Earn my pilot's license

How I did it: I took my time and proceeded at my own pace. I have always had an achievers mindset and I have been setting and achieving goals for most of my life. I start any goal by writing it down and then setting a date for achievement. When I wrote this goal I was determined to get my certificate in 4 months maximum!  After my third or fourth lesson I realized that while I could probably accomplish my goal in 4 months, I had no reason to rush, and in all reality, I  would probably benefit from a slower training pace.  Also, I was having a real blast and was being challenged by the training. So, I decided to change the completion date to 1 year. I am glad that I did! Now I am looking forward to planning some cool day trips....first stop is Catalina Island!

Lessons & tips: Do your ground training work on a regular consistent schedule - ie..30 minutes per day/ 3 days per week.  It is a good idea to start this a few weeks before you start flying so you are ahead of the curve.  

Buy the book " Say again please" to learn the right way to talk on the radio - that way you can focus on flying the plane and learning your maneuvers.

Pass the written exam early in your training. Complete the ground training, take a few practice tests on the internet (there are plenty of sites to do this) and then go do it.

Ask your CFI plenty of questions. Why are you learning full power and power off stalls?  What is the purpose of ground reference maneuvers?  Why are we practicing steep turns? Keep asking Why?  The answers are important.

Learn your VOR and NavAids cold!  During my checkride, I was required to track VOR's and to intercept radials.  It is easy, but it takes some practice and training.

Learn your Airspace and Charts. Take a currrent Sectional chart and learn everything on it.  Pick a random spot on the chart and have your CFI explain to you what class of airspace you are in at the surface, at 700 ft,1200 ft, at 3000 ft, 10,000 ft, at 14500 ft, at 18000 ft,  etc.

Focus on the JOURNEY, not the goal. Learning to fly is lots and lots of fun, so relax, slow down, and enjoy the experience!

Resources:

1. The book "Say again please" was a great help for those who are intimidated by the radio calls required. It is well laid out and I found it helped my communication and confidence tremendously. 
2. King Schools "get it all" pkg for VFR Private Pilot was a very effective.  John and Martha King are corny as heck, but they know their stuff and you will learn and retain critical knowledge.
3. Sporty's Private Pilot Oral Examination Test Prep Book.This little book is like the "Cliff's Notes" for the Oral exam, priceless.
4. Practical Test Standards pamphlet - tells you exactly what to expect on your checkride. Become proficient at all of the items and your Checkride will be a cinch.

Mar 17, 05:43PM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer