How to Be a Low-Time Pilot (But Not Behave Like One)

[@alansimpson596]

When I earned my private pilot's licence the chief flying instructor at my club reminded me that the licence was just the start of learning to fly and how right he was. As I built my hours I made so many blunders (not endangering anyone) that I was much wiser when I passed 100 hours of flight time and at 150 hours wiser again and so on.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Absolutely agree. I was told something similar - that it's a license to learn.

[@gracelandone]

You are quite a natural instructor. Engaging, affable, with a great patter and flow. Keep paying it forward, it will help others and build your own self-confidence.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you saying that!

[@HoosierPilot]

I love this! I’m the military we always say to practice the way you fight and this is true with everything. When you practice professional behaviors you’ll develop professional habits!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Love that, that's a good motto. THANK YOU for your service!

[@HoosierPilot]

@@AirplaneAcademy thank you sir! It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

[@victorperim3221]

By FAR the most underrated channel about aviation, your content is spot on! Love it!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Wow! Thank you so much for saying that. I really appreciate it!

[@michaelroby6538]

In 1983 my dad had a heart attack and was flown to Memphis. I was stressed AND had get-there-itis. Tried to fly between thunderstorms but did a 180 and it was a good choice.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

This is a perfect real-world example of what aeromedical factors and get-there-itis can look like. Thank you for sharing.

[@romanalejandro749]

i realize Im pretty off topic but do anyone know a good place to stream new series online ?

[@sorenlandon7165]

@Roman Alejandro I would suggest Flixzone. You can find it by googling =)

[@jesuslewis7861]

@Soren Landon definitely, I have been using flixzone for since april myself :D

[@romanalejandro749]

@Soren Landon thank you, I went there and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it!!

[@travisliebenberg9545]

I couldn't have agreed with point number 4 more. When I got my Private I was under the impression that I got all the knowledge to fly. Sure I was licensed, but it's like starting the learning all over again, going into the world without the safety net of your CFI. I found a lot of guys are happy to help you if you admit you are fresh and new. Flying is a profession where learning never stops

[@astudentpilotlife]

As a private pilot instrument rated pilot, I wish I find your channel before. Now, I am in my commerical rating training and all the solo I am doing right now are mostly base on weather, I has been alot of bad weather 15ft of visibility and low ifr. I have been canceling alot of week last week. Hope this week improve. Recommend for anyone that is in training and flying solo requirement; Don't rush, Don't accept task that you are not comfortable yet, Plan well ahead if time, Don't be afraid to ask other pilot about their flight. I alway try to ask how other feel about the weather right now and how was their flight. This will give me more insight and a little more accurate of the weather.

[@simcptmike]

I need to move to Idaho. It's got the best looking flying! I love all the scenery and the strips.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

It's beautiful for sure!

[@timhoke2]

My Lubbock, Texas flight school, Hub City Aviation, stressed safety above everything, for which I am so thankful. Your video is a great (and timely) reminder. Keep 'em coming, brother.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

That's great!! Glad you are enjoying the videos!

[@Joesofly1]

Thank you for the tips, I’m going to work on implement these into my flying. Taking my private checkride in 2 weeks!!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome, glad it was helpful. And keep us posted on your check ride, that's super exciting.

[@daszieher]

What also contributes to safety in the air is deploying the principles to other parts of your life so that they become more natural and are not only restricted to the cockpit. For instance get used to do a weather briefing or fuel planning for road trips while driving a car. Get used to more standardised ways to merge into traffic or to leave traffic on on- and off-ramps on a highway. It sure helps me do things in a more structured and predictable way.

[@joshh6104]

Perfect timing! Going up for my 8th hour at noon, and I'm going to employ a few of these tips today!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome! Hope it helped. Congrats on building hours. Exciting times!

[@tomedgar4375]

Great list, I’ve learned a lot from hanging out with some of the long time (old) pilots around the airport

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Agreed, same!!

[@doerrmedia01]

Thanks for this video! I think your channel and content is really underrated! More people should your videos and keep doing what you're doing! I just wanted to say that I'm working on my private right now and have finished ground school and I just got scheduled to take my knowledge test! I'm very excited for it but still working on using that manual E6B! I'm also a college student and helping start a flying club on campus!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks for the nice compliment, and I'm glad you've found the channel helpful! Congrats on working on your private, that's awesome! The E6B is a funny thing to use... I always forget that the instructions are actually printed on the thing haha. Also, way to go on starting the flying club. Keep us posted.

[@sircrapalot9954]

Great advice and video! I’m reading Mike Busch’s book too and it’s excellent. A good pilot is always learning. Wishing you clear skies and tailwinds.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! Wishing you the same!

[@DrDave-zk6nf]

Another terrific video. So glad you liked my recommendation on Mike Bush’s engine book. I am hoping to become an airplane owner at some point in the not too distant future and thought his book “Airplane Ownership” was also full of good information.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful. And yes I love the book so far... it's a little daunting to make it through but I'm really liking it so will keep pushing through. I suspect I'll pick up his other books after this. Might do a video about the top x# of things I learned from it to showcase some of the lightbulb moments.

[@DrDave-zk6nf]

Airplane Academy I would look forward to the video.

[@tomsmith3045]

REALLY good points. I love the stuff you put out, because it makes me think. Think about different ways I can fly better and safer. Dan Gryder has a new channel up called 'probable cause' that's another place I go to. On this video, point 1 jumped out and reminded me of a phrase that drives me nuts, and that's "have to". People think they "have to" get somewhere, or get somewhere by a particular time. Nope, you don't. There is weather that will ground anything....and if you have a mindset of "have to" it probably means you haven't even considered the other options. Point 3 jumped out too, about asking questions. My favorite is that if I'm going to an airport I haven't flown to before, I'll do my best to find another pilot who's flown there and ask them if there are any things to be aware of. And there often are - weird local traffic patterns that aren't written down, something unusual about the taxiways, power lines that are on final, etc. Thanks for doing these videos, they are great.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Hi Tom - thanks for the comment. Great points here. I have to admit I've struggled with "get-there-itis" in my own aviation journey, sometimes learning the hard way!

[@ashokp1357]

Excellent video. Something to be said about understanding yourself better as a person and pilot

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you, appreciate you saying this!

[@MarkHeckler]

Really appreciate your combination of knowledge and humility Charlie. Keep up the great work!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate it!

[@realediciocco1598]

Excellent topic and delivery. Agree with all your points. One of the best aviation channels on YT . Very useful information for every experience level. Keep up tbe great content.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you saying that.

[@ASFalcon13]

On the subject of personal minimums and decision-making...take preflight action seriously. Flying for CAP, we're explicitly required to fill out an operational risk assessment and a flight briefing form every time we get ready to fly, and to discuss that information with a Flight Release Officer. It really does help us to ensure we review all of that "available information concerning that flight" that 91.103 calls for, and creates the opportunity to think about and consider the level of risk we're accepting for that flight. CAP goes above and beyond the reg here, but having an explicit process for it really does help to make sure the information is reviewed and understood.

[@garyguidi5541]

Great content and appreciate you for sharing your knowledge with the GA community. I just earned my private pilot cert last month and am transitioning into my new to me Piper Comanche. I feel like it's just the starting point for my learning and training. Love your channel! Keep it up 👍

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Hi Gary - thanks and glad you found it helpful! CONGRATS on your PPL and Comanche, that's very very exciting. You'll learn so much from flying your own airplane. Stay in touch.

[@FtwAv8r]

Just ran across your channel over Christmas Holiday's and you are putting out some great info. Keep it up!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoy the channel!

[@loganblevins8633]

Good stuff! I’ve certainly shown my low hours in the past and have learned what’s most important and what’s not. Getting in the air should not always be the must have goal.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

It's so easy to be committed to the flight no matter what's happening... it sucks scrubbing a flight or turning around half way into a flight and not finishing your intended mission. I've learned too many times that it's better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground. I've found it a LITTLE easier over time to exercise some restraint there but it's not easy!

[@loganblevins8633]

@@AirplaneAcademy I think the hardest are days with high winds. Usually it’s a high cross wind that makes me back off a flight, but if it’s nice otherwise wind is hard to back off for.

[@kwittnebel]

Mike Bush just did an eaa webinar on baffles. It is in the webinar archive.

[@JulianJ]

Good content as always. Happy landings

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks so much! Same to you!

[@trentlogan6274]

I've Really enjoyed your videos. I am right around the corner from my PPL, and then using my VA Benefits to work on IFR, into a plane purchase. I would love to fly with you someday!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Hi Trent - sounds like you've got a lot of great momentum. Stick with it, and keep us posted on your progress.

[@trentlogan6274]

Airplane Academy Thanks a lot man, I’m just up here in Lawton, OK, and got to land at Love not too long ago, that was a Cool experience in a 150. I hope to see you soon!

[@knoxflier5171]

Mike’s Engine book is great, I’ve read it myself. Keep up the great advice and videos! Know what to expect next is one of the best skills to have IMO, I still work on it before I get into the air.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Estebanserrano96]

Great channel. Learning a ton. Thank you!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Sure thing!! Glad you are enjoying the channel and finding it helpful!

[@jaypaulbusch]

You have some great content. I wish more people would watch your videos.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate that.

[@Over50andLearningToFly]

Outstanding! Nice work!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@blakebrothers]

Great video, thanks!

[@simcptmike]

Enjoyable topic!! I always make sure to hit like before i watch your videos. The reason is that i get so engrossed listening to you and thinking about the subject at that time, that i don't want to forget to hit like! 👍 I enjoy your channel. it's in my top 5 for aviation related.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Wow! Thank you so much. This means a lot to me! I'm glad you enjoy.

[@JonMulveyGuitar]

Another excellent clip! Great advice! I am a student pilot. And sounding like a newbee, comes with the territory. Suck up your ego/insecurities and embrace your position. Experienced pilots see us coming a mile away. haha! So be the new pilot and you will get way more support and guidance. Then being a poser which I am 100 percent of the time when trying to fit in with the big kids! haha! Go AA Go!!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks Jon! Good thoughts. Don't worry, I have imposter syndrome most of the time. That's part of why I put this video together, to document things I'm trying to focus on to not get overly confident.

[@JonMulveyGuitar]

@@AirplaneAcademy Thanks Charlie! It's hard not to let the passion get the best of me. With tons of enthusiasm. But extremely light on flight time it is probably fairly annoying to my CFI. Haha! A million emails and text with questions. I can't thank you enough for feeding the fire!:-)

[@SteveIsidor]

Engines is worth the money. It's really made me more comfortable in the sky.

[@rafaelvilla1462]

👍Great tips. Thank you.

[@lechstryzewski9350]

Another outstanding video - Thank you !!!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@buckshot704]

Learning and adding experience to a person’s unique performance envelope...solid bean footage, Charlie! CAVU 🇺🇸✈️😎👍

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Haha, thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed!

[@ryanshapero2631]

Why am I the only pilot that doesn't look like a very caring dad?

[@TheGhostInWhiteOfficial]

Don’t worry mate, I surely don’t look like a “pilot” and I fly all the time. Everyone at the Airport always looks at me like I’m there to steal their headsets and fuel. 😂 Soon, I will have my CFI Cert.. this should be fun when fresh students come into the flight school and find out the guy with tattoos on his face will be teaching them. Should be entertaining.

[@viccabrales3091]

Great advice, thank you sir!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Steve-nh6kk]

This is just great advice!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you think so!

[@maritestaylor8458]

Great information awesome.

[@azcountry6064]

I imagine keeping an eye on that flock of geese at 7:42 is helpful. 😂

[@michelgardes]

Great video. Thanks.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Sure thing! Glad you enjoyed!

[@armymanal]

where is that grass runway looks so cool

[@greatcanadianmoose3965]

Nice to see this! Hopefully I'll get my PPL in a few years!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Great! Keep us posted. Would love to help with any questions along the way.

[@greatcanadianmoose3965]

@@AirplaneAcademy Thanks for the offer, I do have one or two questions on type ratings. (Keep in mind I'm in Canada) For more obscure airplanes that you may not find proper training on, how do people legally fly them? Also, what airspace can you do stunt flying?

[@AirplaneAcademy]

What obscure airplane do you have in mind? It really just depends. As for aerobatics, I wrote this article a while back covering the regs: airplaneacademy.com/requirements-for-aerobatic-flight-license-rating-parachutes-etc/

[@greatcanadianmoose3965]

@@AirplaneAcademy I'm thinking of the DHC-1 Chipmunk or the Beaver. Fairly common planes in Canada, they exist, but you don't see them flying very often.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Cool choices. Lots of places you can get some beaver experience but you'll probably have to fly there and train. Don't worry, if there's a plane out there, you can find someone to train you in it.

[@dbarr15]

I have just found you on youtube. Your videos are great.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoy them!

[@flyingkub]

With gusts it is not so much the gust speed (although that is a limit) but more about gust factor (eg. How much the wind speed is changing, for me 8kts gust factor with a max gust speed of 20kts but I do fly a very light aircraft). Also for go / no go the old saying better to be on the ground wishing you could be flying than flying wish to be on the ground. I do think that it is good to fly near your limit as that way if you end up at the limit you a current at dealing with it but you have to be careful not to exceed it. The comfort zone is an area that you need to go to the edge of fairly often as that way it grows but the comfort zone should be smaller than your limits to help keep you safe.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Nicely put. Couldn't agree more with "it's better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than it is to be in the air wishing you were on the ground." I've learned that the hard way!

[@flyingkub]

@@AirplaneAcademy I think most have at some point as long as they only get out of the comfort zone and not exceed limits it is a good reminder. The majority of the problems come from poor prep or not being true to yourself and external pressures from friends who what to go fly with you or want to see you do a fly by their house are some of the big human factors that get pilots to push a limit.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Definitely agree with this.

[@jacoswart4397]

Thank you🌈

[@Metalgearmadness]

Its not about time, its about good adm always. There are plenty of high time experienced old guys from the airlines which will hop in their cessna and crash because of bad adm.

[@michaelgalli2431]

Not supper to fly if you’re stressed...but flying is how I relive my stress😂

[@tomsmith3045]

Simulator!

[@kdharley07]

Hi Charlie I have a question as far as Sport Pilot license. Back when I was in my 20s I started flying lessons and only got like 6-8 hours and ran out of money to keep going but was bitten by the GA bug. Now that I’m almost 65 and can well afford it and live 5 months in central Florida I’m thinking of going after the Sport License since it’s less restrictive and I would only want to fly in good weather anyway. Do you or any of your followers have any suggestions as to what I should be doing to get ready or do you even recommend a Sport License. Thanks for all your videos because that is a job in itself. Ken

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks and congrats on wanting to get back into it! I would just be aware of the restrictions/limitations of SPL in terms of what kinds of airplanes you can fly and the conditions in which you can fly them. But if that aligns with your mission, then I think that's a perfectly fine route to go. Prepping for it would be very similar to PPL in terms of doing some sort of ground school and then finding a flight school to train at. I would probably figure out where you're going to train first and see if they have a ground school or if they like you to have already completed online ground school prior to starting. Best thing you could do is go ahead and pick a school a get your first lesson on the calendar!

[@speedboard.]

Are there any scripts for all the calls you can expect to make with ATC? That would be an amazing resource. It would be so much easier to see and study them beforehand to know what to expect.

[@bikefreakstl]

Try downloading app “Plane English “ it could help you A LOT

[@speedboard.]

@@bikefreakstl will do, thank you!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

I also recommend this, it gives some great step-by-step instructions for what to say and when. Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques from the AIM: www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap4_section_2.html While I think the gov typically has a lot of room for improvement in materials they create, the FAA actually has done a great job in this area and has a wealth of resources in the AIM, the PHAK, AC's, etc... they're worth checking out!

[@tomsmith3045]

There's a book called "say again please" or something like that, that doesn't necessarily have scripts but it does explain all of the different things you need to do. There is a new version, bluish cover, that is probably updated over the older orange cover that I used. Next suggestion is to find live atc for controllers near you. That is important, as there can be regional differences in what people do. Finally, you could get a scanner that picks up air band and listen to local traffic if you live close to a towered airport.

[@andersongeorge4653]

*2:22** Even with a multi engine A/c* ?!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

I don't have my multi yet, so this just applies to SEL for me right now.

[@bbgun061]

I don't see why a multi would change your decision making here. A twin will run out of gas just as easily if there is nowhere to land...

[@tomsmith3045]

I don't think the number of engines affects the ability to make a successful approach in low IFR.

[@Shaneepe1]

When you speak of your 30kt max wind gusts are you referring to surface, aloft or both?

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Surface. Aloft can oftentimes be much stronger than that but it doesn't necessarily mean it's bumpy or contain shear.

[@Jac7968]

How do you have 700 hours flight time. BUT have been flying for 17 years???

[@CourtyBoi]

I'm a young Air Force T-6A instructor pilot and have created a KZbin channel focused around helping my students, coworkers, and other aspiring instrument rated pilots. I run an extremely small (100ish subs) YT channel that I'm trying really hard to grow. After coming across your channel I feel like there could be an opportunity for our communities to overlap. If youre interested at all please let me know if youd like to coordinate something going forward Blue Skies, Courty

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Just watched your "about" video - first off, THANK YOU for your service. Also, great b-roll on that video. Are you ever allowed to take civilians up for PR type experiences? Feel free to reach out at airplaneacademy.com/contact

[@skidivr]

You cant be clear in your intentions if your radio is crap. Too many GA pilots allow their radios to go to hell to they are using a 30 year old headset.

[@idktbh7108]

be open handed. lmao. i’ll smack you if the clouds get lower