My First Lesson Tomorrow

[belleh]

I first registered here years ago, back when I had ambitions of becoming an airline pilot for a career and with little knowledge of flight or the industry. After a couple of years of proper research, I decided that there were too many down sides to pursuing that career. Mind over heart etc.

The urge to fly never did go away. Like most of you, I've always had a bug for flying... well at least I think I do, it's consumed many hours of my thoughts for years and it still does. I never wrote off the idea of a PPL, in fact it's remained on the cards throughout.

Fast forward a number of years and I'm fortunate enough to find myself doing a job that I love and I know for sure that I made the right decision. On the private side, I never did get myself into a SEP though, not even as a passenger. That ends tomorrow (weather permitting). I've clearly been banging on about doing this enough that last week work decided to pay for £500 of lessons for me for performance. It came out of the blue and as much as I wanted to start this year, I had budgeted it for next summer. Well, this is the kick up the arse that I need. If I enjoy these first couple of lessons, I'm just going to go for it - there's always a reason not to do something after all.

So, after a load of needless back story, my question(s):

Does anyone have any advice for my first lesson? More generally, advice for the first portion of my tuition as a whole? What will help me get the most out of this and progress at the best rate. From reading around and general common sense, I'm going to bear the following in mind:


Get the medical ASAP
Get a good amount of sleep, no alcohol tonight, etc.
I'm concerned about the seemingly common initial flight sickness (never experienced it on an airliner, but they're different beasts). To this end, I'm going to dress light, eat light and consume some ginger(!) before hand. I've also opted to learn in a PA 28 instead of a 152. I'm hoping the extra size will dull any potential sense of claustrophobia and perhaps to an extent turbulence (maybe that's wishful thinking...)
Don't be afraid to ask questions
... enjoy it.

I guess I'll just suck it and see, but I thought if anyone has any words of wisdom from their experiences, I'd love to hear them. I think I know roughly what to expect from the first hour from reading around, but again any thoughts would be welcomed.

I'll keep you all updated with how it goes!

[On Track]

It seems you're already on top of things. Go out and enjoy it.

[dobbin1]

My advice is to fly as frequently as you can. You will need many fewer hours if you do a lesson every day rather than only flying once per month.

Next, get on with the exams - most schools want you to have passed air law and human performance before solo, so don't let this hold you up. Be aware of the new exam regime that starts in September.

Read up on the next flight exercise before you arrive at the school. This will make it much easier to ask sensible questions during the pre-flight briefing. If you don't get a decent pre-flight briefing, find another school.

Don't worry about feeling sick. I have only had two incidences of students feeling unwell (on non-aerobatic flights) in 600 hours of instruction. Eat well before flight and look out of the window. If you do feel unwell, your instructor should be ready to deal with it - I keep a bag under my kneeboard just in case.

Make it clear that you are starting your PPL when you do your trial lesson. The instructor is less likely to treat it as a mere joy ride and you can get ex 4.1 done.

Enjoy the experience. :O

[Howard Long]

I just started my PPL about 10 weeks ago. I am lucky enough to be semi-retired so I take four afternoons a week to go to Fairoaks. About 25-30% of lessons get cancelled due to weather when instead it's groundschool.

So I have 26 hours under my belt now, and I went solo after 23 1/2 hours. There is a rule of thumb (not to be take too seriously) that the number of hours to solo is about half your age. So at 48 I pretty much made the grade!

The first lesson is typically a bimble around the countryside where you get your hands on the controls. It's as much seeing if you like it as it is the instructor seeing how you get on. After all, you may not like it at all!

Most important is to get a school where you have the same instructor as often as possible, or there'll be discontinuity in your learning. Also you need to be able to get on with your instructor. I have been lucky in this regard, I still have the same instructor and he puts up with me.

Definitely see if you can do fairly frequent lessons, or you'll spend a good proportion of each lesson refreshing yourself from one you took a couple of months ago and progress may be frustratingly slow.

Equally I find that sometimes four times a week can be quite hard, the old brain capacity ain't what it used to be. I would get frustrated because I'd forget to do something or other.

I often find that I get brain overload. Typically this is due to too many new things happening at the same time. Flying is like cooking. There are lots of recipes to learn, and you'll get some of them slightly wrong sometimes. But, usually you'll realise if you get something wrong and learn from that mistake. If not your instructor will tell you!

I did the medical very early on as I almost never go to the doctor, so I thought I'd better know sooner rather than later. In the end it was no big deal, in and out in an hour or so with a piece of paper to boot. You must have the medical before going solo.

I also did the air law exam before the solo, although it's not always required, seems to depend on the school. That was hard! I had not done any formal training or any exams for 27 years. Anyway, I purchased a set of Pooley's books by Trevor Thom, and worked through the Air Law part. Together with the Q&A book and the online AirQuiz and PPL Cruiser I managed 87%. Pass mark is 75%.

The only time I've felt remotely scared was when doing spin recovery, when the instructor tells you to close your eyes, do a steep turn, and then when you open ypur eyes all you get to see is a sea of green with the earth rapidly coming towards you.

There is so much going on there is little time to get anxious.

Cheers, Howard

[Howard Long]

Get yourself a log book so you can put that first trial flight in there!

Make sure that your school assigns you a single instructor. If you find yourself zipping between instructors your rate of progress will be impacted due to the discontinuity.

The same applies to the frequency of flying. If you only do, say one a month or once every couple of months you might find progress to be frustratingly slow as you spend most of your lesson re-learning what you did the lesson before. So if you can, do your lessons frequently, or if you can't, try to do it in groups of lessons close together so at least you're not spending too much time going over stuff you've already done.

The only time I've felt remotely scared was when I did spin recovery. The instructor told me to shut my eyes, and start a steep turn. After a few seconds, he then told me to open my eyes and recover. Which is all very well except the Earth is approaching rather fast right in front of you.

I did the medical very early. I hardly ever go to the doctor, but you never know what's lurking. In the end I was in and out in an hour with a nice piece of paper issued there and then.

If you think it'll take some time before you're solo (you need a medical to go solo), for example perhaps you only think you can make lessons once a month or so, I'd not worry too much about taking a medical too soon as they expire, and duration is dependent on age.

I always ask the instructor questions. Tons of them. Far better to have something clear in your head first on the ground during your briefing than to waste time in the air in a cloud of confusion.

On odd occasions in the air I find the short-term workload to be too much for my old brain: the amount of new stuff to learn is a lot, and there is a recipe for everything that you need to know. Sometimes the recipe is quite complex. In these cases, the amount to remember at first is too daunting, and brain overload ensues. Admission that you are lost in a sea of emotional turmoil is not a sign of failure, that is what the instructor is sitting there for. None of the recipes are impossible to learn, it just takes practice.

One other thing, I have a fairly good FSX setup at home but overall I don't think it helped one jot before taking lessons, and in some way it made things worse because I spent too much time looking at instruments and not looking outside. The physical feeling and the visual reality in FSX simply aren't there. However, I found that FSX is of some use in reinforcing those recipes, particularly I found when doing circuits where there's quite a bit to remember.

Most of all enjoy!

Cheers, Howard

[Howard Long]

Sorry if there were some duplicated comments in the above two posts, although I've been registered on pprune for some years I only just started to post, so my first was delayed, and I had assumed it'd been lost while being moderated, so I re-keyed a few hours later, assuming the original was lost.


Cheers, Howard

[Big Pistons Forever]

WAIT ! STOP !

It is not too late to stop the madness, you can still save yourself. By taking that first flying lesson you are well on your way to developing an incurable affliction that will empty your wallet, alienate your family, bore your friends at parties and all around ruin your life.

Pretty soon you will hooked on the incomparable joys of flying and will find yourself doing previously unimaginable things to feed the addiction.

You have been warned ;)

BPF

(an unrepentant addict for 36 and counting years :ok:)

[India Four Two]

belleh,

Good luck. As BPF says, it's an addiction.

One piece of advice, that is often quoted on PPRuNe, is NEVER pay in advance.

If you feel you have to, then ONLY pay with a credit card.

[belleh]

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I was nervous when I got into the aircraft, the claustrophobia set in. I had the most intense fight or flight (excuse the pun) sensation I've ever had. I genuinely felt like I might have to run out of there with zero explanation. Mentally pulled it together within 60 seconds while the instructor went to get the keys and a couple of minutes later I was taxiing and feeling very comfortable. The PA 28 is bigger than I had anticipated, which for me is a bonus.

I absolutely loved it! Really thoroughly enjoyed myself. We covered a fair amount of ground in the 40 odd minutes in the air. The weather got too bad at that point (guess I'd better get used to it), but it was actually a good amount of time for my concentration levels with something new. I vaguely remember this being the magic number of minutes after which I'd start making silly mistakes when I was learning to drive; the number rises as more becomes muscle memory and reflexive action.

The instructor asked if I was sure I hadn't flown before, which I'll take as a good sign, and said if I keep it regular I should have no problem coming in close enough to minimum hours... we shall see, it's very early days. But more importantly, I loved the whole experience.

I had no real problems with sickness, the negative G's at times were the only thing that made my stomach feel slightly off, but the moment the manoeuvre was over I was fine again... it really didn't impact me like I thought it might. The instructor said that a guy he was teaching yesterday for the first time was using the yoke like a rowing boat oar and threw up - I definitely wasn't anywhere close to that. I'm sure with a few more hours I'll be used to even the negative G's.

It is not too late to stop the madness, you can still save yourself. By taking that first flying lesson you are well on your way to developing an incurable affliction that will empty your wallet, alienate your family, bore your friends at parties and all around ruin your life.I fear this may have already happened! I drove to my parents house straight after and launched into a 30 minute monologue about it :)

Most importantly though, I realised that this is absolutely something I want to do, and booked another lesson in for a few days time. I'm going to aim/budget for about a lesson per week, though I'm sure weather considerations will make this more than one lesson some weeks and none on others.

I'm already going over the material in the PPL book I picked up today to try and ground the knowledge attained thus far, and will read up on the lesson ahead before Wednesday.

I might write a diary of this now that I've decided to go for it.

Anyway, newbie achievement unlocked, row one in my log book is now complete.

Many thanks for all of the replies, they've been carefully read and considered, and certainly helped. I'm sure I'll have annoying questions in no time at all!

[flyinkiwi]

I might write a diary of this now that I've decided to go for it.

Don't might, do it. As you are no doubt aware by now, things are so alien up there it takes time for things to sink in, and writing them down aids your recall as well as provides an additional debrief. I wrote up my flights from the very first one and I still do it today. There is no right or wrong way to do it, it could be simple bullet points or a rambling stream of consciousness. Another benefit I found is that I always found a point I could clarify with an instructor about at the next lesson.

While some people blog their flight diaries there is no expectation for you to do so, however we at PPRUNE stipulate that you MUST repeat MUST tell us about your first solo. :}:}:}:ok:

[119.35]

Howard - are you really doing spin recovery!??

That was cut from the ppl syllabus some years ago. Do you mean recovery from unusual attitudes?

Although, neither being much 'fun'.

[RTN11]

119.35

Although it is not a mandatory part of the training, and will never be part of a test, any instructor worth their money will teach them if they have an aircraft which is capable. Well worth it for the experience, I still don't understand people who won't do it.

[localflighteast]

I'm on my phone so can't see locations but spin recovery training is still on the syllabus in Canada
It's a required exercise Pre solo

[Howard Long]

I think it was actually recovery from spiral dive, my mistake!

Cheers, Howard

[logie101]

Spin recovery is still a requirement for PPL training in Ireland. (although not part of the flight test) To be honest I never really understood the benefit of doing a fully developed spin. Everything that was needed to be learnt was demonstrated up to the incipient stage of the spin.


I remember in the GFT having also to demonstrate recovery from unusual attitudes.

[belleh]

If it's a possibility, I will ask for it, regardless of what's in the test. The more you can expose yourself to, the better and safer, surely? I guess the benefit of getting out of a fully developed spin would be that you get to experience the disorientation which I assume wouldn't be as extreme in the incipient stage. Familiarity of any situation, no matter how unlikely, seems like a Good Thing to my newbie eyes.

[Neoburner]

Hope you are enjoying it, I started mine just this week (over time).

Decided to start a blog on it as well, quite plain at the moment but going to get it filled up!

No feeling like it!

Neo

Blog - Neoburners Blog (http://www.neoburner.co.uk/)

[belleh]

Hope you are enjoying it, I started mine just this week (over time).

Decided to start a blog on it as well, quite plain at the moment but going to get it filled up!

No feeling like it!

We started on the same day then :) Assuming clear weather (big assumption, looking out of the window right now) I have my second lesson tomorrow. I will write a brief diary and perhaps post it here to help ground concepts.

Speaking of grounding concepts - I was thinking about getting a camera and voice recorder if I'm allowed to record the lessons, to use in tandem with the books to help me go over what I've learned.

[Neoburner]

Great!

Where are you flying from?

I feel the blog helps, it allows other too see and get a understanding of what is in-stall for them, like I said in it, if it helps them then my work is done!

Like yourself I may have to do only 1 a month, possibly stretch to 2, but during the times I am not flying I am going over the Thom books and keeping it fresh (the other half gives me funny looks when I use my imaginary throttle and yoke on the sofa).

Neo

PS - Get a Go Pro if you want to record your lessons, they are great for this kind of thing!

[belleh]

I'm flying from Coventry, which is quite funny because there's this huge runway where 737s etc. land and there's us in our little SEP. I swear we could almost take off width ways ;) I'm your age too as it goes.

I'm going to go for 1 per week, something I had not budgeted for but I have wanted to do this for years... time to dip into the savings!

Yep, already got my eye on the GoPro... wanted it for motorbike for a while, now I have double the reason. My boss is quite concerned that I might start biking to flying lessons... :D

[Neoburner]

Sounds great

Add us up on Skype if you fancy going over some stuff during the process as well :-)

Skype - HandyNeoburner

[localflighteast]

I'd really recommend the camera as a learning tool.
i use a go pro hero 2 ( was cheaper than the 3)on a headstrap with an audio cable that goes from my headset to the camera . This records ATC, intercom etc.
I didn't start off with the cable but it really helps . otherwise all you hear is the engine noise!

Just a caution though, ask your instructor first , it is only polite and make sure your priority is always flying , not filming. If my camera causes issues i instantly take it off. Sometimes it gets in the way of foggles etc.

My instructor has no problems with the videos on Youtube but isn't so keen on me putting our conversations up there , which I think is perfectly reasonable.

my videos ( pre cable ) are on Youtube if you want to search for my username

Enjoy the flying , totally and utterly addictive:ok:

[belleh]

With that setup, do you only get radio audio or does the audio from the background come in too? I've seen cables that split the audio, one to head set and another to a device (voice recorder/cam/whatever). I'll look into it. Not a top priority yet, but certainly within a few hours.

I'll check out your videos... I didn't have any plans to put mine on YouTube, but purely to use them as a learning aid for personal use. However, I will absolutely check with the FI before I even purchase a GoPro.

Thanks, so I realise, it keeps popping into my mind at odd times...

[belleh]

P.S - "surprise forced approach 2013-03-23" - I like it!

[localflighteast]

without the cable you just get ambient noise , the mike picks up some of what i say and some of my instructor and a LOT of engine noise.

with the cable you hear everything that goes through your headset , so instructor , me , ATC and other radio traffic but no engine noise at all.

this is the cable I have

AIRCRAFT INTERCOM RECORDING CABLE from Aircraft Spruce (http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/avpages/recordingCable.php?clickkey=9484)

obviously you might want to source something a little closer to home.

Also yuo need a "skeleton " case for the GoPro

[belleh]

Thank you - much appreciated :)

[localflighteast]

no problem ,
Safe landings :)

[HunterDad]

This is an awesome post, thank you localflighteast (http://www.pprune.org/members/394283-localflighteast). Cable bought and on it's way.

[localflighteast]

No problem :)
Now if anyone on here can give me some advice about neutral density filters to cut out prop artifact ing I'd appreciate it !

[lonkmu]

Belleh

Did you get your PPL in the end?

[belleh]

Did you get your PPL in the end?

Not yet!

I got to a bit before Christmas and had done about 28 hours. I'd solo'd and done a dual version of my QXC but the only exam I had passed was air law.

My instructor said to me that he'd recommend I spend a couple of weeks ploughing through my exams because I couldn't do my QXC until I'd passed them all. He said that any extra flying done at that point would be more or less a waste because I was ready to do the QXC and that I was at a bit of a road block with these exams not being passed.

I knew that two weeks wouldn't be enough but resolved to pass them before flying again; even if that meant losing a few hours of experience. Fast forward to now (a whole 9 months later) and I still have three exams left to do. I've done the others at a snails pace. It's not that I'm incapable or find them particularly hard; it's merely the time sink that preparing for each exam becomes on top of an awful lot of work commitments.

Recognising that I need to sort this out before everything up to now becomes a waste (I don't want to think about how far I've now fallen back) and that clearly, work commitments are making it progressively harder to find the time to study, I've booked off a fortnight for nothing but flying and exams. Your timing with this question is impeccable; starting Monday I will have two weeks of two flights per day every week day (weather permitting) and everything in between is ground school and exams. If I can come out the other end having passed the three remaining exams and with a completed QXC that'd be awesome. At the very least, I want the exams done - anything else is a bonus.

I want to just throw everything I've got at this now until I have got my licence!

[mary meagher]

Couple of things on this thread alarm this ancient gliding instructor.

CAMERAS AND LEARNING TO FLY DO NOT MIX!!!!! Flying requires your undivided attention. If you must go up to take pictures, take a qualified pilot in the LH seat, you can then devote your attention to being a photographer.
The only decent film I have ever seen taken by amateur pilots is that one of the dog in the back seat experiencing negative gravity.

And of course air to air requires special equipment to get anything decent, as well as two aircraft.

Forget the camera.

Another thing, some people worry about spin training. Not required in PPL these days. It is required in gliding, however. The K13 glider is a more enjoyable place to experience the spin and recovery. I find the student would get maximum benefit from the spin training if he himself put the glider into the spin deliberately; this makes it easier to recognise and to differentiate from the spiral dive. Aerobatic power planes are rather scary and dramatic in the spin; a sadistic instructor at Wycombe Air Centre tried to put me off by spinning on our first lesson in a 152 aerobatic Cessna, and it WOULD have put me off forever if I hadn't had the K13 training first! Took me a few years before I really learned to enjoy it and to teach it.

[Heston]

Agree with Mary about cameras. Whatever you think about how strong you are in terms of ignoring them, their presence affects what you do and the way you and the instructor interact.


It may seem like a good idea to watch a video re-run of your lesson, but it will have been a poorer lesson in the first place. I wouldn't let a student of mine do it.


And I'd also recommend any power pilot who hasn't experienced spinning to give it a try. Gliders are a good way to do that (and you'll enjoy gliding anyway, trust me).

[belleh]

Hi Mary

Interesting input - and wow, I can't believe an instructor would spin on the first lesson! I'll ask them to take me up in a Cessna and do it at some point I think; I'm learning in a PA28 so no spinning for me in that.

I'm going to have to disagree with you about the camera though. I have a small GoPro, dictaphone and associated audio cable. It's a rig that I set up before I even do my walk around. I set it up and then forget about it; there's no playing up for the camera etc. I don't believe that safety is in any way compromised with that approach. I watch the footage back to myself afterwards (none has even gone on YouTube) and it really helps me to assess my weak spots, spot all of my (many!) mistakes and get into the right mindset between lessons. If I felt as though my behaviour was changing for the camera or if safety was compromised, I would stop doing this in a heartbeat.

As it happens, I do find other peoples footage interesting too. Sometimes I can learn from their mistakes but mostly I just enjoy watching people fly around different locales. I know - what a loser ;)

Thanks for your insights though, I will give it some serious thought. I really do take safety very seriously and I'd hate to think that I was compromising on that even a little bit.

Cheers!