CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 8 Issue 3 - 16
CFI TIPS
PILOTS LIKE TO BE IN CONTROL, HAVE ALL THE
ANSWERS, AND NOT SHOW WEAKNESS. I get
it, I'm a pilot too. I'm not saying those traits are
necessarily negative. They come in handy in so
many aviation situations, such as shooting an
approach to minimums, teaching student pilots,
or flying the family to a favorite vacation spot.
But I'm here to say it's OK-even healthy-to also
have some apprehension. This is different from
aerophobia, which is a fear of flying. A healthy
dose of apprehension helps make us more
aware of what we're doing, think carefully about
decisions, and be methodical in our actions. We
are aware of the consequences of impulsivity or
poor decision making. We respect the aircraft
and environment in which we are flying.
SOME APPREHENSION COMES
NATURALLY WITH AGE
Did you know that the frontal cortex area of our
brains continues to develop into adulthood?
This is the area that helps us reason and
think before acting, and the fact that it's still
developing in younger people is one reason they
are more apt to be impulsive in their actions and
decision making. All you have to do is think back
to your own teen years, or look at your teenage
children, to understand this.
SOME APPREHENSION COMES
FROM EXPERIENCE
For example, after having a private pilot client
nearly steer us into a ditch upon landing during
his flight review, I learned that even certificated
pilots have bad days and I should be ready at all
times regardless of the credentials of the person
sitting next to me. Flight instructors should
always be apprehensive (in a good way) of their
clients. Experience also comes in the form of
involvement in auto accidents or other types of
incidents that remind us of what can happen
when things go wrong.
MOST OF MY APPREHENSION COMES
FROM BEING A MOM
After my children were born, my husband and
I would buckle their car seats into the back of
a Piper Archer, then buckle the two kids into
their car seats. During every phase of those
flights, from preflight to tie down, I was critically
aware that my entire world was on board that
aircraft. Above all, I wanted them to be safe and
comfortable. Always one to double check when it
comes to safety items, I would triple check with
my family on board.
Having this healthy apprehension gives me a
heightened awareness. I'm not complacent, no
matter how many times I've flown a particular
route or conducted a specific task. And best of all
I'm empathetic to others in the same situation.
As someone who learned to fly as a teenager
when nothing scared me, I am so impressed
by people who learn to fly as adults. As flight
instructors, it's up to us to understand our clients
and tailor our instructing to their needs based
on their phase of life and how they mentally
approach flight training and flying. When doing
maneuvers such as stalls, older adult clients may
be more apprehensive than teen or young adult
clients. Talk about each flight and the tasks you
plan to accomplish during a pre-briefing before
leaving the ground. Be open and encouraging
when clients ask questions, and answer them as
thoroughly as possible.
Fear may be a four-letter word, but apprehension
isn't. It should not be banned from our vocabulary
as pilots. Let's acknowledge it and embrace the
good it can do for us; it has made me a better pilot.
Kathleen Vasconcelos is the Senior Director
of Communications for the AOPA Foundation.
She is an instrument-rated flight instructor,
a commercial pilot with multiengine and
instrument ratings, and the mom of an 11-yearold girl and a 9-year-old boy.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 8 Issue 3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/flashcards_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/flashcards_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_201009
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com