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The Final Moments of Checkout Training Bring an Unexpected Fear

Flying his own Cessna 170 makes this pilot look inward and face his own insecurities.

A rainy day and challenge-filled dual lesson beckons. [Photo: Jason McDowell]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Owning an airplane introduces a strong emotional and financial fear of damage, leading pilots to be significantly more cautious and "paranoid" than when renting.
  • The author experienced this heightened anxiety during his checkout training for his newly purchased Cessna 170, struggling to fly confidently due to the fear of "bending metal."
  • Through challenging training experiences, including landing on a short, intimidating grass strip and flying in heavy rain with poor visibility, the author gradually overcame his fears and built confidence, earning his solo sign-off.
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Among life’s unwritten rules, one seems to hold true regardless of culture. Spanning continents, political borders, religions, and eras, it is one that exists in every corner of the globe. The rule is that, when driving a rental car, one may beat the ever living hell out of it solely for one’s amusement.

Fortunately, when it comes to general aviation, more respect is afforded to a rental airplane. We make every attempt to finesse our landings. We’re reasonably careful with switches, levers, and knobs. Generally, most of us tend to make an effort to leave the machine in as good or better condition than that in which we found it.

Jason McDowell

Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur.

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