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 his first solo flights after encountering an empty radio frequency, unexpected turbulence, and difficulty with slip maneuvers.
His instructor addressed these concerns by confirming radio protocols (122.75 for air-to-air), explaining environmental factors causing turbulence, and providing further dual instruction on effective slip techniques.
This initially frightening experience ultimately rebuilt the student's confidence and highlighted that self-debriefing and continuous learning, even from scary moments, are crucial for pilot improvement.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.