Support / Advice / ? Throw in the towel
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If you are not enjoying it and/or it is too costly...stop
Quite a lot of people get stuck temporarily on their training, and that's unpleasant for sure. Some fly great but suffer from failing theoretical exams. Some are great in navigation, but suffer from poor landings. Some do both well, but have difficulty in using the radio. I know many with these problems, they got stuck a bit, got frustrated like you, considered throwing in the towel, but continued to work on different approaches to solve the issue and since the success came earlier than running out of options to try, they came out successful eventually.
No pain, no gain!
Ha! There I said it!
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1. I have a pencil marked off in 1.5 mile segments because I cruise at 90Kts. (1.5 miles a minute). I use the marks so after 5 minutes I am around 7.5 miles from last known point. I hold it over the map and I know 'roughly' where I am since I use it to approximate my heading on the map (and distance). Spend time with the map at home spread out on the table and try to visualise it on the ground. I find that the 1:250000 is much better than the 1:500000 for this as it has more detail.
2. Note the use of the terms 'rough & approximate' because as many people have said - it's not an exact science. And if the wind is that strong that it has a massive effect on your drift or your ground speed - you probably didn't ought to be flying that day !!
3. Fly to somewhere you know - then you can practice overlaying the map on your real terrain. Then fly a bit further on and do the same. Soon you will know your area within 50 miles from your airfield quite well - well enough to find your way home pretty easily. Pick somewhere you want to go and make it your goal............. get your instructor to help you plan it, and fly it with you.
4. Finally as everyone else says. Take every opportunity to fly with someone else. Every hour gained increases your experience. A 'flying buddy' is invaluable - because they are human and not a demi-god (sorry Instructor) they realise that you will screw up occasionally and ask seemingly obvious questions - like 'is that XXXXX or XXXXX ?' or 'Are you sure ?'.
Oh and get a GPS as soon as you can for use after you qualify. It takes the pressure off no end. Remember a good aviator is never lost just temporarily unsure of his/her location :-)
Best wishes
Arc
2. Note the use of the terms 'rough & approximate' because as many people have said - it's not an exact science. And if the wind is that strong that it has a massive effect on your drift or your ground speed - you probably didn't ought to be flying that day !!
3. Fly to somewhere you know - then you can practice overlaying the map on your real terrain. Then fly a bit further on and do the same. Soon you will know your area within 50 miles from your airfield quite well - well enough to find your way home pretty easily. Pick somewhere you want to go and make it your goal............. get your instructor to help you plan it, and fly it with you.
4. Finally as everyone else says. Take every opportunity to fly with someone else. Every hour gained increases your experience. A 'flying buddy' is invaluable - because they are human and not a demi-god (sorry Instructor) they realise that you will screw up occasionally and ask seemingly obvious questions - like 'is that XXXXX or XXXXX ?' or 'Are you sure ?'.
Oh and get a GPS as soon as you can for use after you qualify. It takes the pressure off no end. Remember a good aviator is never lost just temporarily unsure of his/her location :-)
Best wishes
Arc
Last edited by Arclite01; 17th Sep 2015 at 15:57. Reason: Spelling
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Not much from the OP for a while, but let me chip this in.
First, I'm not an instructor and did my PPL about 20 years ago.
Second, some of this may have been said above and generally I agree with pretty much all that is said above, apart from stop if you don't enjoy it - there are always low-spots and things you won't enjoy both during training and afterwards, if you are passionate about wanting to fly you push through them, if you aren't you may not. But certainly if you have a prolonged dislike of what's going on you must reevaluate. Doing something different / with someone different / with less pressure are all good things to reignite the passion. Stating the obvious, but the only way to learn is to reflect on what went right / wrong and why.
Now, you leave out quite a bit of background that might help people here: what are you flying, where (general area if you don't want to mention airfield), how did the earlier parts of the course go prior to nav, any particular problems then? Specific feedback from the instructor rather than just "navigation bad".
One lesson every one or two weeks is simply a recipe for treading water for most people, you spend as much time relearning (and your instructor will probably have forgotten the last flight) as you do making progress. Fly at least twice a week so that the second lesson can consolidate and build on the previous one. If that means you have to stop flying for a few months while you save up enough to have a concerted go at it, still do that. Winter can be a problem - I basically stopped the PPL during the Winter due to weather (cloud/wind) and waterlogged field. There was a good degree of work to do in the Spring to get back up to speed, but a lesson a month that I could actually fly achieved nothing really.
I would expect your instructor to brief you before the flight and most certainly thoroughly debrief you afterwards; perhaps if things have been dragging on they have got a bit lax?
What would I do in your shoes?
1) If I am not getting detailed debrief on what's going wrong together with remediation plans and trying different approaches to crack issues from the instructor I would try another one - different airfield / area if you like, but stick to the same aircraft type.
2) Have some fun flying, whichever bits you most enjoy, to keep the dream alive.
3) Definitely try to get rides where you can practice navigation without the pressure of maintaining track.
4) Practice on flight sims at home - one with decent photo scenery of your nav areas, ability to give you some bouncing around and variable wind drift to require control input as well as nav. Not up to speed on what to use now, but back in the day I found it very useful for nav and IMC. Just getting your drills and skills down pat where you aren't paying several pounds an hour for the privilege is great - how you use your map, your plog, marked pencil or ruler for inflight nav checks, gross error check, drift correction and track regain, point it in a random direction go make a cup of tea then come back and try to figure out where you are - lots you can do. It's not the same as having to truly aviate / communicate at the same time, but it's great practice.
5) Get forensic on what's going wrong when you do fly - maybe try a head-mounted camera & the gps track record trick, give a running commentary on what you are doing and why when flying so you can review it yourself later.
6) Do practice Pan / lost calls with your instructor so you have the reassurance that if you are up there alone and get totally confused someone can help find you; try some QDM homing too in a similar vein.
7) Finally, if you are doing this in a congested area (e.g. around London), where you have to work about 5X harder with regard to airspace / communication / traffic issues, think about finding somewhere easier to get the basic skills right then build up to the higher workloads.
Let us know how you are doing.
First, I'm not an instructor and did my PPL about 20 years ago.
Second, some of this may have been said above and generally I agree with pretty much all that is said above, apart from stop if you don't enjoy it - there are always low-spots and things you won't enjoy both during training and afterwards, if you are passionate about wanting to fly you push through them, if you aren't you may not. But certainly if you have a prolonged dislike of what's going on you must reevaluate. Doing something different / with someone different / with less pressure are all good things to reignite the passion. Stating the obvious, but the only way to learn is to reflect on what went right / wrong and why.
Now, you leave out quite a bit of background that might help people here: what are you flying, where (general area if you don't want to mention airfield), how did the earlier parts of the course go prior to nav, any particular problems then? Specific feedback from the instructor rather than just "navigation bad".
One lesson every one or two weeks is simply a recipe for treading water for most people, you spend as much time relearning (and your instructor will probably have forgotten the last flight) as you do making progress. Fly at least twice a week so that the second lesson can consolidate and build on the previous one. If that means you have to stop flying for a few months while you save up enough to have a concerted go at it, still do that. Winter can be a problem - I basically stopped the PPL during the Winter due to weather (cloud/wind) and waterlogged field. There was a good degree of work to do in the Spring to get back up to speed, but a lesson a month that I could actually fly achieved nothing really.
I would expect your instructor to brief you before the flight and most certainly thoroughly debrief you afterwards; perhaps if things have been dragging on they have got a bit lax?
What would I do in your shoes?
1) If I am not getting detailed debrief on what's going wrong together with remediation plans and trying different approaches to crack issues from the instructor I would try another one - different airfield / area if you like, but stick to the same aircraft type.
2) Have some fun flying, whichever bits you most enjoy, to keep the dream alive.
3) Definitely try to get rides where you can practice navigation without the pressure of maintaining track.
4) Practice on flight sims at home - one with decent photo scenery of your nav areas, ability to give you some bouncing around and variable wind drift to require control input as well as nav. Not up to speed on what to use now, but back in the day I found it very useful for nav and IMC. Just getting your drills and skills down pat where you aren't paying several pounds an hour for the privilege is great - how you use your map, your plog, marked pencil or ruler for inflight nav checks, gross error check, drift correction and track regain, point it in a random direction go make a cup of tea then come back and try to figure out where you are - lots you can do. It's not the same as having to truly aviate / communicate at the same time, but it's great practice.
5) Get forensic on what's going wrong when you do fly - maybe try a head-mounted camera & the gps track record trick, give a running commentary on what you are doing and why when flying so you can review it yourself later.
6) Do practice Pan / lost calls with your instructor so you have the reassurance that if you are up there alone and get totally confused someone can help find you; try some QDM homing too in a similar vein.
7) Finally, if you are doing this in a congested area (e.g. around London), where you have to work about 5X harder with regard to airspace / communication / traffic issues, think about finding somewhere easier to get the basic skills right then build up to the higher workloads.
Let us know how you are doing.
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Throwing in towel
I don't usually post on forums as I'm a bit shy I guess! But the first post resonated with me a little.
I also had a few gaps in my ppl training a few years ago, and I hit a 'wall' when it came to circuits. It was costing a fortune and I just wasn't 'getting it'. I also failed two cross country solos subsequently. Frankly, I'm not used to failing, and it was all rather difficult and frustrating. Looking back, I think that yes perhaps I'm not as gifted as I thought I might be, but also my instructor wasn't particularly encouraging. S/he used to get very annoyed at me, a bit shouty, and it wasn't very enjoyable at times. I switched instructors and the opinion of the subsequent instructors was actually my flying wasn't that bad and I received some encouragement and I enjoyed it more and flew better. My original instructor just taught me to tolerate nothing but total accuracy. This isn't realistic, a hobby pilot. I just want to fly safely. As it happens, I think I now fly more accurately than the average low hours pilot, based on feedback from subsequent instructors, probably as a result of my first instructor.
Anyway, eventually I passed after around 65 hours, which isn't all that many I guess. Whilst I'm no top gun, I'm much better than I was and I've completed an IR(R) too. I really enjoy flying and based on my own experience I would also suggest that you try a new instructor and just try to enjoy it a bit more. Take the pressure off, as others have said. Good luck!
I also had a few gaps in my ppl training a few years ago, and I hit a 'wall' when it came to circuits. It was costing a fortune and I just wasn't 'getting it'. I also failed two cross country solos subsequently. Frankly, I'm not used to failing, and it was all rather difficult and frustrating. Looking back, I think that yes perhaps I'm not as gifted as I thought I might be, but also my instructor wasn't particularly encouraging. S/he used to get very annoyed at me, a bit shouty, and it wasn't very enjoyable at times. I switched instructors and the opinion of the subsequent instructors was actually my flying wasn't that bad and I received some encouragement and I enjoyed it more and flew better. My original instructor just taught me to tolerate nothing but total accuracy. This isn't realistic, a hobby pilot. I just want to fly safely. As it happens, I think I now fly more accurately than the average low hours pilot, based on feedback from subsequent instructors, probably as a result of my first instructor.
Anyway, eventually I passed after around 65 hours, which isn't all that many I guess. Whilst I'm no top gun, I'm much better than I was and I've completed an IR(R) too. I really enjoy flying and based on my own experience I would also suggest that you try a new instructor and just try to enjoy it a bit more. Take the pressure off, as others have said. Good luck!
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I'm also gussing that most pilots here could be dropped anywhere within a fifty mile range of their home airfield and find their way back without a map, compass, radio nav aid or GPS. You just get to recognise what your bit of England/home country of choice looks like from 3 or 4 thousand feet. You don't get the Tom Tom or an atlas out to go down the local shops. Same with flying.
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clinique_happy,
Definitely DON'T GIVE UP!
I remember having quite a bit of frustration with navigation when I first learnt. I also remember my instructor being SO frustrated that I could fly the plane very well, and I could navigate (well.. kind of) - but I couldn't for the life of me do the two bits together.
My 2pence worth of advice is really simple, apply yourself, give yourself time - here are some tips that not only got me through but also saved my life since:
1. Build up a general knowledge of the area:
- Download Google Earth - get the scale to around the height you normally fly at, find your airport. (this gives you perspective).
- Get your 1:500k map out and find the airport too.
- Find the most noticeable places around on the map which you would use as turning points, and identify them from the Google Earth at the height at which you would normally fly.
- Don't look at field colours or anything that you know will change - look at shapes, and built up area shapes (make sure you have clear identifiable features).
- Spend a considerable amount of time on this, as you'll soon build up a picture of what is around you and this will be invaluable in the future (not only when learning).
2. Prepare Properly
- Take your time to plan flights really well, and really thoroughly. I would normally go through the process of firstly drawing on my 1:500k map carefully, guestimate the flight direction (it is a very good skill to have later on - diversions etc).
- Add drift lines this will give you a reasonable expectation of where you will end up if the calculated wind is as accurate as you'd like.
- Do your plog (or route log), calculate everything properly except the wind (which you should do just before flying).
- Look at your route on the map and look for features you should see, look at ways you can identify them, and where you should be in relation to them.
- Look at the same route on Google Earth, again at the height at which you are planning on flying, and again try to identify the same features and where you should be in relation to them. (do the whole route - not just a bit of it).
- Also take the time to look at things which are around your planned route so that should it not go 100% to plan that you at least have a vague idea of where you are!
- THEN actually try to fly the route in Google Earth, have your map ready and look for those features you mentioned - an alternative to this is to use a flight simulator such as X Plane which is incredibly accurate, and this can also give you the kind of speed you'd be looking for etc... (i would first do it in nil wind, and then add wind!)
3. On The Day Prep
- Probably obvious - but I remember this affected me heavily when I learnt (and I didn’t notice until quite late in my training):
- Sleep well (at least the couple of nights prior to flight - I forced 8 hours sleep)
- Eat well
- Leave ALL stress / work behind
- Check the weather thoroughly
- Add in the wind on your map
- Calculate your wind on your pliog, make sure it makes sense (basic rule of thumbs)
- Add BIG arrows next to each leg on your map (not overlapping important information), I normally put my heading (calculated including wind) in the arrow head, the planned speed including wind as the first item in the arrow body, the distance below that, the time it will take for your leg, and finally below that the minimum safety altitude (which will be more important later on in your flying).
- Try to visualise the features you have been referencing in 1 and 2 that are on your map (get the mental picture)
4. Flying the Navigation
- I am guessing that you’ve done a bit of it by this stage, so keep doing the good stuff, smooth, calm, precise.
- Make sure to have everything you need at hand prior to take-off (plog, map, pencil, backup pencil.…)
- Time, Turn, Talk
- Quick, frequent, checks on instruments, double checking the compass and DI align properly, speed, heading.
- Use everything to your advantage to make your flight easy
- Check on features you know you were going to pass, look at where you are in relation to these features, make small adjustments as appropriate
- Most importantly - Relax… Don’t freak out and ENJOY IT!
Hope this helps!
Definitely DON'T GIVE UP!
I remember having quite a bit of frustration with navigation when I first learnt. I also remember my instructor being SO frustrated that I could fly the plane very well, and I could navigate (well.. kind of) - but I couldn't for the life of me do the two bits together.
My 2pence worth of advice is really simple, apply yourself, give yourself time - here are some tips that not only got me through but also saved my life since:
1. Build up a general knowledge of the area:
- Download Google Earth - get the scale to around the height you normally fly at, find your airport. (this gives you perspective).
- Get your 1:500k map out and find the airport too.
- Find the most noticeable places around on the map which you would use as turning points, and identify them from the Google Earth at the height at which you would normally fly.
- Don't look at field colours or anything that you know will change - look at shapes, and built up area shapes (make sure you have clear identifiable features).
- Spend a considerable amount of time on this, as you'll soon build up a picture of what is around you and this will be invaluable in the future (not only when learning).
2. Prepare Properly
- Take your time to plan flights really well, and really thoroughly. I would normally go through the process of firstly drawing on my 1:500k map carefully, guestimate the flight direction (it is a very good skill to have later on - diversions etc).
- Add drift lines this will give you a reasonable expectation of where you will end up if the calculated wind is as accurate as you'd like.
- Do your plog (or route log), calculate everything properly except the wind (which you should do just before flying).
- Look at your route on the map and look for features you should see, look at ways you can identify them, and where you should be in relation to them.
- Look at the same route on Google Earth, again at the height at which you are planning on flying, and again try to identify the same features and where you should be in relation to them. (do the whole route - not just a bit of it).
- Also take the time to look at things which are around your planned route so that should it not go 100% to plan that you at least have a vague idea of where you are!
- THEN actually try to fly the route in Google Earth, have your map ready and look for those features you mentioned - an alternative to this is to use a flight simulator such as X Plane which is incredibly accurate, and this can also give you the kind of speed you'd be looking for etc... (i would first do it in nil wind, and then add wind!)
3. On The Day Prep
- Probably obvious - but I remember this affected me heavily when I learnt (and I didn’t notice until quite late in my training):
- Sleep well (at least the couple of nights prior to flight - I forced 8 hours sleep)
- Eat well
- Leave ALL stress / work behind
- Check the weather thoroughly
- Add in the wind on your map
- Calculate your wind on your pliog, make sure it makes sense (basic rule of thumbs)
- Add BIG arrows next to each leg on your map (not overlapping important information), I normally put my heading (calculated including wind) in the arrow head, the planned speed including wind as the first item in the arrow body, the distance below that, the time it will take for your leg, and finally below that the minimum safety altitude (which will be more important later on in your flying).
- Try to visualise the features you have been referencing in 1 and 2 that are on your map (get the mental picture)
4. Flying the Navigation
- I am guessing that you’ve done a bit of it by this stage, so keep doing the good stuff, smooth, calm, precise.
- Make sure to have everything you need at hand prior to take-off (plog, map, pencil, backup pencil.…)
- Time, Turn, Talk
- Quick, frequent, checks on instruments, double checking the compass and DI align properly, speed, heading.
- Use everything to your advantage to make your flight easy
- Check on features you know you were going to pass, look at where you are in relation to these features, make small adjustments as appropriate
- Most importantly - Relax… Don’t freak out and ENJOY IT!
Hope this helps!
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Addition to Alex90's post. If I'm going to a strip I haven't visited before I always have a glegg at Google Earth to get an idea of what is around for forced landings in case of donk failure on take off. If there isn't an out I don't go. Also have a look on You Tube. If you are visiting Little Snodgrass on the Wolds you can bet your bottom dollar someone will have filmed the landing.
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fly more often
Consider getting another instructor and fly at least twice a week. You're flying too rarely and it appears to be damaging your confidence. Nothing you've described sounds that unusual. If you want it, go for it, just in a different way from how you've been doing it so far. (FWIW wrote this without reading beyond the initial post--apologies if I'm repeating everyone's advice).
