If I could go back in time to when I started flying, I would change a few things. First, I would have gotten my Category 1 Medical Certificate right off the bat rather than assuming that I was never going to be eligible and settling for my Cat 3. Second, I would have made a much firmer commitment to fly as often as possible. I've flown twice this week and the flights were pretty good, both from a learning perspective and an aesthetic one. The problem is, these were my first flights in a month. Every time I take a break like that, it's not so easy to pick up from where I left off.
The breaks from the last month have been unavoidable on my part as they were due to mechanical failures and weather but I must take the blame for several other breaks I've had since I started with my PPL.
I started in 2004, had a couple of lessons in the fall and then went to London for a month in January of 2005. Due to money, I didn't start flying again until March of the same year. During that spring, I was flying a lot but not really advancing because of my issues with airsickness. Fall of 2005 I was sick and took another month off. The winter was not too bad and in April of 2006, I finally soloed. After that I was getting quite a few hours in but another break was on the horizon and this was by far the most damaging.
I ended up taking most of the summer off in 2006 and all of the fall. There were a number of reasons for this but when I finally got back at it, I felt that I was having to learn certain things all over again. Consequently, I am at a stage of stall in my flight training as every time I start to build up the skills again, I end up missing a few weeks.
I am now determined to fly at least twice a week and when not in the air I spend a lot of time reviewing notes and running over procedures. If my course at work taught me anything (and god knows it wasn't how to be a good RTC because I'm the worst in the whole railway), it was how to study. I now know that repetition is key to learning and I review my notes and POH on a daily basis. It's a pity I didn't figure this aspect of training out when I was still in grade school (or university maybe? Nah, who's got time for studying at Uni...).
The scenery on my last two flights has been nothing short of spectacular. Last night we practised slow flight in the NW area which is squarely over the foothills. All the rain has made things very green and the view of the mountains from the cockpit can't be described. Both flights have been at 1900 and I was surprised to see how calm the air was. Because it was evening, I actually ate before flying and was pleased that I did not experience any of my usual queasiness. Even when reading a map (an activity I can barely do in a car without getting nauseous) I had no ill effects at all. Monday was a great night at Springbank as I had the entire pattern to myself.
My goals in the next few weeks are the following:
I need to flare lower. I always flare too high and I'm not sure why. I think I may have issues judging height at that level and am afraid to instigate a prop strike.
My approaches of late have been low. I used to always be high and would almost always have at least one over-shoot and now I seem to be correcting far too much for the problem.
After looking at the above two statements I think I just realized my problem. When coming in too low, I correct with the necessary power hence setting myself up to be too high over the runway.
I fly again on Monday and Tuesday. With any luck, the weather holds and I will be able to build on the flights I've had this week.