Scaring Yourself Into Additional Dual Instruction

Every pilot frightens themselves at least once, and the experiences often make us better aviators.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 10:23 AM ET

Verified

If you scare yourself in the airplane, ask your CFI for more dual instruction. [Courtesy: Wayman Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

A meticulous student pilot lost confidence during a solo flight due to concerns about uncontacted radio frequency, unexpected turbulence, and the unusual feel of practicing slips.
His instructor helped him regain confidence by deconstructing each issue, clarifying procedures, explaining environmental factors like turbulence, and providing hands-on practice and understanding of maneuvers like slips.
The experience ultimately transformed into a valuable learning opportunity, demonstrating how analyzing and addressing unsettling flight moments can significantly enhance a pilot's skills and confidence, a practice beneficial for all aviators.

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The student pilot was signed off for solo flight, and his next two flights were supposed to be short hops out to the practice area to work on learned maneuvers. He was known for his attention to detail, use of checklists, and meticulous preflight planning.

So imagine my surprise when after his second solo flight he asked for additional dual instruction. He had scared himself, he said, and was worried he had done something wrong.