PPL and workload
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Between Galaxies
Age: 39
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PPL and workload
Hey,
Long time since I've posted as I've been doing my PPL in the USA - Horrah!
I'm just interested in how many other people out there, who when first started their PPL found it really daunting when you realise just how much you have to remember when flying. For example:
Constantly making FREDA checks
Adjusting attitude to remain in straight and level
Making the right calls
Looking for fields to make emergency landings
Looking for other traffic
Navigating (enough in itself) and looking for ground references
Remembering emergency procedures and manoeuvre procedures etc etc.
All the while when you're trying to enjoy the flight and fly the aircraft you have these running about in your head!
I was just wondering how long it took most people to have all of this come as second nature?
Ian
Long time since I've posted as I've been doing my PPL in the USA - Horrah!
I'm just interested in how many other people out there, who when first started their PPL found it really daunting when you realise just how much you have to remember when flying. For example:
Constantly making FREDA checks
Adjusting attitude to remain in straight and level
Making the right calls
Looking for fields to make emergency landings
Looking for other traffic
Navigating (enough in itself) and looking for ground references
Remembering emergency procedures and manoeuvre procedures etc etc.
All the while when you're trying to enjoy the flight and fly the aircraft you have these running about in your head!
I was just wondering how long it took most people to have all of this come as second nature?
Ian
Personally, about 4-5 years, but I'm a slow learner, and still have to keep reminding myself of a couple of points - specifically fields and maintaining level, for me personally they're the first things I tend to let slip when I'm busy - unless I'm low-level anyway, when it tends to be comms.
G
G
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Chichester, UK
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It's not second nature, or even close, but I found that as you do more nav trips it gets much better - hang in there 
The first few I did were a nightmare of paper-juggling, wrestling the aeroplane for height and heading and constantly being reminded that I hadn't checked the DI or that I hadn't set the comm box for the next radio call (which I needed to make in the next 17 seconds before I wandered into the Farnborough MATZ). Gradually things got easier, and by the time I did my QXC I was spending most of the time looking out of the window - I knew where I was, height & heading OK, checks done, comm box set and 5 minutes to run to the next waypoint.
Tips? Fly height (trim!) and heading, of course, but also don't put waypoints too close together because there's extra work to be done at each one. I started off with waypoints less than 10 miles apart but now use one every 20 miles or so - even if I fly the leg 10 degrees off track I'll only be 3 miles from the waypoint. At each waypoint do whatever you are taught - mine was Turn, Time, Talk (& Set if required) and your checks - and then you're done until the next waypoint. Look out of the window for other traffic, and enjoy
The first few I did were a nightmare of paper-juggling, wrestling the aeroplane for height and heading and constantly being reminded that I hadn't checked the DI or that I hadn't set the comm box for the next radio call (which I needed to make in the next 17 seconds before I wandered into the Farnborough MATZ). Gradually things got easier, and by the time I did my QXC I was spending most of the time looking out of the window - I knew where I was, height & heading OK, checks done, comm box set and 5 minutes to run to the next waypoint.
Tips? Fly height (trim!) and heading, of course, but also don't put waypoints too close together because there's extra work to be done at each one. I started off with waypoints less than 10 miles apart but now use one every 20 miles or so - even if I fly the leg 10 degrees off track I'll only be 3 miles from the waypoint. At each waypoint do whatever you are taught - mine was Turn, Time, Talk (& Set if required) and your checks - and then you're done until the next waypoint. Look out of the window for other traffic, and enjoy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Dorset, UK
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Assuming that you are a car driver, just think back to when you learnt to drive.
I recall much the same feeling. How could I possibly remember to change gears, steer, look for hazards, read road signs, brake, indicate, and navigate, ALL at once?
Yet, once you have driven regularly for a few years, most of it comes automatically.
Believe me, the same does happen with flying. In my case (not a fast learner & not in the first flush of youth), I only really got reasonably confident, after about 200 hours.
The best advice I had, as soon as I had got my licence, was to team up with several other newly qualified PPLs at the same school, to share trips. This meant in the first year, after getting my PPL, I did over 70 hours, mostly on long cross-countries, including trips to France, Belgium, Netherlands, Channel Isles & Ireland.
So don't worry, it WILL all fall into place
I recall much the same feeling. How could I possibly remember to change gears, steer, look for hazards, read road signs, brake, indicate, and navigate, ALL at once?
Yet, once you have driven regularly for a few years, most of it comes automatically.
Believe me, the same does happen with flying. In my case (not a fast learner & not in the first flush of youth), I only really got reasonably confident, after about 200 hours.
The best advice I had, as soon as I had got my licence, was to team up with several other newly qualified PPLs at the same school, to share trips. This meant in the first year, after getting my PPL, I did over 70 hours, mostly on long cross-countries, including trips to France, Belgium, Netherlands, Channel Isles & Ireland.
So don't worry, it WILL all fall into place
