Afraid to use PPL
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Afraid to use PPL
Hey Ppruners,
I wasn't really sure whether to post this here or in the private flyers thread, but decided here as it somewhat relates to hours building.
A friend of mine completed their PPL a couple of months ago in the UK and, is looking to go down the commercial route like myself and is at the stage of hours building.
However, my buddy has done little flying since getting his PPL 3-4 months ago (Done a little over 4 hours), and recently informed me that his lack of hours is due to him being afraid to go flying on his own with his PPL. On asking him why he is afraid, he responded by saying that he is worried about various things such as the plane possibly breaking and him not knowing what to do, losing his license for some reason or not thinking that he is competent enough to fly (Lacking confidence).
Personally, I have got quite stuck into my hours building and can somewhat gauge what he is saying as, I too felt a little nervous to fly on my license for the first time (Especially as I fly in class A airspace), I remember it being a mixture of terror and shear adrenaline pumping excitement, I think its just like driving in that once you have your license you might be nervous on the roads but as soon as you have had lots of practise and time doing it, you think nothing of hopping in your car (Plane in this case), but I just think that my friends worrying is a little excessive and in some respects could be quite dangerous which leads me onto my question for you all.
Is this level of fear common amongst low hours builders who have recently achieved their PPLs? and if so, is there any tips or advice you would offer? I would love to say I could sit with my friend whilst he flies but we do not live in the same place sadly. He has a Pprune account and I will refer him to this thread, to maybe help him out, so any comments would be much appreciated.
I wasn't really sure whether to post this here or in the private flyers thread, but decided here as it somewhat relates to hours building.
A friend of mine completed their PPL a couple of months ago in the UK and, is looking to go down the commercial route like myself and is at the stage of hours building.
However, my buddy has done little flying since getting his PPL 3-4 months ago (Done a little over 4 hours), and recently informed me that his lack of hours is due to him being afraid to go flying on his own with his PPL. On asking him why he is afraid, he responded by saying that he is worried about various things such as the plane possibly breaking and him not knowing what to do, losing his license for some reason or not thinking that he is competent enough to fly (Lacking confidence).
Personally, I have got quite stuck into my hours building and can somewhat gauge what he is saying as, I too felt a little nervous to fly on my license for the first time (Especially as I fly in class A airspace), I remember it being a mixture of terror and shear adrenaline pumping excitement, I think its just like driving in that once you have your license you might be nervous on the roads but as soon as you have had lots of practise and time doing it, you think nothing of hopping in your car (Plane in this case), but I just think that my friends worrying is a little excessive and in some respects could be quite dangerous which leads me onto my question for you all.
Is this level of fear common amongst low hours builders who have recently achieved their PPLs? and if so, is there any tips or advice you would offer? I would love to say I could sit with my friend whilst he flies but we do not live in the same place sadly. He has a Pprune account and I will refer him to this thread, to maybe help him out, so any comments would be much appreciated.
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The only solution that comes to my mind to suggest is flying with an instructor and do some kind of structured or monitored hour building.
He must understand that he obtained his PPL by passing a 7 theoritical exams and a check ride with an examiner who assessed him to prove that he meets the required standards to fly as a PPL holder.
He must understand that he obtained his PPL by passing a 7 theoritical exams and a check ride with an examiner who assessed him to prove that he meets the required standards to fly as a PPL holder.
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Nothing worse than having a pilot who's not confident. Confidence plays a huge role to whether or not you'll pass a CPL or IR skills test. What happens if he gets a sim assessment with an airline 1 year after finishing training with only a handful of hours since. How will he feel then?
It might just be because he feels he is out of practice, in which case get into practice with an instructor. Once he gets more hours under his belt this feeling might not ever return. Or it could be something deeper. Only your friend knows how he feels and his situation.
It might just be because he feels he is out of practice, in which case get into practice with an instructor. Once he gets more hours under his belt this feeling might not ever return. Or it could be something deeper. Only your friend knows how he feels and his situation.
Last edited by pudoc; 24th Apr 2013 at 00:42.
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It is more common than one thinks. I bump into them all the time. In fact many of the airport bums that hang around airplanes and airfields do a lot of talking and very little flying. Some of them due to financial or medical reasons - and I obviously have zero problem with that - but a lot of them because they lack confidence. Not that I have any problem with that either, unless they act like they fly a million hours a year when I know they don't. And this doesn't just concern inexperienced pilots either, I've had an instructor that did pretty much anything he could to avoid actually having to go flying (and he was ex US Navy and super experienced).
I had a bout of it myself just after the first time I took my PPL. Years later when I re-did it, kind of the same thing happened again. I was never really in love with flying small singles, like the 152. I like the little thing and think it's a great aircraft, but I wouldn't say I felt sheltered from harm in it..
With my own aircraft things changed a lot, but I have to admit it took a few hours before everything fell into place and I started to trust it. In my experience, after a 100-200hrs of flying, the comfort level goes up. Best thing to do for your friend is to just get on with it - challenge himself to unfamiliar flying, go on longer trips, maybe take along another pilot (this can help tremendously) etc and he will find that his confidence with each accomplished task will soar - this I can promise.
I had a bout of it myself just after the first time I took my PPL. Years later when I re-did it, kind of the same thing happened again. I was never really in love with flying small singles, like the 152. I like the little thing and think it's a great aircraft, but I wouldn't say I felt sheltered from harm in it..
With my own aircraft things changed a lot, but I have to admit it took a few hours before everything fell into place and I started to trust it. In my experience, after a 100-200hrs of flying, the comfort level goes up. Best thing to do for your friend is to just get on with it - challenge himself to unfamiliar flying, go on longer trips, maybe take along another pilot (this can help tremendously) etc and he will find that his confidence with each accomplished task will soar - this I can promise.
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 24th Apr 2013 at 05:10.
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Originally Posted by redbullgavemewings
The only solution that comes to my mind to suggest is flying with an instructor and do some kind of structured or monitored hour building
You are not going to get that if sheltered by an Instructor sat next to you telling you what to do and holding your hand.
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I would argue that taking an instructor or at least an experienced pilot as a passenger would offer some value for a portion of hour-building. I'm fortunate enough to have an experienced airline pilot and instructor as a father, and gained in my humble opinion a lot of valuable experience from having him sat next to me for a portion of my hours. We agreed he was purely there as a passenger/extra set of eyes and that I would be PIC, however any advice offered was graciously taken. I also flew a handful of hours with more experienced PPL holders and the CFI of my club, all valuable experiences.
Of course flying alone is also a big part of confidence building, so I'm certainly not advocating flying the entirety of the hour-building under supervision. I definitely believe a balance of the two is beneficial though.
Of course flying alone is also a big part of confidence building, so I'm certainly not advocating flying the entirety of the hour-building under supervision. I definitely believe a balance of the two is beneficial though.
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I don't understand why but I have felt this lack of confidence solo, but taking a non pilot passenger with me seems to force me to have, or at least demonstrate, the required confidence.
Uttering "Oh ****" with a nervous pax listening would destroy my faith in myself so I would say nothing & think "I am responsible for this poor buggers life, get a grip!"
Taking an instructor just passes the buck.
Uttering "Oh ****" with a nervous pax listening would destroy my faith in myself so I would say nothing & think "I am responsible for this poor buggers life, get a grip!"
Taking an instructor just passes the buck.
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Best to give up now before he wastes any more money.
There is a good deal of info on the subject out there on the net if you look. Here is one link and I know there has also been an article in either the UK Aopa mag or Gasco mag on the subject (Can't remember which one) Various psychological techniques are also available to deal with the problem which is most definitely not insurmountable.
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I suffered from a similar sort of anxiety just after passing my PPL, the only way to get over this is to work through it, face your anxiety / fears and overcome them. Having an instructor / fellow pilot sitting next to you is all well and good but how long will this go on for? To pass your PPL, the candidate will have had to have flown at least 10 hours solo, he should just accept that he's done it before, he can do it again.....
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All valid points, but if you don't enjoy flying at it's basic level, why on earth is he considering it as a career?
If it is for the perceived "status/money", then best forget it now.
If it is for the perceived "status/money", then best forget it now.
Last edited by PURPLE PITOT; 25th Apr 2013 at 00:00.
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The ironic and perverse thing is that if he is anything like me, then he will indeed enjoy flying very much (perhaps it is a peculiar form of masochism I don't know) but he will be desperate to find a cure.
It can be overcome.
I have done so, and learning to fly is still without doubt the best ever life decision I ever made.
It can be overcome.
I have done so, and learning to fly is still without doubt the best ever life decision I ever made.
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That article is great, Mike. Rings a few bells. I used to to get uncomfortable by two different scenarios:
High Altitude.
I'm very afraid of heights, but funnily enough not when I'm flying - or at least that's what I thought then. Turned out I didn't like to fly high for maybe the first 200hrs hours in the new aircraft. It had nothing to do with the altitude per se, just the distance to the ground and the fact that it was just, well, so visible below me in that high wing. This meant I rarely cruised much higher than 5000ft unless the terrain demanded it. But just as quickly as it came, it went away. And I don't know why. Maybe it was a few long cross countries over high terrain that cured it. Today I regularly cruise at 9500-12.500ft with no problems. It's strange how the brain works.
Catastrophic Failure.
This was a big one for a long time on the new (old) aircraft. I just couldn't help to question, especially in heavy turbulence, the integrity of my 60 year old main spar. Sure, they do inspections every year at the annual, but really, chances of them finding a hidden crack or corroded patch is pretty slim - how could I know it hadn't been overstressed or damaged before? Two things helped cure me of this - one was a salvage/breakup of another 520 (that I bought some parts off) where they'd chopped the wings off. I could see how very sturdy and oversized the main spar was. It was a massive I-beam. The second was an Eddy current and dye penetrant main spar inspection on my own aircraft. This gave me the confidence back to fully trust the wing design and as soon as that the anxiety went away.
High Altitude.
I'm very afraid of heights, but funnily enough not when I'm flying - or at least that's what I thought then. Turned out I didn't like to fly high for maybe the first 200hrs hours in the new aircraft. It had nothing to do with the altitude per se, just the distance to the ground and the fact that it was just, well, so visible below me in that high wing. This meant I rarely cruised much higher than 5000ft unless the terrain demanded it. But just as quickly as it came, it went away. And I don't know why. Maybe it was a few long cross countries over high terrain that cured it. Today I regularly cruise at 9500-12.500ft with no problems. It's strange how the brain works.
Catastrophic Failure.
This was a big one for a long time on the new (old) aircraft. I just couldn't help to question, especially in heavy turbulence, the integrity of my 60 year old main spar. Sure, they do inspections every year at the annual, but really, chances of them finding a hidden crack or corroded patch is pretty slim - how could I know it hadn't been overstressed or damaged before? Two things helped cure me of this - one was a salvage/breakup of another 520 (that I bought some parts off) where they'd chopped the wings off. I could see how very sturdy and oversized the main spar was. It was a massive I-beam. The second was an Eddy current and dye penetrant main spar inspection on my own aircraft. This gave me the confidence back to fully trust the wing design and as soon as that the anxiety went away.
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 25th Apr 2013 at 14:49.
Hats off to your friend for his honesty in discussing the problem.
Yes, I always felt a little anxious before take-off the first few times I went out on my own. Truth is that I always have felt a little anxious before take-off right from my hang-gliding days though thankfully never in the air (even when things have been going wrong).
My first few flights post PPL I felt especially anxious because I trained somewhere different from where I first struck out on my own. I was very nervous, and I think with reason, about flying in the London TMA.
I solved it firstly by flying more, because 'normalisation' can often help deal with anxiety caused by unusual circumstances. This doesn't have to be flying alone, unless this is a specific part of your friend's phobia. Secondly I did a few flights with an instructor, including tagging along for a ferry flight to a local airfield. Then I did some local flights. Then I repeated the cross-country by myself. Then I started branching out from there.
As others have said, a little anxiety is a good thing. A lot can be disabling. I hope your friend gets things worked out.
Yes, I always felt a little anxious before take-off the first few times I went out on my own. Truth is that I always have felt a little anxious before take-off right from my hang-gliding days though thankfully never in the air (even when things have been going wrong).
My first few flights post PPL I felt especially anxious because I trained somewhere different from where I first struck out on my own. I was very nervous, and I think with reason, about flying in the London TMA.
I solved it firstly by flying more, because 'normalisation' can often help deal with anxiety caused by unusual circumstances. This doesn't have to be flying alone, unless this is a specific part of your friend's phobia. Secondly I did a few flights with an instructor, including tagging along for a ferry flight to a local airfield. Then I did some local flights. Then I repeated the cross-country by myself. Then I started branching out from there.
As others have said, a little anxiety is a good thing. A lot can be disabling. I hope your friend gets things worked out.
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Your friend is not alone, it even happened to Maverick after he lost Goose in that horrible accident. After getting back up there a few times and with the support of his friend such as Charlie and Ice Man he figured it out and ended up beating his problem, even managed to become an instructor at Top Gun. If it happened to him it can happen to anyone, your friend will find the cure the same way.
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If you are both hour building, why not suggest you do a few flights together, maybe go slightly further than you would by yourself and you fly out and he flies back. You could even make a couple of days of it, if cash is tight, throw a tent in the back.
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I think your "friend" needs to find a flying buddy. I think it is quite normal to feel a bit apprehensive just after the PPL, as lets face it, you don't really know that much and the reality sinks in that no one, but yourself, will get you out of trouble!. As you get more experience and you *know* what to do, then this apprehensiveness disappears, so keep flying. It is the Type A superPilot I am scared of- those that DON'T feel a little bit apprehensive right after their PPL.
I also find flying alone a bit boring really. Who wants to be Johnny No Mates sitting in the airport cafe talking about planes to the rest of the spotters?
Yea having the wings off our Commander was very reassuring - to see big wing spars and big bolts holding it together! not sure I'd go up and do spins in a 30 year old flying club Cessna though.
PS Top Gun wasn't real
I also find flying alone a bit boring really. Who wants to be Johnny No Mates sitting in the airport cafe talking about planes to the rest of the spotters?
Yea having the wings off our Commander was very reassuring - to see big wing spars and big bolts holding it together! not sure I'd go up and do spins in a 30 year old flying club Cessna though.
PS Top Gun wasn't real
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I also find flying alone a bit boring really. Much better to have someone other than ATC to talk to. And very boring on a landaway having a tea/coffee by yourself.
Most plane spotters don't think a female pilot worthy of "talking planes" to. Not that I really want long discussions on strutts, oleos, nuts and bolts, lol.
Most plane spotters don't think a female pilot worthy of "talking planes" to. Not that I really want long discussions on strutts, oleos, nuts and bolts, lol.