Comments on: No Pilot Left Behind

By: Scott Spangler

Scott Spangler — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:55:05 +0000

You’ll get no argument from me that learning to fly a taildragger does a lot of good for any pilot’s stick and rudder skills, but outside of a military environment, where you do it there way to hit the highway, making this happen in a free-market democracy is anything but simple.

The good news is that a good many light-sport aircraft are taildraggers, and this is where most new recreational aviators will learn to fly. Unfortunately, that won’t help those who learn to fly for personal transportation. They will learn in a glass-cockpit nose-dragger, where technology and flying the system takes precedence over stick and rudder skills.

New airline pilots will learn in the same computerized aircraft–and simulators–with the same outcome: master the system and pass the checkride. Ultimately, regaining passion for flight through stick and rudder mastery is a decision each pilot must make.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:52:54 +0000

The answer to this problem is simple: it’s the tailwheel. Primary students should learn to fly in tailwheel aircraft, especially the light tube-and-fabric ships which do not have flaps. They’re light, simple, inexpensive, and tend to be capable of aerobatics (so spins can be taught). They’re sporty, they put the pilot on the longitudinal axis instead of next to it, and often (witness the J3) they can be flown from the rear seat where the yaw is easier to feel.

This kind of airplane will result in a much better pilot. For one thing, the fancy instrument panel will be gone, along with the GPS. They’ll have to learn how to fly, how to navigate with a chart, and it will kindle a strong passion for aviation because it’s so much fun.

By: Scott Spangler

Scott Spangler — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:51:38 +0000

Thanks to all for the kind words. As the video in Rob’s post shows, technology can’t replace good stick and rudder skills in critical situations.

For an epileptic crosswind combine a variable gusty breeze that wobbles 30 degrees on a hot summer day (which adds rising air to the equation) with line of trees, buildings, and hangars that parallel the runway. The resulting airframe convulsions often cause mental and physical dysfunction in the pilot, and I’ve always found that a go-around the the best treament. :-)

By: Madeleine

Madeleine — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:54:30 +0000

Excellent article. I agree wholeheartedly.

By: Bill P.

Bill P. — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:25:40 +0000

“epileptic” crosswind?

Hmmmm, and all this time I thought they were just “gusty.” :-)

I see the same complacency among the airline pilot ranks.

By: Rob Mark

Rob Mark — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:41:11 +0000

Thanks for that nice note Don. But Scott’s the one who deserves the credit. It was his idea.

About all I did was tell him it sounded good to me.

Seriously though, the learning issue applies as much to ATC as it does to pilot training I fear.

Rob

By: Don Brown

Don Brown — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:47:02 +0000

Nice take on things, Robert.

Don Brown