Nerves
 

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of dealing with nerves? I am working my way through flying training and am having real problems with nerves. Sometimes I am so uptight that I cant make any sense of the information I am reading on the instruments or on the approach plates.
I am worried that if I am up tight about things at this point what will I be like when it comes to the IRT? If anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful.

milky.

My first step would be to make an appointment with your GP.

Although not sure what sort of medication if any you can take if flying. Possibly use relaxation techinques at night.

Talk to someone you can trust, don't let it get you down:ok:

Are you on your IR course now ? I don't think your experience is uncommon - when you overload everything freezes up.

Only way to get on top of it is to push more of the work into the 'background' stack, and the only way to do that is practice practice practice. Even steely pilots (especially steely pilots !) do endless mental rehearsal.

If you've got access to an FNPT I/II then go live in it. If you've a buddy doing the course at the same time then do mutual sim rides alternating between ATC and pilot role.

Go sit in the a/c and practice drills so you get a sense of the 'flow' of your hands across the panel, rather than trying to remember a checklist. In the car on the way to the airfield run through the R/T playing both ATC and pilot roles.

Get a copy of RANT if you haven't already got one, minimise the 'radar view' so you've only got the instruments and launch a hold join tutorial, and get used to picturing the hold on the HSI, planning the join and executing it. Maximise the screen when you're done and see how it went. Give yourself progressively more difficult conditions as you get better.

Go meet the examiners at your local test centre, even mention the nerves as an issue to them. Do everything you can to make the test less of a huge event.

And finally, don't worry about it - worrying won't help. Do some or all of the above and some of your own things that will help turn this into a routine, not an ordeal.

Good luck !

Watching the Hatton v Tszyu fight last weekend, Johnny Nelson referred to pre-fight nerves as 'The Beast'. His basic point was that you had to master the beast, before you could think of mastering your opponent.
Now one way to look at that, is that there is nothing you'll ever do flying-wise which is remotely as scary as being punched 200+ times by Ricky Hatton. Another more sensible way, is that adrenaline is your friend. It will heighten your senses, quicken your response times and is something to be welcomed. This is a reaction which can you can make second nature given time and practice.

As with a lot of things in flying, the 6 Ps are often the answer.

I wish you luck anyway.

When I was a learner I worried about not being able to do steep turns. Still can't do them to my satisfaction but I don't worry about it.

Think "big picture"; each small component or piece adds to the total. Do one thing at time if it is taking up capacity.

You will get better with time and practice.

Time and practice.

Hey Milky, you might want to check this thread out..

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hlight=anxiety