Observations of a Novice Pilot
My name is Paul Martin, and I'm new to all this flying stuff. If you are a seasoned flyer reading this, I hope it brings you a few smiles. If you are a new pilot, don't take this too seriously. Go and learn it from your own perspective (then please let me know what I missed).
There should be a book written for newcomers to help them get through those first few years without doing serious damage to:
- People
- Airplanes
- The checking account
Learning to Fly
I'm not rich or crazy (yet) so I went looking for the least expensive and safest way to get my pilot's license. For me the first step was a Tuesday & Thursday evening ground school at a community college, which cost $30 plus books. No, it's not boring. Everything you learn on the ground could save your life when things go wrong in the air. I have used what I learned in ground school on every single flight.
Next came air time so I joined a flying club at Montgomery field in San Diego, California. Flying clubs offer you a lower rental price per hour than just walking into an FBO. I saved about seven dollars per rental hour this way. Seven dollars times 40 hours makes $280 that I saved. The best part was the instructor that I found through the club. He was a fairly new instructor and needed to build hours and referrals so he only charged me ten dollars an hour! His name is Mark Sullivan (pilot extraordinaire). The total cost to get my private ticket in 1994 was $2,400. This included several hours in sailplanes, which I love. Oddly enough, they cost more to fly than powered planes. It may be wise to politely ask people around your nearest little airport for "locals" advice on getting your license, then see what works for your amount of time and money.
Next came air time so I joined a flying club at Montgomery field in San Diego, California. Flying clubs offer you a lower rental price per hour than just walking into an FBO. I saved about seven dollars per rental hour this way. Seven dollars times 40 hours makes $280 that I saved. The best part was the instructor that I found through the club. He was a fairly new instructor and needed to build hours and referrals so he only charged me ten dollars an hour! His name is Mark Sullivan (pilot extraordinaire). The total cost to get my private ticket in 1994 was $2,400. This included several hours in sailplanes, which I love. Oddly enough, they cost more to fly than powered planes. It may be wise to politely ask people around your nearest little airport for "locals" advice on getting your license, then see what works for your amount of time and money.
Cross Country Flying
I recently learned that it's important to use the restroom when you stop for fuel. I've crossed many states with out even thinking about this subject, but it came up on a recent four hour flight from central Idaho to southern Oregon. After flying an hour or so, I started to get uncomfortable. After two and a half hours I was really uncomfortable. The problem was that there were no airports within 80 miles and I started looking for any dirt road wider than one lane to make a pit stop. Of course there were none anywhere. When under pressure, bad things can occur in your brain. Things like pondering the corrosive properties of soda pop versus orange juice, and examining window vent locations. Here's another tip I learned that flight: you can land at mid-field right near the FBO to save taxi time... forget landing on the numbers.
I've learned not to fully trust weather briefers or even the current conditions reports. I have seen them both be very wrong. I always call ahead for their best guess on any flight over 20 miles and then use my own judgment on whether or not to fly. I do trust a good 180 turn to a clear airport and always have one in mind. I learned that I'm a very lucky pilot and the few small chances I've taken have gently taught me not to push it. Get-home-itis is a very real and dangerous thing. Beware of it. I now keep a sleeping bag in the back of the plane as a remedy.
Flying cross country with friends is great fun. Watch the experienced pilots and follow their lead. Ask any questions before take-off and be sure you know what air to air frequencies they will use. Don't be afraid to bow out gracefully if you aren't comfortable. I got low on fuel once and left the group to reach a "sure thing" airport. Even though I probably could have made the original destination, setting down is the best thing to do when unsure.
Visiting Strange Airports
I like small airports. I've tried the big airports but they sometimes treat us like a nuisance and charge way too much for fuel. I'm a nice, friendly, comfortable guy. I fly an old, not so shiny airplane and it doesn't take many dollars to refuel it. So I've found the smaller to mid-size airports and FBOs to be more friendly than the big ones. There are some nice exceptions, like Flagstaff, AZ and Janesville, WI. The FBO at FLG, Wiseman Aviation, is a really fancy, first class place and yet they still treat funky old airplane flyers like real people, not just income potential. I've gone out of my way to buy fuel from them three times, and I live in Oregon! The folks at Wings Aviation in Janesville, Wisconsin (JVL) are awesome! They let me pull Blue into their nice hangar just before a nasty thunderstorm hit, and they even had an awesome free lunch (okay, it was leftovers from the "Chicks Flight" to Oshkosh, but they were damn fine leftovers!). Two thumbs up for these extremely nice people.
I usually plan my stops at airports that don't have huge runways. If I see business jets at the FBO I know the fuel will be expensive and they'll probably want my old, inexpensive, (fun) fabric airplane to leave before someone sees it there. I landed at Hillsboro, Oregon (HIO) a while back and chose the closest fuel service (fancy place on the west end) even though I saw the business jets there. Wrong choice. The place at the east end with all the little singles out front is probably a great place and they won't laugh at a $40 fuel purchase.
The fuel guy at a small airfield will not usually spill gas on my rag wing and will be helpful if I need anything. They appreciate our support a lot more than the places where customers drop $1,000 without thinking about it. The small FBO operators can give you safety tips as a local pilot would, and usually even know the runway numbers. Quite often there are munchies and coffee on a table in the office and a smiling face saying stay a while if you like. Even near big cities the people who live for flying will welcome a fellow pilot and go out of their way to make your visit enjoyable. I've gotten rides to town from six or seven smaller FBOs and every single one has refused gas money. I give it to them anyway just because I'm stubborn that way. The use of a car for a couple hours at the fancy places may cost you $60 (I talked one in WI down to that price!). At Montague-Yreka, CA (1O5) Larry just gave me the keys to his van and asked when I might be back. I'll buy fuel from a guy like Larry every chance I get.
The guys at Whiskey Creek airport in NM charge a reasonable price for fuel and even cut me a small piece of stainless steel for a muffler repair, free! They're okay in my book. The nice guy in Moscow, ID (Pullman Field) kindly suggested where to park "Blue" overnight so I wouldn't get sand blasted by the student pilot's prop wash. He also held a loaner car for me because I called a week ahead of arrival, even on a big football weekend when they needed the car.
Landing at strange airports will make you a better pilot. Landing on dirt or grass strips will teach you things that pavement practice can't. Don't get in over your head but do expand your abilities by landing on runways that will improve your skills. I feel better prepared to handle an emergency landing after practicing on short, dirt strips.
I usually plan my stops at airports that don't have huge runways. If I see business jets at the FBO I know the fuel will be expensive and they'll probably want my old, inexpensive, (fun) fabric airplane to leave before someone sees it there. I landed at Hillsboro, Oregon (HIO) a while back and chose the closest fuel service (fancy place on the west end) even though I saw the business jets there. Wrong choice. The place at the east end with all the little singles out front is probably a great place and they won't laugh at a $40 fuel purchase.
The fuel guy at a small airfield will not usually spill gas on my rag wing and will be helpful if I need anything. They appreciate our support a lot more than the places where customers drop $1,000 without thinking about it. The small FBO operators can give you safety tips as a local pilot would, and usually even know the runway numbers. Quite often there are munchies and coffee on a table in the office and a smiling face saying stay a while if you like. Even near big cities the people who live for flying will welcome a fellow pilot and go out of their way to make your visit enjoyable. I've gotten rides to town from six or seven smaller FBOs and every single one has refused gas money. I give it to them anyway just because I'm stubborn that way. The use of a car for a couple hours at the fancy places may cost you $60 (I talked one in WI down to that price!). At Montague-Yreka, CA (1O5) Larry just gave me the keys to his van and asked when I might be back. I'll buy fuel from a guy like Larry every chance I get.
The guys at Whiskey Creek airport in NM charge a reasonable price for fuel and even cut me a small piece of stainless steel for a muffler repair, free! They're okay in my book. The nice guy in Moscow, ID (Pullman Field) kindly suggested where to park "Blue" overnight so I wouldn't get sand blasted by the student pilot's prop wash. He also held a loaner car for me because I called a week ahead of arrival, even on a big football weekend when they needed the car.
Landing at strange airports will make you a better pilot. Landing on dirt or grass strips will teach you things that pavement practice can't. Don't get in over your head but do expand your abilities by landing on runways that will improve your skills. I feel better prepared to handle an emergency landing after practicing on short, dirt strips.
Old Airplanes
In 1958 it was a bunch of metal, cloth, and magic rolled into a wonderful flying machine. 50 years later, that same magic machine still brings smiles to kids of all ages. What I now call Blue is referred to as a classic aircraft, also known as a rag wing Piper Tri-Pacer. She is equipped with many of the original instruments, and they work most of the time. She is the perfect airplane for me. When I went to pick up Blue in Arlington, Washington it was raining and very windy. I'm a novice pilot with no experience in anything similar and the conditions were about as bad as safely possible. A local instructor at the field bravely agreed to fly with me for this introductory thrill ride. Because this old airplane is so easy to fly she brought us safely around the pattern many times.
I'm sure there have been a few parents of Young Eagles flights who had second thoughts about letting their child fly around in my old airplane. They usually feel more comfortable as I talk with the kids about some of the fun places we've landed. I point out that Blue is very safe because she is so easy to fly and land. We can pay attention to very important things like air traffic, radio towers, and fuel levels because this older plane doesn't have lots of bells and whistles to distract a pilot. Many old planes like mine were designed to be safe and easy for an inexperienced pilot with only a couple of hours instruction.
I'm sure there have been a few parents of Young Eagles flights who had second thoughts about letting their child fly around in my old airplane. They usually feel more comfortable as I talk with the kids about some of the fun places we've landed. I point out that Blue is very safe because she is so easy to fly and land. We can pay attention to very important things like air traffic, radio towers, and fuel levels because this older plane doesn't have lots of bells and whistles to distract a pilot. Many old planes like mine were designed to be safe and easy for an inexperienced pilot with only a couple of hours instruction.
Flying People
Without a doubt these are the nicest bunch of people I can imagine. I have had complete strangers give me the keys to their car, parts off their airplane, rides in their airplane, overnight use of their hangar, food, beer, good directions, a ride to town and back, and even a safe, dry place to sleep on a rainy Kansas night. I've seen a group of guys rally to help a fellow pilot, going far beyond common courtesy.
Some flying people have great stories to tell. If you are a newcomer like me, make time to really listen to the old timers around your local airport. I've heard stories about daring and crazy things that a normal person wouldn't willingly admit to doing. Most of the stories are true. A waste of time? No. I have gathered little tidbits from these stories that may someday save my life. The old timers have done things we will never attempt, and lived to teach us from their mistakes.
Here are just a few of the kind people who have helped me on my journeys. If you are ever able to meet these folks and thank them with words or your patronage, please do.
Some flying people have great stories to tell. If you are a newcomer like me, make time to really listen to the old timers around your local airport. I've heard stories about daring and crazy things that a normal person wouldn't willingly admit to doing. Most of the stories are true. A waste of time? No. I have gathered little tidbits from these stories that may someday save my life. The old timers have done things we will never attempt, and lived to teach us from their mistakes.
Here are just a few of the kind people who have helped me on my journeys. If you are ever able to meet these folks and thank them with words or your patronage, please do.
- Steve Pankonin, aircraft repairs, especially rag wings - Medford, Oregon (Beagle Sky)
- The staff at Pro Aire, on the field - Arlington, Washington (instructors, repairs, supplies)
- Larry & the gang - FBO at Montague/Yreka, California (instructors, repairs, supplies)
- Wiseman Aviation - FBO at Flagstaff, Arizona (FLG)
- Tracy Standish - Seward, Kansas (Single & Multi Engine Flight Instructor, and a great person)
- Wings Aviation - FBO at Janesville, Wisconsin (JVL)
- Martin and friends - FBO at Whiskey Creek airport in Silver City, New Mexico