12 Tips for Student Pilots!

     Having recently earned my Private Pilot License this year, I thought I would reflect on my flight training experience and share a few tips for Student Pilots. My hope is that by following these tips you will not only become a better pilot, but also save money while doing so. As we all know, flying is not a cheap hobby; nor is cheap to begin a career in aviation. But, going about your flight training the right way can make it as affordable as possible!

#1: Come Prepared

     Learning is free at home, so you should capitalize on it! Before each flight lesson, prepare yourself for the topics that will be covered with your instructor. After each lesson, be sure to ask what to expect next time. This way, you will know what knowledge to brush up on or even what maneuvers to familiarize yourself with. This maximizes your learning in the cockpit and can save you a lot of money by not having to waste time in the airplane!

#2: Fly Consistently

     This tip is dear to my heart. I started flying at age 13, but I was very inconsistent in my training; often taking months off at a time without flying or studying. I highly recommend sticking to a schedule and flying as consistently and as often as your budget allows. It is very costly to take 2 steps forward each lesson and 1 step back by waiting too long between lessons and getting rusty!
#3: Never Stop Flying the Airplane

     Student Pilots often forget that to the fly airplane from engine start to engine shutdown. Flight controls should always be paid attention to not only in the air, but also while taxiing the aircraft! A nasty gust of wind is all it takes to flip an airplane and cause damage to both the airplane and your wallet.
#4: Get a Weather Briefing
     As a pilot, you should prepare yourself as much as possible before each flight. This includes being informed about the current weather, weather forecasts, and any inclement weather in the area. Your instructor will be impressed, and it is a great habit to acquire. A briefing may even cause you to cancel your flight for the sake of safety!
#5: Ask Questions
     Your flight instructor is truly your best friend in the process of flight training. If you come across a topic in a book, ground school, or even in flight that you do not understand, ask! Get your question cleared up before you are off on your own flying solo or come across it during an exam.
#6: Know Your Checklists

     Take no shame in practicing your flying at home. It is broadly recommended that you sit down in a chair and practice going through your checklists and commit it to muscle memory. This will allow you to learn the flow of each checklist while actually in the cockpit and be able to allocate more attention to flying the airplane.
#7: Pre-Flight Your Airplane Thoroughly

     Never assume the airplane you are about to fly is airworthy. As the PIC, it is your responsibility to make sure the aircraft is ready to fly. This includes checking maintenance records and the airworthiness certificate in the airplane. Follow a checklist when preflighting the aircraft or even develop your own routine!
#8: Learn the Fundamentals Before Implementing Technology

     It is the 21st century and an abundance of technology is available for aviation, and that is an exciting thing! However, technology should not be too relied upon, for there is always the chance it can fail. Learn the fundamentals like using a manual E6B before moving onto "iPad flying".
#9: Immerse Yourself in Aviation

     You will find that you will learn much easier and quickly if you spend as much time as possible immersed in the world of aviation. Spend some time around your local airport and meet fellow pilots, and I promise you will be surprised on how much knowledge you acquire in such a casual and fun setting.
#10: Fly a Taildragger
     I was lucky to begin my flight training in a Piper Cub, and I believe it has contributed greatly to my flying skills. Flying in a basic taildragger like the Cub without distractions of complex instruments and focusing on stick and rudder skills will pay dividends in the long run. Your flying will be smoother and your turns will undoubtedly become more coordinated after some time in a taildragger.
#11: Know When to Cancel Your Flight

     As it goes, "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but are no old, bold pilots," (Harry Copland). Aeronautical Decision Making is perhaps the most important skill to develop as a Student Pilot. If the weather is poor, the aircraft is not suitable for flight, or you yourself are not in shape to fly, do not fly. No experienced pilot is impressed by risky flying, so please err on the side of caution.
#12: Use the Internet
     I am thrilled that you found this site, and I hope that these tips have been helpful! The internet is full of tools to help your flight training process go as smoothly as possible. My favorite resource was YouTube in order to familiarize myself with flight maneuvers and complex topics. There are also a number of resources available to help you prepare for the written, oral, and practical flight examinations.

     Learning to fly is an incredible experience, but it does not come without its challenges. My hope is that these tips will make a tangible difference in the outcome of your flight training. Enjoy your time in the skies and never stop learning!

Plane Spotting at Chicago O'Hare

     My parents and I went on a little weekend trip up to Chicago for St. Patrick's Day Weekend. In the city, we were fortunate enough to stay at the Waldorf Astoria, but one night we got to stay at the Chicago O'Hare Airport Hilton. The awesome part about this is that we opted to pay a little extra to get a runway view room. My room on the top floor(10th and HHonors floor) looked out towards the Southwest at 10C, 10L, and 14R. This provided an excellent view of both the ramp area and runways! However, don't expect good lighting conditions if you plan on doing any video or photography from your room. They will most likely be back lit any time of day.

The view from our room(10074)

Time lapse taken from my room(Runway 10C and 10L ops)

     Earlier that day, I spent almost six hours spotting at a few different locations around the airport. When O'Hare was running West Flow I parked in a limousine lot for little bit without being bothered by anyone but a few drivers. However, the winds flip flopped and O'Hare switched to East Flow, so began my journey to find a new spot. Eventually, I made my way over to around 10C at the end of Gateway Rd in a small parking lot. After being there for about 30 minutes, a few other spotters began to show up wondering if this was a good spot for the new runway(10C). It was great because planes flew over at only a few hundred feet and most of the heavies were sent to 10C. However, there were a few tall trees making photography a little bit more difficult than usual, but definitely doable. The only other issue is that the planes were coming a little bit "head-on" so the angles for some shots were a little iffy and "straight up" which isn't really desirable. All that aside, this was a great place to see a constant flow of amazing airplanes!

My spot depicted on Google Maps

One of my favorite shots of the day(B748F)

Headset Review: David Clark H10-13.4

     I'm really starting to fly more often now that I am close to my first solo flight. Because of this, I thought it was time for me to get my first headset. David Clark is known for their comfortable, quiet, and durable headsets. To go along with it, the buyer gets a great 5 year warranty. So, I decided upon a David Clark H10-13.4 Passive Aviation Headset.

     I ordered the headset from Amazon for $300 and received it through PilotMall. It came to my house in perfect condition, and it seemed to not have taken any damage during shipping.

The box the headset came in(which was inside another, larger box)

   
  Before going any further, let's look at the features that this headset from David Clark has to offer:

Super Soft, Double Foam Head Pad New Comfort gel, undercut ear seals Certified Noise Reduction Rating - 23 dB Reduced headband force Universal Flex Boom for perfect microphone placement Exclusive M-7A, advanced noise-cancelling microphone Low-profile volume control knob with detent settings Molded cord assembly made to exceptional pull and flex standards 5-year Guarantee FAA TSO Approved C57 Cat. B and C58a Exceeds RTCA/DO-214 Standards Weight (without cords): 16.5 oz.

Super Soft, Double Foam Head Pad New Comfort gel, undercut ear seals Certified Noise Reduction Rating - 23 dB Reduced headband force Universal Flex Boom for perfect microphone placement Exclusive M-7A, advanced noise-cancelling microphone Low-profile volume control knob with detent settings Molded cord assembly made to exceptional pull and flex standards 5-year Guarantee FAA TSO Approved C57 Cat. B and C58a Exceeds RTCA/DO-214 Standards Weight (without cords): 16.5 oz.

• Super Soft, Double Foam Head Pad
• New Comfort gel, undercut ear seals
• Certified Noise Reduction Rating - 23 dB
• Reduced headband force
• Universal Flex Boom for perfect microphone placement
• Exclusive M-7A, advanced noise-cancelling microphone
• Low-profile volume control knob with detent settings
• Molded cord assembly made to exceptional pull and flex standards
• 5-year Guarantee
• FAA TSO Approved C57 Cat. B and C58a
• Exceeds RTCA/DO-214 Standards
• Weight (without cords): 16.5 oz.

     Obviously, this headset has a lot to offer. It's light, comfortable, quiet, and it definitely has a strong construction to it. When you take it out of the box, you know right away that it was built to last. The metal frame is sturdy, yet provides a very low clamping force on the sides of your head. It is a well known complaint from many pilots that with some headsets, the clamping force can cause a lot of discomfort during long flights. This headset is definitely an exception to that.

The David Clark H10-13.4 itself

     Along with the frame of the headset itself, the cords have a durable feel to them. They are flexible, yet they are thick and give me the feeling that they can take a lot of abuse. As seen in the image above, they are dual plugs that should be compatible with virtually any general aviation airplane out there.

Side of ear cup, featuring volume control knob

     This headset is the Mono version from David Clark. So, it features a single volume control knob on one ear cup. David Clark's Stereo version of this headset, the H10-13S, features a volume control knob on both ear cups. In flight, it is very simple to adjust the volume as needed without having to fiddle with any complicated controls or buttons. 

Top Down view of the headset 

     In the image above, you see the whole headset from a different angle. On top, you see the "Super Soft, Double Foam Head Pad." I can say, it really is comfortable and doesn't get too hot on your head. The gel ear seals can also be seen. I think these are David Clark's secret to creating such a tight seal to reduce noise. Both of these features create a very comfortable experience while flying for long durations. This stands true even if you are wearing glasses. No pilot wants to be distracted with an uncomfortable headset when they are trying to keep focus on the flying itself.

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     I guess now you want my personal opinion about this headset. Well, with this being my first headset that I have purchased, I cannot really compare it to anything else. But, I can promise you that David Clark does not lie to you about the quality of their products. They have such a well respected and famous name for a reason. 

Rating Overall

I can only take off a half of a star for one reason. It is not an Active Noise Reduction(ANR) headset. It does not have that quality of noise cancelling. You are definitely going to get a lot out of the money you are paying for this. But, it is only a passive headset.  The David Clark H10-13.4 really is a comfortable and well built headset for the money. But, please remember one thing. This is a passive headset that you are paying for. Do not expect the same noise reduction as a Bose A20 or Lightspeed Zulu.

Overall, I would not hesitate a second to recommend this headset to any General Aviation pilot out there with a budget. For $300, you are getting a lot of headset for a great price. If you are not on a budget or if you fly very often, go for an ANR headset from Bose or Lightspeed.