FLYER Club Member
Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:16 am
#1787614
I thought I'd post about positive things while awaiting my second lesson...
Have had my nose stuck in Pooley's etc - read, made notes, tried to explain things to MrT6* (on the basis that you only know if you have understood something if you can explain to someone else)!
*He has no interest in flying and is scared of maths and physics so he doesn't actually listen to me. Nothing new there
Took progress tests in the books and moved on to mock exams via Air quiz.
I started by concentrating on Human Performance, then Air Law, Op Procedures and Comms.
Human Performance -
As with most folk, I think, I found HP straight forward. Just need to be able to recall the TUC table and a few other memory feats of specific numbers ☺. My general knowledge and stuff from school came back easily and covers most of the syllabus. Consistent good passes followed.
Air Law - another memory feat but I have enjoyed finding out what the relevant law is, and what best practice is (weird, who said I was weird?).
Consistent good passes. Occasional lapses re the finer points of less-likely-to-encounter air space rules (am working on it!).
OP - Lots of 'common sense' safety etc. I still have to imagine actually flying to give the right answer on windshear questions! The hardest things for me to remember have been some of the marshalling and light signals. Am achieving consistent passes, mostly good.
Comms - hmmm. Lucky I was familiar with radio alphabet, came back to me quickly, so one less thing to embed. Obviously have not been able to practise for real yet. Have listened into to ATC round the world to help with the pattern but they are usually too quick. Found listening to YouTubes, esp The Flying Reporter a big help (thanks!). 'Attended' Irv's Zoom classes and that was great (thanks very much, Irv!). Will still be very nervous going live!! Am achieving consistent good passes, except for light signals.... still working in those.
Now I am starting on Principles of Flight - I had read up before my first lesson, which was definitely worth it but the detail is not embedded yet!
I find it fascinating, am happy to deal with the physics, but it will take more brain power to be able to explain it to MrT6 (ie, myself).
Took mock exams via Air Quiz. (*** Any other recommendations for mock exams?).
All wrong answers are pondered over, books referred to , internet searches done, until I understand the correct answer. Still a ways to go but I am trying hard.
Oh, and I also took advice from another forumite and bought a chart to study. It is surprising what you do learn from mini visits to things like charts and METAR. Am saving Nav and Met for later!!
So this is my non-flying journey so far. Very satisfying, a great stimulus, and I hope it will stand me in good stead when I finally get to the aerodrome.
Not the way I envisaged starting my student experience but hopefully something positive will come from lockdown.
BTW, I expect to struggle with Nav and Met! Am looking forward to Aircraft Techinical, because I will channel my dear grandad, a private pilot and war-time aircraft engineer. He'd love to be offering sage advice to one of his grandkids on his favourite topics.
Have had my nose stuck in Pooley's etc - read, made notes, tried to explain things to MrT6* (on the basis that you only know if you have understood something if you can explain to someone else)!
*He has no interest in flying and is scared of maths and physics so he doesn't actually listen to me. Nothing new there
Took progress tests in the books and moved on to mock exams via Air quiz.
I started by concentrating on Human Performance, then Air Law, Op Procedures and Comms.
Human Performance -
As with most folk, I think, I found HP straight forward. Just need to be able to recall the TUC table and a few other memory feats of specific numbers ☺. My general knowledge and stuff from school came back easily and covers most of the syllabus. Consistent good passes followed.
Air Law - another memory feat but I have enjoyed finding out what the relevant law is, and what best practice is (weird, who said I was weird?).
Consistent good passes. Occasional lapses re the finer points of less-likely-to-encounter air space rules (am working on it!).
OP - Lots of 'common sense' safety etc. I still have to imagine actually flying to give the right answer on windshear questions! The hardest things for me to remember have been some of the marshalling and light signals. Am achieving consistent passes, mostly good.
Comms - hmmm. Lucky I was familiar with radio alphabet, came back to me quickly, so one less thing to embed. Obviously have not been able to practise for real yet. Have listened into to ATC round the world to help with the pattern but they are usually too quick. Found listening to YouTubes, esp The Flying Reporter a big help (thanks!). 'Attended' Irv's Zoom classes and that was great (thanks very much, Irv!). Will still be very nervous going live!! Am achieving consistent good passes, except for light signals.... still working in those.
Now I am starting on Principles of Flight - I had read up before my first lesson, which was definitely worth it but the detail is not embedded yet!
I find it fascinating, am happy to deal with the physics, but it will take more brain power to be able to explain it to MrT6 (ie, myself).
Took mock exams via Air Quiz. (*** Any other recommendations for mock exams?).
All wrong answers are pondered over, books referred to , internet searches done, until I understand the correct answer. Still a ways to go but I am trying hard.
Oh, and I also took advice from another forumite and bought a chart to study. It is surprising what you do learn from mini visits to things like charts and METAR. Am saving Nav and Met for later!!
So this is my non-flying journey so far. Very satisfying, a great stimulus, and I hope it will stand me in good stead when I finally get to the aerodrome.
Not the way I envisaged starting my student experience but hopefully something positive will come from lockdown.
BTW, I expect to struggle with Nav and Met! Am looking forward to Aircraft Techinical, because I will channel my dear grandad, a private pilot and war-time aircraft engineer. He'd love to be offering sage advice to one of his grandkids on his favourite topics.
so I have two weeks at home to tick off the list of jobs Mrs W has been dreaming up and rerunning my last flight into Southend Overhead a few times on my flight sim until I'm slicker at staying ahead of the aircraft. More on that in my de-briefing notes I'll publish soonest.
. Worst score was 50% (a big fail, of course! Got close to passing a few times ), but it gave me hope because I haven't opened the book since Feb when some, but not all of it got one read through. 
I am enjoying it immensely.
