HolGaiR
Holger's Aviation Page
About Flying
Flying is fun. I feel like not being born to keep my feet on the ground. Up in the air I
feel so much better. Flying has a high addictive potential. Everybody who ever got
sick in a small aircraft will
certainly agree. In the following you can find some comments on flying in general and in
particular.
Multi-Engine Flying
The interesting thing about multi-engine flying is that you have your engines beside you,
in some aircrafts you even have them behind you. For you as a pilot this is a remarkable
feeling. At the beginning you wonder whether it would hurt, if a peace of a propeller blade
breakes off, smashes through the aircraft's skin and eventually hits you.
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But after a while you get used to that idea. This is when multi-engine flying starts to
be real fun. The only thing that matters furtheron is removing the engines' beat frequency
to avoid getting driven crazy.
One thing, however, is much better in a twin-engine aircraft: taking pictures in flight
direction. You don't have a propeller in front of you that would cause spurious shadows
or, when the sun is shining, reflexes on the images. You don't have this in a twin-engine.
You would only find it again in a triple-engine.
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Copilot
It is really useful for you as a pilot, to have someone with you to support you in
navigation. This includes taking care of ATC messages while you are just dreaming, taking
pictures, reading charts, or reading the user manual of your GPS device. Therefore, the
copilot has to be knowledgeable. What you should expect is an AZF qualification, at least.
In addition, he (or she) should be familiar with approach and departure charts. Only a
few seconds after ATC has transmitted a clearance, the correct chart should be at hand.
In critical situations the copilot should never lose its cool,
talk to the pilot to calm him down and take away his fear. The copilot could also pet him
in appreciation to motivate him not to give up or make further mistakes. To panic or to
scream hysterically is not recommended in any case. Furthermore, a good copilot will not
vomit until the aircraft has come to rest on the ground and the copilot has left the
aircraft.
On Final
On final everything has to be perfect. It is good, if you have
- not too much ice on the wings and on the windscreen,
- some fuel left in the tanks,
- a nice talk with the guy in the tower,
- set the flaps and the gear down,
- the speed not too high and not too low, and
- in sight the correct runway of the right aerodrome from the right direction.
It is always nice, if you have encountered the cloud gap on duty.
On-Board Conveniences
Many small aircraft do not have a toilet on board. However, if the flight due to headwind or
navigation problems significantly takes longer and the bladder's sphincter doesn't really enjoy the situation any more, it would be nice to have something suitable on board. As you can see below, it
only takes a few items to solve the problem.
Instrument Flying
Instrument flying is something very special. In particular so, if the instruments are not just a
magnetic compass and a watch.
Primarily the difference is in special rules that you have to obey. A very important rule states
that you have to communicate in english, wherever you are. Now, follow the
link if you want to see some more comments about other rules.
© 2006 by Holger Wallmeier
