Pilot Proficiency

Sky Kings: Polishing the Rust Off

Tuesday, September 05, 2017 at 07:26 PM ET

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Getting back to the left seat of a complex airplane such as the Falcon 10 after a lengthy hiatus is not an easy feat. John King

Key Takeaways:

A pilot returning to a high-performance jet after a year-long hiatus experienced significant proficiency loss, struggling with basic flight control, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and muscle memory.
The successful restoration of the pilot's skills was largely due to the dedicated and structured guidance from an experienced co-pilot/instructor, including simulator training, in-flight coaching, and attentive monitoring.
The article demonstrates that while proficiency can quickly diminish, consistent effort and expert instruction enable pilots to regain their full capabilities and find renewed joy in flying.

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“Making power … airspeed alive … 80 knots … V1 … rotate … positive rate.”

John King started King Schools Inc., with his wife, Martha, in a spare bedroom of their home. Today, the school operates out of a dedicated complex in San Diego, California, that includes a video and software production facility. John and Martha have shared flying and teaching aviation for more than 50 years.