Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Training Attitudes A casual approach to flying can be hazardous. Flying requires considerable planning and rethinking of the options as the flight progresses. The midset of the pilot must be ahead of the airplane. When your situation but two options and you make your choice, it is no longer an option. It is a last resort. The pilot must be prepared to accept things about which he can do nothing. Aircraft performance limits must be accepted as the limits. You must have weather limits, the FARs set minimums. Minimums are not always safe minimums. Your emergency, be it aircraft or weather, must be featured in your training and again in your reviews. Instruction that does not expose the student to real weather situations that compromise the continuance of flight is not adequate. The student must be exposed to the difficulties, taught the knowledge and procedures required and given an opportunity to see how the process can be carried to a safe and satisfactory conclusion. Every adverse situation is a learning opportunity. The student needs the opportunity to make the go/no go decision. Then the instructor has an opportunity to turn the situation two different ways. Stay on the ground and show the student how his decision was the right one or takeoff and show how the decision to go was either right or wrong as weather develops. The making of mistakes is an important part of learning to fly. While I do not teach the salvaging of landings because I emphasize to go-around, I do want a student leaving me to know how to make the safe choices when it comes to unexpected weather. I have a still standing offer to every student I have taught. I will come and pick him up should he decide to wait out the weather. The actual exposure will give the student skill, understanding and experience those goes beyond quoting an FAR. The knowledge is initially acquired on the ground; it is the flying that makes the knowledge memorable. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM