Almost There
But not quite. Yes, I'm still trying to get my landing technique "down" -- Basically, when I stay relaxed, things go better than when I tense up. When I look at the far end of the runway like I'm supposed to, I stay more relaxed. So from there, it's just a matter of putting it all together. First I was pulling too much and too early, then too little and too late, then leveling off too high, then not staying centered, then forgetting to stop pulling once my wheels were down, resulting in a bounce...There is a lot that can go wrong.
I don't have another lesson till the 6th, so maybe this bit of off time will give me a chance to absorb things. Or maybe I'll forget everything and be back at square one.
It will give me a chance to catch up on my ground studies. I've been reading about weather. Knowing different weather patterns, being able to read weather forecasts and understanding what that means to your flying plans is incredibly important. Of course weather reports (METARs) and forecasts (TAFs) are presented in a terse, cryptic language. I've posted a link to the ADDS weather service; you can go there, click on METARs at the top, enter a bunch of airport abbreviations starting with K (for example, KSJC KSFO KORD KJFK), check the boxes for TAFs and METARs, click on raw format, and submit. There's a lot to know about predicting what the relative humidity will become based on prevailing winds, understanding cold and warm fronts and the resulting wind directions and taking advantage of those especially on longer journeys.
Also, all this landing practice has given me lots of work on my pattern work and radio work, both of which are greatly improved.
Right now I'm really just tired, and need a break from the flying and from everything else. Luckily a 3-day weekend is coming up. There's so much to study, so much to know, and as a pilot you have to be alert at all times, much moreso than driving. But I remember when I was learning to drive; it was exhausting because I felt exactly the same way. So it'll come.
I don't have another lesson till the 6th, so maybe this bit of off time will give me a chance to absorb things. Or maybe I'll forget everything and be back at square one.
It will give me a chance to catch up on my ground studies. I've been reading about weather. Knowing different weather patterns, being able to read weather forecasts and understanding what that means to your flying plans is incredibly important. Of course weather reports (METARs) and forecasts (TAFs) are presented in a terse, cryptic language. I've posted a link to the ADDS weather service; you can go there, click on METARs at the top, enter a bunch of airport abbreviations starting with K (for example, KSJC KSFO KORD KJFK), check the boxes for TAFs and METARs, click on raw format, and submit. There's a lot to know about predicting what the relative humidity will become based on prevailing winds, understanding cold and warm fronts and the resulting wind directions and taking advantage of those especially on longer journeys.
Also, all this landing practice has given me lots of work on my pattern work and radio work, both of which are greatly improved.
Right now I'm really just tired, and need a break from the flying and from everything else. Luckily a 3-day weekend is coming up. There's so much to study, so much to know, and as a pilot you have to be alert at all times, much moreso than driving. But I remember when I was learning to drive; it was exhausting because I felt exactly the same way. So it'll come.
posted by MKT at 8:12 AM
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