Overcontrol
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Overcontrol
Hi everyone!
Is overcontrol frequent on student pilots in the beggining of their flight instruction? What corrective measures do you (instructors) suggest to solve this problem?
I'm am already a PPL doing the ATPL, and one of the instructors said that i'm overcontrolling too much (a lot really).... Other instructors don't even notice that.
I really try not to move the controls too much but it is almost instictive..
Cheers!
Is overcontrol frequent on student pilots in the beggining of their flight instruction? What corrective measures do you (instructors) suggest to solve this problem?
I'm am already a PPL doing the ATPL, and one of the instructors said that i'm overcontrolling too much (a lot really).... Other instructors don't even notice that.
I really try not to move the controls too much but it is almost instictive..
Cheers!
You don't say what stage you're at, but I'm sure your instructor has said things like: "smooth progressive movements" "select an attitude" and "do whatever you have to do to make the aeroplane do what you want it to do - but smoothly". ... Stay relaxed, hold the stick gently and be aware of the attitude.
HFD
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It's not that uncommon - often associated with white knuckles and a vice-grip on the controls. In most cases it improves as general competence and confidence grows, so don't worry unduly.
A light touch on the controls will make things a lot smoother, and improve sensitivity on the trimmer(s).
Often pilot's who don't trim properly tend to over-control (or vice-versa), and it can be difficult for instructors to spot the problem.
Next time make a conscious effort to use finger and thumb only on the yolk/stick and see if it improves.
A light touch on the controls will make things a lot smoother, and improve sensitivity on the trimmer(s).
Often pilot's who don't trim properly tend to over-control (or vice-versa), and it can be difficult for instructors to spot the problem.
Next time make a conscious effort to use finger and thumb only on the yolk/stick and see if it improves.
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When I first started,and I'm still a PPL student,just,the instructor took the controls from me and told me I was holding the yoke like it was a cobra about to strike me.
My palms sweated so much I bought a pair of light suede horse riding gloves, at £6 a lot cheaper than the flying ones!
I still wear them although I probably don't need them now, but they have become a bit of my "flying kit".
Lister
My palms sweated so much I bought a pair of light suede horse riding gloves, at £6 a lot cheaper than the flying ones!
I still wear them although I probably don't need them now, but they have become a bit of my "flying kit".
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Overcontrol is normal for a student also because it may happen that a student react too late to mistakes, so recoveries need a big correction and these big corrections may cause overcontrol.
This problem can be solved with a correct and continuous scanning of flight parameters. First you detect a mistake, smaller will be the correction.
Ciao!!!
Rosanna
This problem can be solved with a correct and continuous scanning of flight parameters. First you detect a mistake, smaller will be the correction.
Ciao!!!
Rosanna
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Yes, student pilots in the beginning of their flight instruction frequently overcontrol. This is typical and normal and most easily seen during final approach where the aircraft rocks from side to side. The tendency to overcontrol will be reduced with experience as motor controls improve so I wouldn't worry about it too much at this early stage.
To correct this tendency, I would:
1. First recognise that I am overcontrolling. A cue for this would be when you start saying things like "S*#t, why the f*$# can't I fly this thing!" to yourself.
2. Relax the grip, take a deep breath, trim the plane and use small controlled movements.
I would say there can be a tendency to concentrate so much on your objective that you detach what you're thinking to what your hand is doing and if you can consciously think about your hand movements it may help.
To correct this tendency, I would:
1. First recognise that I am overcontrolling. A cue for this would be when you start saying things like "S*#t, why the f*$# can't I fly this thing!" to yourself.
2. Relax the grip, take a deep breath, trim the plane and use small controlled movements.
I would say there can be a tendency to concentrate so much on your objective that you detach what you're thinking to what your hand is doing and if you can consciously think about your hand movements it may help.
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Totally agree with all the comments so far re early students. But Jolly Jumper says:
So I'm guessing what we've got isn't a case of someone gripping the controls; more likely Jolly Jumper either doesn't have the aircraft trimmed properly, or else is making too frequent corrections in choppy conditions.
I would suggest a half an hour of so of straight and level flight without touching the controls at all. Just use very small rudder inputs to keep the wings level (secondary effect of rudder). If you find you are climbing or descending consistantly, then you need to review either your mental picture of the straight and level attitude, or your trim techniques (one of the most common problems being trimming at the top of the climb before reaching cruising speed, resulting in the aircraft starting to climb as it picks up speed, for example).
Hope that helps,
FFF
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I'm am already a PPL
I would suggest a half an hour of so of straight and level flight without touching the controls at all. Just use very small rudder inputs to keep the wings level (secondary effect of rudder). If you find you are climbing or descending consistantly, then you need to review either your mental picture of the straight and level attitude, or your trim techniques (one of the most common problems being trimming at the top of the climb before reaching cruising speed, resulting in the aircraft starting to climb as it picks up speed, for example).
Hope that helps,
FFF
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If you think you might be overcontroling - let go! If the aircraft is properly trimmed it will probably fly a lot better itself than with you messing it about. Once things settle down then do much has been suggested already and hold the stick lightly.
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Hello.
Thanks for the replies. In fact I'm already a PPL with almost 70 hrs... My PPL instructor never mentioned that was overcontrolling so the problem comes uncorrected from a early stage of my flight training.
Yesterday I was talking with some guys from the previsous ATPL course an they said that the instructor who told me that I was overcontrolling too much, says that to everyone who flies with him. Nevertheless it doesn't mean I don't have that problem.
I'll pay more attention in trimming the aircraft properly.
Thanks again for the help! (and sorry about my english)
Thanks for the replies. In fact I'm already a PPL with almost 70 hrs... My PPL instructor never mentioned that was overcontrolling so the problem comes uncorrected from a early stage of my flight training.
Yesterday I was talking with some guys from the previsous ATPL course an they said that the instructor who told me that I was overcontrolling too much, says that to everyone who flies with him. Nevertheless it doesn't mean I don't have that problem.
I'll pay more attention in trimming the aircraft properly.
Thanks again for the help!
(and sorry about my english)
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Overcontrolling
A point that hasn't been mentioned is - BALANCE!
Remember that the further effect of yaw is roll and of roll is yaw. Make sure that you are not dealing with the further effects with the incorrect control. Quite often small amounts of yaw are not observed and only the further effect is detected. Applying yet more aileron will of course create more yaw and therefore further roll leading to excessive use of aileron with may still appear as insufficient leading to frustration and overcontrol.
Remember that the further effect of yaw is roll and of roll is yaw. Make sure that you are not dealing with the further effects with the incorrect control. Quite often small amounts of yaw are not observed and only the further effect is detected. Applying yet more aileron will of course create more yaw and therefore further roll leading to excessive use of aileron with may still appear as insufficient leading to frustration and overcontrol.
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hi everyone!
i usually only read in this thread but would like to share my experience about this topic. As most of you said, overcontrol is a thing that happens to ppl students at the early stage (although I have had students prior to their flight exam doing it). Mostly it is due to the nervousness of the student (white knuckles and a stangulation of the yoke). On final approach the aircraft rocks from side to side and the student wants to correct every single error the aircraft does...so the result is (from overcontrol) that the "errors" keep building up. The result is that you see the runway shoot from right to left (and vice versa) through the cockpit window!
As one person in this thread said, relax your grip on the yoke...fly with two fingers and your thumb on the yoke...find a lever for your elbow so you have a handle and a feeling about the inputs you are making...and most important of all...let the aircraft fly and give it some time to react (obviously not if you are going straight to the ground). There is no way you can get a feeling for your aircraft if you are in a continuous fight with it and have no feeling left in your hand due to lack of blood! And be conisderate of the MASS of your aircraft! once you make an input, let´s say to correct your heading to the runway, make a small correction and prior to reaching the point you want to be at, correct the input again because your aircraft will push further due to it´s mass.
when you start flaring your aircraft, keep your eyes at a point further down the runway so you get an impression of the aircrafts flight path! see many students looking straight down the motor-hood...and the result is that the runway nears at an incredible speed resulting in panic and an extreme pull at the yoke...which sends the aircraft straight back into orbit...take a look at the end of the runway, the runway comes up much slower and you can dose your input on the yoke as to flare the aircraft.
i hope what i wrote was half way comprehensible ... my english has become a bit rusty over the years.
Any other tipps or comments are greatly appreciated, seeing that there are so many competent and experienced opinions here!
take care all
i usually only read in this thread but would like to share my experience about this topic. As most of you said, overcontrol is a thing that happens to ppl students at the early stage (although I have had students prior to their flight exam doing it). Mostly it is due to the nervousness of the student (white knuckles and a stangulation of the yoke). On final approach the aircraft rocks from side to side and the student wants to correct every single error the aircraft does...so the result is (from overcontrol) that the "errors" keep building up. The result is that you see the runway shoot from right to left (and vice versa) through the cockpit window!
As one person in this thread said, relax your grip on the yoke...fly with two fingers and your thumb on the yoke...find a lever for your elbow so you have a handle and a feeling about the inputs you are making...and most important of all...let the aircraft fly and give it some time to react (obviously not if you are going straight to the ground). There is no way you can get a feeling for your aircraft if you are in a continuous fight with it and have no feeling left in your hand due to lack of blood! And be conisderate of the MASS of your aircraft! once you make an input, let´s say to correct your heading to the runway, make a small correction and prior to reaching the point you want to be at, correct the input again because your aircraft will push further due to it´s mass.
when you start flaring your aircraft, keep your eyes at a point further down the runway so you get an impression of the aircrafts flight path! see many students looking straight down the motor-hood...and the result is that the runway nears at an incredible speed resulting in panic and an extreme pull at the yoke...which sends the aircraft straight back into orbit...take a look at the end of the runway, the runway comes up much slower and you can dose your input on the yoke as to flare the aircraft.
i hope what i wrote was half way comprehensible ... my english has become a bit rusty over the years.
Any other tipps or comments are greatly appreciated, seeing that there are so many competent and experienced opinions here!
take care all
