Back to School
September 2011
Summer's already almost over and ahead of us is autumn – perhaps the nicest time of year to fly. Are you ready?
Like most pilots, you probably schedule your recurrent training and Flight Reviews in the spring. It makes sense to get a little refresher at the beginning of the "flying season" after the slow winter flying months. That's a good plan because recent flying experience correlates to reduced risk of an aircraft accident. So if you don't have a lot of recent flight time (like in the early spring) you can improve your odds by getting a concentrated dose of flight instruction. The primary benefits are practice of skills and maneuvers that you needed to master to earn your pilot certificate and ratings, review of some of the emergency procedures you hope you'll never need, but might, and (if you find a good CFI) identification and fixing of any bad habits you've may picked up along the way.
Yes, the early spring brush-up is a great strategy for a safe and fun flying year.
But now summer is coming to a close. Just as autumn is "back to school" time for your kids or grandkids, so it is for us pilots, too. Half a year has gone by since your springtime refresher. You may have flown a lot in the months since (or maybe you haven't). But even if you've been filling your logbook, how many short-field takeoffs or landings have you flown? How much instrument time have you logged? Even VFR pilots need to practice "blind flying" skills as an emergency procedure, or to help you maintain control in night flight (and as summer fades, you're more likely to be flying in the dark). When did you last practice engine failures and glides or other emergencies? How recently have you let an expert instructor review your performance and help you overcome any bad habits that have crept into your flying over the summer?
Not all your practice needs to be with a certificated instructor. You can learn a lot by flying with a commercial or military pilot who is familiar with the performance and limitations of your airplane. Just remember you're pilot-in-command, and ultimately responsible for the safe outcome of your flight.
Yes, it's back to school time for pilots, too. Don't play hooky – schedule a short refresher with a flight instructor or a qualified safety pilot today!
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