| - Chair flying. Flight training involves learning new motor | | | | won't stumble. For example, recovery from a low nose |
| skills. You would do much better in the air if you learn | | | | attitude would be "reduce power, level the wings, |
| those skills in a relaxed and safe environment, while on | | | | slowly pitch up". By practicing this procedure verbally |
| the ground. Airline pilots spend hours practicing | | | | while "chair flying" you could easily recall it when |
| procedures in a "procedure trainer" (a non-functional | | | | needed in a checkride or even better, in an actual |
| mockup of the cockpit) before they step into an | | | | unusual attitude encountered in flight. You can take any |
| expensive level-D flight simulator or into the actual | | | | procedure and build a verbal action list in this way. |
| aircraft. That way, they already know what to do. | | | | - Analyze "what if" scenarios. One very important (if |
| "Chair flying" is simply the act of pretending to fly the | | | | not the most important) characteristic of safe pilots is |
| aircraft while seating in a relaxed environment. You | | | | the ability to make good and timely decisions. Luckily, |
| can practice chair flying in a procedure trainer, in front | | | | this trait could be practiced and improved. Before, |
| of a cockpit poster, in a parking aircraft, or on your | | | | during, and after each flight consider "what if |
| couch at home. Any of those locations work. Be sure | | | | scenarios". WHAT IF the weather moves in over my |
| to practice every procedure in your normal, abnormal, | | | | destination while enroute? Where would I divert? |
| and emergency checklists. Reach with your hands to | | | | Would I have enough fuel to go there? Or WHAT IF I |
| the approximate position of each switch, lever or knob | | | | have an engine failure on the takeoff roll? WHAT IF it |
| required for the procedure in order to build "muscle | | | | happens immediately after takeoff? What would I do? |
| memory". | | | | You get the drift. |
| - Flash cards. Learning the huge amount of details for | | | | - Take advantage of Group study. Studying with other |
| training can be very challenging. System descriptions, | | | | people can boost your understanding of the material |
| Aircraft limitations, regulations, SOPs, memory items | | | | and help you gain new insights. |
| are all required to be retained in your memory and put | | | | - Highlight with a marker essential ideas in textbooks |
| in use immediately when time calls. You can make | | | | while reading them. |
| flash cards to help you remember those items. Buy a | | | | - Use mnemonics and acronyms to aid memory |
| pack of index cards from any office supply store. On | | | | retention. "Black square, you're there!" John and Martha |
| one side of a card write a question such as: "what is | | | | King repeat, referring to airport location signs. Although |
| the maximum takeoff weight?"; on the other side write | | | | mnemonics often sound goofy, they can be very |
| the answer: "Normal cat. 2550 lbs. Utility cat. 2200 lbs." | | | | effective in helping you remember things better. |
| (for a c-172S). Make as many cards as you need to | | | | - Visualization. Mental rehearsal helps us improve our |
| cover all subjects including: regulations, system | | | | skills and correct errors. Visualize each maneuver while |
| descriptions, memory items, and aircraft limitations. | | | | on the ground prior to your flight lessons. This is a |
| Once you have a large pile of cards start using them. | | | | technique used by many pro-athletes to improve their |
| Read a question and try to answer it, then flip the card | | | | game. You can use it to improve your flying skills. |
| to see if your answer was right. Put aside all the cards | | | | - Ask many questions. |
| that you answered right and keep reading through the | | | | - Study the Practical Test Requirements for your |
| ones you got wrong, until you answer all of them | | | | rating or certificate level. After all, you have to know |
| correctly. | | | | what's expected from you on the checkride so you |
| - Learn the "cockpit songs" for your aircraft. | | | | won't be surprised. |
| Sometimes you can be familiar with a procedure but | | | | - Use a PC-based flight simulator or PCATD. Despite |
| still have difficulty performing it in a steady pace while | | | | their many limitations, PC simulators provide you with |
| flying. The reason is that your thoughts of "what to do | | | | free practice time. Although it cannot replace real |
| next" are slowing you down. Practice procedures | | | | practice time, it is still very valuable. |
| verbally, so when you later perform them in the air, you | | | | |