (depending on your Alt/FL and cloud base), look out for cumulus cloud. Bumps will either be under or slightly upwind of the cumulus cloud.

Happy Flying!

AV8

[Codger]

When I first started flying the "bumps" bothered me a bit. My instructor then explained the micro meteorology to me. All the little darker spots on the surface below heating up and then breaking loose and rising etcetera, etcetera. Didn't help much. Then he told me to just relax. Then he asked if I could just imagine those bubbles of hot air coming off the surface as being the same as fart bubbles rising in a bath tub. People wonder why I still smile when it gets a little bumpy.:)

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

It's not at al unusual to be concerned by turbulence when in the early stages of a flying lifetime. It feels as though you are not in control. That feeling will pass - not completely, since I'm sure all pilots (except those gliding chaps :) ) prefer smooth air. But you soon get used to it and just relax and stop fighting it.

The atmosphere is a living, fluid, thing. There are bits of it you should avoid (cu nims - keep well away, rotor, wake turbulence). But mostly, its bark is far worse than its bite.

SSD

[microlight AV8R]

I enjoy bobbing about a bit. I'm just doing my training at the moment and had a fantastic time doing turns at high angles of bank. I would put this down to having had the good fortune to do a few aerobatic sorties in the past which has prepared me for the exciting moments. I also understand that trainer aircraft are very stable and generally forgiving. I recall an early flight in a Tomahawk when I asked the instructer just how stable this little plane was? he seemed to throw the controls all over the place, the aircraft bucked about in the sky then he said "watch" ....and let go: I was amazed at how quickly she settled into a normal attitude. I think instructors should do this at an early stage to reassure pupils who show any degree of nervousness.

[MarcJF]

Chew gum, and remember, the plane won't fall out of the sky just because you hit a small air pocket. it's good to remain cautious though.