Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 06.09.06

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association renews its promotion personal flying with a revampedAOPA Project Pilot to improve the chances a student pilot will complete his/her training by encouraging more experienced pilots to act as their mentors. Revolving around a website designed to help "mentors keep in touch with their students and track [their] progress while providing support, tips and encouragement", AOPA claims that "student pilots who have a mentor to help them through flight training are three times more likely to earn their pilot certificates."

You can't make someone pursue flying just by telling them about it or even taking them up, any more than simply exposing somebody to competitive gardening or underwater spelunking or participating in Renaissance festivals will automatically make them a convert. But if a person does have a latent interest in aviation they often need help to make that dream a reality.

How Mentoring works

I've trained a lot of students, but to date I've been a mentor to three pilots. All had already felt the nip of aviation's bug and were simply waiting to get started, or wanting to ask questions from someone not tied to their flying education. The process for mentors is simple—just listen to the student's needs and honestly answer their questions.

Note: We're all students, all the time. You can mentor a pilot at any stage of his/her career…and you can be a mentor with any level of experience yourself.

• A co-worker had flown many times as passenger in a small business aircraft, and decided one day he could do it too. He became an enthusiastic advocate for aviation, engaging friends and associates in conversation about his passion for flight. I helped him through a tough learning plateau before his first solo flight, and again when he was having trouble mastering navigation. Later I did instruct him myself on a few cross-country flights and through his tailwheel endorsement. Mostly, though, we just talked about airplanes and I helped steer him down a safe and reliable recreational flying path.
• The wife of an Air Force friend casually mentioned she'd like to fly. I encouraged her to take a "Discovery Flight" at her local airport and she literally took off. Later she completed a professional flight training program and has recently become a CFI. She's flown as a traffic reporter and is very active in the women's aviation organization The Ninety-Nines.
• My younger brother shared a youth spent with our pilot/mechanic father and flying on airlines all over the U.S. He took his time to get started flying, building a business and starting a family, but then quickly worked through his private and instrument checkrides and recently bought a Cirrus SR20 to use in his business... bouncing questions off me all the way.

I can't claim anything for mentoring these three except to help them through some decisions and work through some issues like flying chores, professional flying tracks, or purchasing an airplane for business. But I hope I've helped them and will have the chance to help more in the future.

Aero-tip of the day: Become a mentor to someone learning to fly, or learning to fly better. It adds to our ranks, and it makes us all better pilots.

FMI: Aero-Tips